Walt Disney's "Happy Place"

Walt Disney's "Happy Place"
Oil on masonite, 12x9
Marceline OPA Paint-Out - purchase here

Out of bed at 4:00 am, out of the house by 5:00, the three hour drive to Marceline, Missouri was a long one for a one day event.  Once we leave I-70, it is winding highways all the way, and beautiful rolling hills and farmland.  Once we arrived, we headed to the Disney Barn and Dream Tree, which I had never seen before.  The barn is nostalgic, and a short walk from the small gravel parking area by the road.  Walt used to come to this barn when he was a child, and referred to it as his "happy place". The Dream Tree was struck by lightening three years ago, and fell in this last year.  Very large, the trunk remains and a new tree has been planted in it's honor.  The wildflowers were bursting with blooms, and a trail was mowed all around the barn, allowing for a great view from every angle.  I could have painted there all day - in this magical place, if only I had more time!  This is painting number 973 in 973 days :)

on location

Marceline Wine Stroll

Marceline Wine Stroll
Oil on masonite, 12x9
Marceline OPA Paint-Out - purchase here

By 3:00, the main street through old town Marceline was closed on either end.  Tables, chairs and tents were placed up and down it’s width.  Wine vendors started setting out bottles, and adorning their tables for eye appeal.  As I walked from one end to the other, scouting for a painting spot, several things caught my eye, but I kept returning to the St. James Winery table.  There was something about the light hitting the glass, with the grapevines and grapes resting around the ice container - so I set up my easel and did my sketch.  After first participating in the wine testing, I returned to my set up to find I could no longer get a good vantage on those bottles from the front

on location

corner, due to the crowd awaiting their wine!  Moving to the side, I started laying paint.  Bottles were constantly picked up, poured, and set down in different locations.  I liked the disarray of the bottles - it made for a more pleasing composition.  Focus was a little challenging as I was in the thick of the crowd, with all their conversation, wine sharing, and merriment surrounding me!  This was a fun paint in a charming town - who could ask for more?  This painting makes 972 in 972 days.

Clouds Over Prairie Road

Clouds Over Prairie Road
Oil on canvas panel, 7x5

Getting wood panels primed for painting surfaces is a big job.  As a daily painter, I am in constant need of substrates!  After getting about 60 panels cut at my local Lowe’s store, today I started preparing them.  First, I sand all the edges - which are a little rough after been cut.  I prefer to do this outside, as I don’t want to inhale all that dust, nor do I want the mess int he house.  Next, I mix up gesso, acrylic paint to tint, some gel medium gloss and a bit of sanding grout.  Mixing this completely, I slap it on with a large putty knife, brushing out the marks with a 2 inch synthetic brush in a cross hatch fashion.  Once this dries, I again brush over the surfaces with gel medium tinted slightly with a pumpkin orange.  I like this color for summer, but sometimes I go with a Monet yellow - which is what is underneath in this case.  Once dry, I have surfaces that readily accept the paint, and the addition of gel gloss at the end makes the surface kinder to my brushes, and they don’t wear down so quickly.  I finished most of them - maybe 10 need the second coat, and 2 didn’t get prepped at all.  Oh well, I’ll have to catch them with the next batch.  This painting makes 971 in 971 days.

Clouds Over the Marshland

Clouds Over the Marshland
Oil on canvas panel, 7x5 - purchase here

Another full day, all company has left, and bedtime has come and gone - I can return to my easel for my daily art fix.  Tonight, I am really in the mood for clouds - dark and full of drama.  The skies have offered up much inspiration these last days, and now I am committing them to canvas.  Only using two brushes, and my favorite palette knife, I have quickly captured this with broad, loose strokes.  And, this painting has a surprise underneath - one fourth of another landscape which I cut down to reuse the panel!  Waste not, want not - and now I must get my things ready for the paint out tomorrow! This is painting number 970 in 970 days :)

Lingering Clouds

Lingering Cloud
Oil on canvas panel, 7x5

Waking too early at 3:00 am, I already feel like I have put in a full day’s work. Pilates, step and kettle bell classes were especially grueling this morning, and the puppy couldn’t stay out of the mud - so another bath was in order before I could even shower myself. Approximately 60 panels are waiting for me to prime them, but I am drawn to my easel.   This is the birthday of my fourth and fifth children - they share this day three years apart!      Since we’ll be out for dinner tonight, it is good to have my painting done early, rather than later.  This is painting number 969 in 969 days :)

