Stirling Castle

With artist friends at the Tri County Art League meeting, we sketched from vacation photos of Scotland for our program.  This place grabbed me immediately - and it turns out to be the castle in the town my son-in-law grew up in!  Lovely place to paint, and fun to see my local fellow artists again! Painting number 3736 in 3736 days. 

Ste Gen Steeple mini

This steeple calls my name whenever I'm in town!  I took a little sketch walk to work up a few miniature paintings of local places, and I found a few new favorites, too!  There are SO many paintings in my head - I can only wonder how many I'll be able to finish!  This one and several others are now showing at Music Art Love on Main Street in Sainte Genevieve.  Painting number 3735 in 3735 days. 

Nighttime Daffodils

 

These daffodils grow more beautiful every day - and I just HAD to get them painted!  The gardens are full of them - and I am hoping they will last long enough to get a few more paintings done.  Oil is a perfect medium for a nocturne, and the buttery texture is lovely for the petal work.  The small thumb box pochade is a favorite for quick paints - at only 7x5 inches.  I plan to travel with this box when I fly next, I think it will be a great packing size.  Painting number 3734 in 3734 days. 

Red Doors mini

It was great having extra time to scout the streets of Sainte Genevieve!  Normally, my schedule is so full, it leaves little time for new discoveries.  These gorgeous doors have called to me on multiple occasions, and I loved painting the historic doors of the Sainte Genevieve Catholic Church!  As I worked I kept hearing the words, "I stand at the door and knock".....  This miniature is now showing at Music Art Love on Main Street.  Painting number 3733 in 3733 days. 

Music Art Love in Copper

I LOVED capturing the new location of Music Art Love in copper!  I had the chance to work this piece after dropping Mom off for a nap at our cushy abode. I take her nap times seriously - and get as much work finished as possible during that time!  On this day, I actually finished and framed, then needed to wake her up for "Wine Hour" at the Main Street Inn!  One never misses a wine hour if possible!  I'm so happy this piece has a new home, with the lovely owner of this wonderful place!! 😍❤️  Artwork number 3732 in 3732 days. 

Stella and Me atc

 

LOVE sketching on the streets of Sainte Genevieve - and grabbing lunch here!!  This is the very first place we lunched at in this town several years ago, and we had a lovely meal and conversation after a long drive. I return several times a year for gallery openings and Art Walks, when featured.  This weekend was my Watercolor Batik opening at Silver Sycamore Gallery, and i made an appearance with the new copper pieces opening Saturday, at Music Art Love.  Here, in my free time, I am sketching up and down my favorite streets! This miniature painting is now showing at Music Art Love!!  Painting number 3731 in 3731 days. 

Vincent's in the Vineyard

 

Now Showing at Silver Sycamore Gallery in Sainte Genevieve - St Vincent's in the Vineyard Chapel at Chaumette Winery - in watercolor batik!  What a lovely place to paint, situated on a hill overlooking the vineyards and winery!  This place is a wonderful place to dine, spend time in the veranda, and sip wine while soaking in the lush surroundings!  Come see this painting in person in lovely Sainte Genevieve!  Painting number 3730 in 3730 days. 

Stella and Me Batik

Come watch as I demonstrate my watercolor batik method tonight at the Silver Sycamore Gallery for the Art Walk in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, from 6:30 to 9:00!  This charming cafe is right across the street from where we're staying - and a local favorite!  We stopped by for a wonderful lunch after shopping, and will have to go back for dessert!  It is such a treat to spend a few days in a French colonial place like this!  Painting number 3729 in 3729 days.  

Moon and Stars over Main Street Inn

I LOVE returning to this magical place to visit with friends and make new ones!  Sainte Genevieve is a special place in this world - and I'm thanking my lucky stars that I found it!  Most often, I paint en plein air, finding my perfect scenes and capturing them in oils. For this gorgeous scene, I actually captured the image while painting a different composition in oil, of the same nocturne.  Everything about your place screamed watercolor batik to me - clear skies, moon and stars, in hot wax bright vibrant color, and finally I had the time while painting other gallery pieces, to realize my vision in this special medium.  Its how it works with special places and scenes, and sometimes, I don't get the chance to paint that vision before it is gone.  I can see the painting so clearly in my mind, but sometimes life gets in the way, and all those other obligations call to me before I can bring the painting to fruition, and then it is gone, a lost opportunity forgotten until I revisit the place, and feel the urge anew.  This crazy artist life, how hard it is to describe to another.  I feel a painting, already a vision in my mind, waiting for the breath of life, and if I have the time I dive right in...... but then there are the times I just can't pick up the brushes yet..... Tonight I am thankful this one came to fruition, and I'm saying a little prayer for all those paintings yet to be! Painting number 3728 in 3728 days. 

