The last painting of the year is the wonderful old train in old town Belton's station! On this very cold day, painting small is ideal - ATC size at 2.5x3.5. With such complicated parts, it is best to simplify shapes and values. A quick drawing in India ink and next a little watercolor to help pull all together. I'm really enjoying my watercolors. It is like coming back to an old friend! Painting number 1808 in 1808 days! Happy New Year's eve!
Gathering at my cousin Victor's farm for our Frank family Christmas, I had so much to choose from for my daily painting! Good food, good conversation and the hours rolled by. As the sun started to set, I could see this landscape from the dining room window. I knew I had to paint and grabbed my tiny clipboard. Within minutes I had finished this little slice of heaven. A small memory of a day well spent! Painting number 1807 in 1807 days.
It's beginning to look and feel like winter! Wind chills of -15 to -25 are expected this weekend - so I am getting out while I can! I love the snow settling down in the tall grass, with plenty of texture for interest in the field. I draw quickly with India ink, coming in right away with watercolor. If I take that ink into the wet areas, it will spread out like a spider. This can be really cool on trees in the woods, but can easily get out of control on a small painting. Perhaps I can paint the next one in the woods...... and play with that technique.......! Painting number 1806 in 1806 days. Stay warm out there, my friends!
This little church south of town is my subject du jour! These little churches dot the rural landscape, and each has it's own charm. It reminds me of a little church in Adrian that I attended with extended family for special events during my childhood. A little slice of American life in the heartland in pen, ink, and watercolor. Painting number 1805 in 1805 days.
The birds flocked to the feeders on this very cold day - especially the cardinals! Their bright red plumage really pops in the winter landscape with it's dusting of snow. Catching the flitting birds as they hopped from branch to branch was a bit of a challenge, especially in this tiny ATC size. But what better practice at catching their pose than observation and quick strokes? Next came the watercolor, loose and light, dropping in more color to those wet areas as needed. ATC is the perfect size for a single digit day! Painting number 1804 in 1804 days.
A light blanket of snow covered the ground this morning - and I knew I had to capture it! Although a thick layer of snow is beautiful, the grass and wood showing through this snow adds so much interest to the composition! I would normally head straight my pills for this scene, but today I'm using ink and watercolor in tiny size - ATC - 2.5x3.5! The best part of working small? I could paint it quickly and go out to dinner with the family! Painting number 1803 in 1803 days.
Christmas day is always full of family, food and fun - and a whirlwind of activity beginning to end. It is so nice to settle down at day's end with my pen, ink, watercolor, and visiting with my parents. There is something so relaxing in the glow of the Christmas tree, a little peace and serenity in a holiday full of rush and bustle. Perhaps we could get a little more snow now that I'll have more time to paint it! Painting number 1801 in 1801 days.
I've only started to paint in ATC size - and this is my first street scene! Very overcast, I decided to draw this out in ink, adding watercolor after. I worked very wet, and even left before it was dry - just trying to capture the gray mood of the day. Even gray days have their beauty, it's all in the subtle changes from warm to cool. I'm also using a different paper, another 100% cotton rag, but a completely different texture. It works well in this tiny size, where I would never use it for larger work. I guess I'll keep it after all! This one is also heading to Mexico! Painting number 1799 in 1799 days!
This place has AMAZING cider donuts in season. I have fond memories of meeting friends for lunch and the scarecrow competitions in the fall! They are now closed for the season, but I couldn't resist this place in her "winter dress". The deep greens of the cedars with the dark, cool red of the barn - it just feels like a Christmas painting. I've inked it first, and then come in with watercolor. Once dry, I've inked just a little bit more. I will definitely be painting this place again! Painting number 1798 in 1798 days.
This historic Presbyterian church on Main Street in Belton often calls me to paint it! I love the architecture and wonderful angles - it makes a dramatic statement in the landscape. This is another ATC bound for Mexico, a little piece of Belton. My intention was to get to Kansas City for some of these, but I simply don't have the time to do it! I'm drawing first with India ink, then going in with watercolor. The India ink dries so quickly that I have no issue with it bleeding when my watercolors come in contact with it. I've been using Pitt pens for this, but I'm thinking of loading a Lamy fountain pen with India ink. This particular pen has a very fine nib - so may be perfect for this tiny paintings! But, I've got to clean it first! Painting number 1797 in 1797 days.
This beautiful, historic church is right down the street from grandma Bessie's old house in Raymore. I used to drive by here on my weekly visits, and still come by occasionally. I love the wonderful, old architecture, and certainly wanted it to be one of my submissions our Urban Sketchers KC group is sponsoring on a trade with artists from a Mexico charter! Part of the Urban Sketcher's creed is "sharing the world, one sketch at a time" - and I can't wait to see what I will receive from Mexico! Hopefully, we can start trading with other groups all over the world - sort of like penpals - but with art! What could be better than that? Painting number 1796 in 1796 days.
