Chicken Coop!

 

I'm thankful for the wonderful year we've had, full of so many family adventures!  This time last year, I never would have dreamed we'd bring chickens and this beautiful coop into our lives.  With a little coaxing from the kids, we opened a new chapter.  We traveled so much this year, and i painted every minute I could, finding new favorite places along the way.  I'm looking forward to unwrapping all the magic the new year holds, one special day at a time.  Wishing you all a Happy New Year's Eve, full of family, friends and fun!!  Painting number 4747 in 4747 days. 

Our Chicks

 

There's always enough time to paint our chicks, after spending time giving them treats!  It's been a full day of trying to catch up on chores, and now we're enjoying the grandkids by the campfire!  It's warmed up a bit and there is no wind, so Nolan, Quinn and Layne helped pick up sticks to build the fire.  I love spending time outside, even in the cold of winter.  Painting number 4746 in 4746 days. 

Secretariat

 

This sweet Blue laced golden wyandotte is pretty shy, and waits for the other hens to leave my side before approaching.  She was very fast as a chick, earning her the name Secretariat, from my son, Michael. She likes being sketched in pen and ink!  Very spunky as a chick, she is more reserved and dignified now.  Little Phinny is in the foreground, wondering why I'm not sketching her today.  Who knew these chicks would grow to be part of the family?  Painting number 4745 in 4745 days. 

Winter Chickies

 

It was a lovely morning spent outside until those north winds started to blow.  I enjoyed a hot mug of tea early, barefoot on the porch, before starting the chores of the day.  I wrapped a few tree trunks in burlap, hanging shiny ornaments from their topmost bough, to protect them from the deer.  We dug a few more post holes for the new fence, trying to get ready for the horse. I squeezed in some indoor gardening between tasks, and the temperature dropped every hour.  I spent a lot of time tending to the chickens, even rubbing Vaseline on the tall combed girls!  Last super cold day, we had a few with tiny bits of frostbite, so I'm hoping to prevent that this time.  We're supposed to go to 13 degrees after a warm 64 degree start. Thankfully,  the girls don't seem to mind the cold! Painting number 4744 in 4744 days. 

Chickersons

 

It's fun squeeze in a little chicken sketch between custard and pumpkin pie! Hope your Christmas day was full of family and fun!  Each year I paint something special for each of the kids, a different theme each year. Since they talked us into bringing chicks into our lives at Easter, and spent countless hours raising this chicken coop - this is my subject!  Each one is different, and each features all eleven of our chicks.  We affectionately call the "Chickersons"!  Painting number 4742 in 4742 days.  

Eleven Hens

SOLD

 

My mom comes to visit my chickens every afternoon, feeding them some of the barley grass that I sprout for them.  She has trouble remembering all of their names, and has asked me for a painting, with their names listed, on multiple occasions.  So, here they are, all lined up, as they come to me for goodies.  What fun these little sweethearts have brought into our lives! We're wishing you the Merriest Christmas from our coop to yours!!  Painting number 4741 in 4741 days. 

Father Christmas on the Path

 

With pen and ink I capture Santa on his rounds.  Diamine's Nostalgia is a lovely warm shade from Day 10 of their Inkvent Calendar.  I've penned one of our chickens in, as she follows Santa down the path.  The presents are all set under the tree, stockings are hung, as I listen to the sweet notes of Michael strumming on his guitar.  It's so nice having him home for Christmas Eve. I've missed this boy's guitar playing before bed each night. Painting number 4740 in 4740 days. 

Union Station Magic

 

I just had to paint Union Station one more time during this special time of year, and soak up that Christmas magic!  Beautiful in all of it's seasons, Christmas holds something special here.  The iconic tree and yearly visits with family and friends are joyous, as we remember all those who no longer gather here with us.  Each year, I'm compelled to paint this hall, and this year I've chosen ink and watercolor.  I nearly brought my acrylics, but I'll save them for next year.  I hope you're all enjoying this holiday season as much as I am!  Painting number 4739 in 4739 days. 

Pensive Santa

 

He's making a list and checking it twice - and it's so fun to paint Santa for Christmas!  After a gathering of the Frank side at my cousin's today, it has only left a little time for painting and posting.  It's lovely to see cousins, aunts and my uncle with my brother's family and Mom, too.  And I remember all those that once joined us on this holiday, too. Painting number 4738 in 4738 days. 

Santa painting the Nutcracker

 

Santa is very busy on these last days before Christmas!  I love painting him in black and white acrylic, for a change.  There's nothing like switching between mediums to bring a fresh eye to painting!  Time grows short and my to do list is long, so good night, and I'll try to add more later!  Painting number 4737 in 4737 days. 

