On Saturday October 31st a small group of us from the Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society meet up at Silverman's Farm in Easton, CT. 

It was a cold morning, just the day before it snowed and up in the northern part of Connecticut they had about 3 inches. It was just a dusting for us along the coast but it did usher in the colder winter weather. 

I have to confess, I had never been to Silverman's Farms but Mom took my kids there a few times to pick pumpkins and see the farm animals. It's quit the operation along Sport Hill Road in Easton. It's a fun attraction for the whole family with lots of farm animals, if I had to guess there were about 100 animals. Lots of goats, sheep, reindeer, buffalo, donkeys, llamas, chickens, roosters, bunnies and so many more! 

There are pick your own apples, pears and peaches, a farmers market, food trucks, activities for the kids, a general store and much more. 

Our small group met and then scattered choosing different locations to set up. I decided to paint the billy goats. I loved the tall water tower with the rooster weathervane and the red covered structures that provided shade for the animals while they eat their hay.

These goats where very smart, as soon as they saw me stop by the fence they came over right away, probably to see if I had food. But once I set up my easel, they all scattered to different parts of their pen so that there were none in my canvas view. After about an hour I think they forgot about me and made their way back to the hay barrel. Some would grab the hay from the bottom while others would jump up with their hooves on the metal frame and eat from the tippy top of the stack. It was fun to watch and observe as the little children and their parents would walk by. If the kids had a handful or hat full of food, the larger billy goats would jump onto the fence, stretch their necks and stick out their tongues to get a bit of food. 

It was Halloween day and folks young and old were dressed in costumes. Some braved the cold but others had big winter parkas on over their princess gowns. 
​
When I arrived I met Mr. Silverman and he suggested that our group of painters take a walk to the top of hillside to see the view. And what a view! It was a hike up the hill past the orchard trees but so worth the climb. I would love to return to paint the animals and the incredible view.

Thank you for being apart of this art journey -
Linda

I'm really excited to share with you that I'll be offering a 2021 Art Calendar! I'm gathering a variety of paintings I created over the past year, still life, figurative and of course Connecticut landscape paintings. Each month will feature a different painting. 

The calendar will be available for $24.95 which includes shipping. Order more than one and save on shipping!

I'll make an announcement as soon as the calendar is ready to order.

Purchase a painting either from my website on during an Open Studio visit and receive a 2021 Calendar for FREE! 

Today my friend and student Lisa had our second plein air painting lesson. 

We joined the Lyme Art Association Plein Air Group on Tiffany Farm in Lyme, CT. The farm was once one of the largest dairy farms in Connecticut. This iconic farm has been in the family since 1848.  According to the Tiffany Farm website, in 2017 the dairy cows were sold and then in November the almost full silo fell. The farm now provides the best beef around (so I've been told) and a Saturday morning farmers market with a nice selection of local farmers and vendors sell their goods. We'll definitely need to return to purchase some beef and check out the garden flowers and vegetables.

The cows weren't out that day. 

It was very hot but we found a nice place in the shade to paint.

I decide the painting needed a friendly face of a cow standing by the gate so I painted it in when I returned to my studio.

A few years ago I painted a series of farm scenes and farm animals. It became an obsession of mine. I would drive around looking for different farms to paint.

New England and especially Connecticut have some of the most interesting farms. Perhaps because these farms have been around for years and probably passed down from generation to generation,  you'll find all sorts of stuff on these farms,

Yes, the classic old tractors and farm equipment, weathered barns and haystacks. But some will have rundown cars, rickety boats, an old bath tub or sink. You just never know when you show up to paint what you'll find. It's always a surprise!

At Tiffany Farms, all the painters stayed close to the road and side property so we really weren't able to peruse the property. There was construction going on that we might be interfering with. There was plenty of subject matter right from where we were standing. So we settled under a huge tree next to the side of the main white house. I could see a John Deere tractor near one of the barns behind the house, something I've been wanting to paint for years, perhaps another day.

It's fun exploring new places and seeing all the incredible beauty Connecticut has to offer.

Thanks for reading my blog - hope you get a change to explore your area!

Linda

Looking for a larger size of this painting? Contact me, I   would be happy to paint a custom painting like in the photo above  or custom prints is another option. Original art just makes each room in the house special and unique.

#tiffanyfarm #connecticutlandscape #connecticutfarm #ctpleinairpainting #cowandbarnpainting #onthefarmseries #artforsale #originalart #lymeartassociationpleinairpainters

Meet Jalapeño.

Jalapeño belongs to Margherita Torres who I met through a mutual friend Hannah.

