Peter and Etta Koch House - Inked

I am using a brand new piece of artisan handmade, hand-dyed paper for this pen and ink drawing. Sketching the historic Peter and Etta Koch home (also know as the Livingston home) at Hot Springs, Texas, is a super fun adventure!  The paper is a little resistant, and when the ink gets wet it spreads out and weakens in strength more than usual.  So, I am going over my lines multiple times and even pulling out my India ink for those darkest darks.  Each package of hand tied paper comes with a photo of the artist and a printed memo about them.  It's interesting to read their story and I like supporting another artist.  I like the lighter color of this paper compared to my others. I wonder how it will accept watercolor?  I'll have to try that another day!  Painting number 5118 in 5118 days. 

Osage Ridge Morning

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Today's Mystery Paint-out was high atop Osage Ridge Rd, with a breathtaking view. Standing in the shadow of a great pine, the wind blew forcefully from the south.  I had one panel left in a larger size than I wanted - and it was on an unprimed gessoed panel showing white.  Not my intended set-up, but once started, I persevered to the finish.  This painting was a hard won battle with the wind, complete with debris blowing into my eyes. The reward for this hard work was winning the Sponsor Award today, in this beautiful place, immersed in nature.  Painting number 5031 in 5031 days. 

505 E Washington

I'm so thankful to get to meet amazing people who welcome me so graciously into their homes for painting events.  Fairfield, Illinois is one of my favorite places to paint, and I've made so many friends here over the years!  With ink and watercolor, I sketch this sweet house in the heart of town.  I try to bring a special size paper and a special frame to leave for my hosts as a token of my appreciation.  Each host makes it possible for me to fully engage in painting while in town, allowing the magic to happen.  So many paintings wouldn't exist without them!  Painting number 4391 in 4391 days. 

Walnut Hill Farm

What an amazing day of painting at Walnut Hill Farm in Saint James!  Early morning thunderstorms cleared off in time to paint, and the weather was perfect! This farm has rolling hills dotted with cattle and walnut trees, and I view in every direction. I started this as soon as I arrived, loving the story it told of the farm, complete with a few timid visitors that I had to chase to sketch! So happy to paint the pastoral beauty and honored to win a red ribbon  for my effort!  Painting number 4240 in 4240 days. 

630 2nd Ave NE

The small town of Carmel, Indiana has really grown in recent years, and many of these old houses are being replaced by "progress". Today I have taken ink and watercolor to handmade paper, to commemorate this place for a former owner.  This tiny painting will bring back childhood memories for the family as the years to by.  Love getting to paint something like this!  Painting number 3213 in 3213 days. 

12 6th Street

 I have a fondness for old homes full of character and charm, and this place was a joy to paint!  As I scouted the area, I really wanted to include the garden and tree house, so I went back to my car for a longer paper.  I first start my line work with De Atramentis Archive Ink in a favorite TWSBI Diamond fountain pen with an extra fine nib.  I then start in with a broad nib and Levenger's Raven Black ink.  This second ink will move with a little water in a brush pen while the first stays put. As I bring the drawing to completion, I go back in where needed with more ink.  I love the way a fountain pen nib drops a line of ink, and the feel of the nib on the handmade paper.  I guess I really am a fountain pen nerd! Painting number 3156 in 3156 days, and day 7 of the current #stradaeasel challenge. 

Spring at the Dairy Barn

The first day of the Summit Art Plein Air event was a rainy one, and first thing this morning was the quick paint. I helped check in artists until it was time to jump in myself, and headed out to find my spot.  Looking for shelter, I found a small shed with a rolling door, partially open, so I set up with my view of the farm.  Crestview Dairy is the venue of this first event with it's 31 acres of lush views.  It was fun to paint in an event with artist friends again, even in a cold, driving rain!  Painting number 3013 in 3013 days. 

708 Wilkie Street

I love finding charming towns in the places I visit to paint!  Dunedin, Florida is a hidden gem close to the west coast of Florida.  Stumbling into this town during their Mardi Gras festival, we had a family day of eating, shopping and of course I had to get in some ink and watercolor!  One of these sketches was seen by the owner of this cottage, and she asked me to commit it to paint!  Love the charm of this place - and it was a joy to get to paint this!  Painting number 2627 in 2627 days.

Barnett House Inked

This private estate was a beautiful place to spend the day, complete with barn, lake, lakehouse and woods along the lake.  I could have painted here all day in such beautiful surroundings.  This pen and ink drawing was my first of the day.  Painting number 2350 in 2350 days.

