I am getting geared up for Thanksgiving in Santa Fe with friends. Here are the statuesque hollyhocks that are often pictured next to rustic Santa Fe doors.
"Camellia Forest" (Charleston Plantation) by Ann McCann 11 X 14 Oil
I was doing inventory the other day and found this canvas that I have never posted here. It pictures a camellia forest we visited in Charleston last December. The camellia plants were the size of trees and soft light filtered through the forest. I like the abstractness of this painting with the glowing colors in the background.
"Zinnia Field" by Ann McCann 9 X 12" Oil
This is a field of zinnia flowers that I visited at the Wild Seed Farm in Fredericksburg, Texas, two weeks ago. It was 97 degrees, but the flowers were loving the sun.
Watercolor Rose & Iris by Ann McCann
I took a watercolor course from Janet Rogers last week and learned a lot about painting flowers. Above are my early attempts. I plan to do more!
"Hill Country Sunset" by Ann McCann 9 X 12" Oil
While competing in the Good Art Company Plein Air Event two weeks ago, I captured this image at sunset. We were on the Baron Creekside Resort. Their vineyard is off to the right behind the fence. I loved the silhouettes of the gnarly live oak trees against the bright colors of the sunset.
"Fredericksburg Cabins" by Ann McCann 9 X 12" Plein Air Oils
These are the two cabin paintings I created at the Good Art Company Plein Air Event last week. The bottom one was mine and the top was occupied by a fellow painter. They were very quaint and quirky. Mine had a sink in an old hand wringer washing machine and vintage doors in the ceiling! We were on the property of the Baron Creekside Resort.
"The Vineyard" by Ann McCann from the Good Art Company Plein Air Competition in Fredericksburg, TX
I participated in my first plein air competition this week in Fredericksburg, Texas sponsored by the Good Art Company. We painted at the Baron Creekside resort. This is their vineyard. I painted 3 paintings in one day, a record for me! This is the one I turned in for the competition. I will post the other two as I complete them. Great fun!
"The Promise" by Ann McCann 20 X 20" Oil
I named this The Promise because it is my daughter’s wedding bouquet, and I see it as a commitment to a lifetime of love, support and companionship. It is primarily bougainvillea (plentiful in Israel) and roses. They were bouquets of these on every table, beautiful!
"Room with My View" by Ann McCann 16 X 20" Oil
When I saw this view from the Dunvegan Castle window in Scotland, I wanted to own it. Can you imagine being able to look at this every day with your morning coffee! The niches in the stone fence outside the window are for cannons. The white structure in the left distance is an old lighthouse.
"Heather Hills in Quiraing" (Isle of Skye) by Ann McCann 9 X 12" Oil
The landscape at Quiraing is unbelievable, hard to describe- strange shaped mountains, alien looking rock outcroppings and green for as far as you can see. The purple heather was also blooming when we were there so, as usual, I focused on the flowers.
"Edinburgh Castle" by Ann McCann 9 X 12" Oil
In August , we went to Princess St Park in Edinburgh to paint flowers as their gardens are wonderful. However, when we got there and looked up, this castle filled the sky. It is enormous and sits on a mountain of stone. So, we had to paint it, all three of us.
Hydrangea Stairway (Princess St Park, Edinburgh) by Ann McCann 9 X 12" Oil
This is a lovely city park in Edinburgh. The hydrangeas were blooming profusely along these elegant stairs in August. You know me, I can’t resist the flowers.
"Skye Harbor Garden" (Isle of Skye, Scotland) by Ann McCann 9 X 12" Oil
This was a very grey day at the Isle of Skye harbor in Scotland. Ever notice that when the day is very cloudy, the greens just pop. Well, that was happening here when we were plein air painting a flower garden on the harbor. The red flowers were practically screaming too. Gorgeous place.
"Isle of Skye Inn" The Ben Tianavaig Inn in Portree, Isle of Skye, Scotland. 9 X 12" Oil on archival panel.
This is the first of four canvases from my painting trip to Scotland that I have finished. In a town of gray and black stone, this coral building really stood out. I fell in love with the flower baskets.