Boats at the Boathouse

 

I couldn't resist painting this vintage boathouse with a few boats in the lawn! My morning paint was of this same boathouse, but from the other side, at water's edge. I never saw these boats until I scouted for a second painting! This has been a lovely day of painting that started with the most precarious back road I have ever traveled. I'm so thankful I got myself out of that mess to enjoy the beauty here!  Sometimes, I really shouldn't follow my GPS!  Now Showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville, and painting number 4908 in 4908 days. 

Autumn at Stone Hill

 

Autumn in Missouri is really beautiful.  Green grass accentuates the golden red hues spreading over the foliage, and balmy temps make it a pleasure to paint in.  Only oils will do when I'm pushing for those vibrant colors, and the tactile feel of broach on panel is invigorating. I'm counting my blessings as I paint, and look forward to all the paintings to come. What a wonderful place to capture autumn color - and have refreshment, too.  Painting number 4704 in 4704 days. 

Sunset Glory

 

I painted this one in my hand while dipping my brush into my palette, in my open trunk - there was no time to waste setting up my easel.  Though rather awkward, I painted as fast as I could, pulling the colors up from a dark palette nocturne style, but knowing where they are.  It was dark in my trunk before it was dark on my panel. This was crazy fun and so exhilarating!  There is nothing like a race with the sun! This was a spectacular sunset, and I'm SO HAPPY I didn't miss my chance to paint it!  Painting number 4649 in 4649 days. 

Tanks in the Field

SOLD

I love the structure of oil well servicing equipment in a rural setting.  I don't see much of this in Missouri, so when I come to Fairfield, Illinois, I like to paint them. The rain was constant on this day, which had me ducking for cover in the car, when necessary.  Ink and rain don't mix well! I'm using my new Qor palette, and I'm finding a few favorite colors in the mix.  One I never thought I'd love is Payne's gray. I haven't used it for maybe 20 years, and only then in acrylic.  But I'm finding their gray to be rich and bluish, really wonderful for a shadow base color.  This is a new size for me, framing at 6x12. I like the information I can get in this format, and I think I'll do a few more, too.  Painting number 5177 in 5177 days. 

Alley Magic

What an amazing evening it was to paint such a beautiful alley!  This magical little place is just outside of Jovalou on Main Street in Fairfield, Illinois.  I started this before the twilight sky turned black, and the play between the colors was magical!  Getting lost the moment, I got a little crazy with my color  - as is often the case with nocturne painting.  It seems I stray farther from reality and more toward painting what I feel.  It's all about expression - and SO MUCH FUN! Painting number 5174 in 5174 days.  

Bee and Black-eyed Susans

 

What a beautiful day to spend in the garden with my oils!  The cool front has brought delightfully cool weather for the next few days, and I am taking advantage!  Gardening, painting, and all things outdoors are on my schedule as I finish commissions at night.  The heat week build back in, but for now I'm basking in the.bliss! Now, it's time for a little roller skate fun with the family before getting back to work!  Painting number 5125 on 5125 days. 

Evening at Jovalou

 

What a great alley to paint for a nocturne, and the night was balmy and so very comfortable! Many is the time I shiver when painting at night, so I appreciate the gorgeous weather!  I only just saw these lights for the first time the day before, and popped in to see if they'd turn them on when i arrived.  It didn't take long to get the masses marked, and I started filling in the color.  As I worked I could see lightening rolling in from the west, so I worked quickly.  Painting outside nearly every day, I can tell when I need to kick it up a notch - or get wet! I finished and was back at my host home when the first raindrops began to fall.  It was pouring in no time, and I'm thankful I dodged the rain! Now that I've found this place, I can hardly wait to paint it again next year.  I'm happy this painting has a new home, and it is painting number 3917 in 3917 days.  ♥️🎨

Bee and Wildflowers

 After spending so much time working in the garden lately, it's my sweet reward to take a break and paint it!  With all our rain the grounds are lush, which means I STILL have so much weeding!  We are preparing for our middle son's wedding here in October, so I am working as many hours as possible in the gardens.  Thank goodness I have so many painting options right outside my door, and flowers are a perennial favorite for me to paint!  I love cheerful yellow flowers every day of the week, so they are on my easel! Painting number 3874 in 3874 days. 

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.

Road to the Vineyard

Oh my, what a perfect morning for capturing that early light!  With fleeting light, I like to lay in my darkest darks and lightest lights, so I can compare all other colors with those two. I am using a mix of black and Alain alizarin crimson for marking darks this week.  I like they way it warms up those deepest dark areas, abs it gives me a nice color to push other masses into.  Painting number 3031 in 3031 days. 

