Elmore Farm

I love painting this historic Elmore farm along the North Coast Inland Trail. I have passed it many times as I've run this trail while in Ohio.  It passes through lovely farmland, each unfolding like a quilt before me.  Like an old friend, this trail is comforting.  I ran so many steps away from grief on this path, sharing thoughts and tears along it.  We used to bring our little ones on bikes when we first came here to see Mom and Dad in their new home on Portage River Rd. So many memories, and now I return with Mom to see her Ohio friends, and to paint Lakeside next weekend. I'm looking forward to a few more days here, and sketching Elmore.  Painting number 4940 in 4940 days. 

Path to the Pumpkin Patch

There is something magical about visiting farms and orchards in the fall, especially when I'm painting them!  I watched children and families walking up and down that path, with pumpkins in tow.  The Weston Red Barn Farm is the kind of place families return to year after year.  Come see this place in person at the Weston Coffee Roastery.  Painting number 4683 in 4683 days. 

Old Barn Batik

 

I love painting the gorgeous farms of the Midwest in watercolor batik!  I'm starting to see that autumn color now, and I can't resist capturing it today in watercolor batik. These large barns dot the landscape, and we lose them as they age. I am happy to paint them while they stand.  Painting number 5170 in 5170 days. 

At Hoffmann Farms

 

Today finds me painting an amazing farm that I was lucky enough to get to tour.  With intentions to paint the compositions floating in my mind since the tour in May, I am only now squeezing them in.  With SO MANY beautiful images, I can only chip away at them one at a time. Another is already in the wings, waiting to be committed to paper.   LOVE this plein air life, and can't wait to return to this special place!  Painting number 5115 in 5115 days. 

Wildflower Ridge

 I hiked to the end of the lake to find this special vantage.  My favorite TWSBI fountain pen is running out of black ink, so I used Thunderstorm by Robert Oster in another favorite pen. It's dark and chromatic, and separates when wet.  There are baby wildflowers planted all over this place, and this will be gorgeous in the coming years!  Painting number 5029 in 5029 days. 

Lavender Field

Oh, how I love the heady aroma of lavender - in full bloom!  So much of the lavender on Washington Island is at peak right now - and it is a sight to behold.  It has been 4 years since I've been here for the lavender bloom, and a few things have changed. Another farm that was just down the road is no longer in business, but the plants still grow in the fields, intended and vigorous.  They were so welcoming to me as an artist last time, opening their farm to us all.  The other farm has kicked it up a notch, bigger, with more offerings, and we joined them for a Tuesday Wine Night, which was lovely.  Again, I am inspired to plant my own lavender, just three rows that I could grow and harvest, and paint for all the years to come.  Painting number 3853 in 3853 days. 

Morning at Crestview Dairy

 Is there anything better than greeting the morning with a quick paint?  Warm, golden light streaming into the dairy farm, making it irresistible to this artist!  Painting at Crestview Dairy, I found the back side of the barns for my subject matter.  I paint the light first, quickly followed by the shadow colors, because light is fleeting at this time of day.  I'm thankful to have reloaded ultramarine blue on my palette, because I needed it for those shadow blues!  I ran out of it in Iowa, and had forgotten it until the last day of this event!  That color is definitely one of my must have primaries, going back to my years of using a limited palette.  I still heavily rely on my favorite three, even with all those worms of paint!  Painting number 3813 in 3813 days. 

Night at Crestview Dairy

What a gorgeous night for a nocturne paint!  After finishing a sunset painting on the street side of this property, the gentle glow from the barn light led me here.  It gets dark so late this time of year, that it seemed the light would never fade!  I tried a new nocturne light tonight, a Braun slim rechargeable, magnetic one, but I found it to be too bright.  It sheds a bluish light, so I'm guessing this painting has warmer tones that will be revealed in daylight.  I tried painting with very little light on my panel, so tomorrow morning will truly be a surprise when I open my trunk!  I was nearly the last artist on site, and I'm so glad I stayed to capture the night magic! This painting will be hanging at the Crestview Dairy in the wet paint sale until Saturday evening - of it doesn't sell before that! Painting number 3808 in 3808 days 

Kick'n K

It was such an honor to win tonight's Purchase Award at Kick'n K farm!  Thank you to the Strong Family for hosting and selecting my painting!  I love everything about this place, from the historic farmhouse and outbuildings to the Meramec River beach.  I knew immediately that I had to paint this scene, and I had three more paintings I wanted to squeeze in!  I felt such a pull to this scene, as if I was led to capture the essence of this place.  There is also an equine therapy stable here, with classes scheduled in the morning.  I sure wish I had more time here!  I'm happy this painting will stay with the family who have been here for 5 generations!  Painting number 3803 in 3803 days. 

In the Barn Yard

I LOVE painting the beautiful barns of Iowa, and this beauty is in Morris Park, Stockport, Iowa.  My first time here, it was fun to go inside the various old buildings, set up with historic interiors.  After a thorough look, I settled on this sweeping scene of a favorite barn style.  There were MANY gnats rising from the grounds - and I had to wrap my face with my insect shield to keep those bugs out of my ears, nose, and mouth - and they still got in my eyes!  I hear they are Buffalo gnats - and I could do without them!  I powered through, and the painting was worth it, but oh boy I need to find a deterrent!  Love the pastoral landscapes here!  Painting number 3789 in 3789 days. 

