Morning in the Mountains

What an amazing morning to explore the colors in this mountain range.  The hues and values change constantly here - every cloud bank makes a difference.  I find I am really studying the colors I see before laying the paint.  The colors here are so different than Missouri, and the mixing is not automatic from long years of painting a place.  The challenge is invigorating, and the act of painting is the reward.  Love getting to concentrate on these masses.  Day 7 of my Artist Residency, and I have so many paintings in my mind.  If only I had the time to match those lofty ideals!  Painting number 4337 in 4337 days, and day 17 of the #stradaeasel challenge. 

Morning Light at the Creek

I knew as soon as I saw the golden light spreading across the landscape, that I would paint it. I jumped across to find the perfect vantage, and started knocking on darks. Lightest lights were next, because the light is fleeting early in the morning. The host of this event graciously put out a breakages spread that was amazing!  I do love getting to paint special places like this!  Painting number 3029 in 3029 days. 

Cave Point Morning

Arriving at one of my favorite painting haunts, I could hardly wait to jump into the paint!  The color in the water as it swirls into the rock cove is nothing short of spectacular.  I drew two different compositions, and actually adjusted the second to arrive with this landscape.  Starting with the darks, I then dropped in local color for the masses.  I worked very quickly to catch that radiant light before it changed. The beauty of this place simply takes my breath away.  Painting number 1661 in 1661 days.

The Rose Arbor

The morning was calling, and I knew I would have to catch this light!  Pushing a million chores out of my mind, I grabbed my palette and headed to the arboretum.  I walked past this place twice,  before setting up. It was a little awkward as I had squeeze close to the hedge, with the arms of a spruce tree reaching over me, and my panel in the light.  The bright light bouncing up from the path was nearly blinding, and yet, this scene called. I had to walk halfway across the bridge just to step back from my painting.  Despite all this, the paint fell right off my brush and the image emerged.  I like it,  though I've not really had a chance to see it in good light.  Hopefully I feel the same way later!  Painting number 1593 in 1593 days.

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Morning Light on the Barn

I jumped out of bed before the sun, and walked through the vintage town of Red Oak II with an eye on the horizon.  As the light started to spill forth, scene after scene caught my eye.   "Paint me!  Paint me!"  This was one of those scenes, and the light was perfect!  Autumn was just beginning to kiss the foliage, and the winding road was the perfect lead in.  There is simply a timeless beauty that surrounds this place, and it is a joy to take it all in as I paint!   Painting number 1396 in 1396 days :)

Oil on panel, 10x8
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November Sunrise

I walked down the stairs to let out the dogs, and the most glorious sunrise was pouring over the horizon!  Without any time to spare, I threw on clothes and grabbed my paints - determined not to let this moment slip by!  A sunrise painting develops very quickly.  There is no sketching or planning, only the laying down of the colors before me, as quickly as possible.  I never know when the color is at it's peak, until it turns that corner and begins to fade.  It is always a slap dash to the finish, and then I set those brushes down!   Painting number 1392 in 1392 days :)

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Road to the Salem Country Church

Early Sunday morning, I slipped out to find the perfect painting spot.  The little gravel road winding through town was irresistible, and I set up my easel along side the road (although, the best vantage was from the middle of the road, I resisted)!  The early sunlight spread across the landscape, and I marked it first, followed by the shadows.  The wind was down, which made for a much easier paint than yesterday - painting in the wind can really be a battle!  This painting unfolded naturally, in this peaceful, quiet setting.  Painting number 1392 in 1392 days :)

Oil on panel, 10x8
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Footpath Along Catfish Creek

On recommendation from an artist friend, we ventured out to the Mines of Spain park today. Another beautiful park of Dubuque, this place has a wonderful creek running through it.   The sunlight skimmed the surface of the water, and the shadows stretched across.  Morming was magical, and autumn is just touching the foliage of the trees.  This certainly was a good day to spend out painting en plein air!  Painting number 1375 in 1375 days. :)

