Milk Barn Sunset

 

I just couldn't resist a little sketchbook time at sunset - and what a beauty it is!  Perhaps this ink and watercolor sketch would make a lovely larger painting, possibly even in a panoramic format.  I love spending some time at sunrise and sunset, watching and appreciating the beauty of each day emerge and wan.  It's something we started years ago while on vacation, and many is the time we're too busy in our everyday lives.  So, I come again with a conscious intent to bask in these moments, and express my thankfulness in pen, ink and watercolor.  Painting number 5078 in 5078 days.   

Wishing Trees

 

Wishing Tree ink by Diamine is a lovely, winter day hue that pushes pink and turquoise in those wet areas!  It's perfect for the winter landscape, and I thought it lacked star power in the bottle.  I am constantly surprised when playing with fountain pen inks.  There have been a couple I thought would be excellent, but paled in comparison with this seemingly blah gray.  In fact, this is the first gray ink that has ever made am impression on me!  I'm looking forward to more interactions with this chromatic gray ink!  Painting number 5077 in 5077 days. 

Winter Cedar Deer

 I love these quiet days of January, where I can step outside to paint my daily visitors.  I'm so still as I work, I am hardly noticed by the wildlife, especially the deer.  It is lovely to spend time immersed in nature, painting the winter wonderland that surrounds me.  I am thankful for the remaining blanket of snow adding to the beauty of this day.  Painting number 5076 in 5076 days. 

Deer at the Winter Creek

 

The winter woods are so inspiring - and the appearance of deer is a special treat in a day full of wildlife sightings!  One of them is limping, and I wonder if it is from the extreme cold.  We had a record low this morning of -9 degrees, and that is no joke.  I am painting fast in the warmest part of the day, in my warm layers, and still my fingers were cold before I made it back to the house.  I'm happy we still have some snow to paint, and feel like I absolutely have to paint it while I can!  Painting number 5075 in 5075 days. 

Cyclamen

 

It was super fun to sketch inside the balmy greenhouse today with artist friends and Tiffany!  The Arctic blast is moving through and at 11 degrees, this was a lovely place to sketch!  This gorgeous cyclamen grabbed my attention, so I set it on my table with 5 seed packets to bring home, and a hot tea - and got to work!  I've been working on my sketchbooks lately, getting them organized for future Travel Journal  Workshops. For this one, I'm bringing out bolder colors and fun lettering.  Every page is an exploration and i can't wait to see where it takes me. Thank you, Family Tree Nursery for welcoming us today!  Painting number 5074 in 5074 days. 

Last Light on the Cattle

 

I have only to walk outside for inspiration to paint - even as the days grow colder.  A bit spoiled by the last two 50 degree days, the icy blast is again a shock.  The sunset colors have been wonderful this month, and I love getting to drop that in at day's end.  Michaela, Cooper and the boys came by for family fun today - and Michaela brought WONDERFUL news with her!  Little Kirby was on a Dance Party Mission all day - dancing to every musical thing we have in the house!   All of life is about the little things, and this day was spilling over with joys big and small.  Painting number 5073 in 5073 days. 

Sunset Winter Deer

 

Hooray for snow that doesn't melt on the very first day!!  It's fun painting in the deer that visit every day, and their tracks are all over this space.  I think they walk up past the house from the pond in the back, right along a path we mow for the Sidekick. I think the deer are harmonious in their scene, and i feel like they are the eye candy for those who look closely.  Not enough to steel the scene, but to be the supporting actors to this glorious landscape.  I am again painting over an old panel, bringing this one to a place I'm happy with. Painting number 5072 in 5072 days. 

African Goats in the Snow

 

I LOVE when these African goats come to visit - they are so paintable! It has been years since I've played in the pastels, and I'm a little rusty.  I sketched my scene first with a pastel pencil, then laid in the masses with my pan pastels.  I chose a red oxide sanded paper because I thought it would compliment my scene, but I feel like I was fighting it.  I found it hard to bring the lights out of that dark beginning.  Next time, I'll choose a lighter color and see if that helps my process.  My daughters were asking about learning pastels, so I thought I'd better get them all out and clean them up.  Now, I'm thinking of all the animal paintings I could use them for!  Painting number 5071 in 5071 days. 

Mama and Calves

 

There is something so very timeless about painting cattle in the field, and I especially love the snow covered pastures.  My grandparent's cattle once roamed here, and seeing them brings back so many memories.  As a child running these fields with my brother, I never dreamed I would live here, too, raising our family.  I one created art at a child's desk in the kitchen, and for many years I've painted on the land that has always felt like home. I am truly blessed.  Painting number 5070 in 5070 days. 

Freya

 

I was working on this while introducing all my daughters to pastels!  It's been MANY moons since I've picked up a stick, and it sure was fun to explore the medium again.  I sketched my composition first with a pastel pencil, then a base layer with my pan pastels.  I followed with hard then soft pastels, and will hit just a couple more spots before framing.  I like the paper tortillions for blending, so far.  Who knows where this adventure leads? Painting number 5069 in 5069 days.

