Linda Chalberg - Linda Chalberg's Original Watercolors

"Secret Cibolo"

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:03:21 CST

I created this painting from a sketch I did sitting on the banks of the Cibolo in Boerne's Cibolo Wilderness Preserve. It's a wonderfully peaceful place with the waters gently swirling around the cypress knees. I was alone there that day and felt like I had this secret hideaway all to myself.

"Radish Rumba"

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:03:21 CST

I loved seeing these two varieties of radishes loosely bunched together. Hot Reds and Spicy Whites partnered together to dance the rumba!

"Zucchini Zydeco"

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:03:21 CST

While visiting a farmers' market in California last summer, I saw lots of happy veggies. I loved how loosely stacked they all were in contrast to the produce we see in grocery stores. The curling, swirling squash blossoms reminded me of Cajun music....leading to their name "Zucchini Zydeco".

"Poppy Play"

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:03:21 CST

This is the most recent in a series of poppy paintings. The challenge has been to create a composition that utilizes the negative space of the unpainted paper so that the vibrant colors of the flowers are maximized. A little 'creative license' with the centers really brings them to life.

"Sun Stripes on the Cibolo"

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:03:21 CST

Using the same sketch as for "Secret Cibolo", this painting was inspired by the sunlight streaming down through the huge cypress trees along the banks of the Cibolo Creek. Usually, sunlight in a painting appears as straight lines, but with the tree limbs gently moving in the breeze and the light dancing on the water...I chose to make the rays undulate and swirl. It's a place that can inspire anyone.

"Disappearing Cibolo"

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:03:21 CST

The Cibolo Creek passes through Kendall County and the Cibolo Wilderness Preserve but just after it flows over the boulders of Herff Falls, it goes underground. While on a Field Trip, I stood and sketched the water as it seemingly disappeared from sight. I thought about the creeks unique attribute, but also about our need to conserve this precious resource,,,,before it disappears.

"Up the Road to San Martino"

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:21:14 CST

Another ink and watercolor painting, this shows the road we traveled up to the village. Many of the people were out that day chatting with their neighbors and doing their normal chores: sweeping, feeding the chickens, picking vegetables in the gardens, hauling firewood up the hill. They were all wonderfully friendly and intrigued to see what we painted. Several of the men in their underhirts made a point to be visible and smile for us....Italianos!! San Martino more than any other hill town we visited let us see daily life in an Umbrian village. When the bakery truck arrived, all the women came out to buy their daily portion. Fun!

San Martino Morning

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:21:13 CST

Using an ink pen and watercolor washes, this captures the early morning sunlight on the small village of San Martino, Italy. When we arrived we knew we had to sketch quickly and snap alot of pictures to get these great shadows.

"Up the Road to La Romita"

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:21:10 CST

La Romita is an art school on the hillside overlooking Terni, Italy. An Italian family purchased the 15th century monastery, restored it, and now hosts American art instructors and classes in the summer. It's a truly inspirational, magical, wonderful experience. La Romita's own driver and bus takes us out each day to a new hill town for sketching and painting. In the afternoon we return to work in the Chapel converted into a studio and in the evening enjoy the aromatic home cooked meals of Itza. Traveling up the road through the olive groves is a an experience I will always treasure.

Suns and Globes IV

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:21:06 CST

After rain, rain, and MORE RAIN last spring, I decided to bring out some sun....at least some sun-flowers. This is one in a series entitled Suns and Globes. They're all based on some sketches I did of these red orange to red to yellow sunflowers and globe amaranths. I love the vibrant colors in the flowers and thought it was only fitting for such 'fireballs' to have their own solar system of 'globes'. Hope it brings some sunshine to your day.

"From My House to Goudargues"

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:53:06 CST

My very first trip to Europe was with my mentor, Jane Jones of Dallas. There was so much to see and absorb and being there to sketch, photograph and paint was at times overwhelming,,,but always wonderful. We stayed in a tiny village in Provence called Goudargues There was only one small hotel and a stream ran through the center of the town. A twin steepled church was the centerpiece. One day we visited a near by hill town and saw this great view of the valley and Goudargues. Only Jane and I braved the hot sun and stood on the balcony to sketch it. Just recently I created this studio painting from that plein air moment. I frequently long to return to this idyllic village and imagine living in the small farmhouse. I'd be able to walk "From My Houses to Goudargues".

"Spoleto and Beyond"

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:53:03 CST

On a painting trip to the Umbria region of Italy, I visited Spoleto and discovered a road that passed by the duomo. It was somewhat elevated and so it afforded a view of the surrounding houses and hillsides. On a second trip a few years later a hedge had been planted that blocked this wonderful view. I was glad that I had sketched it before.

"Poppy Trail"

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:53:00 CST

A familiar and beloved sight in the Italian countryside is the one of red poppies along the roadsides. I loved the play of complementary colors (red and green) between the tall cypress trees and those wild poppies. Look carefully to see the poppies reflected into the trees along the trail.