Couldn't resist sending this one- hot off the easel. such fun to do. never want to stop watching these dramatic skies and having the excitement of following the upsweeping waves of color and form.

These absolutely fantastic days of crashing-into-each-other cloud formations have gripped me by the throat and sent me to the easel. I have begun a series of thumbnails, the smallest so far being this one:10 X 15 cm. on prepared mat board panels. I let the brush go where it wants, following trails of colors sailing across my field of vision. I couldn't imagine doing these from photos. That would be boring for me. I want the excitement of change, the freedom to let the paint go where my eyes take it.
More tomorrow.

Today I want to honor my son, Craig Johns, Cummington, Ma. He made this Iron Scrap sculpture some years ago at a time he was over here in Holland for a few months. I will be featuring more of his work on an off. We have a large collection of Craig's Iron Scrap sculptures in our gardens. This piece is called "The Family". Yes, we have chickens which might have inspired Craig. The idea of his own family did not exist at that time. He now has a wife, Joy, two children of hers-Drew nearly 13 years old and Anwyn, 10 years old, and their baby Cooper Thomas Johns,  1 year old on September 2nd. Who would have thought it-exactly what it turned out to be?

Herman's Carnae water lilies

Today I want to honor Herman and this year's superb crop of water lilies. I paint them when inspired by the light going over the mystical waxy petals. Someone recently asked to have a bouquet of Carnae's for a wedding. They will come open around 10 a.m. and close slowly around 4 p.m. for about 4 days in a vase. look to his part of the website: www.waterlelies.nl

Today is the 1st birthday of my grandson, Cooper Thomas Johns, Cummington, Ma., USA. I will be enjoying the beauty of nature here in Holland- right in my own backyard. This series of landscapes is painted in oil, then paper and then another layer of oil to produce a sensually ethereal impression of the world I see from my garden.

Sitting in the garden painting these beautiful Carnae water lilies is the way to "cool off" on these hot days.

A Sunday in August

En plein air painting is challenging to say the least. This morning there is a bright sun shining here in the Netherlands and a slight wind will make painting by the water bassins a real pleasure. The water lilies will make their appearance in full ornate around 10 a.m.- time enough to take the bike ride, get the gear set up, Italian coffee next to me and let it rip.