Merry Christmas from Crozet

Just wanted to send a note to wish you all holiday greetings and to thank you for following my blog! I enjoy knowing you are out there and I appreciate any feed back I get from my viewers. I am anticipating a full and creative 2013 and am looking forward to several new paint-outs and many returning ones. There is a national convention in April in Monterey / Carmel, CA that I am hoping to attend plus many other new adventures! So, Happy New Year as well!
(this painting is sold)

Riverdale Farm, White Hall

This was painted two weeks ago on site at the edge of Midway Farm and Riverdale Farm on Garth Road, when the weather was still very mild. I went back twice and enjoyed folks who stopped by to visit.  24" x 36"  oil on canvas, framed  SOLD   thanks Jodi!

2013 Calendar!

I have had these calendars made for years and this is the first time I am offering them on my blog. They are 4.5" wide by 24" long and has 12 paintings, one for each month. Great stocking stuffers and are sold at C-ville Arts in Charlottesville's downtown mall. I can mail them out to you, folded twice and placed in an envelope, (I am also looking for a box that I can roll them and mail.)
If you are interested, please email me at  megwest@earthlink.net  plus give me your mailing address, they are $2 each plus .50 for mailing each one. http://cvillearts.org/

Looking West

I am above Interstate 64 looking west at the mountain at Wintergreen with the open fields in Greenwood, don't know the name of the farm. This was done this past weekend when it was still nice and warm, but very breezy.  12" x 36" oil on canvas, framed  $600, SOLD

Raven's Roost II

Second painting of Raven's Roost from a photo from the road, way to hard to paint from where I was standing with not enough room to set up. This is also on hold for a friend to pick between this one and the other.  11" x 14" oil on canvas, framed  SOLD

Raven's Roost, Blue Ridge Parkway

I am doing a few paintings from up at Raven's Roost for a friend to pick one as a gift . . . so this one is ON HOLD! Will show the others soon. This was painted on site about a month ago. 12" x 24" oil on canvas, framed. SOLD

Rockbridge Baths II

The second painting done with my painting friends out in Rockbridge Baths. It was the first day of hunting season and we didn't want to wonder into the woods, so stayed close at the Camp Maxwelton. A simple painting of the hillside. 12" x 16" oil on canvas, framed  $250.

Jump Mountain, Rockbridge Baths

I was lucky enough to go paint with Elizabeth Sauder and Jean Tremmel at Camp Maxwelton in Rockbridge Baths last weekend. Gorgeous day, a picnic and friends to paint with, what more could a girl want! . . .  12" x 16" oil on canvas, framed  $250.  SOLD  thanks Ellen!

Back Pond II

A little study of a pond closer to Crozet, will do a larger one later on. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
8" x 10" oil on canvas framed  $135   SOLD  . . . thanks David!

Blue Ridge Parkway V

Similar to the last painting, but I turned and did this one looking more south on the Parkway before Barbara came up to meet me. Will go back to paint what is to the left of this scene soon. 8" x 16" oil on canvas, framed  $195  SOLD

Blue Ridge Parkway IV

This was last weekend as a small study for part of the larger painting I did later on. The colors in the fall are so wonderful to blend and compare shadow to full light. 12" x 16" oil on canvas, framed $250   SOLD . . . thanks Mac!

Rockfish Gap Overlook

This was painted this Fall at the VDOT (VA Dept. of Transportation) Overlook on I64 near Afton. I love this overlook and paint there at least once a year.  26" x 36" oil on canvas framed  SOLD

Maupin's Farm, White Hall

This was painted before the colors all changed this Fall. This is one of my favorite farms in the area and am sorry I didn't get back there before all the leaves fell! It is hanging at C-ville Arts,  9" x 12" oil on canvas framed, $150.  SOLD  thanks Martha!

White Hall Bales

This is from a photo up in White Hall near the church . . . I did it when it was a rainy day this fall. 16" x 40" oil on canvas, framed $600  SOLD

Fall & Four Bales

This was another demo that I did at the Crozet Festival earlier this month and was from my memory near Whitehall area. It is 12" x 16" framed $225. SOLD

The Poker Cottage, Crozet

LOVE this spot, right across the street from our house where several guys get together every Thursday to play poker, horse shoes, play music and of course smoke, drink and take each others money! This is 30" x 60" oil on canvas, framed  $1,900, SOLD  thanks Nina & Ken!

