This is a color study that I began as a plein air painting in Bush Park, just outside Houston, Texas. I spent another 45 minutes in the studio, finishing it from memory with some reference photos.

Basically, I wanted to convey the beautiful colors in the grass at this time of year. Some fresh green grass is showing, along with richer green clover. But, most of the land is covered by grasses that are shades of red, orange and brown, with some sand showing through.

In the early morning (and late afternoon) when the midday sun isn’t bleaching out the colors, the park can be absolutely breathtaking. In some ways, this landscape reminds me of the colors in salt marshes along coastal New England.

This oil painting is 8″ x 16″ on canvas board. It will be for sale in July, when I’m showing my work in York Harbor, Maine.