Arboretum Iris

Arboretum Iris
Oil on panel, 9x12
Overland Park Arboretum

This  is another of the paintings I started at the arboretum and have just finished up.  The iris bed was just coming into it's glory on this day.  I am working with loose and impressionistic brushwork on this one - and my paint is pretty thick, as well.  Too thick, in fact, to do any kind of glazing - I will have to add that a bit later!  I am planning on painting at the Festival of Fountains tomorrow on the plaza, so I need to prepare for that tonight.  This is my 156th painting in as many days.  Hoping for good painting weather tomorrow!

Morning on the Farm

Morning on the Farm
Oil on panel, 16x12
Deanna Rose Farm Sunrise Paint

The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead is a wonderful place for a sunrise paint.  This year, I chose a location about as far from the entrance as I could get.  This is in the old part, and the barn pictured has a slide for the children and the play yard around it.  I can remember my oldest children playing all around it many years ago.  The chattering of quail and chickens right beside me,  my company as I painted.  I love these sunrise paints, all is still and the sun is just rising.  I can truly focus so early in the day.  It just may be my favorite time to paint.  This is my 152nd painting in 152 days :)

The Flagstone Path

The Flagstone Path
Oil on panel, 16x12
Overland Park Arboretum

This is the second time I have painted this garden - the first a couple of years ago at the sunset paint.  I painted this one early on one of those overcast days.  The light was soft and this garden was so inviting.  I had to stay on the stones, because everything was still so wet from the rain.  This was painted mostly at one time, but I did go back and finish the blooms at a second visit.  When painting gardens, I will lay in bloom color loosely, and then not return to them until the rest of the painting is done.    I want the blooms to sit on top of the oils, like the jewels in a crown. This is the 151st painting in as many days.

Queen of the Vines

Queen of the Vines
Oil on panel, 9x12
Overland Park Arboretum

Clematis is known as the queen of the vines, largely due to the abundant and long bloom times.  This lovely purple beauty is climbing a trellis close to Monet's pond, at the Overland Park Arboretum. It gently called my name each day I worked in it's vicinity, and each time I chose a grander, larger landscape.  On one visit, I sketched this out on my panel with pastels.  On another, a general color block in.  At last, with another painting under my belt, I put on the finishing touches.  This clematis is so much larger than the little section I have painted.    My first attempt at painting a clematis, it is such a pleasure to capture the gorgeous and abundant bloom of this small wonder.  I am few paintings ahead for the week, and that gives me a little breathing room to accomplish all those tasks I have recently been ignoring.  Wow - this is my 150th painting in as many days.  I never thought I'd be able to keep up this pace!

Cottage Illumination

Here is the nocturne I rushed off to paint last night again in old town Overland Park - a renovated 1908 bungalow.  Craig Sole is a such a kind, gracious host!  In the two times I have been there painting, he has come out with cold water with key limes, lemons and oranges - and last night he brought out split pea soup to nourish us!  This was a fun paint - so much to see with the indoor lights and the street lights on.  There is quite a glare on this photo - so I will try to get another tomorrow in the daylight.  The sky is actually a darker blue, and the house reads whiter than it really is. This is my 149th painting in 149 days as the Stems event comes to a close tomorrow.

Cottage Illumination

Oil on panel, 16x12

Craig Sole's Floral Design

Old Town Overland Park

Nightfall at Traditions

Nightfall at Traditions
Oil on panel, 9x12
Old Town Overland Park

Tonight, three of us went out to old town Overland Park to paint a nocturne.  This spot was one of three we had narrowed down.  There is something magical about painting a nocturne.  When I started, there was still light in the sky.  I like to pick a spot where I can paint under a street light, and a white light is better than the yellow ones.  There was only one street light in line with the view I wanted, and this one was yellow.  It is a very windy night, so I had to secure my panel well to the easel.  By the time I had finished the painting, I could no longer tell the hue of my darks, only that they were dark.  Neither could I tell the true color of my lights, only that they were light.  I love the whole process of painting a nocturne - it is like a mystery!  I do not know what I have really painted until I bring it into the light!  This painting is a happy surprise!  I can hardly wait to go and paint another nocturne!  This painting makes 146 in 146 days.

Together in the Woods

Together in the Woods
oil on panel, 11x14
Overland Park Arboretum

I painted the garden landscape two days ago from under these trees.  Wearing my hat to prevent bloom debris from landing in my hair,  I also had to guard my palette at every strong breeze to keep the little bloom strands from landing in my paints.  I love the way these trees stand tall on the mound of earth.  It has called to me each time I have passed by in search of a painting location.  So, today was the day.  I had a limited window to work with, dodging rain and the kid's activities.  I had already composed this one in my head, and the strokes were applied quick and loose, in case of a sudden rain.  I think you can tell that I applied the grass last - and super fast!  Maybe I'll try a whole painting in this loose style, maybe a 30 minute paint..........!  This is the 145th painting in 145 days, and now I am back to my errands!

