Pears and Broccoli

On an early March morning, I discovered a blue wheelbarrow in a garden which was within a pear orchard in Walnut Grove, located in the Sacramento River delta area, south of Sacramento.  The cerulean blue of the wheelbarrow was a beautiful contrast to the early Spring pear blossoms in the background.  This painting brings back memories of that early Spring morning, painting among the brilliant pear blossoms sharing their light with the blue sky.  This painting has been showing at the Folsom Art Association show at the Harris Center, Folsom Lake College, this summer through August 31st.


The second painting was also painted in the early morning this last February at a junior high school garden.  The preliminary painting was begun on the morning of the school's first ever broccoli harvest.  Community volunteers and students came out to harvest the broccoli which was going to be utilized at the Davis School District central kitchen for student lunches.  By the end of the harvest days in February, 600 pounds of broccoli were harvested.

This painting of the Broccoli harvest was donated to The Village Feast fundraiser this month for the Davis Farm to School and Yolo Farm to Fork programs.  This fundraiser, The Davis Village Feast, is patterned after the "Le Grand Aioli," the food feast that is a summer tradition in Provence, France. (http://www.davisvillagefeast.org)  It was truly great food and conversation at this summer feast.  A good way to bring August to a close and begin to prepare for the autumn season ahead.

Spring Into Summer

This Spring I found myself painting almond blossoms up close here in northern California.  The blossoms gave a silvery cast to the early Spring morning sky.  The blossoms so delicate would give way to the beginnings of almonds on the sturdy branches of these trees that will be experiencing Spring and enduring the summer heat ahead.

As June leads into the serious summer months of July and August, I also decided to repaint an artwork that I had titled "Road Home."  This new revision, "Road Home Revisited," hopefully has a better perspective, better value ranges shown that the first attempt.  Always learning, new insights, perspectives, continuing to travel that road.

Winter or is it Spring?

Here in northern California, we just had some welcome rain; however, we hope for more before Spring blooms fully in April.  While we wait and hope for a little more of that rain, early Spring is showing itself.  As I drive around town this month, the fruit trees are showing their white and pink fragile petals.  The daffodils are giving way to azaleas and the deer, too, hear sounds of the coming Spring near the American River.  During this winter time, I also think back to last autumn's trip to Montana and the horses there were able to roam free near Glacier National Park.  One horse came close to me as if we were having a conversation.  It was one of those moments, I will remember.  Glimpses of wild nature, just like the two deer I saw moving through the brush near the river. Early Spring.

Hope Valley Light

Hope Valley light in the snow.  Walking in the cold and taking in the brisk mountain air, and then just around the bend, there it is- a special late autumn light setting a lone tree aglow against the dark green of the pine trees surrounding it.  These are the moments that I cherish and make me want to go out again hoping to eventually see that unplanned discovery of light that can only be revealed outdoors and capture that moment in a sketch or a painting.  This watercolor was of such a discovery during last year's late autumn in the Hope Valley area of the Sierra mountains.  Wanted to share with you and wish you a warm holiday season.

Harvest

Harvest season- A time to "bring in," to harvest what was planted and explored in Spring and Summer.  This fall I had a painting (inspired by these Spring and Summer painting experiences)  shown here, "Phoenix Vernal Pools" that was shown at the Splash Education Center juried exhibit located near Sacramento.  I enjoyed exploring and painting these vernal pools which only appear in the Spring and learning about the Splash Education Center that offers science education programs to elementary school students in the Sacramento Valley.  This education center, I learned this Spring and summer,  provides students opportunities  to explore the Mather vernal pools, wetlands and prairie landscapes located in western Sacramento County, while learning how to observe, analyze and make comparisons.  

I also have another painting, "Road to Kisi Farm" in another current exhibit this fall at the Gallery 625 in Woodland, CA.  The proceeds of this exhibit and art auction benefit Yolo Arts, and the Yolo Land Trust that both provide opportunities for classes and experiences for art students of all ages and their programs also highlight and support the important work of the Yolo farming and ranching community.  My painting and all of the other art entries, including my husband's  photography, can be seen at www.yoloarts.org/programs-and-services/exhibitions

Through the above experiences this Spring and Summer, I have gained knowledge and a deeper appreciation for the agricultural community and the biologists at the Splash Education Center, who are not only working and preserving the landscape but also have developed programs to educate students on the valuable work they do and the importance of sustaining the landscape.

Wishing you a warm harvest this autumn!



 

Thoughts from the pond

 

This time of year, June and July, the dragonflies are very present in and around our garden koi pond.  The dragonfly has always been a special symbol for me  of transformation from cocoon to dragonfly in flight.  As I continue to develop new skill and insight in drawing and painting, I feel the slow transformation that a dragonfly-to-be must feel.

 

There have been new beginnings or re-beginnings in other areas also this summer.  Our venture into gardening this season has produced a small yield so far; however, what a delight it has been to harvest a zucchini or a few tomatoes in the garden and I am beginning to learn what to do next year differently in planting. 

 

Also, this last winter and Spring I worked on and completed a large painting of the Carson River (this river is located in Hope Valley in the Sierra), which as of this month is now being displayed at Folsom City Hall in Folsom, CA.  And, after a fifteen year hiatus, my husband has returned to Sierra fishing and we hope to visit our old favorite fishing spots this summer and I hope for new sketches and paintings to share with you.

 

Also, a new beginning this Spring, involved creating a new website (www.marytheresestudio.com)

I welcome your feedback on this  site.

 

Summer, I am finding out, can be a time of transformation and renewal to prepare for the harvest in the fall and the holiday season.  Wishing you gentle transformation and renewal in whatever area that you want to explore.  Wishing you a happy and fruitful summer.



River in the Valley

This Spring I took walks along the American River Parkway and explored the walking paths at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center.  From my river walks, I prepared  a painting to enter in the 4^th annual “Painting Where the Wild Things Are” art show, auction and gala.  This is an annual fundraiser for the E.Yeaw Nature Center, a non-profit environmental educational and visitor center operated by the American River Natural History Assn. (ARNHA). I was honored to have one of my paintings juried into this show.

The 77-acre nature preserve (www.sacnaturecenter.com) has interpretive trails that run along the American River.  On my walks I saw deer, egrets, rabbits and wild turkeys.  The center’s educational programs introduce  the local community and visitors to the wonder of this very special river parkway.