Winter Hackberry

 

I love painting this cool old hackberry on the place. It's one of two very old ones here.  It's been rainy and drizzly most of the day, and I love the moodiness of the pasture.  Oils are so expressive in the landscape, each stroke marking the flow of the grass and trees.  What a peaceful way to spend a little time.  Painting number 4809 in 4809 days. 

Old Hackberry in the Snow

 

I love painting the branches as they spread out from the trunk of this very old hackberry tree.  It is one of two this age in the pasture. A blanket of snow coats the ground and accentuates the branches, adding drama and light to the scene.  I though we might get some more snow today, but alas we did not.  I hope to paint a few more snowscenes before it all melts away. It was so nice to have Tyler's family and Michaela's family out for snow fun and a campfire today!  We've had a while weekend full of family fun!  Painting number 4779 in 4779 days. 

Cardinals in the Cedar

 

It's lovely to take a break and sketch cardinals in the snowy woods! The air is so fresh and crisp after a snow, I love just being in this space and breathing the air.  The birds fly in and out, as if I'm not even there sketching.  I simply become part of the landscape where the wildlife is concerned.  We may have a couple of light snows in the next week, and I'm happy to extend my winter painting in the snow!  Painting number 4774 in 4774 days. 

Old Hackberry

 

This may be the oldest tree on the farm, a large, sprawling hackberry. I love sketching it in ink.  Painting number 4760 in 4760 days. 

McBaine Burr Oak

I had never seen this massive tree in person, and didn't even know that it was as close as Columbia, until Tyler called to see if we wanted to meet at the tree for a picnic the family.  On our last leg of the trip home from Tennessee, we thought it was a great opportunity.  While the others played and ate their lunches, I sat on the tailgate and sketched this beauty.  Burr Oaks are one of my favorite trees with their fiery red fall color and very large fringe capped acorns.  This tree is thought to be 350 to 400 years old, tied with another tree for the largest of it's species in the country.  It's only half a mile from the Missouri River. Lewis and Clark would have seen this already massive tree when exploring this new frontier.  It was struck by lightening two years ago, so now wears lightening cables running to ground.  She's lost s few of her glorious spreading branches, too.  But she still stands, huge and regal, through all these many years. I'm so happy we got to picnic here today.  Painting number 5137 in 5137 days. 

Eastern Red Cedar

 

It is so very peaceful to sketch among these beautiful cedars!  My grandparents used to cut a small one from the woods each year for Christmas, and I remember the smell and prickly edges of the branches.  I love them.  When we first bought this place from my Grandma, there were no cedars in the main pastures.  Even though we have two mature ones by the house, and they were hard to come by even on the woods.  Once every few years i would find a tiny one, and move it to the front, in a hedge row or protected area.  Over the years they began to spread on their own, and now we have some beauties that dot the landscape and naturalize the views.  I still move baby cedars to the fence rows, and perhaps I'll be painting them one day, too.  Painting number 5084 in 5084 days. 

January Cedar

 

To add watercolor, or not, it's my afternoon quandary.  My inclination was to leave it at pen and ink, but there is a little voice nudging me to add the color.  I'm beginning a brand new sketchbook and taking advantage of the warmest day in the foreseeable future (after helping Micheal touch up a few spots in the apartment he's moving out of and finishing a few errands). A big snow, 8 to 12 inches, is expected Sunday!  The leather journal accepts the ink well on it's butter soft paper, and I'm beginning with a few thoughts and wants for the new year.  With this sketch I'm ticking off a couple of boxes - spend more time in the woods and journal more.  I'm looking forward to watching these new pages emerge through the coming months!  Painting number 5056 in 5056 days. 

Cottage Swing

SOLD

I love the story this swing tells, and this small momento of a special place was left for our host in Lakeside. Pat and Robert have been lovely to stay with these last three years in Lakeside, but it looks like they may be selling their sweet cottage before we return next year.  A giant tree always greets us, with this beautiful old swing hanging from it's very large branches. Painting number 5112 in 5112 days. 

Tree at Nelson-Atkins Museum

I have never been to the Nelson-Atkins Museum at Christmas time, and was excited to see the nativity scenes at up in this main hall.  My artist friends had told me how lovely it was, but the expansive hall was empty, except for this lovely unadorned tree.  With a few poinsettias flanking it, this was the only seasonal view.  So, I sketched the tree with pencils and lunched with Mom and friends, still longing for a gorgeous Christmas scene.  I think we're going to Union Station in a couple of weeks so that place will surely meet my needs!  Painting number 3974 in 3974 days. 

Christmas at Union Station

 Wow!  What a magical place Union Station is at Christmas time! With holiday music in the air, and families coming to enjoy the tree, all is merry and bright!  I feel nostalgic in this place, with a feeling of reverence as I remember the six generations of my family that have walked these halls, that I now paint.  Could any of them have imagined I would?  As I do so often - and hardly anyone knows - I have painted my family members into the crowd, and I am all the way to the right - painting the scene at my easel. Just a little something extra for those who really look!  Painting number   3969 in 3969 days. 

