Slugerrr Carrying Flag

Slugerrr Carrying Flag
Watercolor batik on masa, 8x6
purchase here

I am having so much fun painting in the "Royals" theme this week!! I can hardly wait until the game comes on - and I am scheduling everything around their game times (which is pretty hard, given my very full schedule!)  I did not realize until I got this blog ready that Sluggerrr is spelled with 3 r's! I had no idea, and I do have a thing for words being spelled correctly........!  Another day of playing in the watercolors and hot wax on masa paper.  I am beginning to like working with this thick masa paper, even though I resisted it at first!  Painting number 1033 in 1033 days!  Let's win another one boys!!!

KC Dripping in Batik

KC Dripping in Batik
Watercolor batik on masa, 6x8
purchase here

How about those Kansas City Royals?  SO EXCITING to have won the first two games in the World Series - and in SUCH dramatic fashion!!  Tonight's game will be in New York - and I'm looking forward to another night with those "boys in blue"!!!  This painting is just a little fun with watercolor dripping on masa paper, followed by hot wax, freezing, wadding, and cracking, and topping it off with watercolor floated over those cracks.  Next come a hot ironing between newspaper, and voila! -this is what remains!  I just couldn't help but cheer my boys on with a little Royal fun in the studio today!  Painting number 1032 in 1032 days!!  Let's have another win tonight, boys :)

Fall in the Forest

Fall in the Forest
Watercolor batik on washi rice paper, 8.5x6
purchase here

For some unknown reason, this washi rice paper (with all of the threads running through it) absorbed all kinds of the batik color after the waxing and cracking.  Mind you, it has never done this before, and it is always a battle to get this paper to bend to my will.....but not today!  In fact, it absorbed more color than I planned on, pushing it towards the abstract!  And yes, I have dropped in a little oil pastel to bring back a few lights for balance.  After all, I am blazing my own trail here and there are no rules!  Painting number 1031 in 1031 days :)

Union Station in Batik

Union Station in Batik
Watercolor batik on masa paper, 7x5
purchase here

How about that Royals game last night?  Wowza!!  SO EXCITING!!  I have had a very busy day on very little sleep - and just found a tiny window to paint in.   Next, I head to an artist reception at the Lake Quivira clubhouse - and then home to watch Game 2 in the World Series - and I'm hoping for fewer than 14 innings tonight!!  I have painted Union Station - a Kansas City icon for today's subject - and it is completely bathed in blue light permanent blue) for the World Series!  I got my new Pro-Art brushes today from England - and they are a dream to paint with - just like the one our puppy got a hold of!  I like them possibly as much as the Raphael watercolor brushes......and might I say that I was not impressed with the Princeton "neptune" watercolor brush.  It simply did not hold enough water, thus I had to reload too frequently.  Painting number 1030 in 1030 days.  Let's have another victory tonight, Royals!!!

KC Royals!

KC Royals Skyline
Watercolor batik on masa, 7x5
purchase here

Something special for our boys in blue tonight as they head into game 1 of the World Series!!  SO exciting to be here for the second year in a row!  Making this post short and sweet - as there is a busy night ahead!  The hardest thing about this batik?  It was painting the lettering in hot wax!!  That wax cools almost instantly, so it is super hard to get good flow off the brush!!  Lucky for me, this whole batik technique is loose and fresh - which allows for almost anything!!  Hoping for a win tonight!!  Painting number 1029 in 1029 days!

Plaza After Hours

Plaza After Hours
Watercolor batik on rice paper, 6x8.5
purchase here

I don’t get down to the Country Club Plaza nearly enough.  I love everything about the place - the architecture, the multitude of fountains, the shops - and it is a special place to capture in paint.  I have been wanting to explore cityscapes in batik - so that is what I am up to today.  When using this technique, I sketch in my buildings first with an india ink pen - I like the Pitt pens for this, and I have lately been using the sepia ones.   I just got a new set of these pens in the mail yesterday, one of the black one with a chisel tip!  I love getting new supplies to experiment with!  The street scenes are fun to paint in this technique.  I spend a little more time sketching, since the lines are important, but them I still paint them in a loose fashion.  Once that lightest layer is finished, I then paint these areas with hot wax.  Next, I can drop in the night color, indigo with permanent blue and red violet dropped in.  I'm looking forward to finishing some more of these up in painting class tomorrow!  The "stars and moon" are simply a splattering of wax.  Painting number 1028 in 1028 days.

