Caretaker's Path

Since I first saw this house years ago, I have wanted to sketch it.  These 27 acres are rolling and full of mature trees, many just starting to put on their autumn color. I am looking for the best composition, and this is my second drawing.  Some days I will draw twice and then choose a third vantage for the paint.  I think this will bee one of those days!  Painting number 1756 in 1756 days.

Morning Breaks

The skies are full of wonder this time of year!  Sunrise and sunset compete with each other with reckless abandon - and this artist is taking full advantage!  I've pulled out my 5x7 guerrilla painter thumb box for speed in painting, and I've used my acrylics for the dark underpainting.  Once dry (which is pretty fast) I begin with the colors in the sky.  Here, I start with the horizon color, and then jump to the darkest clouds shades. I finish with the orange hues, then blend a little here and there.  I leave the application  thick at the horizon, softening towards the edge.  Painting number 1755 in 1755 days.

Sunset Fishing from the Boat

We've had some amazing sunsets recently - and they can be a challenge to capture as quickly as they fade!  I tried something different for this one.  I first painted in my darks with a dark violet shade of acrylic, before the sunset really started. I knew my composition and that all would be in silhouette in comparison with the sunset color.  Allowing it to dry, I could then slap that color down without having to worry about mudding up either value.  It really was so much easier!  I could then come in with my oils over the darks, without having to fill the whole mass, because the acrylic base is a good color to work from.  I think I may have stumbled onto something!  I'll need to do this a few more times to see if this is something I will stick with!  Painting number 1754 in 1754 days.

oil on panel, 10x8
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Brookside Boulevard

Leaving early this morning, I took care of errands before heading to Brookside for the 2 hour quick paint.  Arriving on scene, I find a painting in every direction!  I've never painted here, though it is only 35 minutes from my home!  The place is steeped in history, with fabulous vintage store fronts everywhere!  I fully intended on painting in oil, but I just couldn't lay down the ink pens!  Truly, architecture like this is made for my fountain pen, and I didn't stop until I'd rendered three!  Painting number 1753 in 1753 days.  What a fun day sponsored by the Savory Spice Shop  - thanks to Rebecca!  Can't wait to try my new fancy bourbon pepper!

now showing at Savory Spice Shop
ink on handmade paper, 8x10
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Town Topic Inked

I always schedule my plein air window around my calendar.  Today found me taking a painting to Arts KC, and this scene is right where I parked.  Well, of course I had to capture it!  The temperature is dropping, so ink is my medium - I didn't bring my coat for painting outside!  It takes me days to acclimate to the cold, and I can hardly stand it!  Give me the heat any day.  This local favorite is another Kansas City icon, and the whole area is very paintable.  I must come back with my oils!  Painting number 1752 in 1752 days.

ink on paper, 6x4
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Caretaker's House in Autumn

I have wanted to paint in this cemetery ever since we got stuck inside it's 27 acres trying to exit the Royal's World Series parade!  All those rolling hills surrounded by a tall iron fence with only one way in and out.  The autumn color is just beginning, with reds popping behind the caretaker's house.  After drawing two ink works, I settled into this setting for my oils.  Using my Guerilla Painter thumb box, I am painting 7x5 today.  I just got a new shipment of brushes in - some with short handles, made specifically for pochade boxes!  Oh happy day!  I've been sawing off handles for years.  Who knew they came the way I needed for plein air?  Painting number 1751 in 1751 days.

oil on panel, 7x5
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Boulevard Brewing Company

Today finds me painting another Kansas City icon - the Boulevard Brewing Company.  I love the architecture and mix of colors in this urban landscape.  I worked from two different plein air drawings, going back to the older one to capture that fabulous vintage tank!  It adds so much character that the shiny new silver tank lacks.  I strongly lean to the vintage in many things right down to the house I live in - predating 1845. What's a girl to do?  Resisting is futile, so why bother?  This one is for the upcoming ArtsKC show running for the holidays.  Painting number 1750 in 1750 days.

10x10, oil on panel
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Wooded Lake Impressions

Whenever I'm at a plein air event in another state, the wonder of places unexplored seeps into my very soul.  Every painting I create carries that wonder in every brushstroke.  In a serene place like this, the peace and tranquility of the day also seep into the painting.  I could have painted here all week, but only had a day to spend here with my paints and ink.  I made use of my time, completing 5 works on site before tearing myself away.  I'm already looking forward to another rendezvous next October.  Painting number 1749 in 1749 days.

