The hilltop farm in Yorktown was graced with sunshine and lovely breezes…a perfect day to sit outside with sketchbooks and take in the day. Everyone enjoyed the gardens, barns, silos and views out over the hills. Looking forward to returning! 🙂
Last week began our summer of sketching and painting outdoors. After a long winter it always feels good to be outdoors in lovely gardens and parks with the sun, breezes, bird songs and the occasional bug 😉 Welcome summer!!!
Tomorrow we begin our Nature Journaling sessions 
As summer arrives there is little that is nicer than sitting in the shade, listening to nature’s bird songs and getting lost in small images of the world around us with paper, pen and watercolors.
Click on link for inspirational pages from many different artists.
Lovely page by artist Helen Correll
I have posted a plein air supply list on the home page that will be helpful to those of you who are new to plein air or are curious about what I carry into the field 🙂
https://barkingdogstudio.me/plein-air-supply-list-and-tips-/
Looking forward to the classes coming up!
I need a headcount for Nature Journaling on Thursday this week. I will send the address and parking concerns of our venue 🙂 Please email me at lauragould@mac.com if your coming to the Thursday class 🙂
Easy L paint box 🙂
Plein air demo and lesson will be meeting on Tuesday morning from 9:30-12:30 at my friend’s lovely gardens in Bedford Hills. We do have one kit left for any latecomer that may want to join in 🙂 If you just want to see the free demo you are still welcome to join us…the demo will last about an hour. See details about this event on the previous posting. Please email me for directions to her gardens or any questions at lauragould@mac.com
Nature Journaling will begin this coming Thursday….most of you are returning from previous summers. If you need directions email me and be sure to check the supply list on my website for thing you need to bring 🙂
I will also be offering a plein air group on Saturday mornings but the kits are already taken so if you want to join in you need your own set up 🙂
Please be ready for a sunny morning….you will need to bring a hat, sun screen, water, an apron that you don’t mind getting messy, a light camp chair or stool is nice to have if you want to take a break….and a snack 🙂
Rain dates announced as needed. ☔️
Small garden study – oil on paper
I will be giving a free demonstration on Tuesday, June 5th on how to set up the plein air easel, mix paints and decide on a subject. You will learn how to create a foundation of light, dark and mid tones and finally how to begin. There are enough kits for 3 beginners, more are welcome if you have your own plein air equipment, brushes and paints. After the demonstration you will be able to try your hand at a small painting 🙂
Attending the demonstration is free 🙂 If you want to try your hand at a wee painting it will be $50.00. I will provide the plein air kit, paints, brushes and canvas – all included with the fee 🙂
If you enjoy yourself and want to continue we can arrange private or semiprivate sessions on days of the week that work best for you. (see classes for prices).
The demonstration will be on June 5th, 9:30-10:30. Painting your first painting will be from 10:30-12:30 🎨 If there is enough interest I may repeat this demo and painting session on other dates in coming weeks.
I only have room for three students per group session unless you have your own kit and supplies, so please let me know soon if you want to join the class 🙂
Painting in Vickie’s beautiful garden.
Back by popular demand 🙂 If you missed this class the first time around here’s your chance to learn about mixing a limited watercolor palette and finding those elusive colors. You will have a lovely color chart for reference and an understanding of color that will help your future paintings. You will see how expansive your choices of colors are once you learn how to combine and glaze colors. 🙂
Class will be at Lasdon Arboretum on June 5th, 12th and 19th – Tuesdays from 1-4pm – $125.00 for the three day session. (minimum of 3 people needed to run class)
This video will give you a window into what we will be doing 🙂
Nature Journaling and Plein Air Painting will be offered this summer. After a long winter it will be so nice to get outdoors and enjoy the wonderful gardens and parks around us. Please go to the “Classes” link for details 🙂 https://barkingdogstudio.me/classes/
Hilltop Morning © laura gould
Last session of classes coming up before our summer break. It is hard to believe with this chilly weather that continues keep bulbs from rising that Spring is truly here. The next session begins April 26th – May 24th. All levels are welcome to join us 🙂 We will transition to Nature Journaling in June and some workshops throughout the summer…dates and times will be announced in May.
My Beacon Open Studio weekend is quickly approaching. I have been hard at work organizing my work, getting giclee prints made for signed archival prints and mounting small oil paintings on paper at affordable prices 😉 I am nervous and excited with fear and hope all at once. Putting your art work out for all to see is a bit like that dream we have all had of walking into a room naked and hoping nobody notices…it’s about exposing your personal vision. Some people will love you, some people will be baffled and some people will shrug and pass by. So I’m putting on my big girl pants and putting myself out there. There is a reception on Saturday night from 6-9pm at the Oak Vino Wine Bar on Friday April 27th…it is open to one and all. If you would like to attend go to this link http://www.oakvino.com for more information. All the artists participating in the Open Studio weekend will be attending and will display an example of their work. The exhibit will remain on display through the month of May.
If your coming to see me on Saturday or Sunday I am no.7 on the map, the address is 756 Wolcott Avenue. I am one of first homes you will see if you come up from Cold Spring on 9b which becomes Wolcott Ave.
Please go to this link for the map and all the information about the event 🙂 http://www.beaconopenstudios.org/mapstoursevents.html
Snow Shadows will be on display at the Oak Vino Wine Bar
It’s almost time!!! I am looking forward to my first open studio weekend in Beacon NY. I will be one of several artists showing a collection of works. If you are in the area and would enjoy a day of strolling around Beacon and visiting artists of all sorts come to the Beacon Open Studio Weekend on April 27 -29 of April 🙂
Go to this link for information and to see the participating artists http://www.beaconopenstudios.org/artists-2018.html
I will be showing my work at 756 Wolcott Avenue in the home studio of Samantha Palmeri with two other artists on the 28th and 29th from noon until 6pm. There will be a new map available for download soon so you can chart your own path through the studios and see the artists the peek your interests. The historic town of Beacon is filled with places to enjoy lunch and coffee as you chart your way through the galleries, showplaces and studios in peoples homes.
I have been working on many new pieces all inspired by the beautiful land that surrounds us. I will be showing a collections of plein air paintings and studio paintings done during the long snowy winter :O) My latest muse…the beautiful snow shadows.
Come and see!
Snow Shadows – Ward Pound Ridge Reserve – oil on panel 12″ x 12″
