Winter Morning on the Farm

This beautiful barn was glowing in the morning light, amid the ice and snow left in the fields.  If only the temperature was as warm as the light.  9 degrees is not good painting weather!  Soaking up the atmosphere, hoping for more snow to paint, and bracing for the REAL cold headed this way!  Painting number 2214 in 2214 days.

purchase here

Farm in the Heartland

With rain in the forecast, I knew I had to paint early.  After scouting the Park Farm Winery, we decided to paint one of the farms along the way. Halfway through this painting, the rain started.  I was nestled under several pines, so the actual rainfall on my palette  was minimal. But the wind was extreme.  I was SO cold,  I could hardly make my hands work correctly!  This is my first cold spell of the season - so I will have to acclimate!! Yikes!  I needed hot soup and a mug of tea after this venture!  Painting number 1736 in 1736 days.

Crops in the Field

I've been carving enough time out of each day to paint larger pieces, and this one is 16x20.  The light is so warm in the golden hours of summer, it is a joy to paint the landscape.  The rows of crops have a beauty all their own, much like the rows of lavender and the vineyards.  The rich color of summer abounds here, where the days have been comfortable and the rain plenty.  Everything is so lush during a time of year that is normally hot and dry!  A gift to the painter indeed!  Painting number 1680 in 1680 days.

oil on panel, 20x16
purchase here

Dischinger Road Farm

I love these old family farms, and can hardly drive by one without reaching for my paints. 
After inking this farm twice, from two different locations, I am finally laying paint!  The cluster of  old barns is very appealing, and so well set against the crops and field of the foreground.  With a brief torrential downpour, water sat in the field, reflecting the sky color. I referred to my second sketch for the block in, especially for the values.  Standing in the shade of a large, unoccupied building, it was very pleasant even on this warm day.  Twice the local policeman came by to check on us, smiling and waving  as he drove past.  The second time he laughed as he realized we were painting!  I don't think the locals see many plein air painters up here!  Painting number 1644 in 1644 days.

Almost Spring

Almost Spring
Oil on unstretched canvas, 6x4
7/100, The {100} Artists

On this painting, I am exploring how a dark, somewhat stormy sky reflects off the plowed ground at this farm. The dirt appears very plum in such lighting - and the highlights are very muted.  By squinting my eyes down, I can truly see the colors and more importantly, the values.  Spring is just showing in foliage and brush, though not fully awakened.  I've not painted many landscapes with this kind of dark sky, so this painting is a lesson. I need to do more of these to feel comfortable with the lighting.  I'm going to let this rest for now, but I have a feeling I will return to work on it again.  Painting number 913 in 913 days.

Beyond the Clouds

Beyond the Clouds
Oil on panel, 7x5
purchase here

Looking to the skies is an age old past-time.  So many times in my childhood, I can remember laying on my back in the grass, staring up as the clouds swept across the sky. Finding shapes in every cloud, that shifted in seconds to another shape right before my eyes.  I love painting these skyscapes, so I am working a little magic with brush and palette knife today.  Although working small, I am keeping the strokes loose and impressionistic.  This keeps the landscape fresh and the energy moving.  One of the last things I check is to make sure I have married my colors, bouncing them around the landscape for good color harmony.  This painting makes 784 in 784 days.

Autumn Barns

Autumn Barns
Watercolor batik on masa, 8x5
Elmore, Ohio - purchase here

This farm is heading north out of Elmore, Ohio on highway 51.  We pass this farm every time we go to any of the hospitals.  In the past three years, I have driven by here many times when dad was hospitalized, and now, with my mom.  This farm is ever changing - with the light changes of each day to the various seasons.  My first time to paint it, I am capturing this landscape in it's autumn glory.  Once again using the watercolor batik method, I have first painted the scene in watercolor on masa paper.  Brushing hot wax over the finished painting, I then crumple the painting up in a tight ball - no kidding!  Flattening it out, I then float the brown/plum color into all creases and cracks and allow it to dry.  I then iron it between brown paper (or in this case, old newspapers) until no more wax bleeds into the paper.  What remains is this landscape painting with an antiqued appearance.  This landscape is painting number 674 in 674 days :)