Morning at the Pumpkin Patch

My first painting stop when I land at the Fairfield Paint Out is Shreves Pumpkin Patch!  There is literally a painting everywhere I look, and there is not enough time to paint them all!  The pumpkins are a local icon, and I simply love painting the season.  So many families come for the fun, and it is fun to paint to the sound of children laughing and playing.  This place is a slice of Americana, and I'm so lucky to paint it!  Day 30 of the #stradaeasel painting challenge! Hooray! Now I hope I win a strada easel! Painting number 4350 in 4350 days. 

Evening Glow on Second Street

 

I talked an artist friends into painting a nocturne, when she mentioned it. The weather was perfect, others were staying, so it was the perfect time.  I stayed for a quick one, packed my gear and was ready to leave.  She had restarted hers and had a ways to go on it.  She then talked me into painting another one - and this is it!  It was the perfect night, so how could I resist?  LOVE painting nocturnes with artist friends - especially after a wonderful dinner! Day 29 of the #stradaeasel painting challenge and painting number 4349 in 4349 days. 

Car Show at the Park

 

Only my second time to paint a car show, the Car Show Quick Paint at the park was super fun!  I couldn't decide which car to paint, so I painted as many as I could in an hour and a half!  I loved the challenge of describing such a scene in paint!  I did think about using my watercolors, but the long format I have left is too big for such a short time, so I chosec oils instead.  It was fun to visit with everyone who came by to watch, and especially fun to paint such cool cars. Day 28 of the #stradaeasel painting challenge, and painting number 4348 in 4348 days. So happy this painting has a new home tonight! 

Past the Roses

 

It was super fun to paint this lovely garden and brick building right in the heart of Wayne City! When I walked over to this location, I intended to paint with ink and watercolor.  I took my salad with me to scout, and ate while studying this place.  The painting began to form in my mind, a lush garden leading to the entry of the building beyond - and it would be in oils!  I like to immerse myself in the space a little, and let it talk to me. This always leads to a stronger painting, one that really connects to my experience in site.  It was a little warm, but it didn't bother me (still clad in my jeans, boots and jacket from a cool morning) as I stood in the sun and painted. The painting was already in me - I just needed to get it out.  I'm so happy this painting has a new home tonight!  Day 27 #stradaeasel painting challenge, painting number 4347 in 4347 days. 

Fairground Zinnias

You KNOW I couldn't resist those glorious zinnias in front of a turquoise building - even in strong wind!! After turning in an earlier painting in the nearby building, I just could not leave this location until this painting was done!  Those gorgeous colors were calling me and i had to answer! So, quickly with my oils, I sketched this one out with my brush and paints, squinting to see the big shapes.  I've had fun today painting with my oils, and I'm looking forward to the week ahead!  Day 26 #stradaeasel challenge ♥️🎨

Glacier Creek Afternoon

This place had been calling me for days! I found this location on my very first trip into the Rocky Mountain National Park, but decided to paint from a different boulder at Glacier Creek's edge.  After a full morning, I only had an hour to knock this one out before an Artist Pop-up at the Maude Jellison Library, where I painted aspens en plein air and field questions about my process.  Painting as fast as I could, I took some short cuts - like painting in masses with central colors and pulling the water colors across with my brush in the manner in which they flowed. My process is very intuitive, picking up paint with the brush and dropping it where I see it, without thinking about the components of the painting.  I become one with the spot, and I let it flow out through my brush.  Painting here is restorative,  like a balm to my soul. I love the very awe of this landscape, the Rockies are truly special, and the YMCA of the Rockies in particular.  The experience truly is about the mind, body and spirit here. Painting number 4345 in 4345 days. 

Old Wind River Lodge

I loved sketching the old Wind River Lodge for my Sketching in Ink class this week!  I really enjoy sharing my techniques with students of all ages - and it is so rewarding to see them explore a medium that I love!  This Artist Residency has been so much fun - I'm sad this is the last day.  I will carry all I've learned here during my residency back to Missouri, to share with others. It would be fun to hang my remaining Colorado work at a local gallery, and talk about my experience here in Estes Park.  Day 24 of the #stradaeasel challenge, and painting number 4344 in 4344 days. 