Time for Tea

Time for Tea
Watercolor batik on masa, 8x6
purchase here

Every week, I serve a different special tea in these teacups to the girls in painting class.  Quite some time ago, I bought a whole roll of masa paper for the watercolor batik technique.  This paper is thicker than the previous one I had used - and I found it harder to work with.  I prefer the thinnest rice papers, because they so readily accept the paint, wax and second coat of paint.  The masa is more resistant, especially in the second flow of paint over wax.  I am finding ways to make these thicker papers work, it just takes a little practice.  Painting number 1027 in 1027 days.

Benton Bridge in Batik

Benton Bridge in Batik
Watercolor batik on thin rice paper, 6x8.5
purchase here

I did not get to paint in the Brush Creek Art Walk this year since I was in Indiana painting in another event.  This wonderful bridge is in one of the painting zones, and if it weren’t for this plein air event, I would never have known how beautiful it is.  I love the way these historic bridges were designed, the arches add so much beauty to function.  That is one of my favorite parts of plein air painting - I find so many little jewels to paint!  There is something about how I REALLY observe my surroundings when I am painting them.  I see their true beauty in a way I never would otherwise.  Plein air painting has affected the way I view the world on a daily basis, as well.  When landscapes unfold before me, I am already laying down strokes in my head - even when I’m without my paints!  I am painting this one from reference photos today, as this is only an area I'd paint in with a group of fellow artists at my side!  This painting makes 1026 in 1026 days.

October Sky

October Sky
Oil on masonite, 10x8
purchase here

As I backed out of the drive and headed down the lane, the most amazing sky unfolded before me!!  Pilates or painting..........pilates or painting - oh, the decision was SO hard!!  This magnificent scene was not visible through the trees when I walked to the car - if it had been, I’m afraid that painting would have won, and pilates would have lost!  True to form, discipline won, and after taking some reference photos, I headed off to the gym, all the way there, staring at that sky.  With clear views of the sky in all directions, I will never run out of skies to paint.  Painting number 1025 in 1025 days :)

Mackay Hall in Autumn

Mackay Hall in Autumn
watercolor batik on rice paper, 6x8.5
purchase here

I spent a wonderful afternoon in Parkville with friends, to celebrate a birthday.  The fall colors were really washing over the town - oh why couldn't we have had this color last week when painting up there every day? I had not had a chance to paint Mackay Hall this year, so today was my chance - and this time is watercolor batik on thin rice paper!  I have come very late to my work!  Pilates, lunch and shopping out with friends, a little more shopping with my youngest son, followed by a Zumba party at the gym - all have pushed my painting window to the very end of the day.  As with all paintings of this kind, I am working "assembly line" style, letting the watercolor dry on one while working on another.  If the first still isn't dry, I begin another, and tonight I work on four.  It takes the very wet rice paper quite a while to dry!  Tonight, I grew tired of waiting (and didn't want to begin a fifth) so I pulled out the blow dryer to speed that process up!  It worked like a charm, and I was able to finish all of them.  Another trick for this very warm day - I had to put the paintings in the freezer after waxing, because the wax was staying too soft to really break off after the wadding up stage!  I also had to do that when up visiting my parents in Ohio this summer.  It also works like a charm!  This painting makes 1024 in 1024 days :)

