World Cup 2026 KC

 

What fun to take in the excitement of the World Cup in Kansas City with ink and watercolor!  This is my first experience with World Cup soccer, it has never been on my radar.  My boys all played soccer, and it was one of my favorite sports of their's to watch, but that was pretty much the extent it.  Being with the fans from other countries is so much fun, and their enthusiasm is infectious!  I'm so happy I was able to come down and sketch the fun with dear artist friends, Liz Vargas and Marcia Willman!  Painting number 4927 in 4927 days. 

Walk through the Rose Garden

 

Happy Mother's Day!!  It's been a wonderful day spent with my amazing Mom and the whole family!!  This year we let the guys take care of the details, which had our daughter by marriage, Rebekah, saving the day with delicious Quiches, cilantro lime slaw and more, while the guys made cheeseburgers and espinaca, picking up a couple of pies.  The weather was beautiful and we spent the day outdoors, enjoying our time together.  This painting is another from a perennial favorite place - the Loose Park Rose Garden, which held a special plein air for arbor day.  Painting number 4877 in 4877 days. 

Bougainvillea

 

Thank you Suburban Lawn and Garden for sharing your gorgeous greenhouse with a few artists today!!  It was a glorious space to paint!  If I already had the garden room I long for, this beauty would now grace a corner, ever at the ready for a quick paint.  I had no idea the bougainvillea of hanging baskets could be trained into such a showstopper - and I will tuck this in the back of my mind for the day I can begin training my own.  Painting number 4815 in 4815 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. 

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. 

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. 

Union Station KC MO

 

I posted yesterday's Union Station painting in the evening, and this morning it sold before i could leave the house!  So, in a mad dash to come up with another that would match my inventory for Powell Gardens,  I put this one in it's place.  Union Station is a favorite place to paint this time of year, and I hope to get there a few more times while the halls are decked!  This painting and 7 other are now showing at Powell Gardens. Be there first to get your choice!  Painting number 4697 in 4697 days. 

Union Station KC

SOLD

 

This is one of 8 paintings going into the Powell Gardens gallery for the holidays!  I have a special collection of winter and holiday paintings to install tomorrow,  and this is the only Union Station one.  I love painting here during the holidays, when the Station is decked out with it's iconic tree, companion trees and garland. This place holds a special place in my heart!  Painting number 4696 in 4696 days.  Come early to get first pick! 

Entrance to the Garden

I have wanted to paint the entrance into the Kauffman Memorial Garden for years.  I'm happy that I finally got to do it in oils during the Brush Creek Art Walk!  Oils are not allowed inside the garden, only watercolors.  So, on the countless times I've been here, it is only with my watercolor set up.  I'm entering this painting into the special Memorial category, and I've had such a good time painting this event this year. Painting number 4645 in 4635 days. 

Night Falls at the Fountain

This fountain holds many memories, and I love returning to paint here with artist friends for the Brush Creek Art Walk. The Nocturne Quick Paint kicks off the weekend plein air, one that I haven't attended for several years.  I'm normally out of town painting at another event, but have chosen to stay in town this year.  Additionally, I've been missing my oils lately, so I am pulling them out tonight!  This was so much fun, and I'm glad to be painting in Kansas City again!  Painting number 4640 in 4640 days. 

Sunset Over Brush Creek

 

The promise of a glorious sunset was popping. As the color brightened, I started laying in color, quickly.  Sometimes, at this point, I wait a little longer for the intensity to heighten. I thought that I would simply add the color as it appeared.  I really wanted to capture that almost green turquoise in that horizon, so I jumped right in. I'm so thankful that I did!   That color faded in ten minutes, and no additional color rose to the occasion. If I had waited, I would have missed the moment, and that moment held a beauty all it's own. Tonight's lesson?  Seize the moment! It was an honor to win a second placing among my peers in tonight's quick paint! Painting number 4639 in 4639 days. 

