Field of Bluebonnets

Texans love their bluebonnets.  About this time of year photographs of fields covered with them begin to show up on Facebook. People plop their babies in the middle of them to take their pictures.  Couples get their engagement photos with bluebonnets all around.  It's clear why... they're simply, unbelievable beautiful. 

Ok... I have to come clean... deep breath... I have never actually seen bluebonnets growing in a field!  
I know!  I know!
I just haven't ever been in the right place at the right time! (I know my friend Karen is probably gasping in utter disbelief and disappointment.) 

Although when we were in Maine, the lupines were everywhere, and I couldn't take enough pictures of them. (I think bluebonnets and lupines are in the same family. So, does that count?)

I was asked to paint four large paintings, one for each of the main bedrooms of Welcome Home Retreat.  I started with this one because I had the idea for it.  

Not long ago I painted a field of blue flowers and loved the perspective the depth, so I decided to use that as my model.

I didn't have one reference photo to use, so this project was a series of making it up as I went along.  (That is not at all how I usually paint, but I had an idea and a confidence that I could pull it off... or at least a back up plan that I could paint over it if it didn't work.)

First, I kept this other painting where I could see it.  Second, I pulled up so many photos of bluebonnets... fields of bluebonnets... individual bluebonnets... leaves of bluebonnets... 
Because bluebonnets don't have the tall thing-y like the blue flowers in this painting, I wanted to add something in the background to draw attention and add interest.   I tucked a little cabin in the background, added some closer trees to push the treeline farther back.  And, because it is Texas, a couple of longhorns are back there too.  When Sheila suggested an outhouse, I laughed because, of course, I wouldn't do that... but... somehow an outhouse did appear... far away off to the side and back... as an outhouse should be! 

It had to be big... because...
Well, everybody knows...
Everything's bigger in Texas!

The trick to finishing this painting was simply getting enough but not too many bluebonnets.  I think there are about 13 zillion... at least it felt like it.  

I keep thinking that this whole painting was made from trial and error... but honestly... it all worked!  Everything I tried... well... turned out the way I'd hoped!  That doesn't happen very often!  
Nothing really went wrong... wait... ummm... there was one thing that did go terribly, terribly wrong during the process of painting this painting... If you haven't already, you really must read "A Painting Disaster Story."


Thanks to my sister, Sheila, for the opportunity and ideas.
Thanks to my art friend, Nelvia, for the advice along the way.


Original Oil Painting on 24"x 36" Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]

Relax... Create... Inspire...

 I got to spend this weekend as a guest at Welcome Home Retreat.

Let me give you a tour.
When you first arrive, you'll meet the neighbors.  They are the sweetest and calmest longhorn calves.  They're also quite interested in you.  They look right at you with faces that ask, "What are you doing?" or "Do you need something?" or "Will you be standing there long?"

Next you'll walk into the common area and be greeted by Sandy D. or Jackie.

When you step inside, you'll have to look in the serving area on your left first because Don will probably have just made something that smells delicious.

But then I want you to look to the right.  Look closely... Do you see it?  My "Steer's Looking at You, Kid" is on the mantle! Look closer... those same longhorn calves are right outside that window!  How fun is that!

If you prefer a different view, stroll on through to the other dining area. 

You'll be able to see the courtyard and pool.

 Even better, go on out to the red rocking chairs and sit and sit and sit... 

Once you've gotten the RELAX part underway and are ready to move on the the CREATE. you might need to stop a minute in the Mercantile in case you forgot any supplies. 

There are three craft rooms.  We worked in the Saloon, but the Hen House and the Corral looked fun too.

T

Some of Sheila's favorite artists' work hangs on the walls leading to the bedrooms. Yay!  I recognize those cows! And just look at that gorgeous quilt!  Sandy B. who designed pink one, and Jessica stitched all kinds of special things into the quilting. (She also designed each of the 27 quilts on the beds.) And the one at the back was done by our grandmother.

 You might stay in the Primrose Room.

Or the Yellow Rose of Texas Room.

Or the Bluebonnet Room.

I stayed in the Indian Paintbrush Room, and my door led right out to the courtyard... lovely...

Sorry, that's my unmade bed beside the door. 

I should feel ashamed about that.

There are three goals that Welcome Home Retreat will have for your stay.

1st - Relax.

2nd - Create.

3rd - Inspire someone.     I suppose it's not a rule to inspire someone else, but it just seems to come naturally after you've felt so inspired by the others there.

Sheila, Sandy, Jackie, Don,
Thanks for a wonderful, relaxing, creative, inspiring weekend!  I can't wait to return!
Helen

Visit 

https://www.facebook.com/welcomehomeretreat

Or

http://welcomehomeretreat.com/

Steer's Lookin' at You, Kid

I know! Another longhorn painting! But, I had to! They just posed so well for me the day I was taking pictures!

These guys along with their siblings and cousins live in the field beside Welcome Home Retreat in Weatherford, Texas.

There's something very comforting about a cow... and painting a cow.  
After I've painted something stressful (like a person) or something not of my choosing (like a commission), I find that my next painting is a cow.  
If I'm stuck and don't know what else to paint, my go-to subject is a cow. I think I like the flow of their structure - although that sounds ridiculous now that I read it.  
Maybe I like how they stare out of the canvas at me and say, "What!?"
Maybe it's my upbringing.  We always had cows on our farm... Hmmm... but I didn't like them then.  They were super annoying to me as a kid and teenager.  The pooped in the field where we liked to have cookouts. They got out of the fence and had to be rounded up and put back at the most inopportune times, like Sunday morning or Christmas Day or the afternoon of Homecoming or Prom. 
I remember how my dad would "talk" to them with a soothing kind of monotone voice "Sooo.... Suk... Suk... Suk... Sooo... Suk... Suk... and they would be interested, come closer.  They weren't particularly friendly like pets. But... they were always there... a part of my life.

I'm pretty sure that these guys came to me because they were used to their farmer who I'm guessing stops by each afternoon to count them, talk in a soothing voice to them, and probably (most importantly to their demeanor) toss out some grain or hay.
Cows know their farmers; farmers know their cows. I hope he gets to see his longhorns on the canvas one day.  I wonder if he'd recognize them! :)

The best way for you to meet these cows is to book a weekend with their neighbors.  Welcome Home Retreat is an amazing haven for relaxation, comfort, and creativity.   

I wonder if these little longhorns will get to be on a canvas one of these days... We'll see... But, I'm committed to do a sunflower next. :)

In case you aren't a bovine fan... there's also a pool... and there are crafting rooms... and really great food... 

And there's Sheila, who might want to scrapbook or quilt right along side you. :)

Original Oil Painting - 24" x 36"
Contact me if you'd like to purchase this painting.

Longhorns in Bluebonnets

Moooo!!!

These lady longhorns are going to hang in a very special place.

Welcome Home Retreat is a unique place in Weatherford, Texas for women to come together for weekends of creativity and fellowship. Its mission is to provide an environment of beauty that inspires creativity.

But if that's not special enough... The owner of this fabulous place is my very own sister!!!   Her specialty is scrapbooking where families' memories are captured for future generations. Sheila's dream to have a venue to encourage and observe guests as projects are begun, continued, and completed is becoming a reality.

She wants Welcome Home Retreat to have a "Texas feel with a feminine twist."  So... how about a painting of longhorns walking through bluebonnets!!!  

Click to visit the site of Welcome Home Retreat!  Book a weekend!!  Maybe I'll see you there!

Original Oil Painting - 16" x 20" 
[GIFT]