Iris Bloom at Sunflower Hill Farm

 

Sunflower Hill Farm is such a beautiful place to paint - and I simply couldn't resist this scene!  It called to me as I walked up to check in, and yet again as I scouted the area. With ink I sketched my scene, then filled in the color with watercolor. I went back in with a little more ink until I found the balance I was looking for! It was a wonderful afternoon spent visiting and painting, and what is better than that? Come see this one in person at the Harmonie Verein in Augusta beginning Saturday! Painting number 5022 in 5022 days. 

H.S. Clay House inked

This place has special memories for me and my family.  From artist brunches to bridal party weekend getaways, this place is a favorite destination in Augusta, Missouri.  So, it is my pleasure to sketch this beauty anew in pen and ink. The historic H.S. Clay House, a lovely Bed and Breakfast is in my easel, and pen and ink are my tools su jour. I'll be showing this on sale day at the Augusta Plein Air event next Saturday, if you'd like to see this one in person. Painting number 5021 in 5021 days. 

Art and Eats on 1st St

 

Coming soon to the Artwork on Main Gallery in Owensville is this nocturne painted of the gallery and it's neighbor, 1st Street Eats. I stayed in those beautiful rooms above the shop a couple of times during the plein air event, and it was so convenient for a quick little nocturne.  This place is full of small town charm, and I'm looking forward to painting here again in October. Painting number 5020 in 5020 days. 

#artistlife #artworksonmain #galleryart #historicdistrict #sketchlife

Beautiful Sky over Montelle

I love celebrating a beautiful sky with a painting!  There is so much beauty, but I'm running out of panels!  Oils have been on my easel as of late, the juicy skyscapes dictate the medium.  I cleaned my palette (sort of) and loaded my paints in preparation for Augusta.  I even cleaved out my pochade, cleaning abs discarding a few brushes.  I wear them down to nubs before I toss them! I'd like to ship over the housekeeping things, but I am happier in the field when all my tools are fresh and ready.  I'm really looking forward to this upcoming concentrated painting time in the field.  It's been a long time since I've been able to truly immerse myself.  Painting number 5019 in 5019 days. 

 

Dramatic Sky over Mount Pleasant

Hooray for another dramatic sky to paint in a string of stunners!  Looking up is all the inspiration I need to jump into another quick paint!  After last night's late night release of Taylor's newest album complete with a barrage of texting with my daughters most of the night, one would think I'd slowly approach this day.  Nope! I jumped up early and got cracking on my lengthy list of projects to prepare for upcoming galleries and plein air events.  In the middle of all that - streaming Taylor, of course, I found time to capture the beauty in the heavens again.  Just like little gifts offered from the sky, the beauty must be painted.  Painting number 5016 in 5016 days. 

Rain on the River

A dramatic sky always grabs me - and this one was no exception.  With an eye always on the sky, I could see clouds approaching on the horizon.  Dodging wind and rain, I knocked this one out quickly before the whole sky changed.  I've lately felt the pull to explore sky paintings more.  Here's the first to upping my sky game!  Painting number 5015 in 5015 days.  

Sailboat Sunset

 

Ink, watercolor and a grounded sailboat feels like the beginning of a story as I paint.  This boat stands all alone off the coast north of Clearwater, Florida. I wonder where it's owners are. Are they searching for this vessel, afraid it has been swept out to the open water?  Or, are they missing as well?  A mystery unfolds as I paint, and the sun meets the horizon, soon to cloak the whole scene in darkness. So many stories, so little time to paint them all.  Painting number 5012 in 5012 days. 

Chives

 

My chives are blooming!  So, of course I have to paint them!  I have tried these a few times outside in the garden, and they have never wintered over.  With this indoor plant, I am going to use the seeds to start more plants outdoors, to see if I have better luck.  With ink and watercolor I capture their beauty before I snip to much away for salads. 

#mygardenlife #herbgardening #hydroponicgarden #chives #plein_air_life #pleinairsketch

Lost Creek Trail

I LOVE painting these winding Arkansas creeks with water spilling over the rocks!  It was super fun to hike along here with the kids after a quick sketch.  The little ones were mesmerized with the rocks along the bank and in the clear puddles, tossing one after the other into deeper water.  As we walked, another family hiked down the middle of this creek dressed in bohemian garb, enjoying this place as we were.  They arrived in a school bus with living quarters and a stovepipe in the back half.  I think they were real life gypsies.  How very cool.  Painting number 5006 in 5006 days. 

Eclipse Phases

Gathering in Tumbling Shoals, Arkansas, our family celebrated this full solar eclipse together.  We had so much time from beginning to end, that I found myself visiting and waiting for the next phase.  We've had several fun days to explore the area, and this was icing on the cake. We've decided to gather for future ones again as a family.  Painting number 5005 in 5005 days. 

