Clouds, rain, sun, clouds, rain, sun, clouds, rain, sun, clouds, rain, sun...then a rainbow right at sunset ~ This is the weather we've had today here in central Virginia. I see others posting skywatch friday photos and I have some good ones to share this week. I hope youall have a great weekend!

These are the two aceos that I painted from our trip to West Virginia. I had these prints in a frame to give to my daughter and her boyfriend, who went on the trip with us. I was so excited...a lady whose husband helped participate in building this bridge back in the 1970's is the one who bought the original painting of the gorge! A very nice lady, she's been telling me some of the details of when the bridge was originally built...exciting stuff and I'm in the process of painting an aceo of the bridge now!

Yet more photos from our trip this month to West Virginia ~ I wish I had a new painting to share but I am working on one tonight, yep I am. I hope everyone has a fun and creative weekend!

Catching the Light ~ This is 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches acrylics on watercolor paper.


I did this little painting from a photo I took last weekend at the New River Gorge.

Ahhh it feels good to paint again! ~ The two paintings above are aceo/atc size and painted in acrylics. The top one is titled 'River Wilderness' and the second one is 'Chasing the Light'. I may enter these up for bid in the upcoming nfac art contests in ebay. The one below is 'Fishy Mutants' and it's 6 x 6 inches on a stretched canvas. This is one I just reworked some more but I'm still not sure I'm happy with the way it turned out.

From our trip last weekend ~ If you are wondering what it looks like to drive over the New River Gorge bridge, this is a photo I snapped as we were going across!

We went down countless steps (my legs were sore for days) to get these views of the bridge. Can you see the vehicles going across the top?

I've never been afraid of heights before, but I've changed my mind after seeing my husband and daughter standing on this rock last weekend! I refused to get on that last rock but did manage to lean over a little to get a picture of the huge dropoff right in front of where they were standing. My hands still sweat just looking at these pictures and seeing how close they were standing next to that edge!

Playful Otters...
A scene at Virginia Beach...a sparkly blue dolphin statue...

Oh boy, I knew sharks were fearsome creatures but to see one swimming so close through the glass, yikes!!

A big old sea turtle...

A restored mid 1800s West Virginia farm at Twin Falls State Park in West Virginia. A park ranger lives here. We stayed in one of the cabins for two nights.

Another picture of the old farmhouse. I read that the inside is fully modernized for the people living there.

I loved that old dinner bell!

Tire swing fun at the family reunion...see where I get inspiration for my paintings!

You can tell that lots of kids have enjoyed that swing!

Lucky number 13, this is the cabin that we stayed at for 2 nights at the Twin Falls State Park in WV. Saturday night we actually saw what we think was a small bear walking across the front of the cabin next door!

White water rafting at the New River in WV

Green West Virginia countryside

eek, what a drop! This is next to the New River Gorge Bridge.

This bridge is almost 800 feet above the river and it's famous for people bungee jumping and parachuting. They have a 'bridge day' every year and close the four lane bridge to traffic for the brave jumpers. No way, not in a million years would I bungee jump off that bridge, it's so high!

The New River in West Virginia...what a stunning view through the overlook window at the park!

From the ocean to the mountains, what an amazing and busy week! ~ Last weekend we drove to Virginia Beach to see the Virginia aquarium and science center, then this weekend we drove all the way to the mountains in West Virginia for Rob's family reunion. Lots of driving and traveling and we were so glad to get home last night! The Virginia aquarium and science center was definitely worth the drive, although it was so packed with people. We saw seals, otters, sharks, native birds and all kinds of critters native to Virginia. It was educational and we had so much fun! But, I have to say that the most awe-inspiring sight of all was when we drove to the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia on our way back home from the family reunion. This bridge is most definitely not for those afraid of heights and it's famous for the bungee jumpers (eek, no way would I try that)! We drove across the bridge, which is almost 800 feet above the New River, then we drove all the way to the bottom, going though many, many hairpin turns with sheer dropoffs which would take your breath away! I've taken so many photos from these two trips, I had a heck of a hard time choosing which ones to post in my blog so I'll just put a buch of 'em in here. I haven't had a chance to paint anything this week but I'm sure feeling inspired after all the sights we saw this week.

'Let's Go Play on the Tire swing!' ~ Babs, I was influenced by your wonderful 'inner child' series of clay sculptures and reading about your memories of playing in the woods with your friends as a child...Here's my page for your book and I hope your inner child is gonna like it! :)

'Daydreaming' ~ Here's my page for your book Lynn. I did a lot of cutting with my old exacto knife and did some collaging and painting. I even put a little piece of silver ribbon for a window curtain. I hope you'll like it, this has been a fun project!

Girlfriend's Traveling Sketchbooks ~ I got a progress picture of the books today.

OK Girlfriends! ~ You can tell what I've been working on this weekend and they are getting ready to travel again! I'm getting all 3 books in the mail tomorrow and off they go to Karen! I had already gotten Soulbrush's page done and this weekend I got Lynn's and Bab's pages done. All 3 books are looking fantastic so far and I couldn't resist stretching them all out to get a picture of the books in progress! I hope you all had a fun and safe 4th of July! I didn't do much here, but I did get to see some fireworks through the trees. Tomorrow, we are going to have major fun though...we are planning on going to the Virginia Beach aquarium and marine science center! I hope to get lots and lots of pictures to share!