IRIS . . .

Taken from the Greek word for Rainbow.  Rainbows.  For which the Irish also know quite a bit about ...

'WHEN IRIS EYES ARE SMILING'

6 x 6" Acrylic 

For more information on this Piece Please click HERE

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How's this for a Sunset?!  :) 

I took this photo down in Ajo not too long before we left.  

Charleen

A DAY IN THE DESERT

I did this piece below on my first Plein aire trip into the desert.  Actually it was my first Plein Aire outing,  period.  I'm a studio Artist and enjoy my studio time so never felt the need to venture outdoors to paint.  (Also, you can't really do collage, which I have mainly done for years, outside.)  While in Ajo I had the opportunity to join a Plein Aire group so I decided to stretch myself a little and joined.  I felt my normal acrylics might dry too fast in the desert heat so I used water based oils. I also used one of my canvas panels that I had already textured and painted black.  Plein Aire is not easy.  Outdoor elements are not always cooperative and this particular day wind was a unhappy factor.  But, we all persevered and this is what I came away with.  I was fairly pleased with the result, especially the colors, but if I went back to the same spot again I'd change my view a bit.  I'm not crazy about the overall composition.  Funny how something can look good to the eye but on paper it has a whole different effect.  

I have a whole new respect for Plein Aire Painters.

A DAY IN THE DESERT

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How about a Raven or two ...

"JUST WHAT ON HER FACE HAD TO DO

WITH CROWS FEET ... ?"

"MAY I HAVE THIS DANCE ...?"

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY  . . .

'AND SHE LAID DOWN HER HEAD AND SLEPT'

Charleen

I DON'T REALLY GAMBLE (EXCEPT ON LIFE AS WE ALL LIVE IT) BUT IF I LIVED NEAR A RACETRACK I'D PROBABLY BE IN TROUBLE!

'AND THE RACE IS ON'

12 x 12 Acrylic

I have been to the races a few times when I lived down in Boise, Idaho.  I usually rooted for the Horse whose name I liked best, or the color of the Jockeys uniform.  That's how I know I'd be in trouble.  I don't think you usually win that way! :(

This was a pour that couldn't get away.  The horses were 75% there.  I just needed to figure out where I was going with them.  The Raven, of course, needed to dive in to the race.  Not sure who won this one.  

The profession of book writing makes horse racing seem like a solid, stable business.

~  john steinbeck

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I shared the top Cactus below in my recent Newsletter but thought I would share both here today.  After all, I'm back in Idaho and we don't have Cactus up here, so I won't be able to share photos of cactus again for the next 6 months.  Anyone out there that wants to use these as a reference for a painting, please feel free.  

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

These four photos are all one Sunset taken the week before we left Ajo.   This was our last drive out into the Desert before we left and it certainly didn't disappoint us.

Charleen

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