Moss on the Lake

Moss on the Lake
Oil on panel, 14x11
George Owen Nature Park

This is my second painting from the George Owen Nature Park.  In this spot, one must tread carefully, as Canadian geese and their young goslings are all about!  I had to give them a wide birth, just to get close enough for this view of the lake.  The moss spreading out into the water drew me in.  I have not ever tried to paint algae on the water before - and it is a little tricky!  The lake was calm as glass - allowing the most beautiful reflections on it's surface.  Such a peaceful place for spending the day.  This makes painting number 137 in 137 days.

Sunset in the Doctor's Garden

Sunset in the Doctor's Garden
Oil on panel, 14x11
Stems Sunset Quick Paint

This is the first painting at the Overland Park Arboretum Stems event.  I am an avid gardener - and love to paint garden landscapes, so this is always an exciting event for me!  The kick-off is a sunset quick paint from 6:00 to 8:20.  There is a wonderful wine and food social beforehand, where I enjoy seeing my artist friends again this year.  Arriving early, I had scouted out three different locations for this first painting, deciding on the one that would best show the evening color.  The weather was perfect - on the warm side with a lovely breeze.  So refreshing to ditch the ski coat!  I read the plaque for this garden which talked of a doctor, but I simply do not remember the details.  On my next trip back, I will check it and include the name of whom this garden honors.  There are new ornamental grass plantings here, so I'm sure this will be a garden to evolve this season.  This painting makes 136 in 136 days.

A Tangle of Roots

A Tangle of Roots
Oil on panel, 8x10
George Owen Nature Park

While at the George Owen Nature Park judging an event, I walked the Butterfly Path to find this lovely landscape.  There is something so peaceful about the sprawling of roots from a tree at water's edge.  The creek is very low right now, exposing so much of the roots of this tree.  Most of the dirt has been washed away beneath it, and still it thrives.  The panel I used for this is heavily textured, lending itself well to a dense forest scene.  Sometimes I apply more texture with reckless abandon, and others I leave almost sparse of strokes.  Then, when faced with a composition, I simply choose what feels the most appropriate to me.  So much of art is intuitive.  I am posting early for me today as I have a sunset paint tonight at the Overland Park Arboretum.  This is the kick-off for the STEMS event - 2 weeks of painting at their venues.  Looking forward to what the gardens have to offer, as well as my old stomping grounds of downtown Overland Park.  This is painting number 135 in 135 days - and I always have to check yesterday's blog to see where I am at on the count!

Goldfinch and Coneflowers

Goldfinch and Coneflowers
Acrylic on panel, 11x14

I had started this painting before, bringing it out for the final touches tonight, when I realized I did not have enough time to finish my landscape of the day.  Some days are just so packed with activities, I scarcely have time to eat (or sleep).  I had an hour to block in a creek scene from the George Owen Nature Park plein air event - which I had the honor of judging earlier today.  After seeing the "Into the West" show at the Kansas City Club, and stopping by the Power and Light art show afterwards, I thought I would have enough time to complete my piece.  Instead, I had a little family time, and now I am posting at this late hour, with an early morning baseball practice on the horizon.  Why can't I just have an extra 6 hours in every day?  This simple addition would certainly give me ample time for all of my needs.  I thought I might just top this painting off in oils, but for now, I will leave it in acrylics.  I have always liked to paint my birds in acrylic.  This is the 134th painting in 134 days.

Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods
Oil on panel, 10x8
Manitou Springs, Colorado

If you have not been to the Garden of the Gods, you simply must go there!  Giant red rock formations shoot right out of the earth, as if planted there eons ago.  These are just west of Colorado Springs in the town of Manitou Springs.  There are so many of these famous formations - it will give me subject matter for quite a while!  The fun part for me is that I have never painted terrain like this.  The colors are all so different than Missouri - much more desert like.  It is always so inspiring to travel with my paints.  It gives me a whole new appreciation for the beauty around me.  This painting makes number 133 in 133 days.

