"Grand Red Roof" by Beth Bathe

"Grand Red Roof", 9 x 12, oil on panel, en plein air

Sunday I went in search of some of the last snow in the fields. This grand barn with it's red roof is a wonderful example of the beautiful Amish farms here in Lancaster County. It was a cold brisk day, but very peaceful. While painting the only sound I cold hear was the sound of the whistling wind and the clip clop of the hooves from Amish buggies, so peaceful.

"Late Winter View of Rockville Bridge" by Beth Bathe

"Late Winter View of Rockville Bridge", 8 x 10 oil on panel, en plein air

Saturday I ventured out into the slightly above freezing temps to paint outdoors. The Rockville Bridge, north of Harrisburg PA, at the time of its completion in 1902, was, and remains, the longest stone masonry arch rail viaduct in the world. This view of the bridge shows the mighty Susquehanna River still covered in ice. This will probably be the last weekend of so much ice and snow with temps climbing above the 50s by mid week.

"Guilin Pink Parasol" by Beth Bathe

"Guilin Pink Parasol", 6 x 8, oil on panel

This past September I had the privilege of traveling to China with artist Qiang Huang.
While visiting the city of Guilin, we noticed how many of the people on the street shielded the sun with bright colored umbrellas. The street was a type of stone which looked wet and picked up all the fantastic colorful reflections! I have so many wonderful photos and memories, and look forward to many new paintings.

"Morning Ride" by Beth Bathe

"Morning Ride", 8" x 10", oil on panel

Enough of the snow already! How about a beach scene? This is a shot I took at dawn at Huntington State Park in South Carolina in August. I love the refections of the sky in the water left on the beach after high tide. I can almost hear the waves...

"My Valentines" by Beth Bathe

"My Valentines", 6" x 6", oil on panel

Happy Valentines Day! Here is a painting of Bill's grandbabies, Madeline and Audrey.
We wish we were with you today, we miss our tiny "Valentines".

"Oranges For You" by Beth Bathe

"Oranges For You", 6" x 8", oil on panel

So today was the perfect studio day. 14 new inches of new snow, and we're still waiting for the tail end of the storm and maybe another 3 to 5 inches!

I have painted a lot of landscapes and snow scenes lately, so today was a great time to paint a cheery still life! I decided to paint the "Daily Paintworks Challenge" for the week, which is "citrus". I always like when orange is painted with it's complementary blue!

"Barn at Brandywine" by Beth Bathe

"Barn at Brandywine" 8" x 10", oil on panel

Tired of the snow...wanted to practice something green and inviting!!! This little barn at Brandywine Battlefield.

"Still Snow" by Beth Bathe

"Still Snow" #28/30, 6" x 8", oil on panel

Today's painting was started yesterday (I thought I would get ahead. It started as a still life of three flowers in a delft pitcher. I got it blocked in, it had a very dark background and low lighting. I then worked on it all this morning. It just wasn't working. I ran some errands and got back to the studio at 4 pm...I then wiped the whole canvas down (first painting of the thirty that I scraped). So at 4:15 pm, this landscape was born. I wanted to continue to work with snow, and I like how the winter grass peaks through this wonderful snowy drive to an old barn.

"The Three Amigos" by Beth Bathe

"The Three Amigos", #25/30, 6" x 8", oil on panel

Yesterday while we were out photographing the snow we stopped at one of our favorite bakeries, "The Bird in Hand Bakeshop". They have a small barn and petting zoo by the parking lot. All the animals were inside the barn but came out to see us. I photographed these three fellows, coming out of the barn door. They came out, checked us out, realized we didn't have any food and promptly went back through. 16 degrees, with a windchill of -5 is COLD, even for our feathered friends.

"Still Standing" by Beth Bathe

"Still Standing", #19/30, 6 x 6 in, oil on panel

This small little outbuilding is located behind a highly photographed and well know grand red barn in the Brandywine Battlefield National Park. This little guy, behind the big barn kept saying to me "I'm here too!"