Two Dafs

I love painting these late blooming daffodils as much as the first ones!  No flower rings in spring like these, and it is a sweet indeed to start my birthday with a quick sketch in the garden.  We will be celebrating with the family - and two of my sons have their birthdays this week, too!  Painting number 5003 in 5003 days. 

Pale Dafs

It sure was a windy day for painting today, and still those daffodils flourish! These came from a group that I ordered many years ago from the kid's fundraiser, and they were called pink daffodils.  They really aren't pink, but they are peachy in the mid-day sun. Wild and windblown, these daffodils are still gorgeous, and one of my latest varieties.  Too soon they will all fade away until next year.  Painting number 5000 in 5000 days!! 

Violas in Radiance Red

The rain is just beginning as I finish this miniature painting of my violas in Radiance Red! These little jewels are so cheerful in my pots, and so far no little varmints have started nibbling on their petals.  They are so sweet, I think I'm going to need a few more to sprinkle around the garden!  Painting number 4998 in 4998 days. 

Pansies

 What a gorgeous day to paint pansies in my garden!  I'm so happy they survived the 22 degree hard freeze!  Painting number 4996 in 4996 days. 

Daffodils

I sure hope these daffodils survive our hard freeze tonight!  I covered three big masses of these beauties in an effort to save them for Easter Sunday.  We also wrapped the new fruit trees that were budded out as well, but with an expected low of 22 degrees, it might not be enough.  Painting number 4992 in 4992 days. 

Pansy Jewels

There is nothing like painting a bit of sunshine to brighten up the whole day!  I've added my own jewel hues to these pansies as the sun bounced off of them.  I've painted these in oil with their amazing fragrance surrounding me!  What a wonderful break in this busy day of family and grandkids! Painting number 4990 in 4990 days. 

Hot Pink Geranium

This hot pink geranium has wintered indoors for the last two years and it is still sending up blooms for me to paint!  There is something magical about flowers blooming indoors during the winter months! I just had to paint this glorious bloom at it's peak towards the end of this busy day!  Painting number 4989 in 4989 days. 
 

Lavender Blush at Loose Park

I gathered with artist friends here to remember a dear artist friend, Spencer Meagher, who passed on Friday.  I remembered his compassion and humor, and what an amazing friend he was to all.  More than once he prayed with me over family members in crisis while we were painting far from home. He was a great comfort to me at those times.  I will always remember him at those events especially, and can only hope to make a difference in this world as he did.  Painting number 4987 in 4987 days. 

Yellow Pansy

What a lovely bit of sunshine to paint in the middle of a busy day!  These beauties are still inside the back porch, though they could be back outside now. It looks like another freeze may come over the weekend, so I am keeping them under house arrest to be safe!  I may love this color most of all, the sunny yellow is so cheerful and bright!  I'm looking forward to many more days full of flowers!  Painting number 4986 in 4986 days. 

Pansies

I brought these pansies into the back porch to protect them from the hard freeze - and today, my reward is to paint them! I first sketched this out with India ink, then filled in with watercolor.  Next, I used a purple fountain pen ink for depth in the purple, then a dark blue for the background.  The purple moved especially nice with water, but is have to look in my records to see just which ink it is. That TWSBI fountain pen is one of my favorite styles of TWSBIs!  Painting number 4984 in 4984 days. 

Viola!

I just potted these sweet violas and I HAD to paint them!  I love those delicate blooms with their sunny faces!  I have a few of my kitchen herbs in the sunny back porch, and this viola makes a fragrant splash of color.  I have another planted in the front garden, and several pansies as well.  Spring is so full of beauty, I can hardly get it all painted before the next blooms draw my attention!  Painting number 4982 in 4982 days. 

Mini Daffs

I LOVE sketching daffodils to the music of birdsong!  It has been such a mild March, all the birds are singing their spring songs and building nests in all the houses!  It's such a beautiful time of year for gardening and painting in between duties. Painting number 4979 in 4979 days. 

Coffee House Garden

I loved finding this new "coffee house" garden to paint at Family Tree Nursery!  It was so fun to meet artist friends here to paint, and lovely to have Michaela and the little ones here to visit and pick out new plants!  It is always wonderful to return to my old stomping grounds for sketch time.  Painting number 4978 in 4978 days. 

Pink Flamingo Garden

It was super fun to meet artist friends and my youngest daughter with her two little ones at Family Tree Nursery today in Overland Park. This vivid pink slice of color is part of their Barbie Garden, ready for this weekend's open house!  I couldn't possibly resist painting it as Casper looked on adoringly at the smallest pink flamingo.  Painting number 4977 in 4977 days! 

