New York City Urban Sketchers: The Video - Sketching Riverside South

New York City Urban Sketchers: The Video - Sketching Riverside South: This video shows our recent sketching adventure at Riverside South.  It was a great day of sketching as you

Shoes must be worn!

Summers are super hot in Arizona, but around Phoenix many shopping areas provide shady tables around splash-pads for children.  They are perfect places to relax and sketch.  This one was done at the Outlets at Anthem using my Micron pen and water-brush pen and a post-it carrying 3 dried colors of gouache in my Silver Sketchbook from Barnes and Noble.

#art4all  #sketchbookskool   An art community I keep in touch with asked me to scrutinized a tree today and draw or paint it.  I didn't think I would have time to do it, but after doing this watercolor sketch from my walk this morning, I discovered I have a tree for them, albeit a dead Mesquite tree.  The Mesquite branches wildly as if it had no particular idea where to go. Dry, grey and leafless it still seems to have a living presence.  I think I could compose music to its undulations.

Day at Mortimer Farms

My blog has been waiting patiently for me to return, while I was absorbed in an online class for the last few months.  Now my sketchbooks are full of adventures to share, so these posts will pop up regularly for awhile.  Also I invite you to view my monthly newsletter Sketching Adventures at www.DebbyRutherford.com

Quote for the Day:

              Art, more than words, invites the viewer into the conversation.

                                                                - Debby Lou Rutherford

Several weeks ago Jim and I enjoyed the bucolic setting at Mortimer Family Farms in Dewey, Arizona.  There are several events up there throughout the year where folks can enjoy old-timey music, agricultural fun and good food.  This is a place we'll visit frequently.

New Sketch Group!

      This little 8 x 8 oil sketch is the product of my time spent this morning with the Arizona Plein Air Painters at Lost Dutchman State Park.  What a pleasant way to start a Saturday!  Even though there was quite a cloud cover the yellow blooming Palo Verde trees seem to glow with a light of their own. 
     Tomorrow is Easter and I look forward to celebrating with my friends our risen Lord Jesus Christ, the true light who gives life to us through his sacrifice and resurrection!

Cave Creek Hideaway

First I want to thank our Father in heaven along with a the multitude of friends and family who have been praying for my nephew Joe who has been very ill.  I join them in gratitude, because he is at last home again with his wife and children and progressing toward health.

Its been too long since I posted last!! 
I hope that posting this today will get me back on track. 
I promise not  too blast you with so many pictures next time
 - its just that I am having such a lovely Saturday and wanted to share.

A couple of these are watercolors I did this morning while walking on the trails, and the rest are snapshots of flowers and cacti along the way.  Do you think I'll turn any of them into an oil painting today?

Overcast Morning at Lake Bartlett

...it is good for me to draw near to God:  I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Thy works.  - Psalm 73: 28

Overcast Morning at Bartlett Lake,  10 x 10 oil on canvas

Well, its been too long since my last post.  I'll try to do better.  Thank you to Patrick for finding this spot for one of our September painting meet-ups.  One thing you might notice is that the foothills look further away in the photograph than in the painting.  The camera does that, and that's one of the many reasons some painters prefer to paint a scene on site.  Another thing you can see is that I tried to match the colors of the land and water.  An artist doesn't always choose to use the actual colors in an outdoor scene.  Its fun to be bold and creative with color, and can yield some stunning results.  But sometimes I want to remember a spot just the way it looked and felt when I was there.  And this cool peaceful shore is one I wanted to revisit whenever I see my painting on the wall. 

I can only imagine. . .
       - Bart Millard

In the Morning, 11x14 oil (still in the works)



     I've been working a couple mornings on this scene from a shady pavilion at a northern entrance to Phoenix Mountains Preserve.  There'll be some color corrections and some rocks and details in the foreground before I am finished.   Though I go alone to this spot I end up enjoying conversations with several different people who stop by one or two at a time.  We talk like old friends, just appreciating the beauty of God's creation, sharing things that spark fond memories, sharing current interests and projects.  One man spoke of how his mother and father painted, each in different styles and mediums.  Someone asked if I was going to put a haze across the mountain.  Another really admired the fence when I was working on it.  Another was glad to show me his own artistic paintings of cars, which he had on his phone.  One cyclist just stopped to watch quietly, and wished me a pleasant day as he left.  One lady talked about her dog and how he would love to get home to the swimming pool.  Two park volunteers shared enthusiastically about their work watching out for the safety of people on trails.  I took their card and might look into volunteering for the parks. 
     For me, these interactions with supposed strangers who don't seem like strangers at all, is as uplifting and fulfilling as singing in a choir or the praise team at church.  Its a foretaste of God's renewed creation, when redeemed voices and lives will blend in joyous harmony.  I can only imagine!

