Belfast Castle in Ink

Oh my goodness - what a gorgeous castle this is in Northern Ireland!  I am drawing her today with a fine dark sepia Pitt pen.  With such complicated architecture, I begin with light, sketchy lines until I'm sure my proportions are correct.  Sketching is like handwriting, no two artists are the same.  I let the marks emerge as I concentrate on the scene, loose and energetic in their motion.  I'm not concerned with perfect cross hatching and line structure, though I do like the line to follow the form (just like brush strokes).  I've decided to fill the pages of this journal with places from around the world, rendered in ink alone.  This sketchbook is pretty, which is why I bought it, but the paper is rather thin.  I have to be careful not to get my ink too dark, and watercolor is out of the question.  I check my stats each day on my blog, and choose a unique location that someone has visited me from on that day.  Today, I had one visitor from Ireland - and voila, a little research led me to this composition.  It is just like I've had a little vacation in my warm chair, with a hot cup of lemon ginger tea, and my sketchbook.  Drawing number 1492 in 1492 days.  Now, I'm going to do a little reading on Belfast :)

Plaza Nocturne in Batik

Switching gears today, I am working with the watercolor batik method.  Though I prefer the super thin rice paper, I am learning to really enjoy the heavier masa rice paper.  It has a slick side and a papery side, and I always use the papery side.  It accepts the ink and watercolor much better than the slick side.  Experimenting today, I  wrinkled my paper before painting as is often done with masa, but not normally with the batik until after waxing.  I liked it.  The creases that "broke" the sizing took on more paint than the rest, bumping up that batik effect when I later added the sienna paint to the creases and edges.  I've been sketching quite a bit of architecture lately, so I've chosen one of my favorite places - the Country Club Plaza for my composition.  This place is beautiful all times of the year, but especially when the streets are wet!   The coolest part of this technique is that no two paintings will ever be alike.  The way the watercolor reacts to the rice paper and hot wax is unpredictable, taking on a mind of it's own.  And what is more fun than a painting doing it's own thing?  This painting makes 1491 in 1491 days :)

Mill Creek in February

It was unseasonably warm when I headed to the park.  I hiked down to the creek on the west side of the lake, as the wind was kicking up from the north.  Finding my spot, the cool wind was right in my face.  I climbed down on the boulders to the edge of the water, using the creek bank as a wind break.  I didn't see any snakes, but kept an eye out between those crevices for whatever may climb out!  I actually sat on one of those boulders with this 8x10 Guerilla Pochade in my lap, to paint this.  I didn't have my palette, so I squeezed out fresh paint from the limited tubes I had loaded in this box.  Well, I couldn't get the alizarin crimson open, and it was my only cool color.  I had Terre Greeze yellow earth, instead of yellow ochre - and it does not make a good green when added to black!  With no blue on board, this was bad indeed!  This yellow did not mix well with white either!  It is a very coarse paint, and I have enjoyed it on a normal palette, but I will never use it on a Zorn palette again!   I will not be so haphazard the next time I load a new pochade box!  Lesson learned!  This painting is the 1490th painting in 1490 days.

Old Barn on 58 Hwy

When considering what I should paint today, I look to the color in the landscape for direction.  This drizzly, overcast day was the perfect backdrop for the weathered reds of this historic barn.  Once a cluster of grand houses and outbuildings, this lonely barn is now surrounded by "progress".  It is now used for hay storage, and is guarded by a beautiful calico cat - who has been here for years.  The old Ford truck is parked under the open side, as if it just pulled in from chores.  I  wish I could have painted the buildings now fading from memory.  They added beauty to the landscape that the box stores never could.  Painting number 1489 in 1489 days.

Ink Study of David

I have been studying master works, and this ink rendering is from Michaelangelo's David.  This statue has a striking resemblance to my youngest son - right down to the curly locks!  My youngest daughter even asked me if it was Michael!  I'm using a medium black Pitt pen in my natural tan earthbound sketch journal for this one.  I think the dark paper is well suited for this work, and I plan to continue in the same thread for this one.  This drawing is the 1488th in 1488 days.

