Betsy and Able

Each of my chickens has such a unique personality!  Betsy is one of my sweetest hens, gentle and kind to the others.  She'll sit in my lap contentedly, whether I have treats or not.  A Calico Princess, she has lovely coloring!  Able is a gorgeous Starlight Green Egger rooster, who is still sweet and takes food from my hand so carefully - with a softer touch than any of my hens.  He especially likes taking bites of buns that I hold, when we have some left over from grilling.  I'm so thankful for each of my chickens.  I never dreamed they could add so much to my world.  And of course, I LOVE painting them!  Painting number 4956 in 4956 days. 
 

Overland Park Water Tower

What a fabulous and warm February day for painting!  With record breaking temps in the upper 70s, it was sheer joy to paint slices of my childhood today. This is my old stomping grounds, and I have a fondness for this historic water tower, while so many new apartments pop up around it.  Michaela and her family met me at Thompsons Park, where the little ones had a blast playing at the playground.  What a lovely way to spend the day!  Painting number 4064 in 4064 days. 

Boulevard Brewing Beer Hall

The Boulevard Brewing Company's Beer Hall is a great place to sketch!  It was easy to get in and sketch when they opened at 10:00. People were already lined up for the first brewery tour.  Within an hour, that place was hopping!  You can order food, sample beer, buy Boulevard goodies in the gift shop, or hang out in any of the many areas throughout this large building.  So many cool things to paint!  And a great place to meet friends!  Painting number 1911 in 1911 days.

Sketch Montage!

The #oneweek100people2018 challenge begins today, so this is today's work.  I am working with my varsity pilot fountain pen (because I left my bag in the car which has my fancy pens) on various watercolor papers and my sketchbook. I just started this book, and I think I'll save it for figures only.  I use a water brushpen to get my middle values, and I'm writing working loose.  The whole idea is to improve my quick draw skills on people, and what better way than drawing 100 of them in 5 days?  I've got a meeting tonight, perhaps I'll sneak in some paper and capture them in ink!  Painting number 1872 (I'm lumping them all together for the count) in 1872 days.  Join me in the fun and get out your pens!

Poinsettias and Pines ATC

The Family Tree Nursery is a magical place to paint!  There are paintings at every turn - and the poinsettias were irresistible!  So many varieties and so little time to paint!  The format is very small at 2.5x3.5, and I am really enjoying working so tiny!  The days are full of family and fun, and so many Christmas activities!  This little ATC is heading to Mexico, where the days are warm and balmy!  Painting number 1800 in 1800 days!

Thousand Oaks Inked

Drawing in the quiet of an early morning fog, I feel like the only one here.  I love to work when all is still, before the landscape wakes.  So quiet I can hear the leaves falling from the maple, I render each line as I see it.  Using my favorite fountain pen, I complete my composition before adding a wet brush to move the ink a little.  I like to get my middle values this way, instead of the cross hatching of the old days.  I still turn to the India ink once in a while, but once I tried the water - I never really went back.  Painting number 1764 in 1764 days.

House on Walnut Inked

I had a large installation this afternoon for the Now Showing program of Arts KC.  I had so much help deciding where to place the 40 paintings on three different floors  - it was a breeze!  The space at the Bank of Blue Valley is really wonderful, showing the art to best advantage.  I took most of my large paintings, holding a few for an upcoming exhibition at the Albrecht Kemper Museum.  I met Mike to visit his mom in the hospital, followed by dinner out with Michael.  Finally arriving home, I am posting one of the many drawings that slip through the cracks of my daily posting.  I really like the composition and flow of this sketch in one of my favorite places - Augusta!  I often finish more than one piece a day, so there is no telling the number I'm really on for the daily count!  As I progress, I weed those old paintings out...sometimes even painting over them.  If I wouldn't show it now, I don't keep it.  So, there's another number hard to figure out....how many actually still exist of my daily paintings...! Painting number 1673 in 1673......or what could it really be?  Am I a hundred ahead?  More?  😉