Merlot, Please

Merlot, Please
Oil on canvas panel, 7x5
purchase here

There are simply not enough hours in the day.  Try as I may, I never seem to find enough time for everything I want to accomplish in each day!  Today’s agenda is almost unending, but perhaps my best find was Dave at Lowe’s - who expertly cut two sheets (8’ x 4’) of masonite into 8x10’s, 9x12’s and 11x14’s.  As a daily painter - I am in constant need of panels.  I stop in (whenever my schedule allows) to my local hardware store, and just recently Lowe’s.  Twice now, my panels have been expertly cut at Lowe’s - after many, many times of haphazard cutting “elsewhere”.  In fact, the last time I went “elsewhere”, nearly every panel was wrong, and I had to recut them myself, often going to a smaller size because of the short cuts.  How pleasant it is to have perfect panels to start priming tomorrow.  You know, it is the little things that make life so sweet.  Cheers!  This is painting number 968 in 968 days :)

Sunflowers of Summer

Sunflowers of Summer
Oil on panel, 5x7

My fancy sunflowers have now completely faded, but the traditional ones are still going strong! Capturing them again with oils, I am making the most of them while I still can.  In the subdued lighting of morning, their cheerful yellow faces shine with radiant yellow.  An important part of making the painting work is bouncing the reflected color around the painting - reflected sky color, foliage color, and petal color.  I may need a bit more of that sky color in here, but my paint was so thick and wet that the color simply vanished as I stroked it on.   I may return to it in a couple days and add just tiny bits of it here and there, for that added sparkle of cool against warm.  After an afternoon of yard work in my yard, I then went over to help my oldest daughter in hers.  What I thought would be an hour job turned into three - and now it is time to return home for another shower and a late dinner......and maybe a nice glass of wine as my reward!  Painting number 967 in 967 days - I think another 30 Day Painting Challenge is coming up in September - and I will be passing 1000 during that time.  Crazy town!

Sunflower Sonata

Sunflower Sonata
Oil on panel, 10x8 - purchase here

Some days are WAY beyond busy - and it takes me all day to get to my easel.  Every time I pass the sunflowers on the candle table (that my dad made with my grandfather’s walnut), I felt the need to paint them before they fade!  The fancy ones are not holding up like the more traditional sunflowers I bought on the same day.  Oh, why didn’t I plant my own?  Oh yes - I did, and my giant red lab dug them up - or rolled over them!  I can hardly wait for the day he calms down and behaves like a big boy.  With all natural light gone, I am painting under the incandescent lights, and the dark room beyond fades to prussian.  Using large brushes and palette knife - I drop the last lemon yellow highlights on, and call it done.  This painting makes 966 in 966 days.

Silos and Bridge in Leavenworth

Silos and Bridge in Leavenworth
Oil on canvas panel, 10x8
Leavenworth Paint Out - purchase here

The second painting of the plein air day in Leavenworth, I had left myself only 30 minutes to paint before turn in!  So, fast and furious, I dropped paint into their masses with hardly a sketch to work from.  I set the alarm on my phone for 20 minutes before turn-in, which was my “time’s up” cue to pack up and get to the park.  This painting of the iconic bridge into Leavenworth with the silos in front, is the scene from the park on N. Esplanade, down by the covered shelter.  The shelter offered good shade and a nice vantage of the large cement silos.  I could hear the train running just past the bluff, but I could never actually see it with the heavy foliage between cliff’s edge and

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the steep drop to the Missouri River.  Another wonderful painting day, painting number 965 in 965 days.

Along the Esplanade

Along the Esplanade
Oil on panel, 11x14 - Leavenworth Paint Out
purchase here

I am painting in Leavenworth, Kansas today for a plein air event in conjunction  with Buffalo Bill Days at the Ray Miller Park.   An artist friend directed me to a lovely old part of town, called the Esplinade.  On one side of the street, fabulous antebellum homes line the avenue.  On the other side, looking out high above the Missouri River, is the oldest and first park in Kansas.  Any of these homes would make an amazing painting - but I can choose only one, so I chose my favorite!  Four of my students joined me today, three of which have never painted out in the open air before!  It was SO fun introducing them to something I hope will stay with them for a lifetime!  This painting makes 964 in 964 days.

