Hay Bale in Autumn

 

I love how the oaks retain their autumn leaves long into the season.   That gorgeous orange red is so inspiring, I just had to paint it.  We've been very busy with family activities, and it has been hard to find that painting time lately.  But the daily painting habit is a well oiled machine that finds that little painting window every day.  Painting number 5203 in 5203 days. 

Autumn Road

 I do love the autumn season, full of warm color and unreasonably warm temperatures this year!  The leaves are fast falling and I an trying to paint them before they blow away.  If only I had more time for painting! Painting number 5199 in 5199 days. 

Autumn Bench

 

It was super fun to paint the autumn color with artist friends and my daughter at the arboretum today!  This place is beautiful in every season, and it's always a treat to paint here. I used only my newest mini Qor palette today, and i love the fluid spread of this paint - even on my very absorbent, thin, soft cotton paper today.  This red may be my all time favorite red watercolor!  It's so rich and vibrant!  This was only a 30 minute sketch, but I'd love to return and paint here in oils!  Painting number 5172 in 5172 days 

Autumn Hay Bale

I often paint over old paintings, and there is a walking bridge though the woods under this one.  At 5 inches wide, it doesn't quite fit my 7x5 thumb box pochade, but that doesn't stop me.  I spent most of the day looking at this scene while cutting trees and brush from around the milk barn. I just had to make time to get this painted! The reds of autumn are fading fast, so I'm out making the most of it while the leaves remain.  I love having the hay bales in the pasture so much, too.  I hope to get many more paintings before they are removed!  Painting number 3962 in 3962 days. 

Autumn Hay Bales

The reds of autumn are really popping here on the farm, and I am delighted to capture the beauty in oil!  This may be the first time that our last cutting of hay has coincided with peak autumn color!  Though I'm painting small plein air pieces each day on our property, I intend to paint them larger when I've got more time!  LOVE painting the beautiful autumn color in this pastoral setting I love so much!  Painting number 3956 in 3956 days. 

Autumn Path to the Woods

 

I'm thankful today for an amazing day to spend at the zoo with family - and a little time to paint, too!  The chilly start soon turned to the 70s - and we couldn't have had a better day for family fun!  The most beautiful leaves are fading, but I'm hopeful the reds will soon begin.  The path to the southwest pasture is lovely in it's autumn glow - and it just had to be painted in oils.  What a treat this late in November!  Painting number 3950 in 3950 days. 

Autumn Comes to Centering Souls

When I arrived at this lovely location, the landscape was luminous, backlighting the turning leaves.  As I scouted all sides of the property, the distant view truly captured the essence of the day. Warm and sunny, the weather could not be nicer, and the winds were light where I stood.  After first sketching out my scene, I started dropping in the lights where I saw them - and with bold color strokes.  This is a great way to mark the lights and darks before they change - and a few clouds were popping up on the horizon.  From those first marks, I painted the light, reveling in the day, enjoying the experience.  Centering Souls is a creative space for pottery, clay work, and art of many kinds, and the way it nestles into the surrounding landscape is creative and inviting, too.  Painting number 4361 in 4361 days. 

Golden Pond

I forget that the sun lifts out of here earlier than on the hill - and I didn't quite leave enough time to finish in the light.  I've been pruning trees near here this afternoon, and this place was calling my name.  Ready for a break - I grabbed my oils to get in a quick paint before planting more bulbs.  I love the vibrant yellows in that last light - I wish the leaves would stay golden for a month!  Painting number 3224 in 3224 days.  I wish every November could be in the 70's!!

Autumn Path

The weekly painting venue for the Monday Morning Watercolorists was the Anita Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City, and it was full of autumn color!  I was so happy to see the vibrant colors as I neared the city - we only have the first shades my way.  I arrived early because I had to sandwich this paint in between running club and a meeting.  What a great day for painting!  70 degrees and sunny is perfect in my book - and I would love to have this weather all winter long! I should have checked my palette to see how fresh my paint was, because some of those little paint worms were dried up!  I keep this in the freezer, and it was too hard to tell when I first pulled it out.  So, tomorrow I must freshen up that palette - or it's likely to happen again! Painting number 3216 in 3216 days. 

Autumn Reflections at Peaceful Valley

What a lovely morning to be painting at Peaceful Valley Lake!  The autumn color is just beginning, and the reflections on the water just had to be painted!  I had scouted this new area for quite some time before returning here to paint, so I was starting later than expected.  The golden hour soon fades, and getting a good photo with strong back lighting is hard.  I walked out to this spot to paint the beach, but instead decided on this creek full of moody reflections. The weather was perfect, breezes light, and the day delightful, just another fabulous day at the office!  Painting number 3197 in 3197 days. 

