Lodge at Ironwoods

 I love exploring new places in ink and watercolor!  The Monday Morning Watercolorists are introducing me to plenty of parks that I have never been to!  Like a mini vacation, these little painting windows restore my soul and open my eyes to new surroundings!  Though I did not get to them with paint today - the winding creeks here must be revisited with my oils!  So many wonderful paintings just waiting here to be painted!  Painting number 2824 in 2824 days. 

Courtyard Garden

This red umbrella grabbed my attention as soon asi entered this garden!  The wonderful French colonial inn is the perfect backdrop for this cafe setting, beckoning me to spend a little time here. With ink and watercolor, I started to sketch the garden scene, laying in the color as I progressed. As the painting unfolded, I went back in with additional ink, pushing and pulling the color where needed.  The charm of this delightful inn is in every corner of the yard - such a joy to paint!  Sure wish I had more time here to do just that!  Painting number 2823 in 2823 days. 

Prairie Oak

How fun to explore new places each Monday morning with fellow watercolorists!  Today's adventure brings me to Ironwoods Park and the Prairie Oak Nature Center.  The cool architecture had me sketching this in miniature - only 3x3 inches before moving on to a big red barn.  The trails will bring me back here - and I spotted a wonderful bridge in the woods as I was leaving!    Every day is great day that starts with a little plein air!  Painting number 2822 in 2822 days. 

Jackson Bridge

When I walked down to the bank of this river, the wide sweeping view unfolded before me!  The drought in these parts has changed the landscape of the river beds, creating so much interest - and gravel bars to perch on that normally are underwater!  Intending to add watercolor, I started my sketch.  As I worked, I found the ink more expressive and no longer wanted to use the watercolor.  I think it is important to let the scene "talk" to me, and let the painting lead me where it wants to go.  In this way, I find the truest capture of this moment in this place.  Painting number 2821 in 2821 days. 

Beeson Covered Bridge

 I love the covered bridges of Indiana!  This year, my mom has been with my for this covered bridge painting trip - and it has been so fun!  We have found different bridges this year, north and west of Rockville.  Since ink and watercolor is faster, I have used that for most of these bridges.  This bridge is visible from 36 Hwy, and easily accessible.  The morning light was perfect, so of course I had to paint it!  This one is now available at All Things Carmel on Main Street in Carmel, Indiana.  Painting number 2820 in 2820 days. 

Butterfly Garden at Monon Depot

I've had so much fun traveling with my mom this week, delivering artwork through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana!  Today found us in the arts district of Carmel, Indiana - so of course, I had to paint before the gallery opened!  This Butterfly Garden exhibit is new and grabbed my attention right away!  With ink I sketched out the scene, adding watercolor to bring it to life. The gardens constantly inspire me - and especially when the backdrop is a wonderful old train depot! This painting is now available at All Things Carmel on Main Street.  Painting number 2819 in 2819 days. 

Cox Ford Covered Bridge

 It is so fun to find an amazing view of the bridge after a hike through the brush and trees!  When this scene opened up I was in painting heaven!  If only I'd had time for my oils!  I will certainly revisit this place - I have marked all my favorite bridges on a map for future reference!  I just love sketching these little slices of Americana from days gone by.  It really is like stepping back in time!  Painting number 2817 in 2817 days.

Rush Creek Covered Bridge

Oh what a treat I found - once I climbed down the embankment and dodged stinging nettle and poison ivy!  So worth it!  With the winding water and reflections, I could not resist this scene!  I inked out my composition first then started dropping in the color with my water brush pen. I went back in with a little more ink at the end just to tighten things up.  Love the rich late summer colors just pushing towards fall.  Such a peaceful place, I wish I could stay all day. Painting number 2816 in 2816 days. 

Garden Sprite

 My very first trip to Sainte Genevieve has been amazing!  Steeped in French colonial history, this town is the oldest in Missouri.  Our stay at the Main Street B&B was perfect - and the grounds so inspiring!  I painted three paintings before leaving and wish I had time for more!  The innkeepers Patrick and Susan were so informative and gracious, it was a pleasure getting to know them.  All three paintings remain at the Inn, and I have left with new friends!  Painting number 2815 in 2815 days. 

Night at the Fountain

 We kicked off the Brush Creek Art Walk with a nocturne quick paint down on the Country Club Plaza at the JC Nichols Fountain.  This is the first plein air event in Kansas City since the whole covid thing started, and it was so good to see artist friends again, distanced and masked.  Who knew how much the world could change in just a few months?  The KC Parks are sponsoring upcoming plein air events on Sundays in October at 4 different parks!  I can't wait to be a part of those, too! This painting was going pretty smoothly until the lights went off at 9:00 at the neighboring tennis courts - and wow, did it get dark!  I sure could have used my fancy nocturne light then!  Painting number 2814 in 2814 days. 