French Street in Batik

French Street in Batik
Watercolor batik on thin rice paper, 6x8.5
purchase here

It has been quite a while since I have painting using this technique!  It is exhilarating to delve into something different, exploring new ways to bend the media!  This technique leaves the painting with such a vintage feel - I love it!  I am using very thin rice paper - this one came in a roll, instead of the pad I used yesterday.  I must handle the paper very carefully, when painting, the paper is so saturated that it feels like the soft brush will tear the delicate surface!  I put a piece of waxed paper under each piece of rice paper before I paint on it.  This allows the paint to fully saturate, getting very strong pigment where desired.  I leave it on this paper as it dries, so there is no tearing while it is wet.  I still keep it under the painting as I paint the hot wax onto the surface, this will keep the painting from sticking to the foam core (which I have underneath the wax paper as I paint).  The white surface of the foam core is perfect for helping me to see how the painting is progressing.  The paper is so thin, it becomes translucent with paint - and needs a white surface below it to see where you are at in the painting.  I remove it from the wax paper only when it is full dry and ready to put between the layers of newspaper for the final ironing. This painting makes 1023 in 1023 days :)

Pumpkins in Batik

Pumpkins in Batik
Watercolor batik on thin rice paper, 8.5x6
purchase here

Yesterday was a super fun day in painting class!  We were so busy - I didn't even get a chance to take some photos!  This is one of the watercolor batik paintings I was working on - first sketching with india ink, then painting the pumpkins onto super thin rice paper.  While waiting for the watercolor to dry, I paint three others to the same stage.  Next, I painted the focal areas with hot wax, then lay in all other color and allow it to dry.  I then wax the whole paper, and wad it up into a ball.  After pressing it out flat again, and brushing off any chunks of wax, I then flood the dark brown watercolor into the cracks and crevices created in the wax.  Next comes ironing between layers of newspaper until all wax is removed from the rice paper.  This is what remains, and the irregular batik lines add so much character and depth to the painting.  I want to paint some street scenes in old town Belton - and treat them to a little batik for that vintage feel.  SO fun!  This painting makes 1022 in 1022 days :)

Autumn Light on the Pathway

Autumn Light on the Pathway
Oil on masonite, 9x12
Seven Bridges Paint Out
purchase here

Seven Bridges was the painting location for today's Parkville in Art Event.  The drive up was beautiful on the way up, rolling hills old barns, and plenty of open land.  Choosing to paint sown by the two lakes, I headed first for the water.  I had every intention of painting the water, but when I saw the light cutting across the pathway, I had to paint it.  A warm, beautiful day - another in the 70's, it was perfect painting weather.  I've had SO many perfect painting days this season, and I cheerfully embrace each one as the gift it is! What could be better than capturing the beauty of the day with paint?  This painting makes 1021 in 1021 days :)

on location

First Autumn Color

First Autumn Color
Oil on masonite, 8x10
purchase here

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of plein air painting!  Back to back events have kept me so busy - I could hardly see straight.  Today marks the end of out of town trips, unless I find a couple of days to go paint fall foliage!  I had an afternoon artist reception in Parkville from 2:00 to 4:00, and an evening event from 6:00-9:00.  With an hour travel time each way, there was not enough time to go home in between.  So, I came with my paints packed and set up in between receptions to get my daily painting fix!  I didn’t have to go far - there was beautiful fall color starting right outside the gallery in the old depot!  The composition with it’s rocky edge really reminds me Augusta in the fall........I wonder if I can find time to get back there before the weather turns cold....  Thank goodness I finished this painting in the afternoon - the last thing I wanted to do when I got home at 10:30 was to get out my paints!  Looking forward to a few days to catch up around the house and relax!  Painting number 1020 in 1020 days :)

on location

Rearing Stallion

Rearing Stallion
Oil on masonite, 9x12
Red X Paint Out - purchase here

This is probably the most unusual place I have ever painted inside of - the RedX in Riverside!  I know, it sounds crazy.  This is my first time in this hodge podge mix of a store - where collectibles, bronzes, bikes and groceries live in harmony with a fabulous wine collection!   After taking a quick stroll around the place, I landed near the bronzes - this one taller than I am.  What a great opportunity to paint a bronze in light that doesn’t change - so different than the ones on the Plaza, where all colors change as the sun progresses across the sky!  The red backdrop turned out to be a challenge, with the values so close to that of the sculpture itself.  I let my brush have free reign at last, and went a little crazy with the palette knife, letting in some wild color choices......oh the freedom is exhilarating!  Painting number 1019 in 1019 days :)

on location

Streetside Umbrellas

Streetside Umbrellas
Oil on masonite, 10x8
Parkville in Art Paint Out - purchase here