Huzzah Valley Morning

I'm so lucky to have an artist friend refer me to this place!  The Huzzah River Valley Resort boasted this gorgeous landscape along the campground, and it was only a short walk down to water's edge to paint!  Arriving early, a few campers were just starting their breakfasts, and the smell of bacon wafted down from their campfires as I painted.  Not a soul ventured down to the water this early, just a pileated woodpecker working on a nearby tree and the occasional fish jumping. I set up on a rocky bar to capture this scene, and was charmed by the babbling water. If only every morning could start like this.  This painting won third place in the "Paint Anywhere" category, and has now gone to auction.  I have thoroughly enjoyed painting Steelville!  Painting number 2768 in 2768 days. 

Water through the Garden

I love spending time at the Overland Park Arboretum, especially with my paints!  This water garden is lovely with the steam leading from one waterfall to another.  I especially like this format for this scene, it captures all that I wanted in it's wide view.  Painting number 2728 in 2728 days.

White Sand and Sun

After several beach paintings, I finally feel like I have a handle on the color in this landscape!  Depending on the sunlight, this sand appears peachy pink to full out warm white - and all else shifts likewise with the sun!  The clear water also changes drastically from a warm yellow turquoise to a slate blue gray with heavy cloud cover.  I could paint here every day and each painting would be so different.  Perhaps I should stay here until I have completely mastered this beachscape?  I think I'm going to need LOTS OF PRACTICE.  LOTS AND LOTS.  Painting number 2615 in 2615 days.

Looking down Safford

After turning in my week's artwork at the Heritage Museum, I had to get out and paint one more!  This street scene has been on my mind since I rolled into town Tuesday, and I finally got to it!  The vintage charm, colored awnings and palm trees in pots hooked me at first sight!  It's not everyday I get to paint a scene like this!  What a great place Tarpon Springs is to paint! Painting number 2610 in 2610 days.

Carmel Farmer's Market

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This may be the most beautiful farmer's market I've ever painted!!  The space is amazing and as I see this gorgeous flower stand - I know I am hooked.  Setting up a little early, I sketch this first in ink and watercolor.  Putting that one away as the start announcement ends, it was a fast hour and a half!  I didn't even get a photo on ther easel because I had to run and turn in!!  Painting number 2449 in 2449 days.

Fountain in the Park

Heading through Ripley Park to paint on Main Street, I couldn't help but notice the wonderful light on the lake. Setting up for a quick paint, I marked the masses with their appropriate colors and started working from there. When I am very short of time, I don't sketch in ink or even with paint on the panel, just a quick marking of masses with an accurate color.  I then push and pull that paint until it is heading in the direction I want it to go. I really love the way the fountain water breaks the surface, causing a dynamic exchange of light and motion to capture with paint!  Painting number 2446 in 2446 days.

Flint Hills Sunset

The Kansas terrain is so very different than Missouri - especially a couple hours past the state line.  The air is drier, the colors are also cooler, less green, less yellow, and there are wide open spaces without trees to paint under!  That was probably the most surprising, because I can find shade anywhere I paint, normally!  I love exploring new places with paint, it is truly the best way to immerse myself!  I can look at those paintings years later, and remember everything about that place, right down to the sites, smells and weather.  Funny how deep that connection is!  Painting number 2428 in 2428 days.

August Sunset

The colors of the sunset are fleeting and can be a real challenge to nail down quickly.  Using Richeson oils, I laid down thick strokes of paint to echo what I saw in the sky.  I really like how creamy these paints remain, no matter how long they stay on my palette.  Some of my "worms" of paint have been on there since December, when I first started using their oil paint. They don't seem to oxidize as quickly as some of my others, and I love that.  I put my palette in the freezer every night, and I have yet to scrape skins off any color other than brown. Pretty awesome.  Painting number 2427 in 2427 days.

Kansas City Zoo

Arriving early at the Kansas City Zoo, I walked up the hill past the first parking lot to take a look.  I really loved this view, but scouted a little further before returning with my inks and watercolors.  Having only one paper in my chosen format, I had to make it work.  Still 100% cotton rag, the texture is far smoother than my preferred paper.  I've tried it two other times, and did not care for it.  Here were are, 200 ink and watercolors later, and it is not that bad to work with.  I have to be more deliberate in my water flow, and control that pigment, but I actually like the results.  Will I add it to my paper arsenal?  Probably not, but it is fun to conquer it, instead of the other way around! Painting number 2426 in 2426 days.

Morning in St James

Can't believe this morning's quick paint in St James won the town's Purchase Award!!  What a gorgeous morning to paint this wonderful historic town in Missouri!!  Painting number 2345 in 2345 days.