1. Apple blossoms 2. Pear blossoms 3. Plum blossoms. Photos taken around 6 p.m. Bright evening sun, and heavy winds. Still chilly temps.

I added a thin yellow layer to my owl painting. If you're interested in the thinking that goes on behind a painting (or at least the thinking *I'm* doing while making one, lol), I have a blog post. It also gives the color sources I used: https://www.wildozark.com/essence-of-sunlight/

This morning, since it's dreary outside, I decided to take some time to work on my owl painting. But I found that I didn't have one of the colors I wanted. It's from a greenish siltstone and makes a sage/grayish/yellowish green that's really nice for background hills especially for scenes set in fall or winter, or an underbody color for other seasons. So, first I had to make some paint. I'm working in thin layers for this painting, so it's going to take a while to reach the finish line. Every layer has to dry before I can add more. So not a whole lot gets done in each session. I won't begin on the trees, fence, or owl until I get the sky and background finished. But already I like the depth the distant hill gives to the scene. 1) where it started out 2) where I left it today 3) the rock and a pile of pigment from a rock like it, ready to make the paint

It's a really wonderful surprise that the bees have arrived! The last few years there haven't been many around here, after the summers of wildfires and drought. They are visiting the brand new apricot blossoms.

I’ve been busy with other stuff but making progress. I love having the paint making to play with. I have three that have dried. I did the screen grinding of the first one, #1 Red Rock. It’s beautiful pigment. That’s the one I am going to rewash cause I think I can get more. I think I just stopped before the water was clear the first time. I have the 4th one drying. I was able to pick up a dehydrator for $15 at a friend’s yard sale so maybe it’ll speed up the drying part. I don’t know if I I’ll make it to the call. I have some volunteer work I signed up for and may not be back in time. I do want to get some grinding time in today. I want to start nature journaling too.