Sprague Lake

Much of our family arrived at Sprague Lake at about the same time. Three of us hiking in, and two families driving, we were greeted with a magical sight.  From the opposite side of the lake, a group of elk stepped into the water and walked all the way across the lake - directly at us!  At the last moment, they shifted left, allowing us to move to the right.  This lake is shallow - and the show was amazing.  I painted this scene after hiking it, and the kids left before us.  Time flies when I'm out painting, and we hustled back to meet the last shuttle out at 7:05.  We waited and waited as night fell in the Rocky Mountain National Park. It finally arrived after a long elk traffic jam in the park, and we got off at Tuxedo Bridge at 7:35.  Walking into the dark, we rushed through the woods and across Glacier Creek, following the hiking trail back to our cabin.  We were very happy to round the stables and find the lights on in the Coleman Cabin.  Nights are very dark in the park!  Day 13 of my Artist Residency abs day 23 of the #stradaeasel challenge.  Painting number 4343 in 4343 days. 

Autumn on Ross Richter Trail

This scene on Ross Richter Trail has been calling me  - ever since we hiked through here two days ago.  With a morning full of hiking and shopping in town, I only had 40 minutes to capture the essence of this place in oils.  Loose and fresh, this painting was a joy to paint in such a lovely day, and this trail leads right into the Rocky Mountain National Park. These are the first signs of fall I have seen - so, of course, I HAD to paint them!  Painting number 4342 in 4342 days. 

Sunrise Over the Mountain

Each morning, I rise before dawn to check the sky for clouds that may set up a wonderful sunrise. The last two days have been clear as a bell, but today had a glorious beginning.  I started with my darks before that light really popped, so I had my composition in completely.  As the sun hit those clouds, color spread throughout the sky, and I painted quickly!  Knowing this light is fleeting, ilayed in every color important to my painting, then worked to cover all of my panel. I love getting to study the color of the sunrise in such a place as this!  Day 11 is my Artist Residency, day 21 of the #stradaeasel challenge and painting number 4341 in 4341 days. 

Glacier Creek

With only an hour to paint before my Sketching in Ink class, I rushed down the Ross Richter hiking trail to Glacier Creek.  This waterfall had been calling for days - and finally I had the chance to paint it. Mike and Michael played Frisbee up the trail while I worked.  It's good to have someone watching your back when you're painting near such loud water. This place is so inspiring, and a wonderful place to paint. This is day 10 of my Artist Residency at the YMCA of the Rockies, and day 20 of the #stradaeasel challenge. Painting number 4340 4340 days. 

Women's Building

Day 9 of my Artist Residency, and it is flying by so fast!  This is my demo from the afternoon's Artist Pop-up of the Women's Building at the YMCA of the Rockies.  For about an hour, I paint en plein air and talk about my process, fielding questions as I work.  In oil, I sketch the scene out, making color notes and marking the lights and darks. From those beginnings, I work to the middle, getting the panel covered.  This was a perfect painting day, and simply a joy to be immersed in it.  I wish I had a hundred more days just like this before winter arrives. Painting number 4339 in 4339 days, and day 19 of the #stradaeasel painting challenge. 

Morning Light on the Pines

This is day 8 of my Artist Residency, and it is flying by! Four of my children (with their families) have arrived in the last 3 days, so family activities abound!  Dawn is my first painting window - as most sleep later than I do. After a quick one of the morning light on the mountains, I still had time to explore the colors in these pines. Their bark is brilliant with orange and red in the morning light!  Studying those subtle shifts is a pleasure on this gorgeous mountain day! Painting number 4338 in 4338 days, and day 18 of the #stradaeasel challenge. 

Morning in the Mountains

What an amazing morning to explore the colors in this mountain range.  The hues and values change constantly here - every cloud bank makes a difference.  I find I am really studying the colors I see before laying the paint.  The colors here are so different than Missouri, and the mixing is not automatic from long years of painting a place.  The challenge is invigorating, and the act of painting is the reward.  Love getting to concentrate on these masses.  Day 7 of my Artist Residency, and I have so many paintings in my mind.  If only I had the time to match those lofty ideals!  Painting number 4337 in 4337 days, and day 17 of the #stradaeasel challenge. 

