Plein Air in the Poconos

Last week, a small group of painters from the Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painter's participated in an overnight "paint out" at Graystone Preserve in the Poconos. The preserve is located near Hickory Run State Park in eastern Pennsylvania.

The incredible views were mesmerizing and so were the gorgeous colors of the changing Fall foliage. It made it difficult to pick a scene to paint plein air. However, rain quickly narrowed down a painting spot - the big porch of our rented cabin. 

Here's the painting that came out of my hands onto canvas:

The "almost" Final:

In-progress:

The Inspiration:

So many other possible scenes to paint back in my studio:

From what I learned, the property was purchased in the early 1900's by the Trojan Powder Company to test dynamite manufactured for the military. The company no longer exists, but the heirs continue to operate the property as Graystone Preserve. 

Graystone Preserve is a members-only organization. Lucky for us, a fellow painter is a member. She has amazing childhood memories of traversing the 4,000 acre property with her grandfather, an employee of the powder company. 

It's the Teeny Peony Things - Part 2

It's the teeny things, on teeny peonies, that when you take the time to look up close, are just as beautiful as the big things. 

 

See Part I here: http://www.cherylkugler.blogspot.com/2013/05/its-teeny-peony-things.html

For more Kugler art posts, follow: www.facebook.com/cherylkuglerart

You may also enjoy:
* The Ornithologist and the Bird Bath Spa
* Furniture Photo Shoot in the Garden
* The Purr-fect Vantage Point

Thanks for stopping by!

C

The Olde Pink House - it's for the birds!

A few weeks ago my husband announced that he was re-building a dilapidated, three story birdhouse that was falling apart in our shed garden. The existing birdhouse had seen it's day and needed to come down. He decided that he was going to build the new one all out of scrap wood. 'Works for me', I thought. And then later he mentioned that he was going to use up some pink paint we had in the basement. 'Sounds good', I responded.

Now, even though hubby says he's not an artist, and does a reasonable attempt at drawing stick figures, I think he is quite the creative guy. And, this birdhouse project is a perfect example.

You see, the The Olde Pink House restaurant in Savannah, Georgia is one of my hubby's and my favorite restaurants. The exterior is a pink stucco facade. On the first floor is fine dining, but we enjoy the tavern dining on the ground floor - it's so very charming, the menu is divine, and it's where the locals go. We cannot wait to go back and spend date night there.

So, when he brought the finished birdhouse up from his wood shop, it was painted a beautiful coral pink. Sweetly written in the top peak - "The Olde Pink House". Then above each of the three birdhouse holes:

• Ground floor hole: "Locals"


• Center floor hole: "Jacket and Tie Required"


• Loft floor hole: "Private Residence"

Pretty creative, eh?!

It will be interesting to see what birds decide to rent out the house over the summer. One thing is for sure, we can enjoy our own 'pink house' until we can get back to Savannah again.