As I stepped out of my car, I saw these gorgeous umbrellas from two blocks away.  Walking past the little shops dotting Main Street, my focus was already on the composition, the first strokes being laid in my mind.  I had not left enough time for this complex painting (hmmmmm - seems to be a pattern here....), so I would need to work fast.  Setting up in a small square of shade, tucked unto the side of “Finders, Keepers”, I sketched out the cafe scene.  The bright, late afternoon light and the bold color of umbrellas, cafe and foliage is what drew me instantly to the spot - so I had to capture that glory before it faded into shadow!  Once all of the block in and some of the finish work were done, the light had changed - and my time was up.  Time to get to the award presentation for the English Landing, so this painting required one more visit to finish up, which is something I almost never do.  Painting number 1018 in 1018 days :)

A Run by the Missouri River

A Run by the Missouri River
Oil on masonite, 12x9
English Landing Paint-Out
sold - Purchase Award Winner

I've been to English Landing Park each year of the Parkville in Art Plein Air event, but I have never before painted on the path down by the river.  Setting up with morning light, I captured that light quickly - as it would soon fade with the midday sun,  The water was reflecting the gorgeous blues of the sky, making this scene SO appealing.  The weather was perfect, the wind light, and the magic of the place seeped right into the painting.  I wish every painting day was like this. Painting number 1017 in 1017 days.

Waterfall by the Bridge

Waterfall by the Bridge
oil on masonite, 10x8
Seven Bridges Paint-Out

In the last 45 minutes of time left in the paint-out, I headed out to paint just one more painting!  The late afternoon light was beautiful as it hit this landscape!  With only a fast sketch, I started laying paint quickly with large, loose strokes. In such a short time, there can be no planning, I simply responded to the scene before me with paint. This is a great exercise in getting to the "meat" of what draws me to paint in the first place!  I should do this more often, because I like the spontaneous feel of this painting!  Painting number 1016 in 1016 days :)

Morning on Main Street

Morning on Main Street
Oil on masonite, 10x8
sold

Packing at a leisurely pace, finishing my workout AND a second cup of tea, I was relaxed about getting to the two hour paint a wee bit late...  For this morning's quick paint, I planned to choose something easy.....zoom in on a subject, have fun with it........and then I walked out onto the street! The early morning sun washed over building and street with dancing color - and I HAD to paint the whole shabang!!  This was a lot of information to get onto a panel in an hour and a half - which lends itself well to fresh color and loose strokes!  It was fast and fun - and I sure could have used that extra thirty minutes at the end! Painting number 1015 in 1015 days :)

on location

McCleary Farm

McCleary Farm
Oil on masonite,  12x9

As we drove down Burnt Prairie Blocktop heading south, we saw this amazing farm and had to put on the brakes!  Pulling through the circle drive, I went up to the side door to ask permission to paint. Jimmy Joe McCleary graciously gave his permission, and visited with us all afternoon while we painted!  Sharing his hard pears right off the tree with us, it was a wonderful day spent on a truly fabulous historic 1872 farm!  I hope to make it back next year to capture their three story barn in oils!  This is painting number 1014 in 1014 days :)

