Sometimes you predict wrong

I thought that when the afternoon sun hit this house it would be stunning, so I sketched the architecture and painted the tree waiting for the  light to be just right  on the house.  The sun never  performed-- it only hit the corner of the house bouncing a little light onto the porch.  At that point, instead of the white house with its shadows being the star of the painting, it became a beautiful background to the magnificent old maple tree.  Sometimes you predict wrong, but get a wonderful outcome anyway.

Shadows on a White House

Three elements attracted me to this painting:  the white house with morning shadows, and  the spirea  and the kerria bushes, both in full bloom.  I painted this as quickly as I could, spotting the shadows in early because I knew they would change and not be as exciting.  I wanted to show the action of the breeze and flowing shadows with the changing shadow colors.  This painting feels like a beautiful day in spring!

Summer in Cades Cove, Tennessee

Note the difference in summer light-- much hazier, more atmosphere and rich summer shadows.

Late Afternoon in Lookout Valley

Afternoon in the autumn brings out the best colors--- clear blue sky and golden tones on an already golden landscape make this painting so vibrant.

That Little White dog

Sometimes a white painting has no white at all. Just light in key spots will make the painting work.