Afternoon at the Barn

 

I love painting the vintage barns of the Missouri heartland - even when I'm short on time!  With only enough time to enter two paintouts briefly for the Summit Art Plein Air, I arrived here on my way out of town for a 30 minute quick paint.  It was like sprinting in a race to get this painted, framed and turned in - but it was also my little slice of sanity on a crazy day.  I always feel better when my daily painting is done. Painting number 5060 in 5060 days. I've had no coverage these last 5 days, so none of my photos would load to a post.  One would think the days of no service areas were minimal, but they've only grown worse in the last year.  

Red Roof Barn in Winter

These amazing Midwest barns grow older every day, and I can see their decline each time I revisit one from year to year. I feel like I need to capture them with paint while they still stand, because one day they may not.  Painting number 4033 in 4033 days. 

Morning at the Barn

How could I possibly resist painting such an amazing old barn with a vista view behind it?  Complete with a sweet horse, this place was a "must paint" as soon as i saw it!  Down a long, winding, narrow road, this place was definitely worth the almost a mile back-up drive I had to make when i came head on to a large rv in that single lane drive!  Thank goodness for my vast back up experience - because those ditches were too steep to pull in to.  One never knows what may be at the end of such roads, and this scene was my reward!  Love these Missouri backroads! Painting number 3832 in 3832 days. 

Brakensiek Barn

 

I drove past this wonderful old place, but had to turn around immediately.  With no place to park but across the road and down a bit, I grabbed my gear. I just couldn't pass up the chance to paint this  barn - even when I walked through tall grass to get to this spot. I stood on half a yoga mat (sprayed on both sides to deter ticks), and got to work!  A tick dropped into my white paper, and another blew in with the wind, dropping on my hand - but neither bit and I found no others.  I've been wearing an insect shield scarf for 4 weeks now - and haven't gotten a single bite!  It's crazy! This place is just outside of New Melle, and what a peaceful paint it was! I'm so happy this painting has a new home, too. Painting number 3782 in 3782 days. 

Golden Meadow

 

This was the peaceful meadow finish before a purple fountain pen ink catastrophe.  Rushing to meet a friend who needed the frame in my car - I did not tighten the cap on "Festive Joy" - and THAT cleanup was neither festive or joyful, lol!  It took hours to clean that purple ink from all the other bottles and brushes.  Thank goodness I had them in an airtight container - or that mess would have traveled in my trunk!  As it turns out, this ink is completely water soluble, and every bit of it washed out of my supplies when soaked in water. The lesson I learned here is to be extra careful and methodical when closing up each bottle - especially when in the field!  Painting number 3777 in 3777 days. 

Old Barn on the Bottoms

I've driven by this old barn on the bottom land between Augusta and Defiance many times through the years, always with a longing to paint it.  Today, I noticed the west end of the barn has dropped off, and I know it won't be standing much longer.  So, I turned around, and went back out to paint it before my next event.  The light was glorious as it popped out from behind clouds, and the whole landscape sings with spring!  This painting is now hanging at the pop-up gallery at Harmonie Verein in Augusta,. Missouri. Painting number 3756 in 3756 days. 

Frosted Barn

The snow was a gorgeous white blanket this morning when I rose from bed.  Though it was heavily overcast and spitting still, the eves of the house were dripping - my very first sign that time is short for this winter beauty!  After a few morning tasks were done, I headed into the melting landscape with a limited palette of ink.  I chose Diamine's Cardinal red, Ghost (a gray violet), and One More Sleep (a metal blue), all from the recent Inkvent Calendar.  I'm playing with these inks, picking three each day to complete a miniature ink painting, discovering how they mingle and move in the wet masses. I meant to take out a little bleach water pen, but I didn't, and I don't think I need it either.  Lovely chroma, and these three were perfect for this day! Painting number 3670 in 3670 days, and day 22 of the #stradaeasel challenge. If only the snow weren't melting faster than I could paint it!  

Barn Pick-me-up

A VERY fast sketch today using another Diamine Inkvent Calendar ink - Pick Me Up!!  This lovely warm brown for a very cold day, is day 15 on their calendar!  It pushes towards the red in such cool blue winter shadow! The blue in the sky is actual from residue left on my tape - I left it since the effect was lovely - but I did not get that from this one ink.  Nice chroma and I love how it moves with water!  By the time I to this photo, my fingers were stinging from the cold and I had to hit the button on my phone with my nose!  No additional video because I was too cold to take my gloves off to do it!  Painting number 4131 in 4131 days 

Last Days of the Old Barn

The rain had cleared as I finished my first painting of the day.  This scene was behind me, while all artists faced the large regal barns.  This may have been the first barn, replaced with bigger and better ones who still help their stature on this farm.  This barn had to be painted, if only to memorialize it's service in days gone by.  These run down barns dot the midwest landscape, and strong winds blew them down with each storm.  I'm glad I could draw this barn before it is no longer standing. Painting number 4222 in 4222 days. 