Hometown Hero

Hometown Hero
Oil on masonite, 8x10
sold

On the last afternoon of the open painting time in Fairfield, I still had one category for which I had not entered a painting - "hometown heroes".  With a misty sky threatening rain, three of us decided to head to the Fairfield Fire Station, to see if we could paint an engine.  I was drawn to this 1923 engine right from the start - and wanted to zoom up on it for a dramatic composition.  Totally foreign subject matter for me, it was so fun blocking in those bright, juicy reds!  Dragging through cad red light, alizarin and cad orange for so much of this, I then balanced the warms with some cool blue tones.  This engine was originally purchased here at the Fairfield station, and was barely unloaded when it was called right out to a large house fire - the first gas powered truck on the force!  This painting has been purchased by the retired fireman who lovingly restored it, and it will be hanging next to an old fire bell like the atop this engine.  How cool is that? This painting makes number 1013 in 1013 days :)

Peace at the Footbridge

Peace at the Footbridge
Oil on masonite, 9x12

This little footbridge is SO charming!  Our weather here has been amazing - and with sunny days, the place looks so different from last year!  I painted this last October, and the misty weather made for a moody painting.  The morning light in this one speaks of hopes and dreams and good things to come!  This little creek fills up with run-off from the adjoining lake, so there was more water pouring in than before.  I love to hear the babbling water as it moves over the rocks - and it is the perfect companion to my brushwork!  I set up in this spot again for a more distant view out, to capture the winding of the stream.  To my dismay - I realized I had left my palette in the freezer, so my plans were for naught.  It was all for the best, as I returned to get my palette, rewired three other paintings, and got all turned into the Landing. Perhaps, I'll get to that painting later, because I really think it will be dreamy!  This painting makes 1012 in 1012 days.  What a wonderful plein air adventure this has been :)

Night at Classic Pizza

Night at Classic Pizza
Oil on masonite, 9x12

After painting at the park in the morning, way out on a country dirt road in the afternoon, I still wanted to capture another painting after dinner - as it was getting dark.  With temps near 70 degrees, and a calm, still night - I couldn't resist the urge to return to Classic Pizza - for the painting I envisioned the first night I got here!  When I set up, there was a lull in the traffic and I was able to get a good sketch in.  Cars would come, I'd work on another part, and when they left - I'd go right back to the street level.  The car pictured is a delivery vehicle that darted out, back in for less than 60 seconds - and back out again!  It was such a challenge to paint him seconds at a time!  I really studied the colors radiating from the various lights, and dropped them in accordingly.  This little shop has the most amazing cheese stuffed breadsticks!  The townspeople are so sweet, one even brought me a "pumpkindoodle" for working so late into the night!  The last few days have been so wonderful, and such a joy to put my memories down in paint! Painting number 1011 in 1011 days....I know, it sounds crazy to me too :)

Old Dirt Road

Old Dirt Road
Oil on masonite, 9x12
purchase here

I love coming over the top of a hill to see this magnificent view spreading out before me!  And to think, we almost didn't drive down this because it was a dirt road!  Taking 200n east off of Burnt Prairie blacktop, we parked on the side of the road to unload our gear.  I set my easel up in the middle of this road, and was able to get my whole sketch and half a block in done before the first truck came barreling down the road!  I moved back out after he had passed, only to have to shift again.  By that time, I had enough done to finish a bit closer to the ditch, setting up our new bright orange cones - a gift from the planners of this event!  With so much depth in this painting, I was more careful in the application of paint, letting each layer build before moving to the next.  I have wanted to paint a road for a long time, but really didn't want to capture asphalt.....so this wonderful dirt road was the perfect solution!  What sheer joy it has been to paint in perfect weather, and to find such captivating subject matter!  And the icing on the cake?  I won a fabulous $150 gift certificate in the door prize drawing tonight!  COuld life be any sweeter?  This painting makes 1010 in 1010 days :)

