BLESSED RAIN

After a long, very dry summer, we finally got rain....buckets and buckets of rain! 

After the first good one, I drove to our usually bone dry Rillito River to see what I could see.

And then, of course, I had to paint what I had seen.  So, I did this little study on a canvas panel.

RILLITO FILLING
9 X 12 ON CANVAS PANEL

I have to be honest.  The water really didn't look like that.  It looked like this. 

 But who would want a painting of such a muddy mess?

People around here don't care if the water is muddy though.  They are just happy to see water running in our rivers.  Muddy or  not, it's still a grand opportunity for boys...big and small....to practice their rock skipping skills.

That little study I did told me it wanted to be bigger.  So, I did another take on the river scene.

MONSOON SHADOWS
16 X 20 ON CANVAS

I've been re-working some old canvases that I'd done bad paintings on.  This one had been a poor attempt at capturing all the luscious green grass in nearby ranch country after last year's good rains.  Green is hard, as any landscape painter will testify.  I think I made it better.

 TALL GRASS TIME

18 X 24  GALLERY WRAP CANVAS

I'll get these added to my website soon....and then.....I get to paint some more!

my website

Have I ever mentioned that I'm grateful for the joy of painting?

Oh...and I am also very,very grateful for all that blessed rain!

My love poem to rain.

Palo Verde and Ocotillo

Oleander and Bougainvillea

Writhe in ecstatic love dance with the wind.

Semi-sheltered ‘neath the corrugated tin roof of my patio

Watching rain pour off like strands of liquid silver

Face kissed by windblown mist

Outstretched feet bathed in liquid love.