A Walk Through the Garden

A Walk Through the Garden
Oil on panel, 14x11
Overland Park Arboretum

I have never painted the garden this path leads to, before this year.  Now, I have painted it from various angles 4 different times this week.  After being in such a high traffic location yesterday, I chose to set up on top of a grassy mound in the woods for this painting.  I was in the dappled shade, the strong breeze lessened by the surrounding trees.  It was such a peaceful spot, so pleasant with the sounds of the wind through the trees, and the water bubbling just beyond them.  I wonder what my next location will be.....maybe one of the waterfalls.  This is painting number 143 in 143 days.

Glory in the Garden

Glory of the Garden
Oil on panel, 14x11
Overland Park Arboretum

I have painted at least three paintings this week in a 50 feet radius of this spot.  These gardens are just absolutely radiant this year.   I must have visited with every person at the arboretum while working on this one!  I was in a high traffic area, and it was such a beautiful day - everyone was out to see the gardens in all their glory.  I am having trouble getting a good image of this one tonight, I hope to have better luck in the daylight tomorrow.  This painting makes 142 in 142 days......and the housework is piling up!  Yikes!

Into the Woods

Into the Woods
Oil on panel, 14x11
Overland Park Arboretum

I painted this one a couple days ago at the Arboretum - when the spirea were still full of blooms.  Its a good thing, too, because today most of those blooms were gone.  I returned to this spot today to paint one of the main gardens, and it took me all day - and I'm still not finished with that one!  On this painting, the light was overcast and moody, not too crowded, and I was hidden from the onlookers by a small potting shed.  A lovely day to capture a quiet mood with the spirea in all it's glory.  This painting makes 141 in 141 days, and I still have a couple others to take back and finish.  I think its back to the arboretum tomorrow......

Pony Rides

Pony Rides
Oil on panel, 11x14

I have only just arrived home from a very busy day.  First, I was out at the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead to paint this painting of the pony rides, then to the Arboretum, home in time to get ready for dinner out, finishing with a four course meal at the Melting Pot on the plaza!  So, I am posting this first painting, even though I have some work yet to do.  Let me tell you, painting these ponies en plein air is certainly a challenge!  The move constantly, and they are being taken out for rides for long periods of time.  I had blocked in the front pony (Annie), when she was removed - not to return until my last 15 minutes of painting!  So, I moved to the next one, and the furthest one, and then all of the background landscape - until she returned!  The line of children formed right behind me - so close that I was bumped into, and I could not stand back from my work.  I need to strengthen my darks here - and my highlights, before calling this one done.  This one makes 140 paintings in 140 days.  I hope to get this one tweaked and repost the finish tomorrow :)

Into the Garden

Into the Garden
Oil on panel, 12x16

Today's painting was painted in old town Overland Park at the floral design shop of Craig Sole.  This is part of the Stems plein air event - which runs until June 2.  At every turn at this cottage, there is another painting - and the interior full of fragrant flowers is simply heaven!  I took several photos for reference - for interior paintings on a rainy day.  I worked a little larger today, so the painting took a bit longer to finish.  (And my start was slower - stopping at Homer's for a delightful cup of tea and a cookie!)  I love the layers in this garden landscape - foliage, flowers, iron and structure - and the path to pull the eyes right into the painting.  The shasta daisies are in full bloom, irises abound further in, pink clematis climb the pole, and a beautiful coral hibiscus embellish this garden path.  A feast for the eyes - it has been a joy to paint this lovely landscape on such a beautiful day.  This painting makes 139 in 139 days.

Morning in Monet's Garden

Morning in Monet's Garden
Oil on panel. 14x11
Overland Park Arboretum - Stems

This morning was the perfect morning to be out painting at the Arboretum!  Almost no breeze, fabulous light, and the constant trickle of the water set the mood for this painting.  I have painted this bridge at Monet's Garden each year I have been participating in the Stems plein air event - and still it intrigues me.  Each time, I approach it from a different angle - and today I was on the south side of it for the first time.  The light is harder to manage from this direction, and the water reflected colors near and far.  I had to leave before I was ready - my monthly Tri County Art League meeting was calling.  It is so hard to leave a painting when you are in the zone! This one makes 138 in 138 days.

On location

Easel set up

Sunset in the Doctor's Garden

Sunset in the Doctor's Garden
Oil on panel, 14x11
Stems Sunset Quick Paint

This is the first painting at the Overland Park Arboretum Stems event.  I am an avid gardener - and love to paint garden landscapes, so this is always an exciting event for me!  The kick-off is a sunset quick paint from 6:00 to 8:20.  There is a wonderful wine and food social beforehand, where I enjoy seeing my artist friends again this year.  Arriving early, I had scouted out three different locations for this first painting, deciding on the one that would best show the evening color.  The weather was perfect - on the warm side with a lovely breeze.  So refreshing to ditch the ski coat!  I read the plaque for this garden which talked of a doctor, but I simply do not remember the details.  On my next trip back, I will check it and include the name of whom this garden honors.  There are new ornamental grass plantings here, so I'm sure this will be a garden to evolve this season.  This painting makes 136 in 136 days.