Big Red and the Gang

Big Red and the Gang
Oil on masonite,  10x8
purchase here

This morning was a bit overcast, but warm and comfortable.  After a little scouting for "oil rigging" gear, we landed on the back road of the Podolsky Petroleum Oil Yard.  These wonderful old tanks sported all stages of rust and discoloration - making them fabulous subjects for painting! One of the best parts of participating in these plein air events is the opportunities I get to paint new and completely different subject matter.  Where would I ever find such tanks in Missouri? I do see small pump jacks dotting the landscape, but never tanks like this.  This makes painting number 1009 in 1009 days :)

on location

From Main Street to Delaware

From Main Street to Delaware
Oil on masonite, 9x12
purchase here

on location

Arriving this afternoon, we settled into our swanky digs and did a bit of scouting. After narrowing my choices down to about three, I kept returning to this alley.  I have never painted an alley before, not in daylight or night, so this was my chance!  It was fun to drop in color with loose and impressionistic strokes - and those overhead wires!  The way they caught the light was awesome!  What a fabuous first day this was in Fairfield - and we are up early tomorrow to get at it again.  We couldn't have more beautiful weather for this!  Painting number 1008 in 1008 days :)

Michaela's Bluebird

Michaela's Bluebird
Watercolor on paper, 9x12
sold

This is the second of the bluebird paintings that I worked up for Michaela.  Looking for a more contemporary feel, I am working under the motto of "less is more" on this one!  Working wet on wet, there is no layering.  Each area is painted in with very wet color, then extra colors are dropped in and allowed to mingle on their own.  I almost never mix my paints in watercolor, I simply drop them in and let them do their own mixing - come what may.  This 140lb cold pressed paper is holding me back, though.  I don't remember the maker, but I think it is English.  Not enough texture and not enough weight for me.  I must order some more 300lb paper!  It seems to be all I want for my watercolors now!  Getting back into this fluid media after such a time away takes a little bit to get used to.  I want to get loose, sloppy wet strokes, but I think I still need to warm up to that!  I really loosened up by the third - so I guess three really is the charm!  Painting number 1007 in 1007 days :)

Drippy Bluebird

Drippy Bluebird
Watercolor on paper, 10x7

My daughter had asked me for an abstract, watercolor bluebird painting a couple of weeks ago.  She told me she wanted it to be 6 foot tall for her dorm room! After responding that watercolor paper does not come that large, I didn't hear further on the subject.  She came home for the weekend, and the topic came up again, she was kidding about size - so I started working on a bluebird.  I haven't had my watercolors out for a while, and it as fun to be playing in the water again! This is actually the third one I painted today - and her favorite.  I used three kinds of paper, this an arches 140 lb cold pressed.  I looked high and low, but I think I must be out of my favorite 300 lb paper block.  I simply love the way the heavy weight paper allows the paint to mingle and spread - and I love the texture as well.  Another thing I LOVE about watercolors?  They are SUPER fast to work in - which is this busy girl's "go to" on a day full of lunch out with family, visiting Mike's parents, and getting home in time to frame before Michaela makes the long drive back to campus! This painting makes 1006 in 1006 days :)

Llama on Watch

Llama on Watch
Oil on canvas, 6x4 - purchase here

When I first turned in to the Green Dirt Farm, this amazing llama towered above the herd of grazing sheep, as if he were the watch dog.  In fact, I didn’t even see the very large white dog at first, as he blended in with the sheep!  As we came closer with our easels, he let out a few barks - letting us know that he was in charge.  Today, I have precious little time for painting, so I am painting small at 6x4 inches.  This painting is my 1005th in 1005 days - it is so crazy to be into four digits now!!  :)

A Pair of Sheep

A Pair of Sheep
Oil on masonite, 10x8

The sheep at the Green Dirt Farm were simply adorable!  Despite growing up with farmers in the family - I was never around them. My great-uncle had every other farm animal, and my grandma did have sheep, but long before I was born!  So, it was a treat to get to spend some time with them!  I love their sweet and gentle nature. In an effort to separate the color of the sheep from their background, I got a little carried away with the red oxide.......so these are "breast cancer awareness" sheep....you know, their pink color........!  I plan to tone them down a bit tomorrow - but as for today, I am already onto other projects!  Painting number 1004 in 1004 days :)