"Dark Shadows" by Beth Bathe

"Dark Shadows" #16/30, 6 x 6 in, oil on panel

So yesterdays #16 painting rolled over into day 17. for Such a small painting the devil was in the details...I painted the dark shadows first then painted in the light brick colors. Next time I think I might reverse the process!

The subject matter is another of my "Abandoned and Forgotten" series. This is an old snuff mill.

"In the Pink" by Beth Bathe

"In The Pink", #13/30, 6 x 6 oil on panel

#13/30...didn't even get near painting two paintings today, the real world took control. Dealing with contractors in the house, a dead car battery, mailing out three sold paintings (a good thing!), and coming down with a head cold. But this is a quickie...and the model was very still and quiet...Thank you!

"Seeing Red" by Beth Bathe

"Seeing Red", #11/20, 6 x 6 in, oil on panel

I loved this juxtaposition of rock wall and red window frame. I thought the simple compostion would be an easier painting to paint, I was wrong...

Tomorrow will be day 12 and I hope the sun comes out tomorrow, I need some natural light in my studio!

"Belle of the Ball" by Beth Bathe

"Belle of the Ball", #10/30, 6 x 6, oil on panel

Day, 10 of 30. Wow, 1/3 way through. I must admit the original #10 painting is still on my easel, about half done. This is a stand in #10, one that I did a while ago but haven't posted to my blog. This was a demo in glass and reflections that I did for a beginning oil painting class that I was teaching.

Tomorrow I will post the original #10 that has now been upgraded to #11 (which by the way is my lucky number!

"Forgotten", 8 x 10, oil on panel

Painting #9/30. I have a great love of old abandoned buildings. Buildings that were once useful and powerful structures, are now forgotten, but have become just a visual part of our landscape, loosing their original purpose, but still grand in presence.

"Blue Boy" by Beth Bathe

"Blue Boy", #6/30, 6 x 8 in, oil on linen panel

Living in Lancaster PA, I have the pleasure of being around the Amish, and they are one of my favorite photography subjects. I have hundreds of photos in my reference folders, all tagged for a "potential painting". This photo was taken at a "Mudsale" livestock auction. This little boy blue was deep in thought as he watched the auctionneer.

You may see or buy my other paintings at Daily Paintworks here.

"Snowy Crane" #5/30 by Beth Bathe

"Snowy Crane" #5/30, 6 x 8, oil on linen panel

Ok, so today I was going to paint something other than birds, but when I logged onto Facebook this morning I noticed that my friend Suzanne had posted that it was "National Bird Day". How could I not paint one more bird on their National Day! I thought about an eagle, but I have not had the honor of actually photographing an eagle. I did have this shot of a crane that I had photographed while visiting Myrtle Beach. I cropped it tightly and made it yet another snow scene...because it is still very cold and snowy here in PA!

Ok, so that might be the end of my birds for this challenge...stay tuned till tomorrow, Monday, to see what my next subject might be!

To buy this painting or any other of my flock, visit my online gallery at Daily Paintworks

"Snow Babies" by Beth Bathe

"Snow Babies" #4/30, 6 x 8 In, oil on linen panel

Well, I was going to switch from birds to another subject for painting #4 of 30, but it is very cold and snowy here in PA today, and another snowy painting is just what the day called for. I had such positive feedback from my cardinal in the snow painting from yesterday so here are these three cuties. Painting white birds against white snow and a white background, was a challenge, so many colors and temperature changes to get the white just right.

To bid on this painting to make these babies your own, click here to visit my online gallery.

"First Snow of New Year" painting 3/30 by Beth Bathe

"First Snow of New Year" #3/30, 6 x 8 in, oil on linen panel

Painting # 3/30, third of a series of birds. We had quite the snowstorm yesterday...I love it when the cardinals come out in the snow, I think they actually like it! I hope that everyone is safe and warm and indoors today...

"Shem Creek", 8 x 10, oil on panel

"Shem Creek", 8 x 10, oil on panel

Thank you to my cousin Mark for this wonderful reference photo of Shem Creek, Charleston SC. So calm and serene and the colors were beautiful.

Hope everyone has "calm waters" and "smooth sailing" as the head into the New Year...Happy Holidays!!!