Ozark Overlook

 

What a glorious overlook to paint at the College of the Ozarks!! I could paint here for days!! I intended to paint the historic church on site, but as I walked through the scripture garden, this scenic overlook called my name.  My first painting is at it's feet as I scrambled to paint another in our allotted time.  What fun it has been talking to so many artists that I've painted with over the years.  It is sheer joy to paint such a breathtaking view as this! Painting number 4882 in 4882 days. 

In the Woods

 

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. 

Winter Creek

Yay! I found snow to paint in a wooded creek bed here in Branson behind our place - and it's 10 degrees warmer than KC!  Seriously - it feels like a heat wave in the sun, sheltered from wind.  LOVE painting the rolling hills of Branson!  Painting number 4028 in 4028 days.   ❤️🎨❄️

Thousand Oaks Inked

Drawing in the quiet of an early morning fog, I feel like the only one here.  I love to work when all is still, before the landscape wakes.  So quiet I can hear the leaves falling from the maple, I render each line as I see it.  Using my favorite fountain pen, I complete my composition before adding a wet brush to move the ink a little.  I like to get my middle values this way, instead of the cross hatching of the old days.  I still turn to the India ink once in a while, but once I tried the water - I never really went back.  Painting number 1764 in 1764 days.

Autumn on Glade Trail

I love the wilderness!  The birdsong, falling leaves and the way they crunch underfoot while walking the trail, all lure me back to the forest again and again.  Painting is quick and simple when using my thumb box.  It is small enough to hold while standing, my thumb slipped until the hole underneath to keep it steady as I paint.  I keep my brushes, paper towels, and tiny safflower oil for brush cleaning under the sliding shelf, putting my Altoid tin palette on the shelf for painting.  From the humble beginnings of the Zorn palette last year, I have added bits of other shades scraped from the broken glass of another palette.  It is now a hodge podge of paint in unorganized fashion, which will one day find order as I use up each one out of place!  See, there is method in my madness after all!  Painting number 1762 in 1762 days.

Thousand Hills in Ink

Oh how I longed for another panel this morning!  If only I'd opened my thumb box before leaving the house, I would have seen the wet painting inside!  I turned to my ink for solace, sketching first the painting to come. These leaves are turning more brilliant by the hour, and simply must find their way into a painting.  Using my fountain pen, I render all lines, coming in after with my favorite Koi water brush pen. These brushes let out a smooth flow of water, allowing me to move that ink and get my middle values. I can't wait to do this in paint!  Painting number 1761 in 1761 days.

November at Thousand Oaks

After a busy day of shopping with my girlfriends, I arrived back at the resort just in time to get a painting finished.  Who could possibly resist the saturated color of a misty day?  I LOVE my Guerilla Painter thumb box pochade!  I opened it up and found a wet painting!  Shoot!  I thought I had two panels for the weekend!  I guess I'll be using ink for the rest of this trip!  Painting number 1760 in 1760 days.