Phlox and Redbuds

Every morning as I head to the gym,  I see this amazing landscape and long to paint it.  I almost never have enough time for a painting before the gym, but today I did.  Once I start painting, it is SO easy to get lost in the process, and lose all track of time!   Especially alluring is the play between shadow and light, and I've used only a couple of brushes for the whole painting - except for a little finish work executed with my catalyst. This painting is the 1297th in 1297 days :)

Quiet Reflection

Quiet Reflection
Oil on panel
Penn Valley Park morning quick paint
Showing at Buttonwood Art Space in Kansas City, MO

Up at five, out by six, I arrived on location before the sun for our morning quick paint.  I walked around the lake a bit, before deciding on this rather unconventional composition with sky and it’s reflection in the lake.  After painting the very green landscapes of the last couple of days, I was longing for some cool colors to break up all that green.  It was a beautiful morning with soft breezes, and the painting unfolded before me as I thought about little Baby Nolan, just minutes away.  I would be heading there right after the quick paint, for a little quality “baby time”, before turning in my artwork to the Buttonwood Art Space.  If this event hadn’t been so close to the hospital, I would never have been able to participate.  Thank heaven for small favors.  These little getaways help me far more than hours spent in the waiting room.  Painting number 1227 in 1227 days.

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.

Horses by the River

Horses by the River
Oil on wood panel, 24x18
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Today finds us tearing into a new project on the house!  We are putting in a double window on the west wall of the living room, and are ready to cut the hole in the outside wall.  With that comes all of the moving of furniture, clearing that wall - and cleaning up the little surprises found behind that stuff (and all of you with kids and grandkids know what that means!  This is a large painting, and I had most of it finished yesterday, with only the horses to complete.  With just a few adjustments, and a quick check of my colors in the light of day, since all colors change at night.  Painting number 1067 in 1067 days.  :)

October Sky

October Sky
Oil on masonite, 10x8
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As I backed out of the drive and headed down the lane, the most amazing sky unfolded before me!!  Pilates or painting..........pilates or painting - oh, the decision was SO hard!!  This magnificent scene was not visible through the trees when I walked to the car - if it had been, I’m afraid that painting would have won, and pilates would have lost!  True to form, discipline won, and after taking some reference photos, I headed off to the gym, all the way there, staring at that sky.  With clear views of the sky in all directions, I will never run out of skies to paint.  Painting number 1025 in 1025 days :)

Peace at the Footbridge

Peace at the Footbridge
Oil on masonite, 9x12

This little footbridge is SO charming!  Our weather here has been amazing - and with sunny days, the place looks so different from last year!  I painted this last October, and the misty weather made for a moody painting.  The morning light in this one speaks of hopes and dreams and good things to come!  This little creek fills up with run-off from the adjoining lake, so there was more water pouring in than before.  I love to hear the babbling water as it moves over the rocks - and it is the perfect companion to my brushwork!  I set up in this spot again for a more distant view out, to capture the winding of the stream.  To my dismay - I realized I had left my palette in the freezer, so my plans were for naught.  It was all for the best, as I returned to get my palette, rewired three other paintings, and got all turned into the Landing. Perhaps, I'll get to that painting later, because I really think it will be dreamy!  This painting makes 1012 in 1012 days.  What a wonderful plein air adventure this has been :)

Glorious Clouds

Glorious Clouds
Oil on unstretched canvas, 6x4
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Practice makes perfect - something I have heard all my life.  Well, tonight I am practicing my cloudscapes.  I am approaching this in a different way, experimenting with the layering of colors.  I first brush on the sky colors as they would gradate from horizon to top of canvas.  I then take my palette knife and start adding the whites of the clouds.  This layer automatically blends with the bottom layer in strokes.  When I want strong color, I simply pull the stroke once on top of the layers - which keeps it from blending.  I may just like this better than meeting at the edges in the block in.....time will tell....and practice, of course!  This painting makes 922 in 922 days.  In retrospect, that number just sounds crazy - I never thought I would still be painting daily SO many days after the original "30 Day Painting Challenge" :)