on location

Palette Knife Sunflowers

Palette Knife Sunflowers
Oil on canvas panel, 7x5
purchase here

In my very small painting window today, I started this little painting. With my fabulous cut sunflowers before me, I knew I would be racing the clock to finish this before I had to pick up the grandsons from school.  As happens so frequently, when I disengage my brain and paint fast and furious - I end up with work that I really like!  There is something so fresh about laying down masses and strokes, relying on that information to go straight from my eyes to my brush. Perhaps I should do a few super fast paintings each week........ painting number 963 in 963 days :)

Fishing at Sunset

Fishing at Sunset
Oil on wood panel, 18x24
sold

Some days are truly a gift.  Cherished time spent with friends, loved ones and family are special jewels in each day.....and when you can spend them together in a place like this - it is magic.  Asked by one of my sweetest childhood friends to paint this, I first painted a study in small scale.  From that study, I have enlarged it to 18x24, adding to the depth as the size allows.  More space allows me to revel in the details and impressionistic strokes of the waves.  This painting has been a joy to create, and I hope it will be treasured for a lifetime!  This painting makes 962 in 962 days - although I spent many days on this one :)

Summer Sunflowers

Summer Sunflowers
Oil on canvas panel, 10x8
purchase here

On my way home from the paint-in yesterday, I stopped by another shop to see what kind of sunflowers they had.  The ones I had picked up earlier were the traditional ones, and I was looking for some variation.  They had two bunches of these fancy blooms - and I snapped one right up!  What is more glorious than big, bold sunflowers?  Maybe the students in class will even want to paint them on Monday!  With our new back to school schedule (and Mike’s 3:30am wake-up time), I find I am up and ready to paint very early, indeed.  With most of my work done, I was able to finish this painting before my Zumba class at 8:30am.  Its great to feel like I have extra time in the middle of the day!  When was the last time that happened?  Never?  Painting number 961 in 961 days :)

Sunflower Impressions

Sunflower Impressions
Oil on canvas panel, 8x10 - purchase here

on location - Tri-County Paint-In

Yikes!

We had a paint-in for Tri-County Art League today, which is where we all bring what we are working on, or something new - and just paint together as a group, visiting and breaking for lunch.  I had stopped and bought sunflowers on my way from the gym for my painting subject.  Without the right tool to cut them down, and no vase - I stood the tall stalks up in a glass that I found in the kitchen.  I had big plans to complete two or three paintings today.....but too much visiting kept me down to one!  My day was heavily scheduled - before and after this paint-in, so I had several other stops, an appointment and dinner out with the family, before I could return home with my painting and gear.  When I did open my trunk - to my surprise - my yoga mat from this morning's pilates had rolled back and forth over my painting - which DID have some heavy palette knife work on it's surface!  Silly me!  Why didn't I grab my wet panel carrier before heading out early this morning?  Well, "Fantastic" cleaned the oils from my mat, and a few additional strokes with my knife and paint repaired the damage to the painting.  Ahhhh.....just another adventure in daily painting!  This one makes 960 paintings in 960 days :)

Red Hot Wine Glasses

Red Hot Wine Glasses
Oil on canvas panel, 7x5
purchase here

Switching gears completely tonight and playing with bold, wild color!  Brushing on thick and topping off with palette knife - this bright and lively still life closes my very busy day.  Some days are too busy for eating, but I can always squeeze in a painting!  I hope I can paint more than one tomorrow during the Tri-County paint in.  It is definitely better to be ahead by a painting - it adds a little breathing room when life becomes too hectic!  Painting number 959 in 959 days.

Fields of Violet

Fields of Violet
Oil on canvas panel, 5x7
purchase here

While riding the North Coast Inland Trail, farm after beautiful farm unfolded before me.  These little gems were like treasure that only the bike rider could get a glimpse of.  I am painting this from memory, since I was not equipped on the trail - and I'm pretty sure my family would have abandoned me!  I think that only other artists fully understand the intense desire to paint when a fabulous scene is spotted!  These violet blooms may well have been weeds spreading across the field - but glorious they are!  After moving Michaela to college yesterday, Michael's first guitar recital today, and he returns to school on Tuesday, there is SO much on the calendar!!  A little art therapy is just what I need to focus and recharge before tackling ALL those duties!!  I feel like painting all day - maybe I'll get another one done before the night is through...... painting number 958 in 958 days :)

Through the Poppies

Through the Poppies
Oil on canvas panel, 5x7
purchase here

Today finds me dreaming of garden landscapes and peaceful walks through the blooms.  We moved our fourth child to college today, and it is bittersweet. She is such a bright and shiny star - her whole future spreading out before her feet.  We miss her already, and her puppy wanders from room to room, anxiously waiting.  So, looking for some art therapy today - I return to my paints.  Choosing to work small, I am not painting from any reference (as I usually do).  I am not concerned with colors or values, the process of expressing is my solace. Strokes made with brush and palette knife, this painting is my 957th in 957 days.