Brakensiek Farm

I love painting these old family farms of Missouri, and this rambling one outside of New Melle is a jewel.  Overcast with rain threatening, the day was a perfect backdrop for this spring landscape. As I worked, a gator full of girls came by with an ice cold drink to share!  What wonderful hospitality!  I do love plein air painting in the Augusta Plein Air event!  I'm so happy this painting found a new home, too!  Painting number 3772 in 3772 days. 

Old Blue on the Farm

 

I'm so happy my effort on this Quick Paint was awarded tonight at the White Mule Winery!  Loving this whole scene from behind the barn, I backed up until I could see the entire space in front of my easel.  Farm equipment drove past me - kicking up dust, as did a gorgeous team of horses with a shiny red wagon!  The horses were off to give wine country rides, so I couldn't include them, too!  The best advice on a quick paint is to narrow your field and simplify, of which I did neither!  It was a bit of a struggle as I realized I had many masses to paint - and the minutes were ticking by!  I almost bit off more than I could chew on this two hour painting - and still, it was super fun!  In fact, it was exhilarating!  There is something about a real painting challenge that revs me up and gets my blood pumping.  I do so love plein air painting in all it's forms!  Painting number 4371 in 4371 days. 

Willie G on the T&T Farm

My first time painting in Wayne City brought me to this place to paint the flag barn.  Little did I know there would be several outbuildings and a famous pig modeling on the lawn!  This 300 pound beauty is a family pet who has his own following on social media and even does interviews! It was a lovely afternoon to paint - and I'm so happy my painting has a new home here as well!  Painting number 4357 in 4357 days. 

Morning at the Pumpkin Patch

My first painting stop when I land at the Fairfield Paint Out is Shreves Pumpkin Patch!  There is literally a painting everywhere I look, and there is not enough time to paint them all!  The pumpkins are a local icon, and I simply love painting the season.  So many families come for the fun, and it is fun to paint to the sound of children laughing and playing.  This place is a slice of Americana, and I'm so lucky to paint it!  Day 30 of the #stradaeasel painting challenge! Hooray! Now I hope I win a strada easel! Painting number 4350 in 4350 days. 

Barns near the Park

This painting of the barns near the fairgrounds of Sainte Genevieve is now showing at Music Art Love!  I started this drawing from an on site sketch and painting in the fall.  Love the timeless quality of this place, standing much as it did a hundred years ago or so. Love getting to paint such amazing places!  Come see this painting in person at the gallery on Main Street in SainteGenevieve, Missouri.  Painting number 4268 in 4268 days!  😍❤️🎨

Summer in the Vineyard

This is the second largest ink and watercolor painting I've ever done, a companion piece to the one I posted yesterday.  This vineyard is just south of 94 hwy, between Church and Jackson streets in Augusta.  I love how the rows of grapevines lead back to the farmhouse and barns, with a couple of American flags hanging, too.  The vines are filling out, and beginning to drape, which I never see in April!  It is fun to paint this beautiful place, and even more fun to show it at Gallery Augusta!  Love painting those local Missouri vineyards!! Painting number 4256 in 4256 days, and this is another big one at 36x24!

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! 

Longview Impressions

After a little scouting upon completion of my first painting, i found this lovely view of one of the homes just south of the south barn.  I remember walking through it to go into that barn, loving the detail on the house.  What fun to paint these historic buildings on the Longview Farm, after so many years.  Ink and watercolor was the perfect medium for this place, allowing the water to flow over the tall grasses and wildflowers.  I hope to see these restored one day, and to paint them again in all their glory!  This painting has found a new home, and it was fun to talk to the new owners.    I'm always happy to get a mention from the judge, and love when multiple patrons want a single, humble painting.  Painting number 4251 in 4251 days. 

River Valley Horsecamp

What a treat to get to paint at a horsecamp for the Quick Paint at Van Buren County plein air event!  With horses and an assortment of barns and rings, this place is eye candy to this artist!  I wanted to paint this as soon as I pulled in, so I pulled over to get out and look.  Already 3:00, I had to eat my lunch salad before painting, I was just too hungry to wait until 5:00. So, I used up 40 minutes of my quick paint time eating, while studying the scene before me.  Once I started, I painted fast, laying down light, shadow and chroma.  Horses and riders passed by and visited, adding so much to the whole day.  I sure wish I had more time to paint here, this place is amazing!  It was an honor to win the Quick Paint, too!  Painting number 4229 in 4229 days. 

Garden at the Barns

 

Not every day en plein air is sunshine and roses.  I started this oil painting in the rain, careful to keep my panel tilted downward to avoid the water.  Sketching in paint my composition, I quickly blocked in the masses with a large brush. It is important to get paint on the panel before it gets wet, even if loosely.  Once covered, I could then face it up a little to polish my edges and values.  Often times those are a little off when facing down in the rain, lol! I always knock in that light when I start, trying not to chase the light as it changes - especially in the rain. As the sky began to clear, the scene began to change, and it was a good thing I had already captured that magic, because it evaporated with the rain!  So happy this humble painting won the "Barns" theme paint at the Tonganoxie plein air event - and it has a new home, too!  Painting number 3420 in 3420 days.