Sunset Over Brush Creek

The weather could not have been nicer for tonight's quick paint on Brush Creek!  Choosing a bird's eye view on the ridge, I had a wonderful view of the creek.  Ten minutes before arriving, I realized I did not have my oil palette - it was still in the freezer!  Well, I had my in and watercolor, so I would make that work.  After a quick look around, I decided on a long format, but already used that frame!  So, I used what I had and made it work.  Thank goodness I had so many backups! I've only done a couple of watercolor sunsets, so this was definitely good study!  I think I'll need to do a few more before I feel comfortable with the process.....oils would have been so easy....!  Painting number 2813 in 2813 days. 

Wild Sunflowers

What a glorious morning for a quick paint at the Anita Gorman Conservation Center for the Brush Creek Art Walk!  This community garden houses all kinds of gems for the artist - but these sunflowers grabbed me right away!  Without even scouting the grounds, I set up my easel here, waiting for the start.  Taking a quick spin around this 8 acre spread, I returned to indeed paint these beauties in the sun!  With the hazy skies from those western wildfires, it was very pleasant even out in the full sun.  I let the composition unfold organically, as I marked flower heads and stems in the wild abandon that they grew.  I love the complication of it all, and thoroughly enjoyed myself through the whole process.  It was fun to chat with the visitors to the garden as I painted.  Time flew by!  So honored to have this painting selected for the Purchase Award!  What a great day!  Painting number 2812 in 2812 days. 

Kauffman Garden Dancers

 Oh this garden is lovely!!  Stepping inside the gate is like stepping into a secret garden with babbling fountains.  This long fountain is my favorite with it's fluid dancing girls, dancing among the water sprays.  It is like music to enjoy, with the scent of flowers all around me.  With ink and watercolor I capture this scene, while I am still sheltered in the shade.  Now I'm off to frame and I'll return tonight for the Quick Paint at JC Nichol's fountain.  So nice to see Kansas City Parks step up and host a plein air event!  They have been few and far between this year!  Painting number 2811 in 2811 days. 

Baby Toys!

Baby Quinn was asleep when I arrived for some baby time!  So, of course I decided to paint a few of her toys that were handy!  Though not planning to paint, I always have a sketch bag disguised as a purse - so I had everything I needed for a quick paint!  In 15 minutes I had this finished, and that little darling was waking up for some play time!  Yay!  Painting number 2810 in 2810 days. 

Zinnia Garden

 Today finds me painting in the zinnia garden at the Overland Park Arboretum with the tiny bumblebees!  These little bees are all over these blooms, but I did not encounter a single one in the garden by the pond!  I love sketching the beauty of these blooms, sitting in this peaceful place with the fragrance of the garden all around me.  I am blessed indeed.  Painting number 2809 in 2809 days. 

Monet's Garden

 Oh the beauty of Monet's Garden!!  I missed getting to paint this during the spring Stems plein air event, since this arboretum was closed until June. I got season passes for mom and I, and this is our third time here since it reopened.  Meeting the Monday Morning Watercolorists from 9 to 11, it was the perfect day for painting in a garden!  The flowers are so tall this time of year - I could hardly see over them from my camp stool!  Can't wait to enjoy this arboretum through all the months ahead!  Painting number 2808 in 2808 days. 

Bee and Zinnias

 These beautiful yellow zinnias called and called while I painted a larger view of this bed!  With 10 minutes left, I jumped into this quick paint - because I had to paint this view before meeting my watercolorist friends!  These tiny bumblebees really liked these zinnias - and I enjoyed getting to paint them!  With ink and watercolor I sketched as fast as I could and met the others before most of the group had gathered!  It was nice having my mom join me today in the gardens - the Overland Park Arboretum is always a joy to stroll through!  Painting number 2807 in 2807 days. 

Goldfinch and Native Flowers

 We have one meadow that we do not bale, and I toss in wildflower seeds every time I have extras.  Right now I have 50 wild sunflower heads drying for just this purpose!  With a meandering path cut through, I can get great views of the flora and fauna to paint!  The goldfinches are abundant as many flowers are going to seed! They dart all over the meadow lighting on stems and dining on seeds! Love that brilliant yellow among the flowers!  Painting number 2806 in 2806 days. 

Cherub Fountain

 For today's Summit Art Artist's Forum, I demoed a plein air painting in the garden via Zoom.  What started as a misty morning cleared off beautifully by meeting's end.  It was a little tricky to paint with my camera over my shoulder to capture scene and brushwork, while still interacting without seeing my screen.  Another artist also painted, so it was fun to bounce back and forth while painting.  Social interaction of any kind is a benefit these days!  I sure hope things get back to normal soon.  Painting number 2805 in 2805 days. 

