Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Arboretum Summer

One of the plein air painting groups I enjoy going out with holds quarterly planning sessions at the local Arboretum.  We all contribute thoughts and plan the paint-outs for the upcoming months.  Our planning meeting at the start of the summer was in July and our meeting to plan fall paint-outs was last month.  Since these meetings usually take an hour or so, I only have time to paint a small, 5x7" gouache piece before our finishing time when we meet back at the Peacock Cafe to share our work.  

In July when I arrived at the Arboretum a peahen was on the lawn in the parking lot with her three chicks.  They were attracting a lot of photographers and my photo is below.  After our planning session I decided to paint in one of the demonstration garden areas.  They have small patios of ideas for home gardens.  I chose a view of the very pretty raised lily pond.    

When we met for our latest planning meeting in September I was surprised to see a peahen with her adolescent sized chick standing on a table in the cafe patio (below).  Probably not the same family I saw in July but I was happy to see them.  I chose another nearby view in the desert display garden because I could see the pink blooms of a silk floss tree.  These trees have thorns on their trunks and large pink flowers which the hummingbirds loved.  There was also a pink plaster chimney with some tall cacti growing against it to make the scene.  

5 x 7" gouache



5 x 7" gouache



8 comments:

  1. Great photos Sherry, love all the colour in your painting with the flowers.You are lucky to have such a great choice of locations continually for your paint outs

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    1. Thanks Lorraine! The pink fowers were definitely more colorful. You're right about our great locations for painting.

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  2. Thanks for sharing such beautyful photos. And you made alovely painting of it too!

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    1. Hi Catharina! Thank you so much for such a lovely comment.

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  3. Wow, Sherry, these gouaches are just wonderful. You paint your foliage with real finesse - it always adds to much to your paintings. Great stonework on the patio painting!! These painting groups are such a treasure for you and your fellow painters.

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    1. Thanks Terry! You are so nice to always take the time to comment. I really appreciate it. You're right about the groups. It would be many fewer paintings as well as friends without them.

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  4. Your work of the raised lily pond is my favorite, really nice colors.

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    1. Thanks Kevin! I really appreciate your comments!~

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