Saturday, May 16, 2015

Yucatan Church

Yucatan Church
Oil  12" x 12" on cradled panel
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$295.00 + $10. s/h

This past February my husband and I spent several weeks in the Yucatan.  I did some plein air paintings as well as studio pieces upon our return.  When editing my photos I realized that I had taken pictures of 36 different churches and chapels.  I guess I'm drawn to the architectural angles, and perhaps the significance of what these mean to the people who built them and worship in them.

From Merida, the capital of the state of Yucatan, in the northwest you can drive diagonally across the state headed toward the southeast on a great highway.  Along the way you can drive the "Convent Route".  This consists of churches, cathedrals, convents in Mayan villages and towns.  Many are as large as the largest Catholic Church here in Colorado Springs, yet are sitting a a very small town.  They were built centuries ago in what I imagine were large(r) populated areas or colonial towns.  You can read more about this here.

I was fascinated by all of these.  We visited the first seven, then our rental car got hit (no injuries and very little damage, but stressful never the less.)  So, we skipped the last villages.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Spring Lilacs

Spring Lilacs
Oil  8" x 10"
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$195.00 + $10. s/h

My plein air group, Garden Artist, recently restarted for the season.  We paint every Tuesday and Thursday morning from early May to late September in different gardens, parks, scenic locations, and museums around the Pikes Peak region.  Please let me know if you 'd like to join us!

These lilacs were painted one morning in an alley in The Old North End, near the downtown area of Colorado Springs.  We've had the greatest lilacs this spring.  The aroma is every where!  They seem to be more beautiful than I ever remember!!

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Hillside of Poppies

Hillside of Poppies
Oil  9" x 12"
$195.00 + $10. s/h
SOLD

This is another piece from our March trip to California.  I have my husband to thank for this one.  We spent almost a week in Sonoma county, which, if you've never been, should be on every one's trip list!  It's beautiful!  Flowers were blooming every where.  My husband saw this farm and pulled over for me to take a picture before I had even seen the poppies.  He knows what makes a great painting!  I love how the poppies created a natural  movement into the piece and up and over to the barn.

I'm lucky that our daughter lives in San Francisco.  It's a great excuse to head to that city as well as all of the gorgeous surrounding areas.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Sunny Vista Living Center Juried Show


Friday night was the opening for the Sunny Vista Living Center Juried Show.  It was a great event, especially for me.  I had 3 pieces juried into the show.  My plein air painting, "Backyard Hollyhocks", received 1st place in the  oil/acrylic category and was purchased by Sunny Vista.  My truck painting, "Hasn't Been Used In Awhile", sold.  Sunny Vista does an amazing opening.  Their chefs prepared a wonderful buffet dinner with appetizers, fruits, chocolate fountain dessert and more.  Thank you to Sunny Vista, to the judge, to the person bought my painting.  It all makes for a great Mother's Day weekend.  Happy Mother's Day to all of you!

Friday, May 8, 2015

1058

1058
Oil  11" x 14"
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$295.00 + $10. s/h

The number on the front of this trolley car is 1058...thus the title.  It's great how the city of San Francisco purchased theses trolleys from other cities.  A little bit of history gets saved and shared.

The streetcars, or trolleys, are different than the fabled cable cars of San Francisco.  The trolleys run from Fisherman's Wharf to Market Street.  The city not only purchased trolleys from all over the country, but from Milan, Italy as well.   About 20 different street cars from Muni's fleet operate daily.

Click here for a brief history of the street car line.