 

Evening Daffodils

 

Some days I don't get a chance to paint until nightfall.  I love to have these beauties waiting for me just outside the door, when I do finally come to my easel.  This day has been full of activities, with kids and grandkids.  From tractor rides to cellar duties, too reorganizing a couple of rooms, I hardly know which way is up.  So a little art therapy is in order, and a fragrant foot and hand soak awaits as I finally close down this day. Painting number 4975 in 4975 days. 

White Daffodils

These daffodils are normally my first to bloom, but this year they are trailing behind a few others.  I have planted this variety by the windmill and down by the road, and each year they harken in spring.  It's so exciting to see these beauties again!  I'm happy to get them painted after my first Pickle Ball game ever with my high school friends! Painting number 4974 in 4974 days. 

Daffodil

Oh, how I love these days full of daffodils!  Each day, many more blooms open up, and I can hardly wait to paint them!  With only a little window within the rain to paint, I am painting in miniature for this one.  It is ATC sized at 2.5x3.5, and a joy to paint on a very busy day!  Painting number 4973 in 4973 days.  

Daffodil Dreams

 

I have SO MANY daffodils opening up!  I hope I can get them all painted before they fade!!  Painting number 4972 in 4972 days. 

Cheerful Blooms

These first blooms of spring are SO inspiring, especially in their sunny yellow dress!  My days have been full of gardening, and this is my sweet reward when I get a chance to paint!  I do so love painting spring!  Painting number 4971 in 4971 days. 

I love squeezing a miniature painting into a full day of gardening - especially early in March!  What beautiful weather to be outside all day!  It was nearly 80 degrees today in the KC area - so much for March coming in like a lion.  I took full advantage of this day, tending to beds and transplanting some lilies and peonies that I accidently disturbed while removing a small tree. These daffodils are only the first of many more to come, and I can hardly wait to paint them all!  Painting number 4970 in 4970 days. 

Lantana

 It is a joy to paint what I plant - and this lantana was a clipping from seed that self sowed in one of my hanging baskets.  I pushed it into the net cup and now it is beginning to bloom in my Gardyn. I hope it trails all over the place!  Painting number  4069 in 4069 days. 

Overland Park Clock Tower

I love meeting artist friends in my hometown to paint the historic area.  This clock tower is an icon of downtown Overland Park, and this time in painting it from down the street.  My daughter and her family came to Thompson Park for some play time on this gorgeous day, so I painted from the edge of the park while waiting for her to arrive.  It's so fun to sketch down memory lane!  Painting number 4068 in 4068 days.  It looks like some of my postings have not actually posted - I guess I'll have to go back and fill in when I've got plenty of extra time.  Silly technology. 

Overland Park Water Tower

What a fabulous and warm February day for painting!  With record breaking temps in the upper 70s, it was sheer joy to paint slices of my childhood today. This is my old stomping grounds, and I have a fondness for this historic water tower, while so many new apartments pop up around it.  Michaela and her family met me at Thompsons Park, where the little ones had a blast playing at the playground.  What a lovely way to spend the day!  Painting number 4064 in 4064 days. 

Play Ball

What a great opportunity to sketch at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum at historic 18th and Vine!  This was our destination for our monthly Urban Sketchers KC event - and we had a great turnout!  I love meeting artist friends for these two hour sketch-outs, and today I did more talking than sketching, lol.  The Jazz Museum here was also super cool and I must bring the family back to visit it, too.  Painting number 4063 in 4063 days. 

Spring Waters

Meramec Spring is one of my favorite places to paint, and is beautiful in every season.  The blue water steals the show as it quickly passes through, and my oils are the perfect medium to describe the motion.  I could paint for days on end here - if only I had the time. Painting number 4060 in 4060 days.

Orchid Joy

 It is so rewarding each time an orchid blooms in profusion!  With my pen, I add the line work, following with watercolor.  For this sketch I also went back in with ink of similar colors to punch the value a bit. I wonder how these beauties would like a hydronic set up - but so far I've not had time to try it.  Painting number 4059 in 4059 days. 

Cascading Petunias

I planted the seeds to this cascading petunia in December 2022 in my new Aerogarden, a gift from my girls.  It has bloomed abundantly for these last 14 months!  I keep it pruned when it gets too leggy, and it keeps sending forth blooms!  I am finally getting around to painting it with ink and watercolor. Painting number 4058 in 4058 days. 

47th Street

 I love painting the street scenes of the Country Club Plaza, where I have so many fun memories with friends and family!  With so many places to shop and dine, I've spent many happy hours in this place.  I could never have guessed that I would once love painting it so much as an adult!  Painting number 4057 in 4057 days. 

