Neshaminy Creek, Tyler State Park, 11x14 oil

I finished this painting after nibbling away on it for a few weeks. That is the Shofield Ford Covered Bridge in the background. When we were there in May I painted the covered bridge red as an experiment to see how it would contrast with all the green foliage in the scene. This is the real color  of the bridge.

Before we left I collected a few rocks for Maria's rock paintings.
Here is a what Maria is working on.

Winter Fields at Tyler State Park

Winter Fields,Tyler State Park 16x20 oil

This is one of the local parks I like painting at. It has numerous trails you can walk that take you thru different habitat from open fields to areas of woods with a creek running thru.
This is that in-between time from late winter with the last remaining patches of snow and right before spring.

Sketching at Tyler State Park

Here are some sketches done on a early May Sunday morning at Tyler State Park. The weather for that Sunday was supposed to be sunny in the morning but when I was loading the car the skies were solid grey overcast.
My plan was to paint the fields and groups of trees with sunlight illuminating the upright trees trying to catch the early morning light.

When I walked into the one field with a horse path I saw a field of yellow and decided to sketch this bit of color on a drab morning. I am currently working on a 12x16 painting of this scene using this sketch as reference.

After I finished this I wanted to take a look at a farmhouse a couple of fields over. On the way I stopped to watch  a baby Grey Catbird catching insects on the path. It was amusing watching him fly a little, look and grab a morsel.

When I got to the farmhouse the skies were starting to brighten up a little so I set up to paint.

                                         (SOLD)

Both sketches are 5x7

On my way back who do I run into but the Catbird sleeping right in the middle of the path.

                                                                                                

I gently picked him up and put him under some bushes out of harms way because the path is used by bike riders, joggers, and people walking who might not see him.

It turned out to be a good morning after all.