Buena Vista, VA

These mountain peaks are amazing in Buena Vista, I went there in the beginning of the month for a Paint-Out in Lextington, and will be going back to pick up my paintings next week, and will be painting with my friend Elizabeth Sauder. I was standing next to the golf course, but don't remember the name of it, this is 12" x 24" oil on canvas, framed  $300.  SOLD

Above Miller School, Crozet

This was painted this past weekend at the Miller School Paint-Out after I had to bit of a frustrating time and a wipe-out of another painting. This was in the late afternoon and the mountain has fabulous light on it.   http://www.millerschool.org/   This is 12" x 36" oil on canvas, framed, $385, SOLD

Angie's View II & III

This is for Leighton who asked me to paint this view as a smaller painting for her birthday present! The original was done this past spring for Angie (June 2 post), so I am keeping that name. The wind got strong after I did the first one so I changed my spot a bit, plus the light changes and you can never paint two painting exactly the same. Once she picks hers, I will hang the other one at my show this weekend at Hot Cakes.  http://www.hotcakes.biz/   12" x 24" oil on canvas, framed  $300. Leighton is taking the top painting, thanks

Chile's Peach Orchard

Here is a small painting that I did as a demo at the Crozet Arts Festival this past weekend, I ended up painting three. The weather at the show was fantastic and thanks to everyone who stopped by! This one is from a photo from last year. 8" x 10" oil on canvas, framed  $150.  SOLD

The Fall Corn Field

This is a corn field that has been harvested and the rows are still visible, and the fall colors are coming through.  12" x 12" oil on canvas, framed  SOLD.

Jarmans Gap, Crozet

Here is Jarman's Gap and Chile's Peach Orchard in the distance when the bales where still in the field. This will be at the Crozet Arts Festival, come on by and say Hi!   24" x 36" oil on canvas, framed $800, SOLD . . . thanks Julie!

Bucks Elbow and Bales

Bucks Elbow is behind our house and they baled the hay a few weeks ago, fortunately for me, they left them out for awhile so I got to paint the bales. This painting is hanging at Hot Cakes at Barracks Road Shopping Center, http://www.hotcakes.biz/
18" x 24" oil on canvas, framed  $395  SOLD thanks Tina!

Dolly Sods, Monongahela National Forest, WV

 My husband and I went to Dolly Sods last week and camped, hiked, and I got to paint two paintings there. This one is on Beaver Dam Trail, about half a mile in, and the trail goes down to Red Creek. We try to go each year and next time I hope to paint more. The wild blueberries and huckleberries turn this wonderful bright magenta and orange, which is why we go in the fall. Also great place for birding. 16" x 24" oil on canvas, framed $395.  SOLD  thanks Debbie!

Smith Mountain Lake IV

Viewing the lake-bank in the morning on the last day at Smith Mountain. Nice and quiet and an easy place to paint . . . 12" x 12" oil on treated board, framed $155.

Smith Mountain Lake III

Here is a small painting that I will give as a "thank you" to the owners of the house we stayed in.  This is looking from their deck off the bedroom in the morning that we left. 8" x 8" oil on MDF board, framed.
We just got back from going hiking, camping and painting up at Dolly Sods for two days . . . but too dark to photograph the paintings. And tomorrow I am off to paint in Lexington for two days at the Paint-Out at the Nelson Gallery. Should be a ton of fun . . . will report all about that soon.

Smith Mountain Lake II

Two friends and I got to go stay a few nights this week at my friend's home on Smith Mountain Lake. This is the view from their dock and was painted early in the morning. The lake is full of docks and houses dotted around, each with a different view. There is also a wonderful state park that we canoed over to, and next time I hope to go there to paint.  8" x 16" oil on canvas, framed $225.

Monticello Garden, II

I got to go up to Monticello yesterday and paint in the later afternoon, I just love Mount Alto, in the distance. The garden was past it's peak but still very full! The stinkbugs were in full force, very pesty. 12" x 24" oil on canvas, framed  $300  SOLD

Heintooga Overlook, Smoky Mountains

Last of my Smoky Mountain paintings until next year! 6" x 12" oil on canvas, $125  SOLD

Hientooga Overlook, The Smoky Mountains

This was our last morning camping at Balsam Mountain and David was hiking the Flat Creek Trail. The next painting (that I will post) is similar and smaller and was painted after this one, looking farther north. 9" x 12" oil on canvas,  I am giving this one to my husband since it was his birthday weekend  :  ) 

Looking at King's Family Vineyard

Here is a painting I just finished and is being donated to the First Crozet Culinary Competition for Charity on Thursday, September 20, 2012 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Lodge at Old Trail. Come out if you can . . . a fundraiser for the Crozet Library http://www.buildcrozetlibrary.org/ .

