A Dream of White Peonies

A Dream of White Peonies
Oil on wood panel, 16x12
Overland Park Arboretum - Stems
purchase here

On the first few days of the Stems plein air event, the peonies by Margaret's Pond were absolutely gorgeous!  The white beauties called my name - and of course, I had to paint them!  Using a larger wood panel - 16x12, it was a joy to pull out my larger brushes for bigger strokes.  The loose, impressionistic brushwork followed the motion of the petals in the wind, and the misty day set them off.  I have really enjoyed painting these gorgeous flowers this year - I've had nearly a month from the first bloom in Augusta to the last in Overland Park!  Painting number 892 in 892 days.  Now for a little framing, I've got artwork to turn in!

Magic in the Garden

Magic in the Garden
Oil on wood panel, 14x11
Deanna Rose Farmstead - Stems
purchase here

Tonight was bittersweet as some grade school classmates and I came together to celebrate the life of a truly talented friend, taken too soon from this world.  Kenny Davis touched so many lives.  I am posting late, and this one is from this morning's sunrise quick paint from the Deanna Rose Farmstead. The one hour lightening delay threw off my schedule for the whole day, but I came away with a painting that truly expresses the way I felt in this garden. This painting is number 889 in 889 days.  Life is short, each day is a gift.  Tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Magic on the Cutting Table

Magic on the Cutting Table
Oil on wood panel, 12x9
Craig Sole Designs, Shawnee Mission, Kansas - Stems
purchase here

Craig's floral shop is FULL of treasures!  Every view is a painting, and there were many things drawing me in - but THIS view grabbed me and didn't let me go!  So picturesque was the composition of chair, table, awning and all of those pots and buckets of greenery!  I set up in a tight spot, and painted in the shade - with an ice cold glass of lemonade served to me while I worked!  Ahhhh - life should be like this every day!  Painting number 888 in 888 days :)

The Poetry of Poppies

The Poetry of Poppies
Acrylic over molding paste on wood panel, 14x11
Overland Park Arboretum - Stems - purchase here

I have struggled a bit with these poppies by the lake.  I've had them sitting on an easel - trying to decide if they were finished -or not!  The sketch was easy, the application of acrylic molding paste went smoothly, but then I am faced with just how to layer on the acrylics.  I am now so accustomed to my oils, that returning to the acrylics is daunting!  So, I begin slowly - glazing in the layers, beginning with the darks.  As I work, it becomes more fun, and eventually I am no longer thinking about the method - only about the color. These beauties were near the lake, but I was tempted to darken the background.......yet, I restrain myself!  Painting number 886 in 886 days.

in progress - it is here that I see how nicely a dark background would work.......

Winding Wolf Creek

Winding Wolf Creek
Oil on wood panel, 18x14
Overland Park Arboretum - Stems
purchase here

I have been painting so many flowers lately, that today finds me returning to the wooded landscape. At the back of the arboretum, on the Western Trail, a narrow muddy walkway led to this view.  It is a long hike back here - but totally worth it!  The mosquitoes were out in full force - but this time, I was prepared.  Not only did I spray liberally with my natural spray, I attached an Off! clip-on to my pocket.  It is the first time I've had to use it, and it worked great!  They swarmed around me as I first arrived, but within 30 seconds they had moved along.  I kept it on as long as I painted - and I will be sure to keep it in my bag!  Painting number 885 in 885 days.

on location

Waterfall from Margaret's Pond

Waterfalls from Margaret's Pond
Oil on wood panel, 14x11
Overland Park Arboretum - Stems
purchase here

The light rain had eased up enough that I could head out to the arboretum to paint.  Knowing that I wanted to paint the falls, I pulled out the Deep Woods Off - to repel those pesky mosquitoes! With the music of songbirds and the babbling of the water, this peaceful spot was a joy to capture. Nothing makes me feel so alive as painting in the landscape. Nothing.
Painting number 882 in 882 days.

Splash of Yellow

Splash of Yellow
Oil on wood panel, 14x11
Overland Park Arboretum, Kansas - Stems
purchase here

With the heavy rains, this beautiful yellow peony was really drooping at the arboretum!  I gently picked up the heads from the ground, and propped them up over other stems and foliage.  My second painting of the day, these blooms were sheer joy to paint!  I used my brush for most of the work, and using my knife for just a bit of pop at the end.  Painting number 881 in 881 days.

Morning in the Wedding Garden

Morning in the Wedding Garden
Mixed media on wood panel, 11x14
Overland Park Arboretum - Stems
purchase here

This early morning painting is an experiment in mixed media.  I first washed on a dark underpainting with acrylics - in red, blue and green.  This dries quickly, so I then sketched out my garden with a white pastel stick.  Next, using a plastic palette knife, I lay down the foliage and blooms with molding paste.  As this is drying, I start with the background and my oils.  Once the paste is hard enough, I can start over it with my oils, as well.  I am certainly stepping outside of my comfort zone here, and I can't quite decide if it is too dark.  It is not my normal, but it definitely has a mood all it's own. We'll see how I feel in a few days with this one! Painting number 880 in 880 days.

on location

Pink Peony Passion

Pink Peony Passion
Oil on wood panel, 14x11
Stems - Overland Park Arboretum
purchase here

Wowza!  These fabulous beauties were bursting with blooms at the Overland Park Arboretum in Kansas.  Always drawn to peonies, I set up on the sloshy grass in front of them.  We've had so much rain, and with this peony bed right by the lake - it was very wet indeed. I love painting these regal flowers - especially in such a vivid color as these magenta ones!  Painting number 879 in 879 days.

Prairie Path

Prairie Path
Oil on wood panel, 18x14
Overland Park Arboretum, Kansas
purchase here

The wind just about blew me away today!  With high winds, I anchor my easel down with a bungee cord stuck to my handle bag, which always keeps my easel secure. With winds whipping my hair into my face so badly, I could hardly see through it - I earned this painting!  The gorgeous sky pulled me in - and kept me there, even though it was a fight with the wind today!  Painting number 878 in 878 days.

on location

Profusion of Iris

On location - Overland Park Arboretum
Stems - Quick Paint
purchase here

Profusion of Iris
Oil on wood, 11x14
purchase here

Tonight was the kick-off for the Stems Plein Air Event at the Overland Park Arboretum.  I chose these fabulous irises for the two hour quick paint.  I will have to get a better image tomorrow, because the one I tried to take in the trunk of my car STILL has quite a glare on it!  Painting number 874 in 874 days :)