Radicchio

The field at Full Circle Farm with, from left to right, green cabbage, radicchio, escarole, red cabbage, a single row of red lettuce and green lettuce. Maybe another brassica like cabbage on the far right. I wanted to show the mixed farming that is healthier for land and crops than massive mono cultures of big ag. It also produces a beautiful patchwork of delicious colors. This is 12 inches and was painted outside.

While we were down in the field Jessica picked this young radicchio for me and I took it home to my studio to paint. I can eat it now that it has been recorded! 

Tractor Tracks

Thanks to Jessica at Full Circle Farm for showing me around and letting me hitch a ride on the pick up. The roads are a bit bumpy. And thanks to Christina for welcoming me each morning.

Farm Skies

I have been looking so hard at the land but a farm sky is an amazing thing.

Two Studies from Full Circle Farm

A small study of the berry field at Full Circle Farm. I think of it as "August Sun and September Shadows" There is also something about it that reminds me of the art on those cheesy calendars we used to find hanging in abandoned farm houses in New Brunswick.

A little sketch of Griffin Creek which is the salmon stream that runs through the farm. The shade and overhanging branches create important habitat. I sat on a narrow wooden foot bridge while I painted this and was scared of dropping any brushes or leaning back suddenly and falling into the water. Despite this it was such a treat to paint on a sunny hot day in September in such a magical place! 

A Painting for Snoqualmie Valley Tilth

I am donating this little painting to an auction to support Sno Valley Tilth. The auction will be held at Jubilee Farm near Carnation on September 24 and you can read about it here. Tilth organizations in the area support sustainable farming and gardening. The painting measures 5x7 inches.

This landscape sketch of beautiful Oxbow Farm shows some radicchio that has gone to flower . And the golden yellow leaves of the cranberry shelling beans from the upper painting! It measures 9x12 inches.

Thanks to Luke, Sarah, Adam, Megan and everyone for letting me sit in their fields at Oxbow while they worked.

Sitting in Farm Fields

I started my new series painting the sustainable organic farms of the Snoqualmie Valley! While the weather is good I have been sitting in the fields painting out of doors and it has been dreamy. This is a 12 inch sketch of the lake at Oxbow Farm which has a restored wetland. 

It is a challenge to paint quickly "en plein air" as opposed to my usual studio style and I have been toying with approaching it in various styles but this one is a basic impressionist study.  I'll take my little studies into the studio soon and make some large and detailed pieces in my usual style. 

Plein Air

I haven't posted for a while because we finally got some real summer weather and I have been outside. I've been taking the easel up to the roof deck to paint "en plein air" with the sun on my shoulders. Here are zuccinis from my farm box (with a cucumber I grew myself!) And blackberries from the alley. 

The light shifts so quickly that a very fast, sloppier painting style is necessary than my usual. It suits the relaxed feeling of summer. These paintings are 12 inches square.