I have a special Chicken Sketchbook, that I am filling with only paintings of my girls - and our one rooster! This sweet chicken is a Blue Jersey Giant, and a sweetheart with a floppy comb. It lays over a little, giving her extra personality. Once in a while she delays her re-entry to the run by hanging behind the others for those last few bugs in her way in! Painting number 4960 in 4960 days.
It's so peaceful to sketch this trail through a canopy of trees. Though the weather is in the 90s, this path is cool in full shade, with a lovely breeze cutting through. Our time is short, and this may be my last time on this trail until next year. I wonder if everyone connects to places like I do, as if they are living, breathing things. It's hard to leave, and I feel this way about many special locations. It's as if I bond with each place. What a lovely place to spend some time unwinding! Painting number 4944 in 4944 days.
Our beautiful Starlight Green Egger hen, Mabel, is actually a rooster - so we changed his name to ABLE. He's a beauty to sketch in my special chicken sketchbook! This paper is in my Mr. Ellie Pooh sketchbook, which is made from actual elephant dung, in an effort to save these elephants in Sri Lanka. With this sketch, and the one before it, I used more water on the surface with the gouache than previously. The result is a splattered, sparkly appearance on the reverse side, which mimics a spray of shiny kamar varnish, on sprinkles! Though the paper does not work very well for watercolor, I am finding other mediums that will! I love exploring the possibilities! Painting number 4939 in 4939 days.
How fun it is to explore summer flowers with watercolor - and to share the process with young artists! These radiant red blooms remind me Grandma Bessie, and of driving to the local nursery to buy these beauties for planting. I would pick them up and plant them for her, in her layer years. Occasionally, i bring a few home to plant, and they always remind me of her. Now Showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville, Missouri.
It was a lovely morning to paint the historic Shawnee Indian Mission with artist friends! The Monday Morning Watercolorists were meeting here, so I joined in before dropping two paintings at the Rice Gallery. I have a few paintings showing in the gift shop here on site, so this have me the perfect opportunity to paint another from a different place. What a lovely break in my hectic schedule - this will restore me for a little while! Painting number 4914 in 4914 days.
First demo of the Steelville High School Plein Air - an ink and watercolor of my cabin! What fun to introduce new students to the plein air experience! I drove 4 hours through sometimes torrential rain to get here this morning, and I really needed some paint time to unwind. We're headed to the Folksy Fish Festival tomorrow, where we'll find the stunning Meramec Springs park. Painting number 4896 in 4896 days.
I loved painting these sweet chickens at Sunflower Hill Farm- and just realized I forgot to share them! I paint so many paintings at a plein air event, that one or two slip through the cracks at times. This handmade paper is particularly rough, and it soaked up the paint like crazy! I thought I was finished a couple times only to go back in with more color. Watercolor can fade so much on this handmade cotton paper! Painting number 4894 in 4894 days.
I just about closed down the place with this last sketch at Dogwood Canyon! On arriving, I thought I'd return to this location to paint. The waterfalls called me away, so away I went, only to arrive here with 30 minutes to sketch. With pen and ink I drew out my composition, thinking of how timeless it all was. The vintage feel of this place lends itself well to the medium of pen and ink. I hope to paint this place in oils one day, as well. On another note, I nearly stepped on a large water snake on my hustle back to my car, in my sandals! The Plein Air Convention has been SO much fun, and I'm taking good memories and inspiration back home with me! Painting number 4887 in 4887 days.
This is the first painting in the rolling hills of the Ozarks - on the first day of the Plein Air Convention in Branson! The woods are so full of beauty, I couldn't resist a quick paint after checking in my painting. This quiet time to focus, immersed in nature, is a balm for my soul. I come out renewed and invigorated, ready to do it again tomorrow! Painting number 4881 in 4881 days.
It was so fun to capture the antics of these cuties at Sunflower Hill Farm! While two were butting heads, another watched cautiously from the sideline. The paper I use is handmade cotton rag, and each batch is artisan made. What this means is every batch is different - and this batch felt like there was no sizing in the mix or on the surface. So, the paper soaked up paint like crazy - and seemed to fade as it dried. I had to reapply paint and ink until finally it remained. I love exploring new papers, even when they require much more work on my part! Painting number 4871 in 4871 days.
