Plein Air Oil Studies

Is the light warm or is it cool, paint the form/plains, don't copy keep to your concept, composition, where's the focal point!?!? so much to think about no wonder painting becomes this consuming task that's really done all in your head.
Last week I got several days just to paint from sun up to way past sun down without worry about laundry, my wonderful family, prepping for shows etc. We plein air painted through rain, cold, heat, and even under street lamp. The following is some of the studies.
(I've lost my list of blogs which I follow. Anyone out there know how to get it back?)
"Floyd's" 6"x8"
"Field of Dreams" 8"x10"
"Sunny Spot" 8"x10"
"Riveredge Lilly" 8"x10"
"First Blush" 6"x8"
"Grape Hyacinths" 6"x8"

"Private Retreat" (Quilt Farm & Museum, Cedarburg, WI)

This painting didn't make it into the Cedarburg Plein Air Exhibition because I wasn't satisfied with it at the time. I painted it the last morning. The sun was playing hid n seek which means I had to depend on my poor memory skills to created the beautiful dappled light. The strong patterns of light and shadow is what initially drew me. I also enjoyed the challenge of the abstractness of the leaves.

14"x11" Oil on Linen

"Suspended Animation" (Floral Expressions, Cedarburg, WI)

The Cedarburg Plein Air Competition and Exhibition was great. Karen and I had an excellent time painting their beautiful town and countryside. Next year we plan on staying two nights so that we can make more paintings. As it was, we each painted four and scraped away one. My big problem was painting in +100 degree temperatures and humidity. This painting happens to be my favorite because I love painting at night. The atmospher is just right for me. Few people are around, the town is at rest, the temperatures have dropped (a bit) and the lighting from neon and street lights creates wonderful glows. That's why I call this "Suspended Animation." The artificial lights make what is illuminiated pulse. Now if I could just carve out the time to hit Chicago at night I'd be a really happy camper.

12"x9" Oil on Linen