In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future's broadening way;  
In peace tat only Thou canst give,
With Thee, O Master, let me live!
                            - Washington Gladden, 1879

Mission Trails Morning, 11 x 14 oil

 

During our recent vacation with family in California I was privileged to paint with the San Diego Plein Air Painters group at a couple locations.  Beautiful Southern California!  Now that we live only 5 hours away, I hope to go there often to capture the hills, the ocean and the historical landmarks. (and catch a Padres game!)

 

Me painting at Mission Trails Park north of San Diego



In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future's broadening way;
In peace that only Thou canst give,
With Thee, O Master let me live!

Those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

 – James 3: 18

 

Peaceful Garden I, 16 x 12 oil

This painting is close to finished - needs some flowers I think.  Thank you to our friend Mike for sharing his wonderful garden with Arizona Plein Air Painters last Wednesday.  There was plenty of shade and plenty of photo-worthy scenes to keep me busy painting even when its too hot to be outside this Summer.  What is it about stone, water and plants that refreshes the soul?  I don't know, but I thank God for little oasis of peace. 

(plural for oasis?  oasi?  oasises?)

New Painting - Birds Preening at Saguaro Lake

How many are your works, Lord!  In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
- Psalm 104: 24

Birds Preening at Saguaro Lake, 8 x 10 oil

 

I've started using Utrecht artist grade oil paints - love them! 

 

This painting I started on site a couple weeks ago while we were out with our painting group.  After a couple hours Jim and I were ready for breakfast, so we ordered delicious omelets at the restaurant by the marina, one of our new favorite places to eat.  I had to chop the sky off to fit my camera's frame and show you the rocks in the foreground.  The rocks under the shallow water and the birds on the rocks are my favorite parts of the painting.  I hope you enjoy them, too!

Painting of - er - the week!

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. - Psalm 18: 32
 

Walk in the Foothills I, oil 12 x 16

This is another Plein Air painting I started on site one morning last week, and finished at home today - well, as finished as its going to get - its hard to know when to stop!  I hope it gives you the sense of the sprawl of the residential areas between the foothills, and the cool shade I found to set up my easel.  Yes, astute viewer, the foothills are really shaped that way (I think Dr. Suess must have been inspired by Phoenix.)  I'm trying to finished unfinished work this week; next up will be a Plein Air oil of Saguaro Lake.

Many are the plans in a human heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. - Proverbs 19: 21

Ocotillo in April , 20 x 16 oil on canvas

 

The desert flora is bursting with happy pinks, oranges and yellows at this time of the year.  This robust Ocotillo, easily 10 feet tall, is in my front yard and I enjoyed painting from the shade of the carport, and visiting with friendly neighbors who stopped by to chat.

 

Painting of the Day - Contemplation

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things that are not seen are eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4: 18

Contemplation, 8 x 10 pastel

 

 

I painted this on site at Spur Cross Conservation area last Wednesday.  My friend, Paris, is in the foreground planning her watercolor painting.  We go to places of astounding beauty to paint, but more lovely is the painter's spirit, which unlike the mountains and foliage, is unseen yet eternal.  Its the thing that brings exclamations of awe to the lips of my friends and I, and partakes of the shapes, colors, temperatures, textures, values, perspective, fragrance and mood of the beauty God has placed before us for our enjoyment during our stay in this temporal world.

Painting of the Day - Patio Roses II

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. - Psalm 51: 10

Patio Roses II, 8x acrylic

 







Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. - Proverbs 16: 3

Rider at Dusk

8 x 10 acrylic

 

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. - Ephesians 5: 21

This study of Pinnacle Peak was painted by me with helpful intervention from some wonderful new artist friends during our Wednesday morning Plein Air meet this week.  8 x 10 pastel.

 

What a great painting morning we had!  About 7 artists showed up and everyone was eager to interact and take interest in each others' work.  Afterwards we had a lovely brunch at The General Store restaurant/antique shop at Pinnacle Peak. 

 

Special thanks to Gary Bender, President of the Arizona Pastel Artists, for encouraging me to try my pastels this time.