Standing along the River

 

I finished this one up just as the sun went down, and  I have never seen the Missouri River so calm!  I drove through here in my way to an artist reception from a paint out, and the light on the bank was glorious! Pulling myself away, I popped into the reception and took a quick spin around the place.  The scene along the Missouri River was calling - so I rushed on back to paint it!  Several artist friends were still there, so I had company as I worked.    This painting now has a new home, too!  Painting number 3767 in 3767 days. 

Palm Study

What a pleasure to sit out and sketch on a warm, balmy morning!  After an early run and a leisurely cup of hot tea with fresh lemon, this was a treat! I didn't realize my favorite fountain pen was very low in ink, so I'm using another favorite pen that is loaded with Robert Oster's Thunderstorm. I leaned back in an Adirondack chair and looked upward to sketch this beautiful palm tree.  I love studying their shapes and colors, especially since I have to travel to paint them!  Little hummingbirds buzzed all around me as I worked, I was situated back against a lemon tree laden with blooms and fruit  one little bird studied me for several seconds, trying to decide if I was a flower or not!  So fun to experience summer weather in March!  Painting number 3374 in 3374 days. 
 

Old Tree ATC

I Love using pen and ink for such timeless subject matter.  This drawing could have been drawn a century ago, the method and tools are the same.  I used a favorite fountain pen loaded with Levenger's Raven Black ink, and use a water brush pen to gradate and soften edges.  For those lines I don't want to move, I use De Atrementis archival ink in another fountain pen which has an extra fine nib. I must be careful of such a small nib on handmade paper, one can do easily tear the surface.  I am sketching in miniature tonight - because it is late and I've had a very full day!  There are never enough hours for all I want to do in a day.  Loved getting to draw this grand old tree - even after dark!  Painting number 3345 in 3345 days.   💕🎨

Old Pin Oak

 

I'm so happy I could find time to paint this old oak tree in oils on this busy day.  I sketched this a couple of days ago, and the desire to take oils to it, remained.  I think it might be fun to look up into the branches from the base, too, but not today. I don't know where the time goes, but it seems i never have enough painting time!  Painting number 3313 in 3313 days,  and day 27 #stradaeasel challenge.

Pin Oak

This Pin Oak planted by my grandmother is a constant companion on the lawn, and I'm drawing it in pen and ink today. Ink is such a timeless choice for the landscape, and always so comfortable in my hand.  This tree is one of two planted when their first child joined the marines.  Happy to live where my roots were planted generations ago.  Painting number 3311 in 3311 days, and day 25 #stradaeasel challenge.

Old Hackberry

This old giant has been here for generations.  The sprawling branches of this hackberry tree reach out so very far, I really should measure one.  It seems to stretch 100 feet, and who knows how may people it would take to reach around it's trunk. We have two of these big beauties in the same pasture. So on this sunny day I am drawing her with pen and ink, using a favorite TWSBI and Levenger's Raven Black ink.  I love the timeless feel ink lends to this subject. Painting number 3307 in 3307 days and day 21 of the #stradaeasel challenge. 

January Pin Oak

This morning, there was a nice coating of snow and the temps were in the teens, so naturally I thought it would last for days. Once the sun came out, the snow started to melt.  By the time I finished the chili and kitchen chores, I had half the snow to paint. I may have to go down by the pond to find snow tomorrow!  Painting number 3270 in 3270 days. 

Christmas Tree in Metal

I do love the magic of a Christmas tree!  After trimming the tree, it is a treat to enjoy some time basking in the glow of it's light.  Tonight I choose metal to work up the image of this tree, first sketching and then embossing with various tools.  I'm finding my way again, learning which tools work best.  I'm looking forward to exploring all the possibilities.  Painting number 3238 in 3238 days. 

Hackberry Path

My newest TWSBI Eco fountain arrived yesterday along with De Atramentis Archive Ink.  It sat in my mailbox for hours, hovering around 0 degrees. By the time we got home from dinner, and I brought my new goodies to the house, I was surprised to find the ink not frozen!  This ink is very water resistant, so I use it for lines that I want to remain through the water work. Since I just loaded the pen with ink, the fine nib was a little juicy, dropping more ink than I wanted. Add to that, this paper is very thirsty, so it really sucks in that ink.  For the midtones,  I added Robert Oster's Thunderstorm ink, moving it a little with water. This color of ink is well suited for winter. The original lines do not move when water is added.  This ink is not waterproof, and might move on a smoother paper. So happy to see the sun!  It makes this record cold snap seem so much warmer!  Painting number 2959 in 2959 days. 

Snow on Old Hackberry

Today finds me painting the second largest hackberry in our winter wonderland!  Relatively close to the house on this cold 11 degree afternoon, I took a warm up break in the middle.  I made the mistake of taking off my painting hand glove briefly, and those fingers got cold fast.  When it is this cold, it is so important to layer up, including a neoprene layer.  I keep a sherpa scarf over my face, reducing skin exposure, ending with a heavy  hooded down coat and tall rubber boots.  I don't like painting with a glove on my paint hand, but I have to when it's this cold.  I'm looking for good neoprene gloves for just this.  My fleece lined leather gloves are fine for a while, but don't keep my fingers warm towards the end.  I know that if they start to tingle, it is time to warm them up!  Painting number 2954 in 2954 days