Red Wine and Glass

Red Wine and Glass
Oil on canvas panel, 5x7
sold

Today started with Zumba, watching the grandsons, and preparing for the “family send off” for Michaela’s first year of college.  After most of the company has left, and the kitchen is finally clean, I come to my easel late.  What do I paint when I am too tired to think?  Wine and a glass - for the second day in a row!  I may have a theme started here........who knows what I’ll have time for tomorrow.  I like to be a painting or two ahead - but I am not, which leaves me in a pinch tomorrow.  Oh well, I’ll think about that tomorrow.  Painting number 956 in 956 days. 

Rex and a Glass

Rex and a Glass
Oil on canvas panel, 5x7
purchase here

This day has been heavily scheduled from beginning to end.  With so many duties yet ahead of me tonight, I find very little time for creativity.  So, in an effort to unwind just a bit before carrying on, I am painting what is before me - my empty glass and a bottle of merlot!  I have a love of all things antique - and this special glass is one of several that I bring out for a little indulgence.  There is something timeless about drinking from a wine glass that spans the decades. When it comes to painting the glass - I simply paint the colors and lights as they appear before me.  I am thinking about the object - just where the masses of color and value fall.

Natural light gone as I finish...

In the end, that turns out to be a good representation.  This is painting number 955 in 955 days.

The Little Muddy Creek

The Little Muddy Creek
Oil on canvas panel, 7x5
purchase here

This view of the Little Muddy Creek, just outside of Lindsey, Ohio, is only visible from the North Coast Inland Trail.  We biked almost every day - and on the day I went 32 miles - this amazing scene was my reward. Golden hour sunlight shone through the trees, reflecting off the water's surface.  Without my gear, all I could do was take a few shots with my phone - to get to when I could!  This small landscape - only 7x5 inches is my 954th painting in 954 days.

Evening Phlox

Evening Phlox
Oil on canvas panel, 5x7
purchase here

This summer, the garden phlox have been more beautiful than ever!  Arriving home from vacation late last night, I find the heat is starting to affect them.  So, I am capturing them in oils while I still can - these are still wonderful on the north side of the house.  Even in the short period of painting time - you can see how the cool, north  light changed to warm as the golden hour washed over the blooms.  It warmed the lavender to a sunny pink!  But, my colors are put down right after the values - and it is important to never chase the light.  If you do, you will end up with a painting that is not true to life.  This painting makes 953 in 953 days.  So hard to believe that summer is coming to an end.....

Mom's Geraniums

Mom's Geraniums
Oil on canvas panel, 10x8
purchase here

We'll be heading back to Missouri shortly, so this morning finds me getting out early to paint.  Mom's geraniums are absolutely gorgeous - and I had to capture them in oils. We've had such a wonderful visit with my parents, brother and his family!  It is always so sad to leave.  I wish they all lived nearby and we could get together frequently.  Maybe one day.........painting number 952 in 952 days.

Reflections on the Portage

Reflections on the Portage
Oil on canvas panel, 10x8
purchase here

Waking early, I went down to the river bank to catch the morning light.  As I painted, a doe and her fawn walked along the opposite side of the river - never seeing me until I reached for a different brush.  Fish jumped in the river every so often, and a weasel walked along my side of the river - just below me.  He jumped in for a swim, popping up onto rocks and back in again.  It is the first time I've seen a weasel while plein air painting!  Peace fills the air in this place, and painting is the perfect repose.  Painting number 951 in 951 days.

Marigolds and Petunias

Marigolds and Petunias
Oil on canvas panel, 10x8
purchase here

Today started with breakfast in Port Clinton, a trip to Marblehead lighthouse - climbing the 65 feet of stairs to the top for some amazing views, lunch out and back to my parent's home for a little rest.  Working a bit in this bed for my mom had me wanting to paint these beauties!  Setting up for a quick, impressionistic painting - this one is my 950th in 950 days. Now its time for more family fun!

