Sunday 7th June 2009 - Irises at the Blumenschein

Another day of painting at the Blumenschein opening weekend. This time I chose a shady spot under the portal - I had to sleep off mild sunstroke after painting out in the courtyard the day before. Lots of painters showed up so it was a sociable day.

Irises at the Blumenschein - 12 x 16" - oil on canvas panel - $750

Saturday 6th June 2009 - Go-go Boots in the Garden

It was the day of the Summer of Love Parade and the Opening weekend of the Blumenschein Home Museum, where we were painting in the courtyard and enjoying the flowers. Our lovely model, Jen, got into the summer of love spirit in this groovy outfit and we listened to hits from 1969 as we painted, good fun!

Go-go Boots in the Garden - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - $750

Monday 12th May 2008 - Irises at the Blumenschein

It seemed like Shari and I hadn't been out plein aire painting together in a long time! We met up in Queznel Lane as I had liked a tree in full pink blossom in front of a pretty adobe house that I had seen a couple of days earlier. It just shows that if you snooze you lose, because the wind had blown off most of the flowers. Shari suggested some trees in Kit Carson Park but when we got there we found they too had had most of the petals blown off.

We took a walk around the Ledoux Street area and found these first irises under a lilac tree in full bloom and this was definitely the spot. I have to be excited to paint a subject, for it to turn my eyes on, so to speak, or the painting is flat and lifeless and it's all a big waste of time and paint.

Irises at the Blumenschein - oil on canvas - 20 x 20" - sold