Colorado Sunrise

Sunrise is magnificent in Estes Park!!  Day 6 of my Artist Residency and I'm exploring why Colorado is the COLORFUL state!!  After a late night waiting for our youngest son to arrive in town, I planned to sleep in a little.  The early dawn light woke me, and the outrageous red orange in the clouds had me popping out of bed and grabbing my paints!  Sunrise waits on no one, so I threw on clothes, a heavy jacket and my winter coat, turning on the teapot for my return.  I started first with the color notes, wanting to mark them accurately, then the darks and highlights.  One must work fast with big brushes and deliberate brushwork, to match the movement of the clouds.  What a glorious morning, even at 37 degrees!   Day 16 of the #stradaeasel painting challenge, and painting number 4336 in 4336 days. 

Dorsey Lake

 

Day 5 of my Artist Residency in the Rockies - and the weather changes quickly here!  The beautiful cerulean skies of an hour earlier turned to rain in a hurry!  I set up quickly to paint this, with only a couple of glances through my "view finder" to map out my composition.  As the weather changed, I began to rush through my process.  Now that I am posting this, I realize that I didn't follow through with my original vision - and didn't really finish the water as intended.  This is rare for me, and I will now have to revisit this painting to complete.  It's all about the process, and this was a lovely, peaceful afternoon at the edge of Dorsey Lake.  LOVE exploring this place with paint!  Day 15 of the #stradaeasel painting challenge, and painting number 4335 in 4335 days. 

Rocky Mountain View

Day 4 of my Artist Residency in the Rockies - and this place gets more inspiring each day! I've visited with so many lovely people, while sharing my passion for painting. I took a little longer to complete this painting than normal, which happens sometimes when I'm visiting so much.  I love getting to study those colors in the mountains, something I never get the chance to do in Missouri. I'm hoping to excel at those ranges before I leave here, lol! It rained shortly after this - and a rainbow landed in this scene, just right of the largest mountain! I don't think I've ever seen that before!  Blessings surely abound in this place, and I'm so happy I'm here for it!  Painting number 4334 in 4334 days and day 14 of the #stradaeasel challenge.

Ponderosa Pines

The landscape surrounding our cabin in the woods is full of ponderosa pines - which are gorgeous!  So as my husband and mom went out for breakfast, I set up to take advantage of the view.  Sketching them first with paint to get their forms, I then quickly added the light and shadow before it all changed.  That rich golden color only lasts for a little while.  It is such a treat to REALLY study the colors and forms with paint, trying to do justice to the beauty around me. I LOVED exploring the rich colors of these ponderosa pines in the early morning light, and I'm SO happy this painting sold to someone I met at Antioch Park in Merriam, KS a couple of weeks ago - who happened to be here at the YMCA of the Rockies today! It is truly a small world!  Day 3 of my Artist Residency and day 13 of the #stradaeasel challenge! Painting number 4333 in 4333 days.

Falls Near Tuxedo Bridge

 

What an amazing plein air experience this was today!  It was a lovely mid-day paint on Glacier Creek, with Mike joining me in the Rocky Mountain National Park.  The falls are so loud, I can't hear anything behind me, and would not have set up here alone.  Off the beaten path and straddling large boulders, I studied the colors in this Colorado landscape. Mike looked past me and quickly realized we weren't alone.  I turned around and a young elk was 10 feet from me, the mother close behind, and a whole herd surrounding us, working their way to the water! There was no place to go but into the water, so we looked at them, and hoped they'd move to our right, which was an easier path to the water.  After a little rustling around, they did.  And the elk just kept coming!  They filled all of the wooded land right down to the creek. They took their time as the large male stood watch at the back side of them.  I could totally jump in the water - but I couldn't let my pochade, easel and wet painting go in!  So thankful they eventually left the area, and I could finish it up.  Day 2 of my Artist Residency and day 12 of the #stradaeasel painting challenge.  Painting number 4332 in 4332 days. 