Yellow Swizzle Zinnia

 I found a new variation today of the Cherry Swizzle zinnia seeds I planted this summer - a yellow!  They inner petals are yellow as the outer ones turn peachy, with a tight fuchsia splash at it's center!  This newest one was hiding behind a large leaf of Swiss chard, and of course I had to paint it!  As I finished, the rain started and chased me in!  As I set my gear down for a photo, I noticed a little hitch hiker on the tip of my water brush pen - a potato bug!  I guess he wanted a drink!  Painting number 2804 in 2804 days. 

Bee and Phlox

 I really love the second bloom of these favorite garden phlox!  Showy and gorgeous by the fourth of July, it is a gift when they bloom again as the season changes.  Bees and butterflies love them, as I do!  Lucky for me, this one is just off the covered porch, so I can paint even as the light rain persists.  I have Robert Oster's Great Southern Ocean in my fountain pen - which is the blue of the sky.  I simply pulled it into the sky with a wet brush.  I love how his signature inks move when wet!  This miniature painting is my 2803rd in 2803 days. 

Stella D'Oro

 Oh how I love growing and painting these Stella D'Oro lilies!  They never disappoint, and continue to bloom as long as one deadheads the spent blooms.  Perhaps their bright and cheerful color is their greatest gift as they shine in the gardens.  Choosing a miniature paper, I ink and watercolor the lilies quickly on this cold and drizzly day.  Not a fan of the cold, it takes me a while to acclimate to weather changes - and a few layers of clothes!  I'm really looking forward to the warmer days ahead this weekend!  Painting number 2802 in 2802 days. 

Bee in Roses

 These sweet roses were calling my name today!  Even after our hot, dry spell, they continue to bloom.  So, with ink and watercolor, I paint on a miniature 3x3 handmade cotton paper, dodging raindrops to get it finished.  I've spent so much time painting in my gardens during covid. I wonder what will fill my winter days when the flowers are no more? Painting number 2801 in 2801 days. 

Sunroot

 Oh these helianthus tuberosus blooms are glorious this day!  With my favorite TWSBI Diamond mini I sketch this delicate scene, and soon add color with my Watercolor Confections half pans. I come back in with a little more ink to finish this miniature ATC painting (only 3.5x2.5 inches). The days grow shorter and fall is coming, so I must make the most of the warm days of summer that are left!  Today's painting makes 2800 in 2800 days. 

Sunflower, too

 

Oh how I love painting sunflowers!  I wait all year for just this time, and too quickly they fade from glory.  I am saving the seed from my largest head for next year's bed of sunflowers - and I will plant them thick for better painting compositions!  Lol!  It's all about the painting journey, after all!  Ink and watercolor on handmade cotton paper for this 2799th painting in 2799 days!  Wowza! 

Pink Rose of Sharon

 I love the very long bloom time of Rose of Sharons!  I can always count on them for 4th of July, and here we are, still enjoying them Labor Day weekend!  This pink one came from our old neighbors, the Ruhls.  So popular with bees and birds, I have plenty of company while painting!  Love this ink and watercolor for these quick paintings in my gardens! Painting number 2797 in 2797 days. 

Live Forevers

 Some days, it is nearly dark before I can get to the easel!  The days are growing shorter and so is my painting time.  These Live Forevers have graced this garden long before I got here, and I have moved them all over the lawn and even put them in pots.  Grandma planted the first and I have nurtured them all these years.  A little yellow butterfly landed on the blooms and me - so I included her!  Love that ink and watercolor for quick paintings in the garden!  Painting number 2798 in 2798 days. 

Bee and Hydrangea

 This Little Lime hydrangea has blooms the size of baby heads - and in thrilled with the vigorous nature of this variety!  Hydrangeas are fickle things around here, so finding the hardy ones is important!  I am painting in miniature this evening, eager to work on larger paintings tonight, too.  So, with ink and watercolor I step into my garden for a few peaceful minutes, returning to the work that waits.  Painting number 2796 in 2796 days. 

Sunflower!

 I have several large sunflowers just passing their peak bloom in my garden.  This one is not a mammoth but another variety which I still need to look up. The seed face is lighter in color and there is a smattering of shorter, curly petals - which I find charming!  I'll need to keep an eye on these to be sure I save some seed for next year! I know those birds will be very interested, too! Painting number 2795 in 2795 days. 

Wildwood Springs

 Oh how I love painting these vintage places!  This lodge dates back to 1920 - and is full of that hundred year old character and charm!  Never one to waste a minute, I started sketching this as we artists awaited judging from within.  Visiting and painting, this came together quickly with the fresh aura of the place itself.  Mom and I will be staying here when I return to Steelville - and I can't wait for an opportunity to paint the expansive lodge!  The architecture is wonderful and this full porches simply must be experienced to truly enjoy!  This painting sold at Gallery Zeke!  Painting number 2794 in 2794 days.