Summer at Kauffman Garden

It is delightful to paint the summer blooms as the fountains bubble around me!!  Meeting artist friends here this morning, I arrived a little later than intended.  Loading 7 large paintings in the car for delivery to PGAV Architects, took a little longer than anticipated.  I'm working large today, because I am ever in need of Kansas City paintings for gallery spaces.  This one will frame at 20x16.  I don't think I've painted here this time of year before, not this selection of blooms.  Nor have I painted from this direction, catching the architecture in the background.  I like the soft garden edges against the hard lines of the buildings, grounds the painting.  Though hot, there was a lovely breeze and I tucked myself into a shady spot, painting until I finished.  The girls had gone on to lunch, but it feels good to have one ready to frame, and now it's off to my art drop-off next!  Painting number 4293 in 4293 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!

Hay Bales in the Field

These large round bales have always inspired me.  When I was little, my brother and I would climb on top of them, playing king of the mountain.  I am working on some large pieces, this one is 24x20.  I really enjoy painting large in the field, but I think I need larger brushes.  The more I get out there with this size, I realize the block in would go so much faster with a 2 inch brush.  Maybe I'll pull out an old house painting brush for tomorrow, as I'm planning on painting large on the prairie after the gym in the morning! Painting number 1675 in 1675 days. 

oil on panel, 24x20
purchase here

Jack and Sandy's Garden

What a special treat is was to be invited to this charming garden!  With Sandy's monkey bread and a cool drink - I was off to choose my painting location!  There are so many paintings to be found in a garden, it was hard to narrow down the field!  So, I didn't!  I included the view with the "windows", which were really mirrors framed to mimic windows!  How clever!  The beautiful garden is reflected right back - doubling it's size instantly!  This was such a peaceful place to paint. The icing on the cake?  An informal pan flute recital on the lawn, hand carved and played by our gracious host, Jack!  What a perfect way to spend the first day of summer!  Painting number 1624 in 1624 days.

Sailing from Ephraim

This sailboat was picturesque as it sailed from the Ephraim harbor.  With the marina visible in the distance, this scene was a little slice of everyday life along this shore.  This place is one of my favorite towns along the coast in Door County.  It is full of nostalgic buildings dotting the coastline like jewels in a crown.  What a beautiful place to paint!  This painting makes 1308 in 1308 days :)

Light in the Woods

After talking to an artist friend of mine at last weekend's art reception, I started this painting out with a sketch in alizarin crimson.  From this unusual start, I filled in the light.  Then the rest came together, but I tried to keep that wonderful hue active in the darks.  I spent hours over the weekend pruning and weeding this area, and it has called me to paint it!  Thanks to Carole McCall for sharing her technique with me!  So fun to try new things!   Painting number 1265 in 1265 days.

Light in the Woods
Oil on panel, 7x5
purchase here

Path to the Lake

What a beautiful day for an art fair!   The Overland Park arboretum hosted the fair today to showcase the plein air work of this year's Stems event.  My tent had a clear view of the path leading to Margaret's Pond, so I set my easel up to paint.  I really enjoy visiting while I work, the time passes quickly.  What could be better than being surrounded by the peaceful beauty of the arboretum?  I wish I had brought another panel to paint on!  Painting number 1251 in 1251 days.

Path to the Lake
Oil on panel, 12x9
purchase here

Painting from the Pasture

Painting From the Pasture
Acrylic on masonite, 5x7

As the final assignment in a figure class this month, I have painted myself!  The photo reference in from the civil war reenactment we had in the pasture, where I invited the MVIS artists to capture the event in paint.  One of the women from the camp loaned me her dress, and voila - I became a period painter!  The hat is one I paint in, and the apron was one I had tucked away from who knows where!  Using my limited palette of acrylics, I blocked in the values and colors that shape the scene.  Next, I tweak those masses using loose, impressionistic strokes.....although I may have tightened up a bit on my palette and brushes.  They are prized possessions that make my life a joy - so, I guess they’re allowed the extra attention!  Twice, I have forgotten to pack my make-up and curling iron on out of town plein air trips, but I always have my art supplies with me!!  This is painting number 1183 in 1183 days.

block in

Summer Dreaming

Summer Dreaming
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
purchase here

