"Plowed Field" -- plein air study -- oil on canvas -- 8x10" -- Margie Guyot

My friends and I were painting by the Kensington Farm Center this morning when I spied this field. I loved the exciting patterns formed by the plow. The trees are all getting their leaves and the colors in early spring are so interesting. I got interrupted by one of the workers, who wanted to clear out some straw that was in the foreground. Good thing I paint fast! I declared this painting done and got out of his way. They're planning on planting sorghum in this field and then cutting it to form a maze.

"Hazy Spring Afternoon" -- plein air study -- oil on canvas -- 11x14" -- Margie Guyot

Last Saturday was probably our first nice day in Michigan since October. My plein air buddies and I lined up along this quiet pond that was dotted in new water lily pads. The leaves were just beginning to pop out on the trees. Morels were springing up from the duff. Violets were blooming. The large carp, frisky with the arrival of mating season, were leaping out of the pond, snapping at hapless bugs on the surface. After the long winter and late-arriving spring, the warm sun was very welcome. But the sky was thinly overcast with a high layer of clouds, giving an overall muted cast to the landscape colors. Spring greens of opening willow leaves, oaks and beeches were soft olives, pea greens -- even with hints of maroon in the maple buds. Spring peppers were singing. Even an occasional clunk of a bullfrog rang out. In a few days, these high, thin clouds would bring us a torrential rainstorm.

I'd gotten behind on posting to this blog because my brother was visiting me. And gave me his horrible cold from hell!