This day took me to the Crossroads Art District, Crown Center, and many other stops before landing home. A crazy day of jump starts and flat tire fun, I am seeking sanity with my pen and ink tonight! Pampering myself, I choose my favorite TWSBI and the fancy Caroube de Chypre anniversary ink from J. Herbin. Look how red it turns when heavily applied with water added! It has such a shimmer in with all that gold! Just a little treat to turn all my tomorrows to golden days of sunshine and roses! Seriously, enough with that other stuff!! Painting number 1795 in 1795 days.
Oh this day went totally off the rails! Out of bed early to get a jump start on the staircase (which we are completely redoing in oak), I find the freezer side of our refrigerate dripping. NEVER a good sign. Our day of progress on the stairs turned into running all over town in search of the prefect fridge. AND THE CLEANING involved with switching units!! It's enough to make a grown woman cry. Toss in replacing the garbage disposal, too, and you have a sneak peak into my own little nightmare before Christmas! Most things are back in place as I drop into bed, while visions of thawing meat dance in my head. It makes me shudder even now. Painting number 1793 in 1793 days. This one has been a doozy.
This has been one of those crazy busy days, so busy, I can't even recall all that filled this day.... sanding, sealing treads, ballusters and Newell posts and so many other things. I had many ideas for painting in the early hours, but as the light was fading, it was the tranquility of the woods that calmed and centered me. Even before the first stroke, two other subjects called, "Paint me! Paint me!", but I turned to the quiet instead. So often, my mind is racing, and it truly is therapeutic to focus on nature and commit it to paint. Art therapy for my soul. Perhaps, I'll get to those other subjects tomorrow. Painting number 1792 in 1792 days.
LOVE this special J. Herbin anniversary ink! It starts a rich chocolate brown that washes to deep red. The gold in the ink flows liberally with stroke and brush. The result is a drawing that shimmers with gold in the light! Spectacular! This color is Caroube de Chypre, and I may just have to try the others, too, while supplies last! Oh, and I used one of my favorite pens - TWSBI Eco. It is SO smooth - the ink flows effortlessly from the nib! At the top of my list with my other TWSBI! Painting number 1791 in 1791 days.
I have treasured the tiny blown glass gingerbread ornaments on this tree for many years. There are gingerbread men and houses adorning this tiny tree in an old enamel ware mug, and it has always been in my kitchen for the holidays. Tonight, it called to be immortalized in paint, and I answered the call with watercolors. Once again, I picked up my dried up Pitt pen to start my composition. But THIS time, I threw it to the ground (where it later found it's way to the trash)! No more playing games with empty pens! The second pen was better, but not great. Will I EVER lay my hands on the new one?? I wonder if these babies are refillable......I have plenty of India ink that I could load them with. Perhaps the real answer is loading one of my fountain pens with India ink. That would end my ink worries, as I have enough ink to last me until the end of time! Painting number 1790 in 1790 days.
 |
| sold |
These trees and I have a connection. Often, I stare out at them while lunging with weights, or doing jumping jacks, or the myriad of other moves completed during my daily visits to the gym for classes. Once in a while, I even run up and down this ridge multiple times as part of circuit training. When the weather is not freezing, I run on the path that parallels this ridge of trees. It is peaceful and nourishing to the soul, and sometimes I smell the donuts baking from the other side! If I must run indoors, I look down on these trees from the second level, always noting the light and the shadows, the way the atmosphere changes it all. Every day it's different, and each time it calls to me. Just studying them somehow takes me away from my workout, as I am painting in my mind. I will never tire of painting sunsets. Painting number 1788 in 1788 days.
How can I possibly cram so many things in one day? Burning the midnight oil, this is my first chance to post today's painting done as a demo for painting class. After arranging a few Christmas balls in the center of the table, everyone could then draw and paint from their own spot. It truly is so much better to see the ornaments before you vs looking at a photo. Saving the highlights is paramount in watercolor, so that is the key while laying down the colors. Once lost, it does not return like it was never painted. One could use a masking fluid, but I almost never do. It simply isn't spontaneous enough for me, too controlled, almost contrived. Watercolors lighten as they dry, so I add more paint as needed while the masses are still wet. I love the mingling that occurs wet on wet, and try not to lose that. I wonder what medium I'll choose tomorrow....... painting number 1787 in 1787 days.
 |
| currently available at the Belton Art Gallery |
This time of year finds me drawing Santas - and this time in using ink! A little known fact is just how much he loves painting en plein air, and here he is concentrating on the the sweep of that evergreen (one of his favorite trees). I begin with the sketchy line to create a border, and I begin my composition. In this case, I charge those same borders with this artist's painting arm and his canvas. I like taking the important parts outside of the line. Could I possibly be rebelling against my kindergarten self? Nah, I'm just letting the ink go where it wants to! Painting number 1784 in 1784 days.
 |
| purchase here |
 |
| currently available at Belton Art Gallery |
 |
| sold |
 |
| purchase here |