Flowers by the Barn

What a treat to find such a lush landscape surrounding this amazing stone barn in rural Tonganoxie!  It was lovely to paint with birdsong and bees buzzing from bloom to bloom!  The painting unfolded organically as I marked all the masses, afraid I'd lose that early morning light.  The purple and green played so well together, it was a joy to stand here and paint.  A couple of snakes rustled out of the small pond, and headed away from me, and only one tick landed on me - and was easily brushed away.  Got to love nature when you're in it every day!  Painting number 3419 in 3419 days. 

Snow at the Milk Barn

Oh how I wish this lovely snow would last!  With so little snowfall, I must paint it while I can, so I'm outside making the most of my painting time!  I love this moody sky, the colors saturate so well in this atmosphere.  The red has faded from those old walls, but I am pushing them, increasing the chroma and value.  I love the quiet of painting on such a day, there are only a few birds chirping as I work.  Love this painting day.  Painting number 3340 in 3340 days. 

Milk Barn Magic Inked

Pen and ink are the perfect choice for a quick sketch of the milk barn.  I use a favorite TWSBI Diamond mini fountain pen with my favorite Levenger's Raven Black ink to draw the scene out with expressive line work.  As soon as I complete these marks, I go in with a water brush pen to wash in those mid tones, getting the range of values I want. I really love this handmade cotton paper, I miss it when I paint on watercolor paper postcard stock!  Painting number 2931 in 2931 days. 

Lenauer Barn

It was a very cold morning as I set up near this old barn, facing into the wind.  A rather rough place to sketch, but it had to be to get this vantage.  Dressed in layers with two sets of wool socks on, my feet were still cold and my hand was shivering as I finished.  Even the ink in my pen was sluggish - after I left those supplies in my car overnight.  Who knew that would happen?  I love the timelessness of this scene, and I am always drawn to these old barns - even in inclement weather!  Now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville. Painting number 2855 in 2855 days. 

Sunset at the Horse Trough

Horses have been a favorite muse of mine since I was a little girl.  I love the shape of them - and those manes and tails have endless possibilities!  This scene is an everyday slice of Americana from this working farm in Edward's County, Illinois, where the family dog looks on as the horses have their evening feed.  Love how the process of painting takes me back in time.  Painting number 2832 in 2832 days.  So happy this painting has a new home!  

Path from the Barn

I love this old path from the barn to the farmhouse.  It has been calling to me, as so many places do, begging for me to paint them.  As I post this, I already see a couple of changes I want to make.  I will blend the edges of that path with my finger, drawing the green into the cut path.  Funny how I sometimes miss the little things in my effort to finish - especially when the rain has started!  I will try to remember to post the update later!  Oh how I love these color saturated rainy days!  Painting number 2684 in 2684 days.

Milk Barn and Wild Mustard

Oh how I love the saturated color after a rain!  This pasture is growing so tall - and STILL the wild mustard is glorious!!  I only have a couple of stands on the property, and I am taking full advantage with my paints!  Today was very windy with gusts to 45 mph, so I found a rather sheltered place from which to paint.  After blocking in the masses, I grab my palette knife for that finish work.  It is super fun to lay down that thick paint - and I might have gotten a little carried away here!  The strong winds, fresh smells rising from the wet land, and the experience of standing here with paint in hand - all pours forth into my painting.  Who am I to reign that in?  Painting number 2670 in 2670 days.

Forsythia by the Barn

gifted

After the crazy storms we had during the night, I was SO relieved to see blooms still on this forsythia by he barns!  We had so much marble sized hail, the ground was white like snow afterward!  I kept thinking that I had missed my chance to catch their beauty, and they would be stripped in the morning.  I was wrong!  These beautiful bushes still shine on this overcast day, with more storms expected tonight!  Oh, how I wish I could have painted them all day long!  But alas, this is real life and I had much to do around the homeplace today!  Perhaps I can revisit the forsythias tomorrow!  Painting number 2644 in 2644 days!

Tender Care

purchase here

Love capturing the tender care of a beloved horse in front of our old milk barn.  I have long had a passion for horses, but have only started to take pen and ink to this subject.  The pen and ink feels so organic in the field - and my watercolor half pans are perfect for adding color on the fly.  I just ordered 5 more sets in different palettes today.  Yes, I may be a paint addict...! Painting number 2566 in 2566 days. 

Little Barn

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Today I am trying another Shizen handmade paper, only this one has a rough texture.  The ink flows nicely over the surface, skipping over the low spots for added interest.  I little water swept over with a brush adds a rich unpredictable mark, spreading a little more than my usual paper.  This paper says it is sized inside and out, and I think that must be where the difference lies.  As I compare today's with my drawing of two days ago on the smooth surface, I can see benefits to both!  I have always loved the rough, but I think I will be keeping the smooth as well! Painting number 2559 in 2559 days. 

Wheelgate Farm Inked

sold

This was a day of dodging rain and changing light!  It was raining so hard when I started this, that I worked partially from my car!  My fountain pen ink will totally bleed to black if rained on! The rain cleared and the sun came out, and it turned out to be a gorgeous day!  I really do love these old barns, and those herefords grazing in the meadow was simply icing on the cake!  Painting number 2407 in 2407 days.