Is there anything as sweet as the fragrance of lilacs? I wish they bloomed all year so I could bask in their aroma at any chosen time. The butterflies are out and a quick sketch is on order before heading to the Augusta Plein Air Art Festival, something I look forward to all year long! I've only a few blooms in grandmother's old fashioned lilacs this year, and they must be immortalized. Painting number 4859 in 4859 days.
I think spring is a most magical season to paint in rural Missouri, and especially on our generational family farm. I wish Grandma Frank could be here to enjoy all that we have brought to this very special place. It is near and dear to my heart, and forever a place where I am truly grounded as one can only be with a lifetime of memories. Painting number 4841 in 4841 days.
The Lodge on Petit Jean Mountain is magnificent as one climbs up from the Cedar Falls Trail. I love hiking and sketching the trails on this mountain. Waterfalls and rocky bluffs dot the park, and I certainly need more time to sketch the beauty. I find those moments while family rests or at least stays in one spot for a while. It's been so many years since we've been here. Our young family were only 4 at the time - and now, two of our children brought their families here, so we were 13 with Mom. It seems like just yesterday we were here in this lodge enjoying a meal with both of my parents. Painting number 4831 in 4831 days.
The woods are so peaceful on Petit Jean Mountain, and I love spending a little time among the trees! This path leads down to a fishing pond tucked way back in the trees, which we discovered today. It will be a lovely place to sketch next time I get the chance. We hiked the Cedar Creek Trail (with everyone) and the Cedar Creek Overlook (with Mom, too) today. I saw SO MANY paintings along the creek. We're hiking the Cedar Falls Trail in the morning - and I know that will be a big treat! Painting number 4824 in 4824 days.
I worked in the garden until I was pelted with sleet! Then, I sketched my progress as the rain watered my seeds! It's been so gorgeous until today, and I've been winter sowing more seeds this winter than ever! I nearly forgot to plant 10 Ozark Besuty strawberries (mainly by the back door pump) and probably a third of the 100 red onion sets that I picked up earlier in the week. We should get good rain over the next few days, which will give every seed a boost. I also spread a bee lawn mix over some bare patches, too. And since I've never tried that blend before, I have no idea what to expect. I'm going to enjoy watching all these new plants emerge in the coming weeks! Painting number 4807 in 4807 days.
Lady Belle is VERY interested in what I'm painting, and offering her suggestions as I work! She's trying to figure out what I'm doing when I'm NOT there specifically to grain her, pet her, offer her treats or clean out the fence line. She sniffed and tried to nibble on the paper, but I was too quick for her! She's real nosy, and it's been fun getting to know her and her antics! I'm so happy Teddy wanted to rehome her with us! Painting number 4792 in 4792 days.
It's super fun to grow fancy lettuce to paint AND eat! Red Oakleaf lettuce is a beautiful heirloom variety to grow. I like to pick up heirloom seeds whenever I find them, and then save the seed from year to year, This aerogarden system has a seeding tray in it, so I can plant the seedlings directly in the ground - if it's warm enough. I'm growing four kales, Swiss chard, breen lettuce, arugula and several herbs in this garden. I LOVE LOVE LOVE gardening indoors while the snow flies outside this evening! Painting number 4763 in 4763 days.
First sketch of Lady Belle at sunset in her new pasture and she's such a pretty girl! She comes to us through my dear painting friend, Teddy Jackson. Arriving Sunday afternoon, she is getting used to our family and the new space. She watched me paint her today, as I stood in the middle of the field, without coming closer. As soon as I finished and started walking away, her head popped up and she followed me all the way to the gate. She likes sweet talk, and might have been looking for a treat, but I didn't have one today. I'll have one next time! Painting number 4761 in 4761 days.
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I'm planting and painting the newest seeds added to my garden, Shasta Daisies and Red Corn Poppies! With two trips to the garden center this week, more additions are coming!! I don't think I've ever been so garden crazy in JANUARY, but the balmy weather has me catching up on fall tasks and getting ahead on spring ones! What fun it is to plan out the blooms to come! When Tiffany first started kindergarten, I had a large bunch of Shasta Daisies in my front garden. One particularly cold winter did them in and I can't wait for these seeds to flourish! I love poppies, too, but have only had them briefly thrive. I'm hoping the new spot I chose for them will be their forever home by the cellar! Painting number 4757 in 4757 days.
