Sunset Beach Pavillion

 

Oh how I love the days of sand and sun! If only the beach were closer to home.... ❤️🎨⛱️

Yellow Barn in the Snow

purchase here

Dad built this shed when he first came to northern Ohio, many years ago.  After a fresh coat of snow overnight, I am painting the long shadows stretching across the lawn.  Love those cool violet blues against the warm golden sunlit patches.  Clear all day, the colors absolutely sparkled.  If only I could get down to the river, but that sheet of ice is holding me back.  I've heard stories of people getting stuck down that steep hill, unable to climb out, and I don't want to be one of them!  Painting number 2216 in 2216 days.

What a difference lighting makes! 

At Home in the Snow

What a gorgeous day for painting in the snow!  It felt like a heat wave (maybe 20 degrees) compared to the sub zero temps of yesterday!  The long blue violet shadows drew me to this spot, the yummy cool and warm tones playing in the snow.  I was not pressured by the cold at all today, so I could take my time to REALLY look at the colors.  This time of year is always about growth and expressing my feelings of a moment in time with paint.  Each stroke is truth, each passage a connection to the very place I stand.  To reach for that truth each day is a blessing indeed.  Painting number 1824 in 1824 days.

Golden Hour Grazing

There is something so peaceful about painting cattle in the pasture.  Their slow and rhythmic grazing relaxes me as I paint. Whenever painting animals, I sketch their shape in quickly with paint, adding more values as they hold position.  If one shifts out of position, I move on to the next, returning as each gets back to their pose. These scenes always remind me of my grandma's farm and of my Uncle Richard's farm, and the hours of play in the country.  I still love playing outside, only now I'm using paint! Painting number 1700 in 1700 days!  WOWZA!

Sunrise in the Vineyard

Sunrise in the vineyard
Oil on panel, 12x8

Arriving before sunrise, I was drawn tot he slope of this hill.  The vines trailing back into the distance were set off beautifully by the long shadows of first light.  This golden light lasted just over the first hour, and then clouds slowly crowded the sky, changing the light completely.  The Fox 2 news team out of St. Louis stopped by, while doing a segment on the Augusta Plein Air Art Festival.  They were so close - the camera man getting only inches from my face, palette and painting!  He even bumped my arm on a brushstroke - leaving his own mark on my painting!  Pics were taken with the anchorman, and I gave him my catalyst to hold up to my painting - and encouraged him to use it.  This is the second time I’ve been involved in a live broadcast in Augusta - and it is always a fun experience!  Painting number 1215 in 1215 days. 

Sunset in Winter

Sunset in Winter
Oil on panel, 6x6
GOT Art Gallery Holiday Trunk Show

I found myself grabbing little snippets for time to work in this painting today.  I am exploring the different colors of light, and the way it reflects off the snow this week.  Playing with the cloud formations a bit, and topping off with just the palette knife gave more texture into those trees and snow highlights.  I think I'll try doing a strictly palette knife winter scene tomorrow!  Painting number 317 in as many days, now I have to rush off to run some more errands!

October Pin Oaks

October Pin Oaks
Oil on panel, palette knife, 5x7

After painting at Lake Quivira, I stopped by the Overland Park Arboretum on the way home.  I wanted to check out the fall color on such a beautiful day!  What a treat to see these pin oaks with their color changing!  Using only a couple of palette knives for this entire painting, I first applied a thin layer for the blocking in stage.  After this, I used thick color applied more heavily.  I have a few small panels - only 5x7 - and I used one of these today.  This was my 45 minute paint in a completely full to overflowing day!  I was up before the sun trying to put some order back into my kitchen, morning class, back to cleaning out the opposite wall for the built in cabinets to be hung in the pantry, to running out to visit with family fresh in town from Australia.  With cabinets now hung, and painting posted, perhaps I can start getting some of the canned goods back on the shelves!  I feel like I gain better control of my knife with each painting I do - you know what they say about practice!  This is painting number 296 in 296 days.  Another late posting.....maybe I can paint and post earlier tomorrow :)

Sweet October Light

Sweet October Light
Oil on panel, 8x6

Today was such a warm, sunlit, October day.  The walnut leaves are turning yellow, and the others won't be far behind.  The grasses in the pasture are a gorgeous golden and sienna.  A perfect day for capturing the last hooray of summer.  One day soon, the cool winds will creep in and the painting won't be so comfortable.  So, on this day, I am "making hay while the sun shines"!  We are going to dinner soon, to further enjoy this day.  Painting number 283 in 283 days :)

Sunlight on Benton Boulevard

Sunlight on Benton Boulevard
Brush Creek Quick Paint
Oil on panel, 6x12

Friday night was the scheduled Quick Paint for the Brush Creek Art Walk.  Setting up with some craggy trees in mind for my painting, I soon realized that the breeze was blowing the strong turpentine odor from a group of artists right to me.  Well, shoot.  I picked up my easel and moved until I was out of range, and picked a new subject.  I liked the was the light struck these buildings between the trees.  This painting is not quite finished.  I still need to break up the very uniform tree shapes, and vary the colors throughout.  I may be to busy to get to it today, so I am posting now.  This is my 257th painting in as many days and Day 17 of the current 30 Day Painting Challenge.