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Boulevard Brewery in Ink

Kansas City has so many icons worthy of capturing!  Today finds me inking the Boulevard Brewery, and I must say I wish the old tank was still front and center on the street view.  I miss it's character and color pop in the urban landscape, though I realize the upgrade probably improves the brewery.  I'm not a fan of progress when it interferes with the painting landscape!  It is fun to be painting close to home again!  Painting number 1748 in 1748 days.

ink on paper, 8x8
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Andress House Inked

I love the feel of a fountain pen gliding over handmade paper. I prefer a rougher texture, unlike many of my artist friends, for this delicate, detailed work. I draw like I paint, with sketchy lines in a freestyle hand.  Like handwriting, no two artists draw the same.  I let the pen find the angles until the whole composition comes together, and then come in with a little water on a brush.  Tonight I am using a new Koi water brush pen, and am enjoying the ready flow at the brush tip.  I think I will be turning this into a painting,  but will try one other composition first.  Painting number 1747 in 1747days.

ink on paper, 6x4
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October Lilacs

In town for the closing reception for Brush Creek Art Walk, I took the opportunity to stop by the Loose Park Rose Garden.  After finishing a large commission on site, a stroll through the gardens led me to this discovery - October lilacs!!  Well, you KNOW I had to paint them!!  These wonderful old fashioned lilacs are like the ones on my own lawn, bursting with fragrance!  Pulling  my 5x7 guerrilla painter thumb box out of the trunk, I quickly jumped in with paint.  Like an old friend I haven't seen for a while, it was a pleasure to be painting with this little box again!  I fought the wind finishing my 24x30 today, but this little jewel was effortless in the gusts.  My little Altoid palette hadn't been touched for months, but was fresh from the freezer.  If I'd had any idea there might be lilacs, I would have loaded some dioxazine purple!  I mixed what I needed and pushed towards the pink, just because I felt like it.  There are no rules in art!!  Painting number 1746 in 1746 days.

oil on panel, 7x5
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913 Victoria

A few requests were made by patrons wishing to have their homes painted during the week in Dubuque. With only enough time to do one on this rainy day before the Patron Show, this was the one I chose.  The best view was up the hill and across the street, and the rain kept me under cover until the end. Rain has been a companion these last days in Dubuque, but I do love the saturated colors of those rainy days!  Painting number 1745 in 1745 days.

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Sunset at the Courthouse

This has been a super busy painting day - with this painting ringing in as my fourth!  I love this place, and I had fun painting it!  My first couple of years here, I stayed in a Hollywood glam apartment right across the street - and this was my view each day.  I really enjoyed doing this at sunset!  Painting number 1744 in 1744 days!  The icing on the cake?   This painting has beg selected for the annual Fairfield poster next year!!

So honored to have this quick paint painting selected for the annual 2018 Fairfield Poster!  How exciting!!

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Looking Down Main

What a beautiful collection of shops there is along this historic Main Street in Dubuque!  With the light turning golden in the sky - I knew I had to paint it!  This was a quick paint since I had to work fast to get it to completion before the artist picnic at Eagle Point.  Onlookers were good company as I painted, and the awnings came out just in time to be painted!  My oldest daughter called me two thirds through in crisis - and I finished the rest on auto pilot!  Thank God for miracles large and small.  Painting number 1743 in 1743 days.

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Bullard's Farm Market

I LOVE painting pumpkin farms, patches and markets!  Nothing rings in autumn like a trip to a pumpkin patch!  The wonderful color of this barn when paired with the pumpkins was irresistible!  By the light of the moon on the might before, I could clearly see a lot full of pumpkins, but the barn and market was a real treat in the daylight!  This is actually the second one I have painted, as the first went to another buyer.  And to top that off, I may just paint this again to hang on my own wall!!  Painting number 1742 in 1742 days.

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Steeple Square Inked

This church is one of the most beautiful buildings I have had the pleasure to draw!  The architecture is so complex and stunning - I can only hope to do it justice!  Composing with my painting in mind, I started this one on the sidewalk by White St.  As I worked, it was all lines and angles, and the relationships of all those masses.  These street scenes have really been appealing to me lately. As I moved forward in paint, I moved a little to the left, making the street less prominent.  So happy to capture this place in ink, I think it is only the first time of many!  Painting number 1741 in 1741 days.  I had a sprinkling of days where I couldn't get my post to load while out off town.  I'm going to have to play catch up to get things back in order!  And would you believe I'm almost out of panels again???

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Fig Leaf Shop

Driving down Bluff Street, this charming shop just begged to be painted!  After a quick ink drawing, I started to fill in the masses like a puzzle.  Person after person stopped to chat as they walked out with their packages.  Before I was even finished, the sweet owner came out and wanted to buy it right off the easel!  After packing up my gear, I went inside to deliver my painting and walked out with a new wrap for the Patron Show Friday night!  What a whirlwind week this has been! Painting number 1740 in 1740 days.

