Susan Elizabeth Jones Art

Portrait of Turning Angel monument located in the city cemetery in Natchez, MS, and theme to annual event "Angels on the Bluff."

I'm ready for warmth and sunshine and color and spring. Delighted by the early garden full of forsythia and daffodils, I still visit the garden each day seeking blossoms from the plum and dogwood trees.

Red and White Poinsettias

Fox Kit

Rattle and Snap (also called the Polk-Granberry House and once known as Oakwood Hall) is a plantation estate at 1522 North Main Street in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee. The centerpiece of the estate is a mid-1840s mansion that is one of grandest expressions of the Greek Revival in Tennessee. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971 for its architecture, and for its association with the Polk family, once one of eastern Tennessee's largest landowners. The house is privately owned by Dr. Michael and Bobbi Kaslow, and they offer tours by appointment.

So Be Good for Goodness Sake

Chickens in Dappled Light

I just learned of Lenten Roses at my friend Wanda Mack's house in Atlanta, and of course, they were the first plant I thought of when I wanted to create a memorial garden in the shade of the east lawn at my home at Windy Acre Cottage. But none could be found at any of my local home improvement stores. I lamented this fact on Facebook, and dear Clare Keller replied, "I have so many to share, come on over!" Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! They range in colors from white to green to purple and they are beautiful. They are bloom in the darkest days of winter heralding the fact spring is not far away. I love them!

Maximilian Sunflowers

The daylilies are beautiful this summer at Windy Acre Cottage.

Gazebo at Rippavilla, Spring Hill, TN

Back in March the pandemic shut down my in-person classes which is how I support myself and provide kibble for the dog bowls. There was a pity party for about a half a second, and then resilience set in. Time to pivot. I set up online video classes through Patreon. This painting was the class demonstration painting for the uploaded video class from this week. I'm completely enchanted with the American Impressionists from the early 20th century and the American Gardening Movement from the same era. I'm enjoying spending time in my own garden and painting new creations inspired by the garden.

I love painting little illustrations into my Illustrated Travel and Nature Journal. Maybe now I need to refer to it as an Illustrated Cookbook, as well.

It never fails. The holidays are over. The cold, gray, short days of winter have settled in, but my heart aches for warmth, light, spring. And then, on even the coldest of days, the sun shines brightly only to tease me. And it works. I search for the little green sprouts that never fail me. I find the little green shoots of daffodils that generations before me planted and to which I've added hundreds of more bulbs. Spring is on the horizon.

Amaryllis

Painted from a glorious Magnolia tree in bloom at Rippavilla, Spring Hill, TN.

Grendel and Willow are ready for a joy ride in Bumble, short for Bumblebee, Momma Beverly's yellow Juke.

300N Block, Franklin, TN

After painting the acrylic painting of daffodils, I noticed my garden turning a bit brighter. It appears the daffodils went from simply green to a little yellow peaking out of the closed blooms. Could painting their portraits encourage these early spring beauties to pop out and greet me? We'll see. I painted them all over again today in Oils... this time with a little more vibrant color. One can only hope spring is just around the corner.

Yorkie

Bittersweet accepting a commission for beloved furbabies who have passed. Precious Sito and Kash will forever be loved. "God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there." ~Billy Graham

Study of Charles Hawthorne's "Lighthouse"

This painting encapsulates my idea of home, the beautiful rolling hills on the farms in middle Tennessee. I already feel like I'm home once I cross the state line driving north after painting adventures in Florida because this is what I see.

Finch

Thank goodness the Café du Monde is open 24 hours a day. After a long, long day of sight-seeing, photographing reference material for future paintings, painting, and generally enjoying a glorious and hot early summer day in the French Quarter of New Orleans, my dear friend Sonja and a stopped by the Café du Monde at midnight to enjoy a large plate full of delicious and hot French donuts covered in heaping amounts of powdered sugar and washed down with the perfect cup of Café au Lait. My mouth is watering just thinking about it and I daydream about returning one day soon.

Study of Monet's "Poppy Fields"

Tiffany's Box

Cupcake

Beloved furbaby of Curry McKeel, waiting patiently on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.

Holly Freeman is a farmer, artist, and business person in Columbia, Tennessee. She raises miniature African Zebu cows. When a calf is born, she brings it into the house where it lives for a short while. They are adorable. Check out her Instagram page- @HelloFreemanFarm

Chickadee

Getting ready for autumn with all the feels.... pumpkins, berries, falling leaves, acorns.

Baxter, Baron of Brandon Hall

An Old Ford

Study of William Edward West's portrait of Stephen Minor, Spanish Governor of Natchez in 1792

Apres Skate