Watkins Woolen Mill

 

Today, I learned that my waterbrush, fountain pen and watercolor palette all FREEZE at 20 degrees!  It is VERY hard to paint with frozen everything. Where is that vodka when I need it?  Often, when it's cold, I pare down my supplies to a couple of pens and water brushpen in my pocket, and my travel palette in my other pocket.  Naturally, they stay warm.  On this first cold sketch day, I grabbed my bag like normal, and never thought of the cold, nor of grabbing my oils - which would have performed perfectly at this temperature.  The water and paint slushed up into icy crystals on both brush and paper, and I couldn't figure out why my TWSBI fountain pen was not flowing ink - even when I licked it!  TWSBIs ALWAYS work, it's why they are my workhorses.  I guess 20 degrees is enough to freeze the ink!  Who knew?  It was a crazy morning of learning new lessons, and I wished I was closer to the car, where I actually have a little spray bottle with vodka and lemongrass oil.  I could totally have put that in my water brush pen for good paint flow.  This beautiful place deserves more painting time, and I hope to capture more of it in the future. Painting number 4729 in 4729 days. 

Talking to Santa

Santa is spending lots of time with my hens - and they are having quite a conversation while I sketch!  Dream Catcher is day 8's super cool ink surprise- and a chromatic turquoise blue that gets red in heavy areas.  This ink could have so many cool applications - I sure hope they offer this one in a large size soon!  Painting number 4728 in 4728 days. 

Santa and Meringue

Behind door number four of the Diamine Inkvent Calendar is this lovely warm brown ink called Smokey Tobacco.  If gives a vintage glow to this Santa drawing, as he cuddles Meringue, one of our Calico Princesses. Once quite yellow, she has gotten lighter as she matures, nearly white on her undercarriage and tail! I've used a matching glass dip pen, and I'm working on an unknown handmade paper.  I often tear up small pieces into miniature ATC size. This painting is number 4727 in 4727 days. 

A special thanks to all who stopped by to see my paintings at the Historic West Bottoms Holiday Open House last night!  It was a lovely evening to celebrate the West Bottoms community with artwork created during the Historic West Bottoms Plein Air event in May.  I've had so much fun exploring this historic area with paint. 

 

Fir and Fog

 

Fir and Fog is behind door 6 of the Diamine Inkvent Calendar, and is a moody gray green, perfect for a winter landscape!  It just happened to be very foggy in the morning, so the day felt right for this ink.  Itreally is a great green for the landscape, unlike any other I own.  I may explore this one more fully, and even look for the large version, if it is released.  I love these special finds behind the doors! Painting number 4726 in 4726 days.

Chicks and Ornaments

 

I'm working on Christmas cards - and my hens are vying for my attention!!  They are very interested in whatever I bring into the run - and this is no exception.  They like to peck at the back of my plexiglass board, and sometimes they even nibble on the sides of my paper, leaving their "mark of approval"!  I am constantly being distracted from my task around these cuties!  Painting number 4725 in 4725 days. 

Phineas!

 

This sweet Blue Jersey Giant loves to hang out with me in the run as I sketch, and leaves us giant eggs as a "thank you"! Phinny has a calmer nature than her sister Carlotta, hanging back and waiting for treats rather than charging right up to me.  The grandkids named our chickens - and we didn't make it clear that they were all girls, so we have a few funny names, lol!  I love her darker head and neck feathering, and her floppy comb is adorable! I never dreamed I'd become so attached to these feathered friends, and here I am, playing with them daily!  I guess I'll never grow up!  Painting number 4724 in 4724 days. 

Santa and Chicken Mini

 

Day 3 ink in the Inkvent Calendar is Carousel - a vivid red pigment ink!  I LOVE the color - but it was SO HARD to wash off of my glass dip pen!! It's my first experience with such an ink!  A gorgeous red like this called for a Santa sketch - so I have drawn him with sweet Betsy, who is one of the first gens to jump on my lap!  I love the vivid color, but I prefer an ink that moves with water.  I had to actually scrub and use a brush to get the red ink off of that glass dip pen!  That's crazy!  Painting number 4722 in 4722 days. 

TWSBI Fountain Pens!

 

We're doing something new and fun at Urban Sketchers KC!  Fountain Pen Friday! Here's my first sketch to kick off the fun!  I'd you'd like to join the fun, post and use the hashtag #urbansketcherskc and #fountainpenfriday!  This idea popped up during our planning meeting yesterday for the Urban Sketchers KC 2026 calendar.  So, for our initial post, I grabbed a few of my newest pens loaded and unloaded, to sketch!  Once I fill with an ink in a matching color, I stand them in the tea box, nib up. Those new ones are laying on their sides, waiting for my attention.  So, THIS is the perfect in process sketch!  Painting number 4721 in 4721 days. 

Ornaments Five

 

Shiny ornaments are simply irresistible this time of year!  And even though I have a plate full of unfinished tasks, I just had to get a quick painting in.  Bright colors, in acrylic, are my go to for fast and bold painting. I think I'd love to do a large painting in this theme for the holidays, but who knows when I'll find the time?  Painting number 4720 in 4720 days. 