Margherita sent me the sweetest story and  a dozen photos of Jalapeño  during the 30 Dog/30 Day painting challenge. From the photos it was easy to tell that Jalapeño is a dog with a lot of spunk! I knew I needed some time, (more than 24 hours) to really study Jalapeno's features and try to combine a few photos together.

After the challenge was over I contacted Margherita who was patiently waiting for me!

Here's what Margherita has to say about Jalapeño :
" my best friend Jalapeno.  He is a miniature Doberman.  When my husband brought him home, I was not too happy.  We already had a dog- an akita named Zorro.  Well that day my children named him Jalapeno.  That first night, I made a little bed for him on the floor on my side.  He cried and cried so I eventually picked him up and put him next to me in the bed.  He immediately stopped crying and I fell in love.  The year he came into my life my husband got very sick and I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  God sent him to me exactly when I needed the support.  Some funny things about him, mostly all of our pictures of Jalapeno are with him wearing a harness.  We have to keep the harness on him because if we take it off he thinks we are going to give him a shower.  He starts to shake and then goes under the covers to hide. He is the love of my life."


I'm so happy you waited Margherita… I love the way the painting came out and Jalapeno's eyes tell the whole story! Thank you very much!


Note to my readers: If you, or you know of someone who would like to have me paint a custom pet portrait please feel free to share this link to my website www.LindaSMarinoArt.com/pet-portraits

Pet portraits make wonderful gifts for birthdays, Christmas, Hanukkah, anniversaries… or "just because you love that very special pet"

Meet Memphis.

"Linda has captured this boy's spirit so well in her painting! How cute he looks on his rug...
Memphis is being fostered in Middletown, CT. 
He is available for adoption to the right home. 

We picked Memphis up from a rescue transport out of Tennessee the morning of September 7, the same day of our 30th anniversary party. We were worried about how he would take all that excitement on his first day. The rescue said he was calm and they were right...to our surprise he spent the night schmoozing our friends and sleeping on the living room chair amidst all the chaos a dinner party can bring. Needless to say he made himself at home pretty quick! The next morning we discovered he was a 10 month old puppy who knew no commands at all. He didn't even know his name! Who spends 9 months with a puppy and doesn't teach him anything accept how to behave in a crate? We quickly went to work teaching him to play and obey. Being an Australian Shepherd mix he is hungry for things to do and has learned everything from walking nice on a leash to catching a frisbee! He's 53 pounds of bounding play, gaining 10 pounds since we took him in. He's eager for another
four legged buddy(s) and someone who will give him a job. Frisbee contests or agility would be ideal!

If you can't resist this face...you can see more: info, photos, videos and adoption contact info on his webpage. www.dianneannelli.com/memphis"

Meet Chloe.

Chloe belongs to Charlene  Lavoie. Charlene heard about the challenge through our mutual friend Sabine.

Here's what Charlene has to say about Chloe:
"This is of Chloe on July 28, 2005 when she just came to us.  She was 2 months old and you can see that her ears were beginning to stand up.  I took this photo - simply saying her name, she looked up at me.
 
We decided to get a puppy (we had always rescued) to experience it and because Cody wanted a pal - yes he let us know this, particularly when he tried to befriend the squirrels, chipmunks, skunks, cats and every other creature that happened into the yard.
 
We met Chloe and her siblings a few days after she was born in May.  When she was about a month old, we went into see the bunch and make our selection.  There were 10 puppies!  A lot of activity...
 
She came right over to us with no reservation.  She had pluck and no fear. And talk about cute...  So she was our pick.  We brought her home and she and Cody (who was 100 pounds) became fast friends and inseparable.
 
Our pack was the toast of wherever we went - no collars or leashes, they were trained and behaved and only cared about each other and us so there was never a concern that they would wander away or chase other creatures. Easy with German shepherds. They were a blessing and we miss them both deeply."

I have joined in with over 240 other artists on fellow artist Leslie Saeta's blog. click here to link to the challenge.

Thanks to everyone who have sent me cute dog photos! I'm having a great time painting and hearing about all these sweet companions.

with much gratitude,
Linda

Meet Bella and Tucker.

They belong to my friend Toni and Mark Morrissey.

Here's what Toni has to say about her dogs:
"Tucker my dirty little boy to the left was given to us by dear friends who couldn't care for him anymore. He's a luv bug. Loves to cuddle and to roll around in dirt. Bella is my little girl who loves to play fetch and is so proud of herself that she can open the slider screen door all by herself to come in. We adopted her in 2012. Her original owner became ill and gave her to a rescue to find her a home. They are both 7 years old and Tucker is full Lhasa apso and we where told she was too but be believe she has a little Maltese in her too. Doesn't matter what they are we think they are adorable and they love each other and play so cute together. They bring is so much joy. "


I have joined in with over 240 other artists on fellow artist Leslie Saeta's blog. click here to link to the challenge.

