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.