Autumn Barn

 I had stopped by this place right before judging, and the light was starting to illuminate the scene. Without time to paint, I rushed off, knowing I must get back quickly to paint it!  Darting out at my first opportunity, I quickly set up and started painting. The light grew more golden as those shadows stretched out, and I painted as fast as I could to finish before dark.  Autumn here is magical, I'm so happy I could paint this sweet slice of Americana! Painting number 2854 in 2854 days. 

Autumn at Maramec Springs

 I have driven by this Maramec Springs Park several times on my way to Steelville and Saint Genevieve, always wanting to check out out - but never enough time.  WELL.  I will not be making that mistake again.  This place is a wellspring for masterpieces and I could never tire of painting here!  With a focus of painting larger in the field, I am working on a 20x16 masonite panel.  Gessoed and dare I say previously painted - I am upcycling old works.  So, this painting has a secret painting underneath.  Isn't that fun?  My third large piece this week, the process really seemed more comfortable today.  The first day was a struggle to cover the surface, the second was more manageable, and today was almost effortless.  With such an inspiring place, how could it be otherwise?  Painting number 2850 in 2850 days.  This painting is now showing at Gallery Zeke for a limited time only! 

Autumn Rain on Main Street

 

What is the perfect cold, rainy day activity?  Why, painting wet streets, of course!  These autumn colors sing against a backdrop of misty hues - and those reflections were irresistible!!  The charming Main Street of Steelville is so wonderful, I've already painted within this block three times since I arrived!  This painting will be displayed at Gallery Zeke this Thursday and Friday for a Two Day Only Show!  All remaining paintings from these last two weeks will be hanging.  I'm so happy to have hit the peak fall color for this trip!  Painting number 2849 in 2849 days. 

Wood Shed in Autumn

This scene caught my attention upon arrival at this private estate paint.  Those rich autumn colors popped in this rainy day, and the wood shed had such character!  Not yet raining, I set up by another barn to start painting.  The sky darkened and before long, the rain started pouring!  I was able to back up under cover, blocking that very cold wind in the process.  The second cold, wet day of the week had me shivering!  It was so wonderful to have a hot meal provided by our gracious event host!  Love getting to paint these hidden gems tucked away in the countryside!  Painting number 2848 in the 2848 days. 
 

October Afternoon

What an amazing place to land for today's paint out!  This was actually my third painting of the day, the first two were landscapes in pen and ink.  These colors only grew more glorious with the day - and I HAD to paint them.  With scarcely enough time left for this larger painting, I had to work fast.  Sketching with my brush, I marked the masses as I filled in with oils.  The depth of color was breathtaking!  The little chickens gathered all and me, keeping me company with their sweet noises as I painted.  Seldom the last one in the field these days, I used every minute to paint before packing quick and rushing to judging.  I arrived with only minutes to spare!  How surprised and honored I was to win the First Place Purchase Award for this!!  What a great painting day - despite the cold and wind!!  Painting number 2847 in 2847 days. 

Little House in Autumn

 It has been raining down here in Steelville, and the autumn color is shining against that fresh green!  While out scouting different locations for fall color, I stopped by the park near the library.  There is a wonderful creek, pond, ducks and giant rocks, and behind a one room school house, this wonderful scene!  Standing under an eve of the library, I was able to paint this in the rain.  Yes, it's on the 40's, but who cares when I'm dry and this place begs to be painted?  The fall color is peak down here - I can't wait to paint more of it!  Painting number 2842 in 2842 days. 

Berkley Riverfront Park

SOLD

My first time here at Berkeley Riverfront Park has been so fun to capture in ink and watercolor!  Hosted by the Kansas City Parks and Rec, today's Walktober event started at 9:00.  After stamping for the quick paint, I checked both bridge views before walking along this path to get my gear.  How could I resist these glorious fall colors?  With leaves raining down in the wind, I sketched this scene with the ASB Railroad Bridge in the background.  Adding watercolor, I had to blow out debris from my palette a couple times.  Additionally, the wind dropped bugs, twigs and spiders on me - good thing I don't mind them!  The Heritage Trail runs along the Missouri River for 13 miles, reaching Kaw Point to the west. This painting was among the top 5 today - and I LOVED painting the emerging fall color!  I hope to get plenty more opportunities before leaf fall!!  Painting number 2834 in 2834 days. 

Autumn Leaves

With only a small window available for running and painting today, I hit the North Coast Inland Trail as soon as we arrived home.  Running is such therapy, as if I am running away from all those things I don't wish to think about, and one by one they are left in the dust behind me.  The hard and fast run is the best for this, and when I wear out, it is time for a quick paint.  Today, however, I ran extra miles and could only pick up leaves on my way back, to paint after our appointments.  So, here I am, studying leaves with pen and ink, and longing for my dad.  Painting number 2118 in 2118 days.

Autumn on the Lake

Painting the beauty just beyond the window on another rainy day.  Painting number 2106 in 2106 days. 

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