Main Street Inn in Metal

 

LOVE working this special place in copper - almost as much as I love staying here!! The Main Street Inn in Sainte Genevieve is one of my favorite places to stay, and it often inspires me when in town.  Architecture is especially well suited for this metal technique, working both from the front and back of the metal.  After sketching my scene with a ball stylus, I begin pushing and pressing the scene into shape, following the planes of the building.  I keep finding new ways to use my tools, each piece teaching me something new.  Painting number 3727 in 3727 days 

Sunflower!

This sunflower painting is headed to the Buttonwood Gallery for the "From the Earth" exhibit opening next week.  It's SO fun to paint what I grow, and sunflowers are a crowning jewel in my garden!  Since it is March, I have started two dwarf varieties in my Gardyn, and can hardly wait to have their sunny blooms inside!  They should have multiple blooms before fading - and I can hardly wait to paint them, too!  Painting number 3726 in 3726 days. 

Daffodil Duo

What a lovely spring day to paint these King Alfred daffodils in ink and watercolor!!  With rain moving in tonight and several days of rain ahead - I am taking a break from framing to get in a quick paint in miniature!  I'm trying out a few colors that aren't normally on my palette - all from Daniel Smith.  I use them for studio work, but never in the field.  I can sure see the color difference in the strong outdoor light!  It's a great way to keep things fresh in the field!  Painting number 3725 in 3725 days. 

Inn Ste Gemme Copper

 

This Inn Ste Gemme copper piece is coming to Music Art Love this week - along with a few others!  This gallery is the first to carry my metal pieces, so I hope you'll stop in to see their new space on a Main Street!   My new collection focuses on the wonderful historic architecture in Sainte Genevieve, and it is super fun to work in metal!  Artwork number 3724 in 3724 days. 

Ice Castle Daffodils

 

Today I am taking a break from my vast to do list, to celebrate spring!  I've been very busy getting ready for next week's gallery show and workshops, and obsessed with spring cleaning at the same time!  So, naturally I needed my fresh air and sunshine to refresh my brain!  It really feels like spring when I'm painting my daffodils, and my oils feel like an old friend!  Painting number 3722 in 3722 days 

Silver Sycamore Gallery Batik

 

Come see this painting of the Silver Sycamore Gallery next Friday, the 25th, at the Art Walk in Sainte Genevieve!  I am the featured artist and I will be demonstrating the watercolor batik process. I will be teaching a workshop during the day on Friday and on Saturday at the gallery.  This is the only gallery to feature my watercolor batik work, and I will be focusing on the local scenes in the area. I'd love to see you there!  Painting number 3721 in 3721 days. 

St Vincent's in the Vineyard

The St Vincent's in the Vineyard Chapel is beautifully situated on the rise of the hill overlooking Chaumette Winery and vineyards.  The gardens show this place to it's best advantage, so of course it has been on my radar to paint!  Too busy to paint when I visited with Mom, I am now taking ink, watercolor and hot wax to rice paper, to capture this special place. Watercolor Batik is a very special journey, and I will be teaching a workshop on my technique March 25 and 26 at Silver Sycamore Gallery in Sainte Genevieve.  Artist Reception on Friday night at 6:00 - come see this painting in person and watch me demo!  Painting number 3720 in 3720 days. 

Main Street Koi

Perhaps the first time I painted at the garden of the Main Street Inn, I set up my easel at the Koi Pond, looking towards the house.  Spending time watching the koi as they swam in calligraphic circles, I wanted to paint them.  I did include them that day in the foreground of that garden scene, but still I've thought about them.  So today, I am committing them to rice paper with ink, watercolor, abs hot wax, forever to swim on the wall. Maybe one day I'll have a koi pond in my own garden. Painting number 3719 in 3719 days. 