Flowers for Abigail

Flowers for Abigail
Oil on panel, 11x14
Painting #132 in 132 days

As I arrived home, my thoughts remained on the events of the morning.  I found myself bringing in gerbera daisies which I had not yet put in the ground.  I pulled down Grandma Bessie's old glass pitcher, setting the daisies into it.  The white spirea are just coming into full bloom off the front porch, and I cut a few branches to arrange with the daisies.  After setting up the little still life, I put paint to panel, thoughts still on the morning.  As the brushstrokes made the painting, I found solace in this work.  These pink daisies are for little Abigail, with many prayers for her family.

The Waters of Wolf Creek Pass

The Waters of Wolf Creek Pass
Oil on panel, 11x14

Today I am painting from photo reference I just took last week while coming through Wolf Creek Pass.  I have taken so many photos - I haven't even looked at them all yet!  To get to this spot, I had to trek through the brush, off the beaten path to get close enough to the water.  I wanted to set up my easel on the spot - but time would not allow it.  With the location so fresh in my mind, I can almost feel the cool wind and hear the loud rush of the water as I paint this spot.  The danger of being so close to the water is that I wouldn't be able to hear a bear approach, and I did see some very large footprints!  This painting makes 131 in 131 days :)

Blooming Trees

Blooming Trees
Oil on panel, 12x9
Defiance Paint Out

This was painted up the street from the Car Show in Defiance on the day of the Defiance Paint Out.  The yard was grand, with trees on either side blooming in profusion.  It was a lovely, warm day, and the family who lived here was very friendly.  Music wafted up from the show as people came by and visited while I worked.  It was a lovely day spent. With all of the visiting, I did cut it very close to the deadline for turning this one in to the Yellow Farmhouse Winery by 4:00!  Thank goodness I am ahead a painting or two - as I have been very busy today indeed!  Painting number 130 in 130 days.

Pond of Reflection

Pond of Reflection
Oil on panel, 10x8

Today's post is a post of a different kind.  I worked on this second workshop piece in a room with 6 other artists. The fumes from the turps and other solvents grew stronger as the day wore on.  I don't use solvents at all, using only safflower oil as needed for brush cleaning.  I found myself holding my breath, going to one of the open windows for air, even outside a time or two to really breathe.  Towards the end, I felt bad enough that I thought I may pass out.  I struggled to finish this, holding my jacket over my nose, to breathe.  It is the first time I have been enclosed with solvents since last July.  Again, I felt the vice around my chest, squeezing.  I didn't realize just how bad it was until I was in the car, away from it at last.  My throat burned, my lungs burned, even my nostrils burned.  Once in bed, I did not rise for 12 hours, another symptom of the damage done - and 6 hours longer than I normally sleep.  I should have left when I first started having trouble breathing, but instead - I am so stubborn as to finish what I start at whatever cost.  I will not do it again.  I simply must be careful about what I breathe.  I am feeling better tonight, still exhausted, and the vice loosens.  The moral of this story is "do not inhale the solvents and turps - and if someone else uses them, run in the other direction." Life is a gift, not a guarantee.  This is the 129th painting in 129 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 :)

Baby Alan

Baby Alan
Graphite on bristol

Just arrived home from Colorado, getting ready for a workshop in the morning, and doing a little graphite work to unwind.  Working with pencil and paper helps me unwind like no other medium.  I can just let the graphite work it's magic, blending as needed with the paper stumps.  I lay a fresh piece of paper down for my right hand to rest on as I work.  This prevents the oil from my skin from getting onto the paper, changing the way the paper accepts the graphite.  I am almost finished with this one, only a couple of shadows to deepen.  I am also working on another graphite piece, which just may be one of my favorites, yet.  Can't wait to get back to it.  And yes, I have MANY more Colorado paintings to paint in the days to come.  This makes the 127th artwork completed in 127 days.

San Juan River Bluffs

San Juan River Bluffs
Oil on panel, 14x11
Pagosa Springs, Colorado

I started this painting on location at the River Walk Park just east of Pagosa Springs.  There are 2 ponds on site to catch the reflections of the bluffs.  I sketched it out in pastel, and was just ready to start laying paint - when I realized we had to get back in time to hear a jazz band play in town!  This is the way so many painting days go.....having to stop just when I am getting in the zone.  So, this one was completed back at the room.  Staying up late to finish, as I doubt I'll be able to paint tomorrow.  I sure wish I had been able to paint two a day all week long.......this one makes 126 paintings in 126 days.  So many beautiful sites, so little time.........