Oh, how I love the warm days of summer!  Give me the heat any day of the week - but you can keep that cold weather up north, where it belongs!  Today, I am painting little Michael, as he drifted in the pool in one of his favorite tubes.  I considered changing the color of that tube, to enhance the painting - but decided against it.  I wanted the challenge of using the blues of water and tube together, and the cool blue is so soothing.  I am enjoying this month of painting portraits SO much!  It has allowed me to really focus on the colors of the planes, and on the reflective light that gives the face form.  Probably the most valuable habit I have adopted this month is the 10 minute color study at the very beginning of painting.  It has replaced the line drawing completely, and I think it has really strengthened my accuracy.  Painting number 1052 in 1052 days.

photo reference

color study

Sunflower Fields Forever

Sunflower Fields Forever
Oil on masonite, 14x11
purchase here

Tonight finds me getting ready for the Sunflower Festival.  It is so relaxing to immerse myself into this meadow painting after the bustle of town.  I love the rural midwest landscape, and capturing it with paint is sheer heaven. Right before leaving or Carmel, I topped off my walnut oil with safflower oil.  I didn't have time to clean out the can, so I ended up with a 50-50 mix.  The honeymoon with walnut oil was waning, as I did not like the stiff, sticky residue that was beginning to adhere to ferrel and bristle, as well as the way it was setting up on my palette.  The simple addition of safflower oil has made all the difference!  Oh, how I have missed the safflower oil!  It cleaned my brushes right up, even reversing the damage the walnut oil was doing, and my bristles are supple again.  After two months, the benefit of a tiny extra bit of gloss was not worth the cons of the walnut oil.  This is Day 21 of the 30 day painting challenge, and my 994th painting in 994 days :)

A Dream to Sail

A Dream to Sail
Oil on wood panel, 11x14
purchase here

The turn in for my two Lake Quivira paintings is next week, so I am making sure they are framed and ready to go before I leave town.  These sailboats resting on the beach caught my eye immediately.  Off to to the right of these is one more sailboat, and I almost switched my composition from portrait to landscape to include the fourth boat.  But, when I looked from one to the other, I decided that this was the more dynamic composition.  I may well paint the other at a later date!  Lake Quivira is a fun place to paint - everyone is friendly, coming up to talk as I paint.  On this day, the sun was high and the light was strong, glistening off water and sand alike.  Since I am finishing this one after dark, I will have to look at it in the light of day, to make sure I have all as I want.  I already see one minor adjustment I want to make, well maybe two....... This painting makes Day 15 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge, and my 988th painting in 988 days.  I sure wish there were more hours in the day!

Sisters at the Lake

Sisters at the Lake
Oil on masonite, 12x9
sold

Labor Day weekend seems to ring in the last days of summer!  Where did all the summer days go?  It was only yesterday that the kids were out of school, and plans were being made - and now cooler days are on the way.  I have been working on this painting, and now I think it is finished.  It will be hanging with another painting, so the two need to display well together.  I will let them rest together on easels for a few days - just to make sure no other detail calls out to me.   This is number 9 in September’s 30 day challenge and this painting makes 982 for me in 982 days :)

Clouds Over Prairie Road

Clouds Over Prairie Road
Oil on canvas panel, 7x5

Getting wood panels primed for painting surfaces is a big job.  As a daily painter, I am in constant need of substrates!  After getting about 60 panels cut at my local Lowe’s store, today I started preparing them.  First, I sand all the edges - which are a little rough after been cut.  I prefer to do this outside, as I don’t want to inhale all that dust, nor do I want the mess int he house.  Next, I mix up gesso, acrylic paint to tint, some gel medium gloss and a bit of sanding grout.  Mixing this completely, I slap it on with a large putty knife, brushing out the marks with a 2 inch synthetic brush in a cross hatch fashion.  Once this dries, I again brush over the surfaces with gel medium tinted slightly with a pumpkin orange.  I like this color for summer, but sometimes I go with a Monet yellow - which is what is underneath in this case.  Once dry, I have surfaces that readily accept the paint, and the addition of gel gloss at the end makes the surface kinder to my brushes, and they don’t wear down so quickly.  I finished most of them - maybe 10 need the second coat, and 2 didn’t get prepped at all.  Oh well, I’ll have to catch them with the next batch.  This painting makes 971 in 971 days.

