Night at Cobblestone Lodge

During the High School Plein Air event where I mentored for the weekend, I led a group of students each night in a nocturne painting.  The first night painting for many of them, it was a fun adventure!  We painted under some street lamps while looking out at illuminated buildings.  I painted the lodge at the Cobblestone River Resort, who hosted is all for the weekend.  What a fun evening spent sharing my love of art with another generation!  Painting number 4920 in 4920 days. Now Showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville, Missouri. 
 

In the Gallery of Oaks

I loved standing in a gallery of oaks to paint the setting of this cabin and the path to the river.  The morning was cool in the shade, and the breeze light, making the day perfect for painting. The trees called to me.  Each large shape and form begged to be immortalized in ink and watercolor, casting the cabin as the understudy.  Truly a study of oaks, I hope I did them justice.  Now Showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville.❤️🎨

Sunset Over the River

 It was so much fun to paint the sunset with my friends along the Meramec River at Cobblestone Lodge!!  I was the first to hike down to the bank, and thought the others might not make it - so I painted fast! It gets very dark down there at night, and I didn't want to make that climb in full darkness.  Within minutes, here come Larry, Jamie, Dennis and Gabriele, driven down on a side by side in luxury fashion!  It was fun to speed paint the sunset together, then we all hiked up and gathered for some fun conversation outside of the cabins Now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville, Missouri. 

Llama Trio

 

Each time a sketch super cute animals - I want to take them home!  These beautiful animals are very social, communicating with each other and with me!  Their long lashes and bright eyes are so sweet, and I certainly could use more time sketching their shapes.  The more familiar I am with a subject, the better I can draw it.  I wish my neighbors would get a few for me to paint!  See this llama painting in person at Gallery Zeke in Steelville!  Painting number 4606 in 4606 days. 

Chicken Walk

 

Who knew painting with chickens would be so fun?!!  We've raised many animals through the years, and I spent time on two family farms as a child, but I had never been exposed at length to chickens before Easter.  We've raised many birds - parakeets, parrots, doves, pheasants, ducks and geese, but never chickens.  These sweet darlings are so very personable, coming to greet us whenever we head their way.  I'm teaching them to jump up on my lap for treats - and four learned the trick the first day!  I know it's silly, but they really are wonderful - and I see many chicken paintings in my future!  Go see this one in person at Gallery Zeke in Steelville.  Painting number 4604 in 4604 days. 

Baby Goat Pair

 

Baby goats are so much fun to paint - and they pose constantly at the Deanna Rose Farmstead.  I've been painting a few farm animals for a special show, and this will be in the collection along with 8 others.  I sure love baby animals, and if I spend too much time with them - they might have to come home with me!  This one is also heading to Gallery Zeke in Steelville!  Painting number 4593 in 4593 days. 

Buff Brahmas

 

Oh yes, I am painting with my chickens tonight!!  My girls are so very curious - I think it would be a fun video to see their reactions to my every move!  They are growing so fast - our Easter chicks will soon be all grown up!  I'm painting a few of the ladies to add to my collection of farm animal paintings heading to Gallery Zeke in Steelville! Be sure and stop by for this very special collection!  Painting number 4592 in 4592 days. 

Nestled in the Woods

This rainy day painting started as one of my acrylic demonstrations with the High School Plein Air sponsored by the Steelville Arts Council last weekend.  I mentored 20 students over three days in 5 different paint-outs.  It was such a super fun weekend filled with very talented young artists, and I hope that I have impacted their art journey in some small way.  I would have loved an opportunity like this at their age.  This painting is now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville, Missouri through mid-July.  Come take a peak in person.  Painting number 5068 in 5068 days. 

Tranquil Maramec Spring

What a joy to paint one of my favorite springs!  With less than an hour left before turn in, I just could not resist capturing the tranquil turquoise in the water as the light poured in.  I was nearly the last artist still here painting, as I worked until the last minute. In forty minutes I was popping out in a frame and rushing back to Steelville. I arrived with only 8 extra minutes, and I would do it again.  It's totally worth the time crunch to paint one more painting at this special place!  Come see this one in person at Gallery Zeke in Steelville, Missouri! Painting number 3805 in 3805 days. 

Along Chamiere Farm Rd

Sometimes the rain chases me into the car with my ink and watercolor! LOVE finding an amazing old farm way down an old dirt road!  As the road narrowed down, becoming very muddy, I was happy to stop here to paint.  I never know when these old roads will diminish or end in a creek!  In and out of the car twice, finally the rain was too heavy to work outdoors.  Just another day en plein air!  So fun to paint this old farm in Steelville! Painting number 4253 in 4253 days! 