River Walk Mountain View

River Walk Mountain View
Oil on panel, 14x11
Pagosa Springs, Colorado

This charming view of the San Juan Mountains is located just east of Pagosa Springs on the River Walk.  This is a trail that winds through the town and out on either side.  This still water pond was just what I was looking for to capture those wonderful reflections in!  It had sleeted and rained hard this morning, finally letting up so I could go out and paint.  The winds change the temperature around here almost every 5 minutes - so I go from ski coat to no coat and back again!  This makes my 125th painting in 125 days.  I am now going to work on a sketch from today, as I will probably not be able to paint tomorrow........

San Juan Mountain Magic

San Juan Mountain Magic
Oil on panel, 14x11
Pagosa Springs, Colorado

After scouting several other possible locations today, we ended up driving up a road that took us high on a hill top.  Pulling along side the road, we set up in a gravel area to start this painting.  The weather was perfect, clouds drifted overhead causing an ever changing light on the mountains.  I worked fast to capture the light on the snow patches - thinking the clouds could drop down any minute to cover the mountain tops.  We could not even see these mountains yesterday in the rain.  It was magical, and the light was so dreamy - a perfectly splendid painting day.  Then, to top it off, we spent the rest of the day at the hot springs, hopping from basin to basin.  I am now so relaxed, I could just drift off to sleep without a care in the world!  LOVE those hot springs!  This is painting number 124 in 124 days.  What wonderful sight will we find to paint tomorrow?

San Juan River Rapids

San Juan River Rapids
Oil on panel, 14x11
Pagosa Springs, Colorado

The San Juan River in Pagosa Springs is gorgeous - twisting and turning over rocks and against banks.  As I was painting this, three kayakers came right down the middle of the biggest falls.  Each one of them slipped underwater for just a moment before popping back up.  Then, each one circled back over to do it again before continuing on their journey!  I got some great photos - but they were too fast for me to put them down in paint!  This is painting number 123 in 123 days -  I may just be painting the river again tomorrow.....

Treasure Falls Majesty

Treasure Falls Majesty
Oil on panel, 11x14
Pagosa, Colorado

We first spotted this location yesterday before arriving at our destination.  It immediately grabbed me - BEGGING to be painted!  First chance we got today, we headed straight for it and got down to business.  This is one of those paintings that seemed to just fall from the tip of my brushes.  It was an absolute joy to paint - weather was warmish - a little windy towards the wind, but so much fun to stand in front of this beauty - and paint!  All the time, little chipmunks climbed up my boots, into my paint bag, and even on the ledge where my safflower oil was - ready to take a drink!  They are so friendly - I am sure they are used to being fed.  So today, these little guys made amusing little paint companions!  It is time to go scope out another location - so this makes painting number 122 in 122 days!  I can't wait to start the next one :)

A Little Mountain Magic

A Little Mountain Magic
Oil on panel, 14x11
Pagosa Springs, CO

My first plein air mountain painting!  The weather is absolutly beautiful!  So much sun, warm temps in the 60's, and these beautiful clouds rising up from the mountain range - what could be more perfect than that?  After a day full of scouting out spots and taking photos for reference - it feels SO GOOD to be putting paint to panel!  This is painting number 121 in 121 days- and now its time for a little dinner :)

Balducci's Barn

Balducci's Barn
Oil on panel, 18x14
Balducci's Sunset Paint Out

This is the first time I have painted this beautiful barn from the front.  I am normally down the hill, near the pond or in the vineyard, looking at the back side if the barn - with the sunset behind them.  The weather was chilly - but not nearly as cold or wet as last year - another gift!  We had an early dinner here and a glass of wine before setting up our easels.  It is such a nice way to begin a paint!  This is painting number 120 in 120 days.  Tomorrow - I hope to be painting in the mountains :)

Sunset Path

Sunset Path
Oil on panel, 8x6

I am painting small today, as time is short and my "to-do list" is long!  After a sunset paint at the Washington riverfront last week, I realize I need to home my "sunset" skills.  So, this is my first study in that direction.  I am using looser strokes here on a heavily textured panel.  I already see a few things I would tweak in the sky - but I'll just make those adjustments later.  This is painting number 119 in 119 days.  I am wondering if I'll have time to paint tomorrow...........!

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.