Moon Over Ste Genevieve Catholic Church

 

I LOVE the unique charm each watercolor batik painting has, as it's unpredictable nature unfolds!  Tt is so well suited for a nocturne with the hot wax resists and strong floating color. This one focuses on the Catholic Church in Sainte Genevieve, with moon and stars rising to the occasion.  I continue to work on large pieces for my upcoming gallery show at the Silver Sycamore Gallery of Fine Art March 24. I will be teaching a two day workshop, and sharing my process for the Art Walk on that Friday night at 6:00.  Come join me to see all the new work and the process, too!  Painting number 3718 in 3718 days. 

Sunflowers Batik

 

I love the unpredictable nature of watercolor batik! Workshop in this method coming March 24 & 25 at Silver Sycamore Gallery in Sainte Genevieve - come join the fun!  I use two different kinds of rice paper, ink, watercolor, hot wax and several layers to achieve the desired effect.  The larger the size, the more difficult it is to handle the fragile paper, so we'll be working several pieces in a smaller size.  It's been a while since I've worked in this medium, and I'm really enjoying the process again!  Painting number 3717 in 3717 days. 

Jean Baptiste-Valle House Batik

I am painting the Jean Baptiste Valle House in watercolor batik tonight, with the view from the garden.  This place is joyful in bloom, and I love the formal rhythm of this garden.  It reminds me a little of the Loose Park rose garden, and I an really enjoying the process of layering watercolor, ink, and hot wax.  I am teaching this method March 24 and 25 at Silver Sycamore Gallery in Sainte Genevieve, and will be bringing paintings to the gallery that reflect the area.  Painting number 3717 in 3717 days. 

Iris Batik

 

I'm teaching a Watercolor Batik Workshop March 24 and 25 at Silver Sycamore Gallery in Sainte Genevieve!!  Message me to save your spot!  My method uses layers of ink, watercolor, and hot wax to achieve this effect on rice paper.  We'll work with two different papers and explore the possibilities.  Love the depth this process gives to a painting!  Painting number 3716 in 3716 days. 

Daffodil

One of my first daffodils to bloom - I couldn't resist painting these Ice Castles on this misty day! I've had dozens of jonquils and daffodils open in the last two days, and I hardly know where to start painting!, I'm very busy with gallery work right now, but I just HAD to take a break to herald in spring with ink and watercolor!  Painting number 3715 in 3715 days.  

Daffodils!

Spring is here when the daffodils are blooming - and I had a dozen open overnight!  With ink and watercolor, I sketch their forms as they blow in the wind.  Adding a little watercolor, I soon finish this painting on an ATC size miniature paper.  The rain will soon be moving in and the girls are coming by shortly, so a mini is all I have time for!  Painting number 3714 in 3714 days. 

Round Barn of Belton

Today, I'm painting a slice of Belton history from the railroad tracks - the Round Barn on Main Street! I remember seeing this barn as a child, sitting high in the rocket slide in the Belton Memorial Park.  Later, I watched my own children play here, and wonder at it's history. I think I've drawn this in ink years ago, before I recorded work daily - and who knows where that piece is!  The spring greens are popping - though the golden hour light is already washing the scene with gold.  I love that this barn still stands when another beautiful local one in Stilwell is not.  We're losing these beautiful barns with each passing year.  Painting number 3713 in 3713 days. 

Ste Genevieve Catholic Church in copper

 

Love working the Sainte Genevieve Catholic Church in metal for Music Art Love!  It's such a beautiful place! I'll be delivering these at the end of the month.  Artwork number 3710 in 3710 days. 

Stella and Me - metal

 

This little copper piece  of "Stella and Me" is heading for Music Art Love in Sainte Genevieve, along with several others at the end of the month!  I working on several miniature pieces and I hope to get a couple of larger pieces finished, too.  Love all the historic architecture of this gorgeous old town!  Painting number 3309 in 3309 days. 

Fancy Lettuce

 

I LOVE sketching my fancy lettuce growing in the Gardyn - almost as much as eating it!  SO DELICIOUS, the perfect leaves are a work of art!  Starting each plant from seed, it has been so rewarding to watch them grow leaf by leaf.  I've been harvesting the outer leaves, allowing the middle ones to grow, and I hope to sketch each plant before it bolts!  Painting number 3308 in 3308 days.