Sunflower Hill Farm from the Pond

I had heard this was a wonderful place to visit, but I was unprepared for the sweeping view across the landscape.  After completing one drawing from a lower vantage, I moved up to the pond to start this one.  The sun was dropping and the mosquitoes were rising like a cloud around me within 2 minutes!  In search of more big spray, Peggy offered her Bug Out jacket for me to use.  It is amazing!  Not one bite did I get and they were all around me!  This jacket allowed me to finish and this drawing has a new home with the family that owns this place!  Painting number 2315 in 2315 days.

Early Morning at Lake Creek

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I scouted 2 locations before deciding on the sweeping landscape with barn and house for my painting subject. A timed paint, I first wanted to sketch this complicated scene out. The act of sketching works out all the details in my mind before I start in with paint. That gorgeous light was fleeting, so I painted it in every time I saw it, skipping back to the masses when in shadow.  I really loved this location, even though I stood uphill sideways on uneven ground, blown by the wind and cold. Now THAT is a love of plein air!  This one came in second in the Lake Creek Paint Out and went to a new home afterwards!  Painting number 2307 in 2307 days of living the dream!

Tom's House

This grand old house is part of a wonderful farm with multiple barns.  As I started the sketch for the farm painting, I captured a different view of the house, in order to include as many barns as possible.  Once finished, I HAD to get this view of the house, as one would approach the front door.  Even as I finish this one, I am thinking ahead to a long panel, to paint the entire place in oils.  The sweep of land rolling back from the buildings is exceptional!  Painting number 2239 in 2239 days.

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Autumn Snow

Rarely do I get to paint snow while autumn leaves are on the tree, but today is such a day.  Painting across Portage River Road, this is the view from my window each morning.  For the third day, I am painting with a very limited palette.  I have become spoiled these last years, with so many choices on my palette, so I felt a little constricted with only the primaries.  But, there are some really great things about using only a few colors.  Color harmony is effortless.  Mixing is very important to painting, and few choices mean everything must be mixed - and I do this on the panel.  I've never been one to premix anything, ever.  I still wish I had that cool red, because getting those cool violets is difficult when my red is vermilion!  The snow is melting faster than I can paint it!  Painting number 2120 in 2120 days.

Elmore Home

As I roll through the hours on auto pilot, I take a few minutes to try out a new pen.  The Monteverde Monza in clear is on deck today, arriving only yesterday.  I love the smaller size, it fits easily in my small hand.  Smooth delivery of ink, rolls right off the nib with ease.  I'm drawing the home my dad dearly loved, thinking so much of him.  Painting number 2110 in 2110 days.

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7830 Conser House

Two days ago, my daughter and I were at this very corner, working on our paintings for the Stems Painting Challenges.  On onlooker jumped out of his truck, asking if we would paint his house next.  If course we said yes!  Our challenge paintings complete, we returned to paint.  The owner came by to talk, but did not want to see either painting until they were done.  When finished and framed, he chose them both, and I threw in my ink drawing for good measure.  I just love it when my paintings don't even make it home!  Painting number 1950 in 1950 days.

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Blue House Forsythia

This may have been the nicest weather we've ever had for the Daniel Boone paint outs!  The forsythia are blooming, and I am capturing them before they fade for another year.  So happy to get to paint them again! Making this quick because champagne is waiting!  Painting number 1920 in 1920 days.

Home from the Pasture

I scouted all over the property before finally deciding on this vantage.  Calm breezes, warm temps in the 60's and the fabulous light made this a perfect plein air day!  With about an hour before sunset, I set up my easel and got to work. I love the way that golden light streaked across the pasture, bouncing off the tufts of tall grass.  I paint the colors en masse, pulling the brushstrokes about to indicate grasses, rather than painting every blade.  The effect is much more natural, as the eye sees when looking at the whole landscape.  It is so restorative to be one with nature, doing what I was born to do. Painting number 1827 in 1827 days.

Lakeside Retreat

I am putting pen to paper and filling in with watercolor.  This cotton rag paper has a rough texture, so I must use a fine or medium tip pen for the drawing.  The super fine seems to skip around too much, only hitting the high spots.  The paint flows freely on this paper, staying wet long enough to add more colors to mingle into the wet areas.  Each painting is an exploration in the media, pushing and pulling to see what evolves! Painting number 1818 in 1818 days. 

Andress House in Autumn

My love of old houses runs deep.  Each one has it's own character and charm, and I love capturing them in paint!  It was difficult to pick the best angle to paint from - this place is beautiful from all sides!  After getting some help in with that decision, I jumped right into the paint.  What a joy to paint this vintage gem in the autumn landscape!  Painting number 1787 in 1787 days. 

913 Victoria

A few requests were made by patrons wishing to have their homes painted during the week in Dubuque. With only enough time to do one on this rainy day before the Patron Show, this was the one I chose.  The best view was up the hill and across the street, and the rain kept me under cover until the end. Rain has been a companion these last days in Dubuque, but I do love the saturated colors of those rainy days!  Painting number 1745 in 1745 days.

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