Creek at Meramec Adventure Ranch

Several snakes (that looked like copperheads) circled in the water beneath the low bridge I was standing on, as I set up to paint!  I do see snakes from time to time, but they normally slither off as I make noise. These were aggravated that I was in their territory, but the scene was so delicious I could not walk away.  So, with one eye looking out for them, I began painting in this beautiful place, visiting with an artist friend as we worked.  It was a lovely morning to paint, and the snakes settled down as we quieted our motion.  Some stunning blue birds flitted in and out of the trees, but I couldn't quite identify them.  They were not bluebirds, blue jays or indigo buntings, it's amazing that I see different birds on this side of the state!  SO happy the snakes didn't join us on that bridge! Painting number 4249 in 4249 days, and this one may be showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville, I just can't remember for sure, lol!

Standing on Church St

 I've been wanting to paint this since I first laid eyes on it when we checked in.  After a full day of painting, I simply had to get back out in the golden hour for a quick ink and watercolor!  Always with an eye to the sky, I find my subjects when the light is rich and dreamy, bringing out their best on my paper.  It was quiet on Church Street this time of day, with another artist also working and a few birds singing their evening songs. What a lovely end to the day!  Painting number 4247 in 4247 days, and this one is now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville! 

Along the Courtois

 I LOVE painting from the edge of the Courtois Creek - my very first time to paint this beauty! The color of the rock shines through the very clear water, making that water tricky to paint!  I study those colors, and place them where I see them on my panel.  Careful observation reveals many colors that I could never see from a photograph of the same place.  It's just another reason I love working in plein air so much.  The landscape around me seeps into my painting as I paint, it's just another part of the magic of the field.  Painting number 4246 in 4246 days, and now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville! 

303 Main - Inked

I love sketching the charming houses on Main Street in Steelville.  Staying right down the drive, I had to slip out early for a quick sketch before the art show!  This place is now home to Heartland Arts - and showcases the work of local artists.  There is even space for artist housing inside!  What a wonderful way for this vintage place to thrive in the community!  Painting number 3078 in 3078 days.  This ink drawing is now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville, Missouri. 

Maramec Spring

The turquoise water of Maramec Spring is hypnotic, and calls to me like a siren song!  This park is one place I MUST paint whenever I am close, and I made a little time for it while in Steelville.  Painting by the cold spring water is very comfortable this time of year, and the very saturated color of the water is a joy to paint. I just happen to still have Prussian blue in my palette (from a November portrait study) and it is the perfect blue to mix for this water!  The eagles weren't fishing here today, I've seen one each time I've painted here before.  Time flies when I'm painting, and I spent a little longer here than I anticipated.  Wish I had time to paint the other two large panels I brought with me!  I guess they'll have to wait until next time.  Painting number 3077 in 3077 days.  Not sure why some recent posts did not actually post.  Possibly a connecting issue, and I'll have to go back and fix it when I've got the time.  This painting now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville. 

Westover Farms

Westover Farms is such an amazing place to paint!  A gorgeous trout farm and resort, fishermen dot the landscape casting and moving along the water.  Here, I am looking over the lake as the spring runs along my right side.  It is so peaceful and quiet, it is a joy to sketch this place, even in the heat.  I intended to also go down to paint the spring as it ran under the stone bridge, but I ran out of time.  There never seems to be enough time for painting.  Painting number 3074 in 3074 days. This painting now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville, Missouri. 

Autumn at Maramec Springs

 I have driven by this Maramec Springs Park several times on my way to Steelville and Saint Genevieve, always wanting to check out out - but never enough time.  WELL.  I will not be making that mistake again.  This place is a wellspring for masterpieces and I could never tire of painting here!  With a focus of painting larger in the field, I am working on a 20x16 masonite panel.  Gessoed and dare I say previously painted - I am upcycling old works.  So, this painting has a secret painting underneath.  Isn't that fun?  My third large piece this week, the process really seemed more comfortable today.  The first day was a struggle to cover the surface, the second was more manageable, and today was almost effortless.  With such an inspiring place, how could it be otherwise?  Painting number 2850 in 2850 days.  This painting is now showing at Gallery Zeke for a limited time only! 

Turquoise Bike Garden

 Once in a while, I forget to capture a photo while still on my location.  The bright backlighting on the sunny deck made it impossible to get a good shot, so I meant to move to the shade and try again - but I forgot in the packing up of supplies to get paintings turned in on time.  I started this oil painting right after the ink and watercolor at the tree top garden. The turquoise bike was the perfect compliment to those gorgeous flowers - and caught my eye right away for the "floral" category.  I have so enjoyed this plein air event in Steelville - I feel so restored in the midst of covid craziness!  This painting is now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville, MO.  Painting number 2784 in 2784 days.