Along the Portage

Along the Portage
Oil on canvas panel, 10x8 - purchase here

I have really been making the effort to paint outside every day. Near Lake Erie, on vacation with my family, I have packed my paints and easel - and have gotten them out each day.  After several days of painting on the sandy beach, I have quite a bit of sand in EVERYTHING!  Yesterday was very windy, and today I found sand in my oil, on my palette and all over my easel!  I am going to have extra organic matter in the paintings of the next few days! While waiting for my brother to pack his gear for the trip back to Florida, I was able to get this painting done on the banks of the Portage.  Painting number 949 in 949 days.

on location

Gulls on the Beach

Gulls on the Beach
Oil on panel, 7x5
Lake Erie, Ohio - purchase here

The winds were blowing hard as I set up on the beach today - the strongest waves I've see all week.  The sea gulls were dotting the sand, rising and setting with the waves.  Michael grabbed my gear from the car, and picked up a smaller panel for me - so I chose this as my subject du jour.  It was so windy, I sat on my towel, with my easel sitting flat on the ground. Unwelcome side effect - sand blew into my easel, and probably my palette.  THAT will be fun to clean up - or maybe it will be just a little organic pumice.....painting number 948 in 948 days.

Lake Erie Beach

Lake Erie Beach
Oil on canvas panel, 10x8

Beginning the day with biking, then moving to Lake Erie for some beach fun, I finally got in a painting before heading back to Mom and Dad's.  While Danny, Jacob and Michael kayaked back to the vehicle, I set up my easel and painted this whole seascape before they returned!  I love the sound of waves crashing against the coast - and the color changed from steely blue to gray to green! I don't think there are many artists painting around here - the locals looked at me kind of funny - or maybe it was that I was painting in my swimsuit!  Painting number 947 in 947 days.

Portage Gold

Portage Gold
Oil on panel, 8x10
sold

Starting a little earlier tonight, I was able to start and finish this painting before dinner. The river is always calling to me...first thing in the morning, when arriving back at the house, or just before sunset.....it calls me down to paint. All kinds of water are alluring to me - lakes, ponds, creeks, and the ocean.  The wonderful golden light on the surface of the river caught my attention this evening, and it is what demanded to be painted.  This whole week, I am using canvas panels that are not first washed with color - which is something that I always do.  The land mass that juts out from the right is the edge of a small island, and local legend has it that an indian once made that their home.  The water forks here, coming back together on the other side.  So many compositions here on this bank, and the music of the river gently rolling by calls me to paint again and again.  Painting number 946 in 946 days.

on location

Portage Reflections

Portage Reflections
Oil on panel, 10x8
Portage River, Ohio
purchase here

The sun was already dropping behind the trees when I finally got out with my easel!  The Portage River was beautiful in both directions, so I chose the direction where the light would last longest. I started by quickly laying in the lights - as they are so very fleeting!  Next, the cool darks were dropped into position, along with those rosy shades dotting the river's edge.  With the light already greatly changed, I used a big brush and loose, fast strokes to get this whole landscape in. Rather impressionistic, this painting is the 945th in 945 days.

Morning at Cave Point

Morning at Cave Point
Oil on wood panel, 11x14
Door County, Wisconsin
purchase here

This park is absolutely amazing!  When you first enter the park, there is a long, winding road in, with nothing to either side but trees and grasses.  The trees shorten and become more sparse, and then you come to a parking lot with a gazebo - with people exiting their cars and all following a particular path into the woods.  Pretty strange - but we decided to follow the crowd - and it led to the most spectacular cliffs which dropped off suddenly!  There was a wooden sign before you came close to the trees exclaiming that “dangerous conditions exist and to not let children play unsupervised”!  Well - no wonder, because anyone could just drop off all along the coast!  Hard to believe this is still left in it’s natural state - but I am SO glad it is!  What an exciting place to paint!  Painting number 944 in 944 days.

A magic little spot :)

Out to Sail

Out to Sail
Oil on wood panel, 11x14
Egg Harbor, Wisconsin
purchase here

An early painting already finished at Cave Point, Egg Harbor was next on the agenda.  After scouting out the town, I was drawn down to the marina.  There were two sailboats that really caught my attention, and the first one soon departed.  With only one tiny spot in the shade from which to paint, I set up my easel and got started.  The wind blew right in to me from Lake Michigan, strong at times - which really dries my eyes out as I paint.  Sometimes, I even feel like they are wind burned!  The sun and heat were also strong, but my dappled shade helped.  The panel I used for this one had a molding paste texture on it, which gives it more of an impasto feel.  I find that sailboats are a very appealing subject up here on Lake Michigan!  Painting number 943 in as many days.

on location