The Smoky's

This was very funny . . . as soon as I set up and got the sky in, on the left side FOG started flowing in FAST, covering up all of my view! It was a race to get what I could and fortunately the foreground was still visible. 8" x 16"  oil on canvas, framed  $150.  SOLD thanks Jenny!

Messer's Barn, The Smoky Mountains

Second painting of the Messer's Barn in Cataloochee painted in the afternoon on the second day of our camping trip. We did a six mile hike in the morning, then time to rest! 8" x 10" oil on canvas, framed  $145  SOLD

Smoky Mountains View

This was painted from the Heintooga Overlook near Balsam Mountain camp grounds last week. This was in the early part of the evening, I also came back the next morning and painted here but the light was very different of course. 9" x 12" oil on canvas, framed  $150,  SOLD  thanks Libby!

Palmer House, Cataloochee, NC

This house was right behind me when I painted the Messer Barn the day before. It was a fancy house in it's day and well kept. 8" x 8" oil on canvas, framed  $110.

Messer's Barn, Cataloochee, NC

This was a sweet place to set up and paint in Cataloochee in the Smoky Mountains National Park. My husband and I camped here for two nights then up to Balsam Mountain camp grounds for three nights. I did seven paintings while in the Smoky's along with several hikes, swimming in the creek and watching sunsets. This is called Messer's Barn and the stream in front was wonderful, wish I could have painted another just of the stream!  8" x 16" oil on canvas, framed  $225, SOLD

Study of Mile Post 19

Here is a little study of an earlier painting from Mile Post 19 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I changed it a bit and forgot to re-photograph it  . . . SOLD at Wintergreen this past weekend.  
We are off to the Smoky Mountains for camping, hiking and some painting . . . . will post when I get home  :  )

Simple from the Parkway

A simple painting from the Blue Ridge Parkway from the other day painting up there with Susan. This was at the end of the day as the clouds where coming in . . . 8" x 16" oil on canvas, framed  SOLD.

View from Monticello

This is the view looking East from Monticello above the garden area. It is simple but was fun to capture the distance where is flattens out. 12" x 24" oil on canvas, framed  $300. Will be saved for the upcoming show at Hot Cakes.  SOLD, thanks Mike and Mary!

Distant Vineyard, White Hall

Painted this weekend up at the White Hall Community Center, one of my "other favorite places" to paint year round . . . always changing with the seasons. 24" x 30" oil on canvas, framed $650  SOLD

Rockfish Valley View

Susan and I went up to my friend David's place on Wednesday above the Blue Ridge Parkway and painted the views from up there . . . one of my favorite place to go! 12" x 36" oil on canvas, framed  $350. SOLD thanks Jenny!

Fog in the Valley

A small painting from a photo painted on a rainy day in my studio. . .
8" x 10" oil on canvas, framed  $150 . . . SOLD  thanks Fia!

Buck's Elbow and Jarmans Gap

This is a commission for a couple who are moving to Chicago soon. This is their view from the house they are renting at the King Family Vineyards who's property is in the foreground. Usually the horses are out in the fields. 12" x 36" oil on canvas, framed . . . thanks Eric and Meghan!

Summer Cemetery

Susan and I painted in the White Hall cemetery last week in the late afternoon, (not sure of the name of the church). We both found some shade, I under a tree on this road to the East of the cemetery.
 8" x 10" oil on canvas, framed  $125  SOLD

Monticello's Garden

Yesterday Polly, Eileen, Susan and I went up to Monticello to paint and I found a bit of shade on the stair-landing right above the garden. Nice cooler day and always a treat to paint there. 
12" x 24" oil on canvas, framed $300  SOLD  Thanks Mike and Mary!

Maryland Corn Fields

I was up in Maryland last weekend for a small reunion and then visited my cousin Lacey in Parkton, MD. I painted this on Monday in a near by neighbor's driveway looking East to this wonderful vista. 12" x 36" oil on canvas, framed $375.

Mile Post 19, Blue Ridge Parkway

Evening painting at Mile Post 19 on the Blue Ridge Parkway that was done last week. This is looking West, and the name of this ridge is 20 Minute Cliff because once the sun hits it, there is 20 minutes before the sun goes down! 12" x 24" oil on canvas, framed  $300,  SOLD thanks Julie and David!

King Family Vineyards

Third painting of King Family Vineyards but I left out the black fences . . . the lines in the grass are part of the mowers tracks. Chile's Peach Orchard is in the back part of the painting. 11" x 14" oil on canvas, framed  $225  SOLD, Thanks Sarah!