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Entry to the Courtyard

A drizzly, wet day for a quick paint, this beautiful landscape was my reward for venturing out!  Not knowing what to expect at the university, the scouting was fun.  After a quick spin around the place, I settled close to my subject in the wet grass - and painted liked crazy! With a light rain already on, I knew I had to get that panel covered with paint or the rain would create a resist for my oils.  I worked quickly to get this vintage scene painted, and framed it up for turn in.  Waiting for my fellow artist, we barely made the turn in on time!  Nothing like living life on the edge!  Painting number 1739 in 1739 days!  SO MUCH to LOVE about Dubuque!

oil on panel, 12x9
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Millwork Night Market

The wet as drizzly day turned into a beautiful evening to spend downtown.  After getting two paintings completed in the drizzle, I was ready for some hot food to recharge and do it again!  Tonight's venue was the Millwork Night Market on 8th add Jackson, where I could capture a graffiti artist at work!  As I walked up to the scene, I could already see the painting unfold.  Choosing a vantage I could capture the bikes, trailer, graffiti artists, night market AND urban buildings, I got to work quickly.  Starting with a dark panel, I am basically painting the light, one stroke at a time.  It was fun to see old friends from last year's event and paint such a unique place with fellow artists.  Nowhere but Dubuque offers up such an experience!!  Painting number 1738 in 1738 days.

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Cable Car Square

The historic Cable Car Square is full of charm!  I did not get down here last year to paint - so this was a delight!  Unable to narrow down my view, I painted the entire street!  These scenes are such a challenge - and fun to capture oink oils!  After finishing the painting, I did a little shopping at Calico Bean Market and across the street at Fig Leaf!  If you're in Dubuque - check them out, they have GREAT stuff!! Painting number 1737 in 1737 days.

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Farm in the Heartland

With rain in the forecast, I knew I had to paint early.  After scouting the Park Farm Winery, we decided to paint one of the farms along the way. Halfway through this painting, the rain started.  I was nestled under several pines, so the actual rainfall on my palette  was minimal. But the wind was extreme.  I was SO cold,  I could hardly make my hands work correctly!  This is my first cold spell of the season - so I will have to acclimate!! Yikes!  I needed hot soup and a mug of tea after this venture!  Painting number 1736 in 1736 days.

4th and White

I was dreaming of painting this street scene during the night.  It was the first thing I wanted to jump into today, so I set up quickly and put pen to paper.  I was studying this as a painting to come, which helped me to make some important decisions on composition.  From this sketch, I zoomed in a little and shifted slightly to the left. It is such a valuable step to take the time to draw. Painting number 1735 in 1735 days.

Flowers on Main

In town for under an hour - and already capturing the local beauty!  So good to be in Dubuque!! This historic district is really something special - and what a joy to capture it in paint!  Pepper Sprouts, Flowers on Main, and Jimmy John's are just three in tonight's composition of wonderful old buildings!  Using some juicy paint in the expression of this town!  Can't wait to paint tomorrow!  Painting number 1734 in 1734 days.

Looking Down Cherry

My first trip to Albion found me painting on high ground in front of St John's church.  The view down the street was awesome, and I especially loved the rolling hill.  Standing in the shade of a large tree across the street, I was set up pretty good. Running short on time, I did not draw this one out first. Though complicated, the pieces came together nicely as I blocked in.  This was another beautiful day for painting - much more like summer than autumn!  Painting number 1733 in 1733 days.

St. Johns in Albion

I saw this steeple from afar, and headed in it's direction!  Setting up across the street, I had to head for cover twice from the rain!  The skies soon cleared and the light was beautiful as the final strokes went down.  What a beautiful day of painting in Albion!  Painting number 1731 in 1731 days.

oil on panel, 8x10
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Old Cabin Road Inked

What a joy to find such a cool road while out on a run!  I had to get here first thing this morning to capture it in ink!   Today, I'm using my pilot varsity fountain pen on handmade paper for that vintage feel.  Love these old country roads!  Painting number 1730 in 1730 days.

ink on paper, 4x6
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Martha's Gardens

A farmer's market offers the most amazing subject matter for paintings!  I am drawn to the flower carts again and again!  Bright umbrellas and sunny blooms adorn this vendor's wagon - and this scene was a joy to paint!  Painting number 1728 in 1728 days.

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Museum at Prairiefire Watercolor

I have painted this fabulous venue three times now - and each time the glass reflects different colors!  How does that happen?!  Each time of day has been different, and each a month apart or so.  This building is truly remarkable!  I've now used oil, ink, and watercolor with ink to capture it's beauty.  Perhaps acrylic next?  Or maybe I'll being out those bold, vibrant oils I've been using lately...... the sky is the limit!  That may just be the best part of daily painting, I feel completely free to use whatever medium I choose at any time - and to use it with reckless abandon!  Painting number 1727 in 1727 days.

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