Thanks to everyone who have sent me cute dog photos! I'm having a great time painting and hearing about all these sweet companions.

If I get to the end of the challenge and I haven't painted your dog. I will try to continue the challenge until all the dogs are painted and only one dog per owner. I might not be able to paint one everyday... I know I'll need a break at the end of this challenge, but I will keep the dog series going. 

Each painting is painted on either 8 x 10 inch or 8 x 8 inch canvas board with quality oil paints and varnished. The price is $140 + (shipping and CT sales tax). Unframed.

with much gratitude,
Linda

Meet Shadow.

Shadow belongs to my dear friend Colette. 

Here's what Colette has to say about Shadow: "Shadow is a ten year old lab/hound mix rescued from Tennessee when he was 8 months old.  This photo was taken within a day or so of him arriving.  
He is absolutely the sweetest and easiest dog we have ever had.  He is extremely mellow and has never destroyed anything in the home.  All he wants is to to be with his family and is truly our "shadow" following everyone around throughout the house.  He loves to snuggle and sleep on the bed and is of course spoiled rotten.  Because he was neglected early on he is fearful of a few things including camera flashes and any clicking noise, therefore it is almost impossible to take a photo of him looking at you, usually he is running away just seeing the camera in your hand.  This was a rare one of his face looking straight at the camera and it will be great to have it on canvas!  

Meet Angel.

Angel belongs to my brother Mickey, Sister-in-law Gail and niece Ava. Angel is a Westie.

More about Angel to come....

I have joined in with over 240 other artists on fellow artist Leslie Saeta's blog. click here to link to the challenge.

Thanks to everyone who have sent me cute dog photos! I'm having a great time painting and hearing about all these sweet companions.

If I get to the end of the challenge and I haven't painted your dog. I will try to continue the challenge until all the dogs are painted and only one dog per owner. I might not be able to paint one everyday... I know I'll need a break at the end of this challenge, but I will keep the dog series going. 

Each painting is painted on either 8 x 10 inch or 8 x 8 inch canvas board with quality oil paints and varnished. The price is $140 + (shipping and CT sales tax). Unframed.

with much gratitude,
Linda

Meet Birdie.

Nigel belongs to my cousin Marybeth and her family. 

This is what Marybeth has to say about Birdie:
"Birdie is a 13 year old Harrier Hound... our first born. She is the oldest dog in the family. We added Nigel the beagle a year ago."


I have joined in with over 240 other artists on fellow artist Leslie Saeta's blog. click here to link to the challenge.

Thanks to everyone who have sent me cute dog photos! I'm having a great time painting and hearing about all these sweet companions.

If I get to the end of the challenge and I haven't painted your dog. I will try to continue the challenge until all the dogs are painted and only one dog per owner. I might not be able to paint one everyday... I know I'll need a break at the end of this challenge, but I will keep the dog series going. 

Each painting is painted on either 8 x 10 inch or 8 x 8 inch canvas board with quality oil paints and varnished. The price is $140 + (shipping and CT sales tax). Unframed.

with much gratitude,
Linda

Meet Kai.

Kai belongs to Janet Belanger. Janet heard about the challenge through our mutual friend Debbie Winters. 

Here's what Janet has to say at Kai:
 "She is an 18 month old Petite Basset Griffon Vendeen (PBGV). She is a rescue dog.  Kai is a very happy girl who is always up for playing. She loves people and other dogs.  Kai has yet to encounter a toy she can't chew up.  Our friend Nikki has nicknamed her Kairyanasaurus wreck. "

Thank you Janet for sharing your adorable photos of Kai.. it was a pleasure to paint Kai. One of my favorite details in the photo is the way Kai's "tennis sneakers" paws sits right on the edge of the deck... too cute!

I have joined in with over 240 other artists on fellow artist Leslie Saeta's blog. click here to link to the challenge.

Thanks to everyone who have sent me cute dog photos! I'm having a great time painting and hearing about all these sweet companions.

If I get to the end of the challenge and I haven't painted your dog. I will try to continue the challenge until all the dogs are painted and only one dog per owner. I might not be able to paint one everyday... I know I'll need a break at the end of this challenge, but I will keep the dog series going. 

Each painting is painted on either 8 x 10 inch or 8 x 8 inch canvas board with quality oil paints and varnished. The price is $140 + (shipping and CT sales tax). Unframed.

with much gratitude,
Linda