Dog in the Field

This is what  spring looks like around here  now. Every yard has forsythia and the soft pastel colors of greens and reds are filling out in trees and hedges. The false hope of having an early garden vanished as the warm weather of early April  turned cool and wet.  As much as I want to plant the garden the cool wether prolongs spring. It  develops slower, over several weeks to a month, so i enjoy it  for a longer time.

I painted this scene in my yard with Mira my dog. She did not pose. I have many photos of her. She is an active dog and the only time Mira is still is when she is sleeping. 

The birds are singing all day and the peeps  are singing at night. All is well on Back Cove

Audrey

dog in the field acrylic 14x18.JPG

 

forsythia hedge oil on panel 15x20

 

Easter

Happy Easter everyone.  

I hope the Easter bunny brought you something nice. I had friends over for a delicious dinner and we had a loverly evening together. What could be better then being with friends and family that you love.

Easter for me symbolizes rebirth, new ideas, creation, immortality of our soul. 

Spring is here. The warm winter and lack of snow has helped spring to arrive early. I keep a record of when the first daffodils open and when the frogs start to peep and croak. This year the bull frog in my yard pond started to croak on the first day of spring March 21, and a rumble came out of the swamp a few days latter. The daffodils are fully open in front of the house. I have eaten chives and dandelions, the grass is getting green and the flocks of robins are on the lawns looking for worms. I wake up in the morning to the sound of singing birds. Winters sleep is over and the alarm clock has rung. New life pushes up through the ground and buds swell on the trees. It makes me glad to watch spring unfold. I planted beets and spinach and peas, which I have never done this early is the season. So I wish everyone a happy spring. Get outside and breath the air, look at everything and put your hands in the dirt. Who knows  what changes can take place with an open heart.

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lily reflection

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA         

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farm road 20x24 acrylic

I painted this painting a weak ago, then I got the flu and I haven't recovered enough to paint, no energy.

I live on a small peninsula. At the end of a dirt road is a private island with a gate. I like to walk  there in the winter  which is possible this winter with the lack of snow. There are several summer homes  that use this road.

farm road 20x24 acrylic

http://www.bechler-arts.com/audrey/paintings/newwork_fr.html         

cabbage and kale

 It is dark and rainy today. The fire is going, the room is warm  and I have settled down to paint. 

I have a friend that likes my garden paintings, all of which have been sold. It has been a few years since I have painted one, as I have been interested in other subjects. This friend asked me to paint a garden scene so I will make a few before I get back to my abstracts. I won't be going out to the garden to paint right now but I have taken many photos of the flowers and vegetables.  i picked some kale yesterday for dinner. Even though it has been covered by snow and frozen, when the temperature  is above freezing the kale unthaws and is good to pick. 

cabbage and kale, watercolor 14x21

http://www.bechler-arts.com/audrey/paintings/newwork_fr.html

winter night

I did this painting  from a sketch of a house in Waldoboro, a number of years ago and it sold. I thought it appropriate since we have had a few days of very cold weather. 

All the Christmas decorations are put away and it is time to do some serious painting.

winter night

 

http://www.bechler-arts.com/audrey/paintings/newwork_fr.html

wet snow

It has been snowing all day. wet and sticking to everything, so it looks like a lot more snow then has accumulated about 4 or 5 inches. Mira has been out running about  but not me. I did my walking on the exercise bike. I have a fire in the wood stove  making the room cozy and I have my paints out and I am painting!! . Yes I am working on the commission of the cove scene for Lynn my neighbor.  

This  scene was painted looking out the bedroom window 

wet snow

 http://www.bechler-arts.com/audrey/paintings/newwork_fr.html

Christmas letter

xmas_2011.rtfd.zip Download this file

Every Christmas I write a letter that is a review of some of the events of my life. Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. It is a time when people are kinder to each other. I love the stories, music, decorations, lights, family gatherings  and best of all I love a live balsam fir tree that reaches the ceiling decorated with ornaments and lights. I celebrate Christ's birth, his energy of light, love and hope, transcending and overcoming darkness.  

winter early evening