Art and Much More

Another week has passed and it's been a busy one. It's also been a week where spring has arrived complete with sunshine, warm air - a few days felt downright summery - and tree pollen, which is giving everything a thick dusting of light green and making many people sneeze.

I've been busy painting. Small paintings like this horse. Can you see it in the background photo below?

Another small painting - a fun bird!

I saw him right away in the shapes of the background below.

This was the final small painting of this last week. Love the closeup of the owl face. The horse and the owl have already flown off to their new homes. This little paintings don't stick around for long. I'm grateful!  

Now here finally is the finished large painting of the alligator and his friend, the kingfisher. This is such a fun canvas size - 12 x 36 inches (31 x 91 cm).

I loved painting this keeping my palette to three colors plus white: Naphthol Red, Payne's Grey and Phthalo Green (blue shade). 

The funny thing is that I started the background with the red and blue because I still had a lot on my palette from another painting and didn't want to waste it.
Then I liked it so much that I only added the green for the gator and left it at that. I like both challenges - using many colors and making it work or using only two or three.

This was a very quick sketch for a larger painting I want to do soon.  I liked her pose.

Aside from making art, I went to the beach one morning just for a long walk. It was so beautiful. 

 The sun was shining and it was warm. Even warm enough to walk barefoot and put my feet in the (still cold) water.

Then, one evening I met Daniel in town after he was done teaching and we spent some time at our favorite rooftop restaurant/bar on the Savannah River.

We were in luck in that two big container ships made their way past us.

A perfect evening!

Of course with the warmer weather nature is exploding and with that our garden. Even the frogs are coming out of hibernation... 

And our fig tree, which last week was still completely bare, now is full of leaves and already has little figs growing. How amazing is that?!

I'm linking - as usual - to the fun and always inspiring Paint Party Friday. It's always an inspiration to visit everyone's beautiful art blogs!

And to you all a beautiful, warm, sunny and creative week!!

With love and joy,

❧ Silke