Cloud Song

Cloud Song
Oil on unstretched canvas, 6x4
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On this subtle skyscape, I am mainly using my brushes, with just a bit of knife at the end for texture.  I again start by gradating the whole sky, horizon to top in the colors they would be - in this case Naples Yellow to Prussian to Ultramarine Blue - all with the addition of white.  This is a subtle sky scene, so no blaring color here.  I then start adding the cloud colors on top of this layer, softly and with the brush almost laying on it’s side.  I then use my finger to blend here and there, and add a little stronger color towards the top.  I can’t decide if this is too subtle - are the clouds too diffused?  They often appear in the sky like that - so I will let this rest for tonight, and look with fresh eyes in the morning.  Painting number 920 in 920 days.

Morning Light on the Lawn

Morning Light on the Lawn
Oil on wood panel, 10x8

The early morning light was SO beautiful, I simply could not resist running outside to capture it! Setting up in the side yard, the long shadows stretching across the lawn is my focus.  I only had an hour before taking Michael to baseball practice, so I had to work fast!  Already the light was changing in the first 10 minutes, so I brushed on the yellow highlights - the most important color of the scene.  Next, I moved to the darkest shadows.  I then worked from back to front, until the surface was covered.  I love this kind of light - I may just be getting out this early every day! This is painting number 894 in 894 days :)

Dad's Shed

Dad's Shed
Watercolor batik on rice paper, 8x5
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The stunning color of the fall foliage hit me as soon as I walked out the back door at my parent's house.  Early morning light illuminated the trees splendidly!  How I wished I could set up and paint on the spot, being hospital bound, this was not the time.  I sketched this while my mother slept and my dad "rested" in a rather uncomfortable chair.  Laying in the first layers of color discreetly (from the vinyl couch in the room) - I took this back home to wax and paint again.  What a therapeutic way to spend the long hours waiting by mom's bed.  Painting number 675 in as many days.

Autumn Gold

Autumn Gold
Watercolor batik on masa, 5x8
Elmore, Ohio - purchase here

As I walked out of my parents back door, this glorious golden tree was there to greet me!  The yellows are really popping up here in northern Ohio - and the autumn landscape is amazing!  I snapped pics all the way to the hospital this morning while the sun was shining brightly.  Once again, I am using the watercolor batik method.  I have not actually painted in the hospital before, but I knew that watercolors would be the safe and clean alternative.  Those who know me, know that I am a clean painter - and my work area was tiny so as not to be noticed!  I first sketched out my composition with an india ink pen while looking at my reference on my phone - all in my lap.  Laying my skinny watercolor palette between me and the end of the couch on a paper towel, I dipped my brush into a little pill cup for my water and then into the paint of choice.  So compact, it was the perfect set up for "hospital" painting!  Arriving home later, I was then able to wax, crinkle, and then paint again.  Ironing that wax off, I then topped off with a little more watercolor and was done!  Working at four at a time, I needed that extra time in between for drying. Those other two are now dry, so I had better move on to ironing them.  Painting number 673 in as many days :)

Portage River in Fall

Portage River in Fall
Watercolor batik on masa paper, 8x5
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The Portage River runs past my parent's house in Elmore, Ohio, and is a constant source of inspiration when I visit.  This morning, while the grass was still very wet with dew, I walked down the hill and to the water's edge just to get this vantage!  So worth it!  So many of the trees are showing off their yellow foliage - the reflections are stunning!  I first sketched this out with my Pitt india ink pen in sepia, and next filled in with watercolor.  Using the hot wax for some movement in the water, I have left this one rather loose and liquid.  I think I will try to paint several of the river while I'm here!  Painting number 670 in 670 days.