Chicken Walk

"Peeps (in the lower right corner) is my worst critic.  She is ALWAYS in my business, and looks very critical of my decision to sketch another, lol. The sweet buff brahma that I have drawn has taken on the role of Flock Defender. Twice she has set up the alarm when coyotes were present, and sleeps on a roost where she can look out the windows at night. She's along the first on my lap for black soldier larvae, too!  Painting number 4719 in 4719 days. 

Energy

 

Energy is the Day 2 ink of the Diamine Inkvent Calendar, a cool purple ink with deep olive in the heavy areas!  What a moody ink for a winter lake landscape!  I want to see if there is a reaction to bleach, but I'm out.  I rarely use it and when I recently opened it to use for cleaning, it had gone bad, and didn't help whiten my whites at all.  I like the way it lightens into a soft pink in wet areas, and I think I could make more of the green, too. It's so fun to open a tiny present every day up to Christmas!  Painting number 4718 in 4718 days. 

Chick's First Snow Day

 

Hooray!  It's Day 1 of the Diamine Inkvent Calendar, and Celestial Skies is the first ink!  I'm capturing the first snow for my chicks - and they don't like it!  With little wind, still the snow blew half way into their run.  After covering the east side, I swept out what I could and spread fresh wood mulch on top.  Once this was done, they ventured out from their huddle on the dry side to return to pecking, scratching and drinking.  I had heard chickens don't like the snow, and now I've seen it for myself!  The fancy dip pen pictured happens to also glow in the dark!  I'd forgotten that until I walked down the dark hall with it!  Painting number 4717 in 4717 days. 

Cardinal Perch

 

These sweet little cardinals nest here every year, and I get to watch those babies grow to raise their own families, too.  I pulled out a selection of cardinal paintings for a patron to choose her favorite.  She selected this one, which I had never posted.  I used very heavy watercolor board at a time when I was newly exploring the medium.  It didn't feel finished, and is a little different than my usual work.  I'm so happy it found a home where it will be cherished as a remembrance of her mother.  Painting number 4716 in 4716 days. 

Nesting Cardinals

Pen and ink has such a timeless feel on whatever I use it on.  The cardinals are frequent visitors and I often find their nests while tending my garden.  I love to watch and draw their antics any time of year.  My new Inkvent Calendar has arrived, so I will soon be opening a new bottle of ink each day to try in December. I'm so excited to see what unveils!  Painting number 4715 in 4715 days. 

Ornament Impressions

 

Tis the season for holiday decorating - and painting the magic!  It's so much fun to pull out the bold acrylic paints for these shiny ornaments.  Loose and free strokes keep the vibe upbeat and lively. There's so much beauty to paint this time of year, and I hope to make the most of every moment!  Painting number 4714 in 4714 days. 

Wild Turkeys

 

Wild Turkeys seemed too be the perfect subject on this holiday!  We had most of the family out for our Thanksgiving celebration, and Bill and Evelyn joined us, too.  They are normally in Arizona by now, but they aren't leaving until next week.  It's always like running a race to get everything ready, but so nice once the work is done.  It's great to visit and play with the grandkids! I'm so thankful for every day, and each person in my life!  Happy Thanksgiving!  Painting number 4713 in 4713 days. 

North Building

SOLD

 

I'm happy this painting of the North Building of the Shawnee Indian Mission has found a new home in Texas! As I make the many preparations for our family Thanksgiving celebration tomorrow, I remember all that I am thankful for.  I think of those no longer with us, the large family we are blessed with, and the little ones to one day come. What a miracle this life is, and I wouldn't trade a minute of it!  Come see all the paintings on display at the Three Springs Market in this historic building!  Painting number 4712 in 4712 days. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!  

On Vacation

 

When I travel, it's great to paint the scenes I don't find at home.  I have not painted here before, but found this place while returning from another painting location.  With just enough time to paint before a meeting, I set up on the shade of an airplane hangar, and got to work.  The owner of the building stopped by to say hi, too.  Everyone is so friendly here!  Fairfield is FULL of painting opportunities, and I'm happy this painting has a home there, too!  Painting number 4711 in 4711 days. 

Chicadee Pine

 

I love sketching my feathered friends - and using three different inks to do it!  Chicadees are the sweetest little birds, and I enjoy watching them in the garden. I have all three pens loaded with favorite inks in matching colors, and I use a water brush pen to move the ink around a bit.  As I play with these inks, I am anxiously awaiting the newest Diamine Inkvent Calendar 2025! I can't wait to discover the little bottles of ink for each day until Christmas! Painting number 4710 in 4710 days. 

Shiny Ornaments

 

What fun it is to paint festive ornaments with acrylics again! I love how quickly acrylics dry, and the rich color is perfect for paintball these shiny balls. In fact, I've never reached for my oils for these, and now I wonder why?  I'm normally looking for quick paintings to send out this time of year, and acrylics fit that bill.  This is also the time I reach for gallery wrapped canvases, as I paint right onto the edges.  No need for frames, which is a convenience, too.  Painting number 4709 in 4709 days.