Sadie's operation is today and Maplewood ESAl Paint out.

Yesterday was the Eastern Shore Art League Paint out at Maplewood Gardens in Nassawadox,Va. I went and enjoyed painting a quick watercolor of part of the big house at Maplewood. This is the breezeway and office that connects to the house. Everywhere was flowers as you can see I got some good photos of the hibiscus and canna too. Here are Monelle and Sue and some of us around the pool there. Such a lovely place. I bought a few vinca to plant in my flower gardens. Sadie helped she ate or rather shredded one. Here she is with an ear of corn, from my grocery shopping. Today Sadie gets her spaying operation. My heart is in my throat and will be all day. I'm such a sensitive one.Keep us in your thoughts..love to you,Diana

Maplewood Gardens Paint Out and Class...and

HI! Yesterday I went with Monelle to the Maplewood Garden Eastern Shore Art League Paint Out. It was a lovely time. Phil invited us this year. His wife Barbara used to have us there,she passed away with cancer a few years ago and was very much missed. We all brought a food dish to serve--me--noodle salad.. and we painted around the pool and garden. I did the little pool house..it was fun just dabbling in watercolor and talking. We swam in the cool pool. (The water was cool..) Brenda declared she was a 3 noodle kind of girl as  we all took a brightly colored styrofoam noodle to float with. It was fun being with Grace,Monelle,Barbara S.,Gayle,Brenda,Dottie,Donna,Carol, Willie,Purube,and Sharon,and Phil came out to say hello. 

Today I'm getting my things organized for class tomorrow. I'm teaching Painting Sunflowers in Watercolor at Norfolk Botanical Gardens in Norfolk. I had to run down to the Smiling Dolphin in Nassawadox Va. to pick up some more yellow paint.. Jenny Floyd owns and runs this art and framing shop.

The first photo is of a painting I sketched at the beach of the star fish shells. I poured after the sketch and am now defining the shells.. better get the paper and things together before painting.

Talk to you soon. Enjoy your weekend, let me know what you are working on! Diana

Barbara of Maplewood Gardens

HI, Sad news. Barbara Custis of Maplewood Gardens died Monday after a long battle with cancer. She was a friend and a kind person. She always invited the ESAL ( Eastern Shore Art League) to her lovely farm/garden to paint in July. We would bring dishes to share and enjoy her company and swim in her pool and paint her flowers and sheep. It was a lovely day. We will miss her. These are photos of her garden and my painting is of a quiet spot there. Soft music flowed into the garden. A lovely place and a lovely person. This is in memory of Barbara and for her family. Love, Diana

Red and Green Peppers (Christmasy?)

Hi,I'm trying to get ready for the holidays and so I'm shopping and cooking and cleaning, oh my.( you know how it is) I haven't had time to paint but will soon.. this is a painting I did a while ago and have sold. I like the looseness. My inspiration were beautiful peppers I bought from Sam's and a vine photo I took at Maplewood Gardens, a lovely farm near Nassawadox on the Eastern Shore. Green and red.. maybe a little like Christmas..

I made 10 dozen chocolate chip cookies for my family's upcoming visit.I'll be making more!! I will talk to you soon, Don't eat too many cookies.. I'll try not to. They don't have carbs, do they? Diana

Owls and Lady in Blue

HI, Well it's been an eventful week. Harvest Festival, Wednesday, was nice, lots of friends, food and a few sales for everyone. Thursday, yesterday was the birding festival and that was nice, not so many people but good friends and a wonderful bird show, I've posted a couple of the photos of the great horned owl and the barred owl.

Here is my new watercolor"Lady in Blue". I took this photo a few years ago of this lady who works at Maplewood Gardens near Nassawadox,Va., here on the Eastern Shore. The Eastern Shore Art League was having a paintout there. Barbara Custis was kind to have us there swimming in her pool, painting and everyone brought a dish to share. A lovely day.Wet paint at the bottom of her feet.. I finished it Tuesday. No I didn't paint anything today.. I'm too wiped out!

I will not be at Harborton Town Festival this year.( Go anyway if you can to support them) I hope you understand, my back is not good and I have done way too much this week.. I really need to rest up.. my next show will be next weekend at Art Affair in Richmond, Saturday Oct.16 from 10am-5pm and Sunday Oct 17 from 11am-4pm. This is a juried show with about 130 artists. Hope to see you then. Talk soon. Diana

Maplewood Gardens' Open House

Hi, This Saturday,April 17, I will be showing my watercolors at Maplewood Gardens' Open House, in Nassawadox,Va. from 10am to 4pm. This is a fun event. They have greenhouses filled with gorgeous plants, and flowering shrubs, and herbs, perfect for planting in our gardens. Barbara and Phil Custis are the owners,and know what to plant where and how to keep it growing.. a problem I sometimes have!It is a wonderful day, you can visit their sheep and lambs, use a little red wagon to pick up your new flowers and plants and of course new painting if you wish! Other local artists will be displaying their work too. Hope to see you and Happy Spring!!! Pictured is my new "Chickadee and Tulip" original watercolor-this will be featured at the show! talk soon, Diana -- today I am cleaning, I tried to open the windows and let the dirt blow thru but only pollen came in! I have been working on a new hummingbird painting this week and have just filled my feeders.. Anyone seen a hummingbird yet??