Calendula

Perhaps it's the time of the year with flowers everywhere blooming, but the calf faces are making me think of the unblemished heads of the flowers as they open. This little girl brought marigolds to mind. 

Calendula
8 x 8
Pastel on paper
Susan Williamson

Carousel Lavender Farm

This is the exact spot where I spent some time last year when one week later, I was assaulted and sustained a concussion. This year I returned to paint and met a wonderful photographer, Frank Smith , who kindly took my photo. Check out his breath taking images and TED talk . If you're traveling around Bucks County, don't miss Carousel Lavender Farm for an incredible visual and aromatic experience. They have a wonderful shop where you feel as though you've been transported to France and a beautiful herd of llamas.

Here's a rear view of me painting.

LOVE the hat!

Susan Williamson
Carousel Lavender Farm
8 x 10
Pastel on paper

Haying Day

I had planned to paint the bales of hay lit so beautifully by the early morning light but had to change my plans when two guys showed up as soon as I set up with their farm equipment picking up every last bale of hay out in the field. 

9 x 5
Pastel on paper

Vermont Guernsey

While driving around in Vermont looking for cows a number of years ago, I chanced upon a street named "Holstein Drive". How auspicious could that be?

 It turned out to be the driveway of Dancing Cow Farm owned by a young couple making some of the best cheese in the state. They allowed me to spend time in the field with their herd and I took lots of reference photos. I hadn't been up to visit them in a while and it looks like they are not in the cheese making business as of this date. The only thing I could find is a facebook page that hasn't been updated in years . 

This little painting brings me back to the experience of spending time with those girls in the waist high grass and their contented munching as they roamed the field.

6 x 6
Pastel on paper

Mathilde

A sweet face like this girl's got deserves the name of a cherished daughter.

6 x 8
Pastel on paper