Garden at Willmore Lodge

It's SO fun sketching the garden at Willmore Lodge in ink and watercolor!  This Lodge is gorgeous inside, and the veranda off the back side overlooks the Lake of the Ozarks with a sweeping view! It feels like stepping back in time to enter this place. This painting now showing at Lake Fine Art Galleria on Bagnell Dam Boulevard!  It is day 10 #stradaeasel challenge and painting number 4330 in 4330 days. 

Hermann Crown Hotel

What a lovely place to stay - this historic Hermann Crown Hotel in the heart of charming Hermann!  After delicious burgers and wine tasting, we enjoyed both in the courtyard of the 1837 Cellar Bar to live music - which is performed every night of the month here!  It was a fun getaway in a lovely place - and what a great place to organize a plein air event.  I would totally come back for that!  Painting number 4329 in 4329 days, and day 9 of the #stradaeasel challenge. 

Bumblebee and Sunchokes

The bumblebees LOVE the blooms of the sunchokes - so, of course, I HAD to paint them!  As I worked in my gardens today, the butterflies and bees were constantly on these blooms.  Once I got the chance, I did a small painting before the light was gone. It seems I am forever in a race with the sun!  This plant actually makes Jerusalem artichokes under the ground!  Painting number 4328 in 4328 days, and day 8 of the 30 day #stradaeasel painting challenge.

Evening Hydrangea

I am coming to my easel late to catch the beauty of this hydrangea at night! Some days, I am simply too busy to paint until nightfall, and this is one of those days.  After getting panels and frames for Colorado ready, I am taking a break to get that painting in.  Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers in the garden, and I'm so happy to see mine thriving!  Love getting to paint these beauties each season!  Day 7 of the #stradaeasel challenge and painting number 4327 in 4327 days. 

Sunflower Dance

It's sunflower season again - and Beau is guarding the perimeter as I paint, lol!  Last year, I had one giant sunflower plant with over a hundred blooms on it, before a storm blew it over.  I left the seed and spread the seedlings around when they popped up in the spring.  Now, they are glorious, and I'm finally getting a chance to paint them!  It's fun to capture their whimsical forms as they stretch to the sky!  This is day 6 of the current #stradaeasel challenge, and painting number 4326 in 4326 days.

Main Street USA

 

I LOVE painting Main Street USA - where my paternal grandparents grew up 3 generations ago. Each of their families lived in this town, where siblings grew, married and started families.  As I stood in the park sketching this street scene, I wondered about those family members shopping in these beautiful buildings when they were new.  It is always lovely to return to a place with so many roots, even when those roots were tramsplanted many years ago. Wish I'd remembered to take the on site photo!  Day 5 #stradaeasel challenge, and painting number 4325 in 4325 days. 

Showboat Theatre

 

LOVE sketching the historic Show Boat Theatre in charming Hermann during the Art Walk!  This town is so very paintable!  As I was painting this theater, a woman talked to me about plein air events, and what it takes to put in a good one.  I offered many suggestions, the things I look for when putting them on my schedule, and she was very receptive. I think it would be wonderful to paint these historic streets, in oil and watercolor, saving the memories of this place for generations.  Painting number 4324 in 4324 days, and day 4 of the 30 day #stradaeasel challenge. 

Looking up 3rd Street

 It was so fun to visit while I sketched the view looking up  this historic street!  Locals offered suggestions to other great painting spots, and even asked questions about bringing plein air to Hermann.  In town for the First Friday Art Walk,  Mike joined me for this event.  Afterwards, we dined and enjoyed the live music at the 1837 Cellar Bar where we stayed at the Herman Crown Suites.  It is so nice to simply walk up to our room after a long, full day of fun. Thanks to all who stopped by and left with a painting!  Painting number 4323 in 4323 days. 

Hermann City Hall

Im happy to attend tomorrow's Art Walk in Hermann! I will be at up on front of the historic Hermann Museum from 3:00 to 7:00.  I hope to paint a couple new ones while I'm there, too.  This beautiful area is an artist's playland! Come see this and several new paintings in front of the historic Hermann Museum from 3:00-7:00. Painting number 4321 in 4321 days.