Animal Wednesday: 100 on the cuteness meter!

I was on my way to Tiverton the other day to drop off more paintings and cards to the gallery when I decided to go down a side road to look for photo opportunities.

Look who I found!

He's such a short, stocky little guy and soooo friendly!! He wasn't camera shy at all.

This is his beautiful friend. She was protective of her little guy ;)

Awwwwww! 100% on the cuteness meter!

Rhode island has many beautiful marshes. I took this shot to hopefully use for a painting one day soon. I'd love to live in one of those houses and have this quiet view.

I believe this is Sapowket Marsh. Many of the names are from Native Americans who were here first.

This is a small pond in someone's front yard. Such pretty reflections.

It was a wonderful day followed by clam chowder and beer battered fries for lunch.

Happy Animal Wednesday and happy Fall!

xo♥

Skywatch Friday: Egrets, water and sky

I took this shot in November when the temperatures were teasing us into thinking Winter wouldn't arrive. Today it's below freezing! I think I'll look at this photo and climb back in time.

Happy Skywatch Friday my friends. Please stop by to see other skies at the Skywatch site!

Six Word Saturday

November wind

leaves confetti

on

water

For more Six Word Saturdays, go here.

Skywatch Friday: Early Autumn in Rhode island

This is my first Autumn back in New England after being in Calif for 16 years.

I'll come back to this spot many times as the leaves start to turn their vibrant oranges, reds and golds.

Days like this don't get any better! Happy Skywatch Friday everyone.

Please go here to see more pretty pictures ;)

Illustration Friday: Pattern

For those of you who know my art you know that pattern is ever-present in nearly everything I draw or paint. I was going to show all of the past images that I did on patterned paper, but I chose instead to show two paintings I did with cloud patterns. One is in the west and one is here on the east coast.

I loved the rolling golden hills of California with the clouds and trees casting shadow patterns in subtle shades of blue and violet.

Now that I'm back in Rhode Island I get to see the change of seasons again. I love the marshes here, each with their own signifcant pattern. As the temperatures fall the grasses change color just as the leaves on the trees would.

The gold and amber striations make yet another pattern where there used to be lush green. Everywhere we look we see patterns in nature. To me, that's a perfect world and I try to savor every moment of it.

Six Word Saturday

Alone in my thoughts,

meandering

blue.

IF : Late October Reflections

I love sitting by the marsh late in the afternoon, especially in October.

Maxfield Parrish skies reflected on the glass-like surface of the water, and for a moment I was convinced I saw hundreds of shimmering Koi. Since this wasn't likely the case, I took a closer look and realized it was fallen leaves. They looked like tiny flames on the pond's surface, extinguishing themselves by eventually sinking to the bottom.

As I looked across the marsh I smiled at the reflection of three cypress trees together. Those of you who know my work know they represent my three late cats. I honor them in my paintings whenever I can.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Thanks for stopping by my 200th post!

(For Illustration Friday : Late)

IF : The Water Is Wide

The water is wide I can't cross over

And neither have I got wings to fly

Give me a boat that can carry two

And both shall row my love and I

For Illustration Friday's prompt : wide.

This is "Summer Storm", the first painting I did in my marsh series. The best version I could find of the song "The Water Is Wide" is being sung by Rory Block, but unfortunately it's not the entire song...so enjoy the first verse! Click to enlarge the painting if you wish.

IF: Signs of Stillness

I love marshes. There's something calming and serene about them. They're uncluttered by man-no signs sticking up out of the grasses telling us who to vote for or what to buy. The only signs of life are the birds that reside there like Egrets, Herons, Peregrine Falcons and Redwing Blackbirds. There are frogs, of course, and in some areas, otters.

You can sense the stillness of the water reflecting the twilight sky. The ever so gentle "hush" of the grasses when an errant breeze passes through. Perhaps the song of a cricket or two. And all is right with the world.

"Stillness" First in a series of marshes painted last week in the studio. Acrylic on canvas 24"x36" . (I've been hoping for a word to use this for.) Click to enlarge.