back in the flower field

 BACK IN THE FLOWER FIELD

 I had a chance to paint this past Sunday with my friend Barbara Clark.

We painted at one of our favorite gardens in Corrales.

I found a shady spot under the trees and set up my gear.

As I was setting up, a mama turkey

and four babies walked into my line of vision near the tomato plants.

They were SO cute!

The babies, I mean.

The mama just stared at me like she meant business

and I better not come any closer.

I didn't.

And I forgot to get a photo!

 This is my shady spot under the peach trees

 I did not want to get out of my bed on Sunday morning and almost didn't go.

I grabbed a limited palette - 
titanium white, cad yellow light, alizarin permanent, and ultramarine blue. 

 Man, I did not realize how hard it is (for me) to 

work with a limited palette.

There are some light magenta-looking hollyhocks 

in the background and if someone can tell me how to get that

color with only those four colors, let me know, because

I say it's IMPOSSIBLE.

You need a permanent rose, or a quinacridone magenta!

THIS color!

This was a beautiful hollyhock and

I didn't paint it because, 

well, I couldn't make it happen.

 coming along

"EARLY MORNING"

6x8"

I actually like the finished painting.

It has a soft, impressionistic feel.

I tried adding some magenta but it looked out of place.

Maybe a limited palette has its good points!

I finished that painting and wanted to paint 

something bigger but I didn't want to move

my chair out from the cozy shade.

As I looked around, I spotted Barb painting away.

She was in a little field of hollyhocks, coneflowers,

and other wildflowers.

So, she was my next subject!

I am sketching and blocking in here.

The painting has too much yellow but I was tired

of mixing greens and will do more work in the studio.

Not sure if this one is finished yet.

I will sit with it for a while.

So Barb and I were both happy and energized

when we finished. 

I hadn't actually painted since Questa on June 24, 

so I needed to get back to it.

Now on to the next one!