Tallship Nocturne Batik

Hot wax, ink and watercolor on masa rice paper are my playthings du jour!!  Pushing into the contemporary and abstract, I choose a tallship in the night under the moon and stars!  First, I sketch out the scene with India ink.  Next, I paint my lightest values, letting the dry.  I then come in with a bristle brush and hot wax (I heat in a tiny crock pot), and paint these areas that I want to resist the next layers of color.  Then, I flood in my darks on the fragile masa rice paper, which I set on top of wax paper for full paint absorbency.  I am using my Daniel Smith translucent watercolors for this technique.  Once this dries, I wax the entire painting, allowing it to cool.  Now, this is the scary part.  I wad the painting up into a ball, crunching wax off randomly!  I then come back over this painting with a dark color, working the paint into all this creases I just created.  After this dries, I place the painting between layers of newspaper, and iron until all wax is removed.  I must keep switching out the paper to accomplish this.  The fun part is that this technique creates different results every time, so no two pieces will ever be the same!  This contemporary painting is the 1487th in 1487 days :)

Old Barn on Y Hwy

Another morning of drawing before I head to the gym, and another morning I get there late!  I just can't resist a beautiful scene, and the sun is not rising early enough for me to be on time!  On the flip side, I LOVE painting early!!  It revs me up and invigorates me before I ever reach the gym, keeping my head in the game once I get there!  There has lately been heavy equipment and activity around this barn, and with it's deteriorating condition, I'm afraid they are going to bring it down.  These little treasures are slices of Americana, and each one that slips from existence is forever gone.  With this in mind, I am getting this one down in ink and watercolor while I can.  Painting number 1486 in 1486 days  :)

February Sunset

I could tell an hour before sunset that it was going to be a lovely one.  We had a late lunch out with family, went by for some baby time with Nolan, and headed home in the golden hour.  The clouds were lining up beautifully, and how I longed for my paints in transit!  Taking care of a couple things upon arriving home, I almost started too late!  The color in the sky changed drastically between my start and finish time - how hard it is to not chase the light on a sunset!  I committed at a certain point, and I stayed true to that color to the end.  For speed painting with this small box, I really need one larger workhorse brush!  I have loaded it with the short brushes that would fit, but I think I'm going to have to saw the ends off of a few of my favorite ones, and my favorite catalyst as well!  I really want to put some time into these sunset studies before plein air season begins again!  Painting number 1485 in 1485 days  :)

Hedgeapple Tree Sunrise

The first light was spreading from the east - and in anticipation, I rushed to get to my easel.  Mornings are all about timing, making sure kids are up for school, lunch made, dogs and cats fed and watered - and getting myself ready for the gym.  Then, a dazzling show begins in the sky - and I must work faster!  This morning, I actually painted in my jammies on my front porch!   Thanks goodness we live in the country where there are no neighbors close enough to see my shenanigans!  This painting was done entirely with one flat Bristlon brush, and is my 1484th painting in 1484 days :)

Sunset through the Trees

Oil on panel, 6x6

The skies of January have simply been breathtaking!  Looking out past the west pasture, I begin this painting quickly.  There is so little time to capture a sunrise or sunset before all of the color disappears!   With this in mind, I start with the bold colors I don't want to lose first.  Using broad knife strokes to skim the surface of my board, I get the whole surface covered.  Since I'm in a hurry, I drop in the trees with the knife, instead of negatively painting them.  As the color fades from the sky, I tweek a few of those colors by dragging the knife lightly over the base layer of paint.  This one is thick and juicy, and my 1483rd painting in 1483 days :)

Bold Sunset Sailing

Feeling bold today, the palette knife was calling my name.  I had sold a sailboat painting last week, and the memories of so many other seascapes came flooding back.  Using personal photos on my phone, I started this demo in class today to assist a student through the process.  This is painted entirely with my Princeton Catalyst, which I normally prefer to any metal knife.  The handle was too long to fit in my pocket box, so I took the head off the handle, holding it from the ferrel end!   It slid right off, and I can stick it right back on for normal use!   It is super fun to get chunky with the paint, while using the photo as a "jumping off point" for my painting.  It gives me some guidance, as I let the whims of the paint run wild.  Sometimes, I just have to run free!  Painting number 1482 in 1482 days.

Union Station Nocturne

There is something magical about painting at night.  I start with a dark panel, and brush on the lights as I see them.  From this humble beginning, the scene emerges.  Union Station is one of my favorite places to draw, the lines and arches of this building are beautiful.  When painting at night, I concentrate less on lines and details than I do on the impression of light.  The real story is the light, and the planes are just the supporting actors.  This one is in display at the Buttonwood Art Space for the upcoming Urban Abstract Show until April 29th.  Painting number 1481 in 1481 days.