Union Station Magic

 

Union Station is perhaps my very favorite place to paint in December!  I love painting this iconic tree and decked halls!!  Ink and watercolor is the perfect vehicle to drive this painting, in this place.  After a few children's choirs dang carols at the tree, the crowd thinned out enough to get a beautiful view. Another memory in the books. Painting number 4736 in 4736 days. 

Santa and Beans Mini

 

Blush is such a lovely ink to render Santa cuddling our hen, Beans! Santa likes his chicken cuddling time as much as we do!  This ink took a lot of coats to get this dark, and is rather light on the first layer.  Beans is a Black Star chicken, with a sparky, sweet personality.  Smart and quick to the treats, she's always aware of where the goodies are.  She has lovely red orange feathering from head and neck that turns a shiny black with blues and greens in the light.  I'll need to paint her in oils one day, too do her coloring justice.  Painting number 4735 in 4735 days. 

Santa in the Woods with Chickens

 

What a cool ink to use for this miniature Santa and chicken scene, and I'm using a matching glass dip pen for the rendering!  Door #11 of the Diamine Inkvent Calendar is a keeper!  The ink does not get darker with heavy application, but the color and chroma are lovely and frosty.  I look forward to using this for winter landscapes. Painting number 4732 in 4732 days.  

Union Station Christmas

 

I truly love this tradition of painting the magic at Union Station during the holiday season!  And today, there were choirs of children singing carols around the Christmas tree!  I gathered with artist friends, and we all chose different painting spots. After a short 2 hours, we lunched together at the Harvey House, sharing our paintings and visiting.  It's a lovely way to celebrate the season, and this very special place. Magical!  Painting number 4731 in 4731 days. 

Santa Chicken Mini Green

 

What a lovely green ink I opened behind door nine 9 - Bittersweet! Crisp and clean, I've captured Santa deep in conversion with one of my girls!  I've never painted Santa in green ink before, but I think I like it! There does not seem to be much chroma variance in this ink, but the color is so fresh. I don't understand the name, though.  In my neck of the woods, bittersweet is a burnt orange color.  The foliage is not even close to this color, either, lol.  Painting number 4730 in 4730 days. 

Watkins Woolen Mill

 

Today, I learned that my waterbrush, fountain pen and watercolor palette all FREEZE at 20 degrees!  It is VERY hard to paint with frozen everything. Where is that vodka when I need it?  Often, when it's cold, I pare down my supplies to a couple of pens and water brushpen in my pocket, and my travel palette in my other pocket.  Naturally, they stay warm.  On this first cold sketch day, I grabbed my bag like normal, and never thought of the cold, nor of grabbing my oils - which would have performed perfectly at this temperature.  The water and paint slushed up into icy crystals on both brush and paper, and I couldn't figure out why my TWSBI fountain pen was not flowing ink - even when I licked it!  TWSBIs ALWAYS work, it's why they are my workhorses.  I guess 20 degrees is enough to freeze the ink!  Who knew?  It was a crazy morning of learning new lessons, and I wished I was closer to the car, where I actually have a little spray bottle with vodka and lemongrass oil.  I could totally have put that in my water brush pen for good paint flow.  This beautiful place deserves more painting time, and I hope to capture more of it in the future. Painting number 4729 in 4729 days. 

Talking to Santa

Santa is spending lots of time with my hens - and they are having quite a conversation while I sketch!  Dream Catcher is day 8's super cool ink surprise- and a chromatic turquoise blue that gets red in heavy areas.  This ink could have so many cool applications - I sure hope they offer this one in a large size soon!  Painting number 4728 in 4728 days. 

Santa and Meringue

Behind door number four of the Diamine Inkvent Calendar is this lovely warm brown ink called Smokey Tobacco.  If gives a vintage glow to this Santa drawing, as he cuddles Meringue, one of our Calico Princesses. Once quite yellow, she has gotten lighter as she matures, nearly white on her undercarriage and tail! I've used a matching glass dip pen, and I'm working on an unknown handmade paper.  I often tear up small pieces into miniature ATC size. This painting is number 4727 in 4727 days. 

A special thanks to all who stopped by to see my paintings at the Historic West Bottoms Holiday Open House last night!  It was a lovely evening to celebrate the West Bottoms community with artwork created during the Historic West Bottoms Plein Air event in May.  I've had so much fun exploring this historic area with paint. 