By the River

There is so much beauty in the world, and it is my daily pleasure to  try to do it justice with paint. This day was full of family as we watched grandchildren and spent time with daughters and a son and son-in-law, too.  Mike is helping the grandsons get ready for TSA competitions in April, so the kitchen has turned to a workshop.  The cold temps have preserved the snow for another day, and so I paint, knowing we might not get another snow.  Each painting is colored with my day's experience, so this one glows a bit with the anticipated golden hour. Every day is a gift, and this day was full of many of them. Painting number 4056 in 4056 days. 

Missouri Creek

 I love this rustic creek even in the dead of winter where color is scarce.  Ink and watercolor are perfect for this creekside sketch.  The birds are singing as the water gently trickles along, and I am restored in this place as I paint.  Nature is so very soothing. Painting number 4054 in 4054 days. 

Chickadee Pair

I just barely had time for a quick bird sketch before the big game! With a favorite TWSBI fountain pen and watercolor, I sketched this duo in ink before filling in the color.  We have so many birds flocking to the feeders - it's fun to spend a little painting time with them!  So happy the Chiefs won another Super Bowl!!  We ate living the dream in Kansas City!  Painting number 4051 in 4051 days. 

Mahommes in Copper

It's so fun getting caught up in the excitement of another Super Bowl run for our Kansas City Chiefs! In copper, I sketch the form, working back and front to push the metal where I want it.  It stretches with the stress, and I sculpt it with assorted tools.  I love switching up mediums daily - it keeps everything I do fresh.  Artwork number 4048 in 4048 days. 

Creek in Sepia

 I love to haunt my favorite local creeks in winter.  The brush has died back and the banks are more accessible.  I can get in closer for the perfect vantage, and sketch with pen and ink.  For this one, I am using a sepia ink on a smoother than normal paper. I love the vintage effect the brown ink lends to such a scene.  Every twist and turn of this creek is picturesque.  Painting number 4047 in 4047 days. 

GO CHIEFS

I just have to celebrate our hometown boys a bit!  So happy they are headed to the Super Bowl again this year!  I remember all the lean years, so these really are a treat!  Love getting to work in the metal again!  Artwork number 4046 in 4046 days. 

Pink Geranium

I bring flowers indoors each autumn when the killing frosts arrive, and this lovely geranium is among them.  I sketched the lines with ink, then started laying in watercolor. While still a bit wet, I went back in with companion colors of ink loaded into fountain pens.  It sure feels like spring when I'm painting flowers in bloom! Painting 4045 in 4045 days!  💖🎨🌸

Fogo du Chao

I love sketching in one of my favorite places - the Country Club Plaza!  SO much wonderful architecture - so little time for sketching!  The streets here are lined with gorgeous Moorish architecture, much like Seville, Spain, and are a delight to paint.  I first ink this with India ink in a pen, then float in a little watercolor.  The result is a little snapshot of the day, and a place I love to visit and shop! Painting number 4043 in 4043 days. 

Green Mustard

 

Who knew green mustard could be so beautiful?!!  So, of course, I had to paint it!  I grow various lettuces, herbs, tomatoes and flowers indoors, and it is a joy to get to paint beautiful blooms in February!  I actually gave multiple plants blooming right now - and I hope to get them painted while they are still in their peaks! I LOVE bringing spring inside for the winter!  Painting number 4041 in 4041 days. 

Kelce in Copper

How could I resist working my favorite tight end in copper?  The AFC game was so exciting, and Kelce was on fire out there!  So, I'm celebrating the Chiefs and putting good vibes into the atmosphere as we approach the Super Bowl!  I just love our home town boys, and as a Swiftie family - I especially support the romance with Taylor.  Who doesn't love LOVE?  Artwork number 4040 in 4040 days. 

Sunset in the Snow

I LOVE a gorgeous January sunset for a quick paint in the pasture!  The sunsets are bold and colorful this time of year, at least on the clear days.  After a fun afternoon of playing with Quinn and Layne, I had just enough time to get a painting in before the light was gone for the day.  The weather had been balmy the last two days - in the 50s. I need to make more time to spend outside tomorrow, to take full advantage of this spring like weather!  Painting number 4038 in 4038 days. 

Hereford Pair

 I love looking out to the western pasture for painting inspiration.  These neighbors are fun to sketch, and I relish the opportunity to explore their forms in ink and watercolor.  The snow has melted now and the neutral tones of winter full the landscape.  So, I turn to the cattle for study.  Perhaps I'll get several painted before the next beautiful scene grabs me.  Painting number 4037 in 4037 days.