Koi! ATC

There is something so peaceful about watching koi swimming in a pond.  Their curving shapes gliding gently through the water, until feeding time!  At that point they turn into a mass of wriggling bodies tumbling over one another in search of that last morsel of food!  I begin with an ink sketch, India ink for this one.  I start adding color, pulling a spot from one, a blotch from another, as they all collide and move like a dance!  I find that I really enjoy painting them!  Fast, frenzied, and curious, they're very entertaining to draw!  Just being around them has me longing for my own water garden.  Imagine if I could simply walk outside and paint these beauties anytime I wished.  One day!  Painting number 2035 in 2035 days.

Trains!

I have driven by this garden many times, as it is close to me.  When I walled into the back yard, I was amazed at the elaborate trains set up in the back yard!  It took me a little while to decide exactly what to paint - the subjects were endless!  I started with an oil painting, and then moved into ink and watercolor for the rest of the day!  7 paintings later, this is my post for the day. What a treat to paint in a water/train garden on this beautiful day!  This was such a fun partnership for the Urban Sketchers KC and the Water Garden Society of Greater Kansas City, to join together for their annual water garden tour.  I hope to do this every year, it is so inspiring to see what another dreams up in their own space!  Painting number 1995 inn 1995 days.