Sunset on Cedars

Two of my students have been creating some fabulous work with their palette knives - and it has inspired me to use my own!  On this one, I have used my Princeton Catalyst exclusively.  I love the flexible head, especially when laying down that first lean coat of color!  It spreads smooth and lean, unlike the scratchy scraping of the metal knife.  I also used it for the thick to layer, but the other knifes also work well when just skimming that first layer of paint.  I think the catalyst produces a smoother finish than my metal knives.  I have most of the tips, but really prefer the small, angled head the most.  I  have rarely used my others......except when painting larger works!  Time to wrap up shop - we are meeting friends for dinner!   Painting number 1480 in 1480 days :)

oil on panel, 6x6
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View from the President Hotel

While attending a wedding reception in the ballroom of the President Hotel in downtown Kansas City, this was the amazing view out of the many windows!  Why didn't I have my paints and why did we park so far away?!!  Taking plenty of reference photos, I painted this scene at my leisure a bit later. I blocked in the masses first with acrylics on a dark primed panel. The composition was rather complicated with buildings and streets, and looking down onto the scene created a unique "bird's eye view" perspective.  Nocturnes are so much fun to paint - I am really just marking the lights!  After the acrylics, I come in with my oils, and finish with a palette knife.  The energy of painting downtown is always invigorating, just as a gentle pastoral scene is always peaceful.  Painting number 1479 in 1479 days :)

Running through the Cornfield

Today, I met with the Art Mob at Scheels in Overland Park, for plein air of a different kind!   I was surprised to find SO much to paint!   The animals were wonderfully posed for great compositions - and they stood still for me to paint them!  How often does that happen in the field?  This was my first drawing of the day, and I chose it due to the very lifelike setting.  I relished the opportunity to catch these deer running, and the cornfield was a bonus!  I am really enjoying my new watercolor perfection sets - I  bounced between three of them for today's paintings!  I also tried a new koi water brushpen today, medium tip.  I used it exclusively, and liked the flow.  It may take a little more pressure to get the water out than the 3 pack I got at Hobby Lobby, but it certainly worked well.   Painting number 1478 in 1478 days.

Coleman Baptist Church

I had not yet decided what to paint today, when a friend sent me a message about this old church.  It's not far from me, but I've never driven this road east of J Hwy.  I saw several wonderful old houses, barns and farms that I will need to return to, but this church suited me perfectly for my small painting window.  I started this one by looking at each mass carefully, and then blocking in that color on my panel.  With the gray day lighting, my colors and values were close in the scene before me.  I look for subtle differences within each plane as I paint.  The charm of this old church was a joy to capture, even though it was getting blustery out.  Cattle were lining up along the fence to my right - I sure wish I had time to paint them, too!  Painting number 1477 in 1477 days.

Raymore Presbyterian Church in Ink

Circa 1876, this historic Raymore Presbyterian Church was the first church built in this town. It has a charm and character that does not grace newer buildings.  Until a few years ago, there was a beautiful 2 story parsonage on the property, but it has been torn down.  Unsure of whether or not to add watercolor, I stopped. You know the old adage, "..if in doubt, don't! "  After a little thought, I may just loosely add in some watercolor later.  I like this building so well, I may just paint it in oil after the gym tomorrow!   This drawing makes 1476 in 1476 days :)

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Back Side of the Barn

Another foggy, moody morning, another chance to capture that feeling in oils!  I teach two classes on Mondays, so I quickly prepped for the first one and grabbed my pocket box and headed for the barn.  The fog had only thickened since sunrise - and I had less than 45 minutes before class!  Again, I started quickly, sketching the composition lightly with my brush. I love the ragged twist of hedge apple branches - and there are two of these trees on the back side.  Once sketched, I painted in the dark shadow areas followed by the foggy grays.  There were no warm tones in this morning's light, only cool, frosty ones.  It was cold enough that the fog was frosting all surfaces.  Will I ever grow tired of painting this barn?  I don't think so.  Painting number in 1475 in 1475 days.

oil on panel, 7x5
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Tangled Trees in Lamplight

As the day was winding down, and I begin to do those last chores of the day, this scene is what I see when I look out the window!   How can I simply turn my back on such beauty?  No matter how tired I was, you know what I did, right?  In a scene like this, I prefer to start with a dark panel.  I didn't have any primed, so I chose one in a dark pumpkin shade.  I start by laying in the darks of all shadow areas, and then define the light.  With the fog, the light spreads far into the landscape, and the deep, dark blue of the sky is not even visible.  There is only the warm light from our light pole throwing all the redbud trees into silhouette.  There is so much beauty around us every day, all we have to do is look!  This painting makes 1474 in 1474 days :)

Oil on panel, 10x8
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January Fog

I could not believe my eyes when I awoke to ANOTHER foggy morning!!  Wanting to paint 10x8, I realized the fog was already thinning.  Judging that I may have less than an hour in this light, I pulled out a 7x5 instead.  I am again using my limited palette of Indian yellow, red oxide, alizarin crimson, Windsor blue, titanium white and ivory black.  This very typical pasture scene was quickly painted in masses, cutting in around the trees with the distant misty fog.  Just like a clear day, the fog is lightest at the horizon, so I find myself dropping in more light at the top of the distant tree row.  The sun was already popping through the clouds with my last strokes.  Painting number 1472 in 1472 days :)

Oil on panel  7x5
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