"Greenfield Park Fragrance Garden"

Greenfield Park is a very large park in Wilmington, NC.  It is located near the center of town and is also a cypress inhabited area.  Around the lake are many wonderful vignettes just like this lovely spot.

                                                     watercolor and "Pitt" pen on 7 3/4" x 10 1/4" sketchbook page

"Wrightsville Beach 'Resting' "

I enjoyed the color of these neatly stored beach kayaks.  The rack is built along the shore of "Banks Channel" at Wrightsville Beach, NC.  It was challenging for me to get the perspective and construction of the racks along with the placement of the boats.

                                            watercolor on 10" x 7" sketchbook page

"New Hanover County Arboretum Beauty"

Here's another plein air from back in November at the New Hanover County Arboretum in Wilmington, NC.

                                                      watercolor and Pitt artist pen on 7" x 10" sketchbook page

"Snow's Cut"

A very pleasant day sketching a view of "Snow's Cut" at the point where it connects with the Cape Fear River at Carolina Beach State Park.

                                           watercolor on 10" x 7" sketchbook page

"Incoming Storm"

This was a late day storm approaching the NC coastline one evening during "cocktail" hour.  I sat on our balcony and enjoyed the beauty as I painted (glass of wine close by).

                                           watercolor on 10" x 7" sketchbook page

"Wax Myrtle"

Another plein air from our November trip to Wrightsville Beach, NC:

                                          watercolor and PITT artist pen on 10" x 7" sketchbook page

"July 4th 2015"

                                           'peach bottom' road view
                                           cool mountain air refreshes
                                           fourth of july fun

                                           water color on sketchbook page
                                           10" X 7"

O my!  What a delightful time we had on the 4th!  My family gathered at my nieces farm in "Laurel Springs" and had such fun.  She and her husband made good ole North Carolina bar-b-que and the rest of our clan brought all kinds of wonderful sides like fresh tomato sandwiches, green beans, squash, cucumber salad, potato salad, watermelon and an array of scrumptious delectable desserts.  The mountain air was so much cooler (mid 70's and low humidity) than down in the Piedmont plateau where we've experienced many days of 90's with high humidity.  We had such fun watching the kids swimming in the pond, jumping from paddle boats, and simply playing with gleeful abandon all day.  I personally enjoyed sitting under a large "shade tree"  while playing with my watercolors.  At dusk, Jason built a fire in their fire pit that was enjoyed by all as the temps continued to drop and displays of fireworks across the ranges (Jason's were the best!) were exchanged by several mountain inhabitants. I'll never forget this day.

Memorial Day Weekend

  The weather was so pleasant last weekend. I sat on the patio in our garden and did this watercolor sketch. I spent a couple hours the first day and then came back again the next day at the same time of day and spent about 30 mins. to finish it.
  It is painted on the cover of a new handmade sketchbook that was given to me.  I spoke (about plants and garden design) to a garden club a couple years ago and one of their members is a book binder who made this lovely book.  Why am I just now using it?  I just couldn't decide what I wanted to do with such a beautifully made book.  Well,  it finally occurred to me that of course it should be used to create sketches of gardens, trees and botanical studies.  So, I have broken the seal and the fun has begun!

                                                    

More Sketches from Thanksgiving Week

This day was cold and windy.  However, the sun was brightly shining and the bark and structure of these Sycamore trees  was too beautiful to resist sketching while sitting in the warmth of our car. "Precise" pen and a touch of watercolor.

An inside still life at our vacation retreat.  "Precise" pen, applying water for wash and some watercolor.

Thanksgiving Week

Over and over again I enjoy sketching/painting the interesting wind-swept  "Live Oak" trees at Fort Fisher. I did this while sitting in the front seat of our car on a windy, misty day during our holiday travels.

Earlier in the morning this amusing lavender colored house on Salisbury St. in Wrightsville Beach caught my eye.

"Charmed"

many hues abound
skies are Carolina blue
as Fall enchants us

"Precise" pen and watercolor
on sketchbook page

Last Weekend

Last weekend we went to Blowing Rock,  NC,  a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  I enjoyed sketching and the very pleasant cool temperatures.  We also spent some time in the very near town of Boone.

                                                     "Downtown Boone"
                                                    "Precise" pen
                                                     on sketchbook page

                                                    "Grandfather Mountain at Sunset"
                                                    "Precise" pen, graphite and watercolor
                                                     on sketchbook page

                                                    "By the Stream in Julian Price Park"
                                                     "Precise" pen and watercolor
                                                     on sketchbook page

                                                   "Tree Study" ( in Julian Price Park)
                                                   graphite and watercolor
                                                   on sketchbook page


                                                                        

                                                   "We Three" ( in Julian Price Park)
                                                   "Precise" pen and watercolor
                                                   on sketchbook page



                                                                                

                                                    "After Picnic" (in Julian Price Park)
                                                    "Precise" pen and watercolor
                                                    on sketchbook page