Lingering Clouds

Lingering Cloud
Oil on canvas panel, 7x5

Waking too early at 3:00 am, I already feel like I have put in a full day’s work. Pilates, step and kettle bell classes were especially grueling this morning, and the puppy couldn’t stay out of the mud - so another bath was in order before I could even shower myself. Approximately 60 panels are waiting for me to prime them, but I am drawn to my easel.   This is the birthday of my fourth and fifth children - they share this day three years apart!      Since we’ll be out for dinner tonight, it is good to have my painting done early, rather than later.  This is painting number 969 in 969 days :)

Summer Sunflowers

Summer Sunflowers
Oil on canvas panel, 10x8
purchase here

On my way home from the paint-in yesterday, I stopped by another shop to see what kind of sunflowers they had.  The ones I had picked up earlier were the traditional ones, and I was looking for some variation.  They had two bunches of these fancy blooms - and I snapped one right up!  What is more glorious than big, bold sunflowers?  Maybe the students in class will even want to paint them on Monday!  With our new back to school schedule (and Mike’s 3:30am wake-up time), I find I am up and ready to paint very early, indeed.  With most of my work done, I was able to finish this painting before my Zumba class at 8:30am.  Its great to feel like I have extra time in the middle of the day!  When was the last time that happened?  Never?  Painting number 961 in 961 days :)

Red Kayaks

Red Kayaks
Oil on wood, 9x12
Kangaroo Lake, Wisconsin

Resting on the shore of Kangaroo Lake, these bold red kayaks caught my artist’s eye immediately.  No other color is as beautiful against the green grass of the shore - and I knew I must paint it.  The sun was heading to the west, and it’s golden glow was shooting through the trees - so I had to lay down those hues first.  Light is especially fleeting towards sunset, and I had to work quickly.  This is a special place, and I have painted at this location each year I have come to Door County.  Our loft is tucked into the woods, right across from here - so it is only a quick walk with the gear.  A sorority gathering of friends and husbands sang nearby as guitar music drifted our way, and a campfire was just getting started.  What could be better than this?  This quick sunset painting is my 940th painting in 940 days.  I don't think I will ever tire of painting this peninsula :)

sun has set, boat has been moved, but painting is done!

Summer Lake

Summer Lake
Watercolor on 140lb cold pressed paper, 7x5
purchase here

I have always loved bodies of water, the ripple of streams, crashing of waves, and even the gentle lapping at the bank of a pond.  So soothing and peaceful, these are delightful places to paint.  I’ve been very short of time lately, so I have reached for the watercolors.  I can capture the essence of a place very quickly by working wet into wet on my paper.  In fact, I never build up my layers.  I only paint the first layer, so I must be sure to drop in that strong pigment and let it mingle as it will.  This is the 908th painting in 908 days.

Path to Golden Clouds

Path to Golden Clouds
Oil on wood, 6x4 - purchase here

With the storms of the last week - the sky has been full of dramatic clouds!  Several times, I have been caught driving while this beauty unfolded before me!  Thank goodness my youngest son was in the car to take the reference photos for me!  For some reason, he likes to me "on time" to baseball games and guitar lessons - instead of allowing me to pull off the road and paint!!  Sometimes, it is SO hard to be a responsible mom!  Painting number 904 in 904 days........I wonder how this skyscape would unfold in watercolor?  Hmmmmmm - it may be the next thing I paint :)

Morning Farm in Rogersville

Morning Farm in Rogersville
Watercolor on 140lb paper block, 10x7
purchase here

This morning's baseball game was back in Rogersville, Missouri - and the early light was warm and wonderful!  This farm is just north of yesterday's painting - both come right up to the ball fields.  So pastoral and peaceful, these farms are a step back in time.  I have gotten this one painted in a tiny window of time before the game. Watercolors truly are a quick go-to medium when time is short.  I had to lay it in the trunk wet - and get back to the festivities!  Painting number 903 in 903 days.  Happy Father's Day to all those dads out there :)

Rogersville Farm

Rogersville Farm
Watercolor on paper, 10x7
purchase here

I have never been to Rogersville before, and that was the location of our first two baseball tournament games today!  Facing one way was the ball field, and right behind me was this little slice of heaven!  In between games, I was able to sketch this out - and could hardly resist pulling out my paints to get started!  None of these parents know that I am an artist, and certainly the locals would think I was crazy - so, I waited until I got back to the hotel before laying down those paints.  Still so fresh in my mind - I was finished in minutes.  One the next hill over, another glorious farm awaits my paints - complete with cows!  Still too wet to sign - this painting makes 902 in 902 days.