Vintage Charm in Fish Creek

Vintage Charm in Fish Creek
Oil on panel, 14x11
Door County Plein Air - Wisconsin

I painted this early one morning in Fish Creek, Wisconsin.  Only a street from the harbor, I could hear the noises of boats and water.  The cool breeze blew in from the bay as the morning light threw long shadows on the grass.  It was so peaceful and serene as I painted under the trees.  A few locals visited with me as they took their daily walks, as well as art lovers - trying to make the rounds and see the artists at work.  I still need to tweak this one a bit, but with family in town and the kids starting school tomorrow - I am far too busy for that!  So, I am posting as is - and it is my 223rd in as many days :)

Stream in the Mountains

Stream in the Mountains
Oil on panel, 10x8

Today's focus was atmospheric perspective, creating real depth in a painting.  I had the pleasure of sitting in on a workshop by Ken Chapin, whose work I admire.  I love these kind of workshops because they allow me to step into another artist's mind, and see the way he develops a painting.  Little pearls of wisdom drop out as the painting progresses, giving me insight to their personal choices.  This is the first of two painted today - which means I am a painting ahead on my journey.  Which is a really good thing - since tomorrow is Mother's Day!  Panting number 128 in 128 days :)

Redbud Sonata

Redbud Sonata
Oil on panel, 8x6

This is my second painting of today, the first one - I am just not happy with, yet!  I painted this outside in the yard - over by the windmill.  It is absolutely beautiful out today!  The redbuds are just now coming into their full glory - and I just can't paint them enough!  I am working on my brushstrokes on this painting.  I had an artist friend tell me he likes to use at least 5 different strokes in a painting.  What a marvelous idea!  So,  I am trying just that!  This one is loose and free - like the wind blowing everything around today.  Painting number 118 in 118 days.

Early Light on the Hillside

Early Light on the Hillside
Oil on panel, 6x12

I first painted a color study of this in plein air at my parent's house in Ohio.  Sitting on top of the hill, I looked to the right, with the river in the distance.  With early morning light and haze over the river, this view offered plenty of depth.  I only took the bare minimum for supplies, my palette, small panels, brushes and safflower oil.  I used a little foldable footstool to sit on, while my palette and oil were on the ground beside me.  I held the panel in the place an easel would keep it.  I didn't know if I would even have time to paint, but I was hopeful.  Each morning, I would come out to enjoy the early morning quiet before the day took me to hospital waiting rooms, cafeterias, and long hours away.  Just painting this today from my study, brought back the feeling of peace and tranquility on that hillside.  It is a visual journal for me that brings back the moment, the feelings, the prayers.  This place will forever be a place of peace and reflection for me.  This painting is the 75th painting in 75 days.

Morning Snow

Morning Snow
Oil on panel, 10x8

With a VERY busy schedule today, I painted early.  The sun was out and casting the most beautiful shadows on the still heavy snow.  A welcome sight after so many gray days!  My panel was heavily textured, and I painted loose and free on this landscape - partly because I had to hurry to complete it before leaving the house!  I love this color scheme for a winter painting - there is something so fresh about the warm pinks, cool blues and soft violets.  We had some melting today, so tomorrow may just be my last snow painting until the next snow.  I think I'll paint the corral tomorrow, the north side is still snow packed.  This is painting 60 in 60 days.  I have officially doubled my goal :)

Shadows Across the Creek

Shadows Across the Creek
oil on panel, 11x14

I just finished this one up from the Missouri Valley Impressionist paint out yesterday at the Jesse James Farm.  I had this one roughly blocked in yesterday, and then left it on my easel for a tour of the historic house!  The long shadows cutting across this creek and up the bank on the other side called out for me to paint them.  The tree roots were twisted and tangled, dropping into the still water of the creek.  This little stream is on the way up the path to the original farmhouse.  I started with the background, working forward.  I used one of my new palette knives on the foreground tree bark and in the grassy areas to add depth and interest.  It is always fun to play with new tools!  It was so enjoyable to paint in the warm sunshine, on a beautiful day in February......I'll remember it fondly on Thursday when the ice and snow arrives!  This is painting #46 in a row :)

January Morning

January Morning
Oil on panel, 10x8

I started this one when the snow was still on, finishing it just today.  I used a heavily textured surface before laying paint, and the paint was rather thick in the cold as well.  The early morning light throwing shadows on the snow drew me to this scene.  This is day 7 of the painting challenge - and it is getting harder and harder to meet this challenge as school activities and sports resume for the kids.........but I am determined to give it my best and just let the chips fall where they may!

Snow on the Hedgeapple Tree

Snow on the Hedgeapple Tree
Oil on Panel, 8x6

I love the twisted forms of old hedgeapple trees - and we have lots of them on the property!  This is Day 4 of the painting challenge - and I actually painted two today.  I used two new italian classico oils by Maimeri.  They are VERY creamy.  They are so creamy, that it was difficult for me to lay other colors into it - for building up the tree bark and the snow layers.  No medium used at all - it would have made these paints too thin.  It is so fun to experiment - and I have 3 colors yet untouched!