Ferris Wheel at Scheels

 

It was fun to meet inside to sketch the Ferris wheel on this very cold day with artist friends and Mom!  Lunch afterwards at their Cafe was icing on the cake.  Scheels is a great place to shop, with painting subjects ranging from architecture to the grand aquarium and taxidermy.  I brought a sketchbook today, wanting to immerse myself a little deeper in my methods.  Many subjects would have been far easier than this Ferris wheel, but when I think of Scheels, this is what comes to mind.  I've left the upper left corner a little dreamy because I plan to write about my day in that area.  I find it best to sketch on scene and fill in the words later - when I'm not so distracted by family and friends.  I can paint all day while talking to others, but it takes solitude to pull together the right words that really 'paint' my experience.  Painting number 5068 in 5068 days. 

Pastel Winter Creek

 

The girls were asking for some oil pastel instruction - so I dusted off my oil pastels and started playing.  Who can tell me what their favorite blending tools are?  I pulled all my oil pastels out of storage bins, cleaned them (as best as I could) and organized them.  I located my various pastel paper, limited as it is, and separated the ones reserved for soft pastels.  I've never used this medium much, but I have all the tools, many from the estates of a couple of artist friends. This is my first attempt, but I'm sure there will be more with our family sketch gatherings!  Painting number 5067 in 5067 days. 

Downey Woodpecker

 

I've seen so many woodpeckers since the blizzard - and I'm happy to get to paint this Downey woodpecker today!  I've noticed them all over the trees, moving up and down in search of lunch.  The snow is a gift that shows them off to their best advantage, and I can't wait to do it again.  Painting number 5066 in 5066 days. 

Sunset on the Snow

 

Time spent out in nature painting is time well spent.  The temps have gone up and it's absolutely balmy here as I work.  The shivering of a few days ago is now a cozy warm.  I must be acclimating to the cold now, and no wind is a blessing!  I've long looked across these pastures to watch the setting sun from the house.  It's a joy to paint it now from a little closer to the woods.  The air is so still and calm, there hardly seems to be any sound and l love the peacefulness of it all.  I'm ticking a few more of my new year goals with this one - spending more time in the woods, and painting more meaningfully. Of the thousands of times I've watched the sun set here, I need to be painting it more.  Painting number 5065 in 5065 days. 

Cosmic Glow

 

What a gorgeous snow for a little pen and ink!  Cosmic Glow is another beauty from the Diamine Inkvent Calendar!  I think I'll need to do this one in oils, as well!  This ink is such a vibrant blue - there are so many uses for this ink!  I'm looking forward to exploring more of them! Painting number 5064 in 5064 days. 

Creek in the Snowy Woods

Another snowfall is nearing as I capture this winter wonderland in oils.  I've recently been playing with multiple mediums, but oh, how good it feels to pick up my oils again.  A few colors on my palette have hardened, so there is palette cleaning in my future. Since I keep my palettes in the freezer, I never know until I'm in the field what needs attention. I could always check first, but I'm always in a hurry to get outside and paint!  The days are so short this time of year, I really do feel limited.  Ever painting what I feel, I've pushed this one a little bluer and darker, as I see the dark clouds moving in from the north.  I haven't used this pochade for a while either, and it needs a little cleaning, too.  This day was absolutely balmy compared to the last few days!  I'm looking forward to fresh snow on the trees tomorrow!  Painting number 5063 in 5063 days. 

Wooded Winter Creek

If you look closely, my altoid tin palette has chomp marks in it - left by my pictured painting assistant above!  I pulled my pallette from the freezer and set it on the stairs as I gathered my thumb box and bundled up.  I rounded the stairs to find he had my palette in the front room, trying to get into it! Thankfully, he did not get any paint, but it will no longer close right.  So when this paint is gone, I will load another.  Silly dog!  He has not gotten into my paint for 10 years - and then, he licked all the cad lemon yellow off of a fresh forsythia painting!  Another day, another adventure, and this is painting number 5062 in 5062 days. 

Warm Winter Light

 

Hooray for a chance to paint this winter wonderland!  Now, if we could only raise the temperature a bit...!!  I love when the warm light in the sky reflects and bounces off the winter snow, pushing those shadows to blue and purple.  Thank goodness for no wind because it's a little brutal out there.  I layer up, beginning with Canadian running pants and base layer shirt, warming socks and topping off with a down coat that is warm to 7 degrees below zero and warming gloves.  I also wait for the warmest part of the day - and work fast!  If I get too cold, I go in.  New this year - rechargeable hand warmers!  Painting number 5061 in 5061 days. 

Pin Oak in the Snow

Oh what a lovely snow we have after yesterday's blizzard! Only the 4th one in KC's history, it was glorious to behold. Wild and blowing, it was hard to see into the pasture.  This is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and I hope to get several more paintings in the snow completed before it melts.  Thank goodness for the extreme cold this week, though it will take me a few days to acclimate!  My fingers were pretty cold by the time I got back inside today!  Painting number 5060 in 5060 days. 

Landscape in Tundra

 

Tundra by Diamine is the perfect ink for a snowy day!  We are actually in the middle of a Blizzard warning, only the fourth in Kansas City's history.  The snow is gorgeous and blowing large and small flakes everywhere.  I was out a couple times before the temps dropped and the wind increased.  Being homebound offers so many opportunities to catch up on things that I'm looking forward to being snowed in!  I think I'll organize my pastels next, they seem to be calling my name!  Painting number 5059 in 5059 days.