Plant Sale at the Garden

Purchase Award Winner

I love painting in the community garden at the Anita Gorman Conservation Center - especially with artist friends. I started and finished this one in the sun, but painted in between from the shade.  It was 96 degrees as I headed home, such is super hot for this time of year.  The zinnias were glorious, and I've never seen the native plant sale wrap around the parking lot before today - so, of course, I had to paint it!  Today is the second Quick Paint for Brush Creek Art Walk  - and I'm so honored that my painting was chosen for the Purchase Award!  This painting will hang by a bronze plaque with my name on it!  So exciting!  Painting number 4638 in 4638 days. 

Dancing in the Fountain

 

After a busy weekend of painting in Marceline and watching grandsons, I didn't decide until the last minute to join watercolor friends for our weekly plein air day.  The Kauffman Garden was absolutely stunning today!  And to think that I almost stayed home to catch up on chores!  This is sweet reward for putting everything else on hold.  I actually pulled out several of my rarely used fancy inks to use for final punch - in matching fountain pens, no less.  Lesson of the day?  Don't put off until tomorrow what can be painted today!  Painting number 4619 in 4619 days. 

Kansan City Skyline Trio

SOLD

 

It was such an honor to create three unique paintings of the Kansas City Skyline, as seen from the office windows of Helm.  Each is part of the whole, created on the largest handmade cotton paper available, in ink and watercolor.  These have been the most complicated paintings I have ever had the pleasure of completing!  

8th and Mulberry

As I pulled down this street, the early morning light was perfect for painting.  The winds were already strong, and I had to keep a firm hold on my easel as I worked. This stretch of the West Bottoms is quiet on a Saturday morning, and I only had a few visitors on foot  - and one by car who was out searching for artists in the field. I love this history of these buildings along 8th street, where Kansas is at the end of the road.  It's fun to paint locations I would never see if not for a wonderful plein air event.  Painting number in days. 

Wettest Block in the World

What fun it was to paint on 8th and Mulberry for the Historic West Bottoms Plein Air - and I'm so happy this painting has found a new home!  The history of this street is very interesting. The end of this block is Kansas, and this used to be known as the "Wettest Block in the World", where Kansans would come across the river to buy their liquor!  I love learning fun facts about the places I paint!  Painting number in days. 

https://kcyesterday.com/articles/wettest-block?srsltid=AfmBOopBdtN4MK-AkZL3D8f51Frwtyk_RiLSm6sJEF_sWjQCdm6-pcsQ

Brewing in the Stockyards

This historic tavern attached to the Livestock Exchange Building is a great place to enjoy a drink. Brimming with history, I would love to hear the stories the walls could tell.  I set up in the shade of another building to paint this, needing the wind break to keep me on the ground with my easel.  As you can tell by the photo - half of my pochade split off when the whole thing crashed to the street with a strong gust. Plein air is definitely NOT for sissies.  I'm happy this painting was mentioned by the judge tonight in his top 5 picks. Painting number in days. 

Art Party on Genessee

I love returning to the Historic West Bottoms for the 3rd annual Heritage Days Plein Air event - even in extreme wind! I started this day by teaching a three hour workshop on Sketching in the Urban Landscape. I love getting to share my skills with others en plein air.  Afterward, I participated in the first quick paint of the event. It was a fun evening of visiting even as the wind delivered a beating!  I'm looking forward to calmer days ahead!  Painting number in days. 

Mahommes Magic

 

How can I resist creating the magic of our hometown boys in copper? GO CHIEFS!  I am looking forward to an amazing game tomorrow!  Artwork number 5094 in 5094 days. 

Another High Five

These hometown boys were super fun to paint in ink, watercolor and hot wax on rice paper! I am manifesting destiny with each painting and keeping the positive energy flowing!  I am using my thinnest paper for truly luminous result, which begins all of the challenges that come with that.  It is rice paper, after all, and it dissolves away with too much brush work.  I've gotten a few requests to teach a workshop on this, perhaps I'll get something on the schedule for just that.  Painting number 5093 in 5093 days.