249. In a Row 2

Please see yesterday's blog to find a description of this scene.

248. In a Row

I have painted these trees many times and never tire of doing so.  There is a very long row of them that line the hills of Marjeyoun, Lebanon.  They were planted by my family so that they could have pine nuts readily available.  They also own olive groves in this unbelievably beautiful part of the world.  Have you ever had that feeling when you see something so beautiful that your heart skips a beat and you cannot help but feel so small?  That is how I felt when I visited this village, the land of my ancestry.

247. Lila

Meet Lila, a beautiful Golden Doodle.  This painting was a commissioned art piece, and a pleasure to paint.  The recipient was surprised and happy, which makes me happy.

246. Rodeo

Rodeo is my neighbor's dog.  He is a Teddy Bear (mix of shitzu, toy poodle and bichon), and is half-brother to my Oliver.  It's really fun watching them play together.

245. Path to Tranquility

My daughter took the reference photo for this painting in high school.  It was taken at a nearby park, Doctor's Park.

244. Common? Hmpf.

The Common Yellowthroat, (male in this painting) is a wood warbler.  It lives in moist thickets and grassy marshes.  Photographed by Brian Hansen.

243. Chewy-Chewy-Chewy, Chew Chew Chew

Well, I'm having trouble imagining this warbler's call, but that's what the book says.
He is an American Redstart.

242. On the Lookout

Male Rosebreasted Grosbeak, insect eating songbird, reference photo taken by Brian Hansen, with permission

241. Acapella

This tiny bird is a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a songbird, and was photographed by Brian Hansen.

239. I See You

Reference photo by Brian Hansen, with permission.

239 Cardinal

Reference phot  by Brian Hansen, permission granted

238 Blackburnian Warbler

reference photo taken by Brian Hansen, with permission

237 Black and White Warbler

Reference photo by Brian Hansen, with permission.

236 Patchwork

Having been a quilter for 30 plus years, I was immediately drawn to this scene, located in Marjeyoun, Lebanon, a beautiful village in the south.  I have always shied away from painting landscapes, but am learning so much by painting them, even if this isn't my usual style.

235 Path Among the Cedars

While in Lebanon, we visited the cedar forest at The Garden of the Gods.  Many of the trees are hundreds of years old with graceful branches.  It was a spectacularly beautiful and peaceful place.  Rather than taking down the dead cedars, a French artist carved many of them with faces and one with Jesus on the cross.  We saw the tree that is the image on the Flag of Lebanon and the image on the Lebanese passport.  Some of the trees were so large that when hollowed by time, two people could stand inside of them.  It was a memorable day.

234 Take Me Back Again

This is another painting of the same scene in Marjeyoun, Lebanon as painted about a week ago.  Please see my blog for the story of this painting.  I am having great difficulty getting the colors right in the photograph.  The background behind the trees is more greyish-light turquoise than appears here.

233 Inside of a Tulip

232 Exotic

231 Picasso and Me

I thought this would be an appropriate painting for today as I was in Chicago this weekend for the One of a Kind Art Show at the Merchandise Mart.  It was fabulous to see so many artists with their work.  I saw many familiar vendors but the biggest surprise was meeting fellow Daily Painter Angela Moulton there!  I recognized her work immediately before seeing her name and felt like I knew her.  I'm sure my bear hug and exuberance took her by surprise.  Her work is even more delightful in person--so fresh. 

230 Continuous

Apple peeling for Thanksgiving pie.

229 Sweetheart

228 Quartered

227 Fruit of the Gods

I have never eaten a persimmon, but I sure enjoy painting them. 

226 Take Me Back

This may just look like a row of pine trees to you, but to me it represents so much more, a feeling of solitude, of appreciation for the past and my ancestors, and awe for the sheer beauty and expanse of this beautiful place that is in southern Lebanon, the village of Marjeyoun.  I first saw this very long row of trees while visiting in 2008, and was so captivated by them.  I tried so hard to paint them several times, but no matter what I did, I was never happy with the painting.  Again in 2011, I visited and learned, to my surprise, that this row of trees was planted by my family so that they could readily have pine nuts.  With this simplified style of painting I am experimenting with, I thought it might work, especially in a smaller format.  I am pleased I could paint this scene and still have that special feeling inside of me as I recall this most spectacularly beautiful place.

225 Under the Golden Gate