 

Fir and Fog

 

Fir and Fog is behind door 6 of the Diamine Inkvent Calendar, and is a moody gray green, perfect for a winter landscape!  It just happened to be very foggy in the morning, so the day felt right for this ink.  Itreally is a great green for the landscape, unlike any other I own.  I may explore this one more fully, and even look for the large version, if it is released.  I love these special finds behind the doors! Painting number 4726 in 4726 days.

Chicks and Ornaments

 

I'm working on Christmas cards - and my hens are vying for my attention!!  They are very interested in whatever I bring into the run - and this is no exception.  They like to peck at the back of my plexiglass board, and sometimes they even nibble on the sides of my paper, leaving their "mark of approval"!  I am constantly being distracted from my task around these cuties!  Painting number 4725 in 4725 days. 

Phineas!

 

This sweet Blue Jersey Giant loves to hang out with me in the run as I sketch, and leaves us giant eggs as a "thank you"! Phinny has a calmer nature than her sister Carlotta, hanging back and waiting for treats rather than charging right up to me.  The grandkids named our chickens - and we didn't make it clear that they were all girls, so we have a few funny names, lol!  I love her darker head and neck feathering, and her floppy comb is adorable! I never dreamed I'd become so attached to these feathered friends, and here I am, playing with them daily!  I guess I'll never grow up!  Painting number 4724 in 4724 days. 

Santa and Chicken Mini

 

Day 3 ink in the Inkvent Calendar is Carousel - a vivid red pigment ink!  I LOVE the color - but it was SO HARD to wash off of my glass dip pen!! It's my first experience with such an ink!  A gorgeous red like this called for a Santa sketch - so I have drawn him with sweet Betsy, who is one of the first gens to jump on my lap!  I love the vivid color, but I prefer an ink that moves with water.  I had to actually scrub and use a brush to get the red ink off of that glass dip pen!  That's crazy!  Painting number 4722 in 4722 days. 

TWSBI Fountain Pens!

 

We're doing something new and fun at Urban Sketchers KC!  Fountain Pen Friday! Here's my first sketch to kick off the fun!  I'd you'd like to join the fun, post and use the hashtag #urbansketcherskc and #fountainpenfriday!  This idea popped up during our planning meeting yesterday for the Urban Sketchers KC 2026 calendar.  So, for our initial post, I grabbed a few of my newest pens loaded and unloaded, to sketch!  Once I fill with an ink in a matching color, I stand them in the tea box, nib up. Those new ones are laying on their sides, waiting for my attention.  So, THIS is the perfect in process sketch!  Painting number 4721 in 4721 days. 

Ornaments Five

 

Shiny ornaments are simply irresistible this time of year!  And even though I have a plate full of unfinished tasks, I just had to get a quick painting in.  Bright colors, in acrylic, are my go to for fast and bold painting. I think I'd love to do a large painting in this theme for the holidays, but who knows when I'll find the time?  Painting number 4720 in 4720 days. 

Chicken Walk

"Peeps (in the lower right corner) is my worst critic.  She is ALWAYS in my business, and looks very critical of my decision to sketch another, lol. The sweet buff brahma that I have drawn has taken on the role of Flock Defender. Twice she has set up the alarm when coyotes were present, and sleeps on a roost where she can look out the windows at night. She's along the first on my lap for black soldier larvae, too!  Painting number 4719 in 4719 days. 

Energy

 

Energy is the Day 2 ink of the Diamine Inkvent Calendar, a cool purple ink with deep olive in the heavy areas!  What a moody ink for a winter lake landscape!  I want to see if there is a reaction to bleach, but I'm out.  I rarely use it and when I recently opened it to use for cleaning, it had gone bad, and didn't help whiten my whites at all.  I like the way it lightens into a soft pink in wet areas, and I think I could make more of the green, too. It's so fun to open a tiny present every day up to Christmas!  Painting number 4718 in 4718 days. 

Chick's First Snow Day

 

Hooray!  It's Day 1 of the Diamine Inkvent Calendar, and Celestial Skies is the first ink!  I'm capturing the first snow for my chicks - and they don't like it!  With little wind, still the snow blew half way into their run.  After covering the east side, I swept out what I could and spread fresh wood mulch on top.  Once this was done, they ventured out from their huddle on the dry side to return to pecking, scratching and drinking.  I had heard chickens don't like the snow, and now I've seen it for myself!  The fancy dip pen pictured happens to also glow in the dark!  I'd forgotten that until I walked down the dark hall with it!  Painting number 4717 in 4717 days.