Girl and Urn and Cylburn Garden

Girl and Urn, in progress 18x24, Patricia Bennett

 The young lady is posing for us at the Zoll Studio.  I decided I wanted the lovely poppies and trees at Cylburn to be in the background and foreground.  So, I photographed the poppies and urn as reference.

I'm making the trees muddier and warmer than they are, and dulling down the sky.  If the sky were too bright and the trees too green, it would not make sense with the warm shadows on her skin.

Garden at Cylburn, in progress 18x18, Patricia Bennett

This was started yesterday, it's an enchanting garden on the way to the Tyson Mansion at Cylburn Arboretum.  I was joined by a fellow painter for part of the time.

Some children's work from the Plein Air Class

I led the first Artist in Residence plein air class for children this Sunday.  Here are a couple of the plein air watercolors.  

It was overcast, perfect for plein air, and we sat near the poppies in front of the Tyson Mansion.

Flowers by Hake, age 6

Stone Wall, by Brade Hake, age 5

Striated Irises and Girl in Sarong

Striated Irises, 18x24, Patricia Bennett

These irises are blooming at Cylburn Arboretum in several locations on the property.  The ones depicted in this painting are off of the main porch.  I set up my easel on the porch and have painted them for three sittings.  

Blue Sarong Start, 18x24, Patricia Bennett

 She is the daughter of one of the people in the painting group on Tuesday nights at the Zoll Studio.  I am trying to do something interesting with the background by connecting the light and the dark shapes.  We have one more week with her posing for us.

Market Day at Cylburn Arboretum 2013

Market Day at Cylburn Arboretum 2013, 14x14, Patricia Bennett 

A beautiful day for Market Day, despite occasional rain.

I was set up under a walnut tree, and painted the Mount Washington Garden Club tent as well as another tent.

People used red and green wagons to carry off their plant purchases.

The sky was overcast until about 2pm and whenever it began to rain, I went onto the elaborate stone porch of the Tyson mansion, where I had an Artist of Residence table set up.

And thanks to the Mount Washington Garden Club for all of their generosity.  And to Karen Smith who lent me her 10x10 tent which took off last night in a gust of wind.  And of course thanks to the lovely people of the Cylburn Association who are so dedicated to this special place.

Children on Bench in Spring

Children on Bench in Spring, 14x14, Patricia Bennett

I painted this today, and a couple of children sat on the bench for a few moments so I put them in.  The children really  made the painting more interesting for me!

This painting has thicker paint, applied with a palette knife.  It is very challenging to paint lots of flowers and leaves without overdoing the detail!  The plants in the foreground are daffodils.

School for the Cathedral Hon Ball Painting

Hon Ball at the Hippodrome, almost done, Patricia Bennett, 24x36

I worked on the faces in the center tonight, and will sign this and complete it very soon.

If you are in the painting, please know that I am giving away twenty greeting cards with the image on them!