Golden Pond

 I love the golden hour light on our pond, especially on such a still evening with glassy reflections!  The autumn color all over our property is spectacular, and all I want to do is paint all day, afraid the colors will fade before I get them all painted.  This was a difficult day, saying goodbye to a dear friend for the last time, remembering the good times with others.  Spending a little time at water's edge has been so very soothing.  I can always turn to nature with my paint for healing.  Painting number 3954 in 3954 days. 

Winter Gold

Winter Gold
Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, 4x4

The winding creeks of Missouri fill me with inspiration!  I return to local creeks from time to time - and the paintings almost always look different with the changes of season and light.  A funny thing happens when I go to name these paintings.  I often come up with the same name for paintings done in the same place.  Almost always, as I am painting in a spot, a title just comes to me as I work. Sometimes, it even comes to me when I first set eyes on the landscape.  I always need to check my paintings before posting, just to be sure I don't title two paintings from the same place, with the same name!  This painting makes 1122 in 1122 days, and Day 29 in the 30 Day Painting Challenge.

Dust of Snow

Dust of Snow
Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, 4x4

A golden sky in winter warms up even the coldest snowy landscape!  I am again painting in miniature - only 4x4 inches, for an upcoming gallery show.  It will be held during the “Chocolate Crawl” in Lee’s Summit, so I there will be lots of traffic, and I’d like to have a few small things available.  If only the snow would last a little longer - I love to paint it, even if I don’t love standing in it!  Painting number 1121 in 1121 days, and Day 28 in the 30 Day Painting Challenge.

Leprechaun Nutcracker

Leprechaun Nutcracker
Acrylic on masonite, 5x7
purchase here

This wonderful little leprechaun nutcracker is loaded with goodies!  From the long pipe, lucky clover, and bag of gold to the sweet little red bird on the tree stump, this guy has character!  His face is full of expression, too!  These little figures are so fun to paint with their bold colors and charm - I’m so lucky to have been able to paint so many this Christmas season!  Painting number 1093 in 1093 days.

Two Ships Sailing

Two Ships Sailing
Oil on panel, 7x5
original sold - print available here

Of all the colors in the skies, I think the sunsets are most challenging.  The bold, vibrant hues seem so unnatural on the panel - and I find myself trying to reign them in!  I lay the water colors in right beside each other, stroke by stroke, careful to not mix as orange and purple will soon turn to mud.  I then take the edge of a flat palette knife through the highlight color, placing it down on the dark brushstrokes and lifting with one movement.  This creates a thick "wave" that seems to crest, and I use a plastic knife that I can curve gently as I place the mark. I think I will do a few more sunsets until I really feel comfortable with them!  Painting number 785 in 785 days.