Mama and Calves

 

There is something so very timeless about painting cattle in the field, and I especially love the snow covered pastures.  My grandparent's cattle once roamed here, and seeing them brings back so many memories.  As a child running these fields with my brother, I never dreamed I would live here, too, raising our family.  I one created art at a child's desk in the kitchen, and for many years I've painted on the land that has always felt like home. I am truly blessed.  Painting number 5070 in 5070 days. 

Freya

 

I was working on this while introducing all my daughters to pastels!  It's been MANY moons since I've picked up a stick, and it sure was fun to explore the medium again.  I sketched my composition first with a pastel pencil, then a base layer with my pan pastels.  I followed with hard then soft pastels, and will hit just a couple more spots before framing.  I like the paper tortillions for blending, so far.  Who knows where this adventure leads? Painting number 5069 in 5069 days.

Ferris Wheel at Scheels

 

It was fun to meet inside to sketch the Ferris wheel on this very cold day with artist friends and Mom!  Lunch afterwards at their Cafe was icing on the cake.  Scheels is a great place to shop, with painting subjects ranging from architecture to the grand aquarium and taxidermy.  I brought a sketchbook today, wanting to immerse myself a little deeper in my methods.  Many subjects would have been far easier than this Ferris wheel, but when I think of Scheels, this is what comes to mind.  I've left the upper left corner a little dreamy because I plan to write about my day in that area.  I find it best to sketch on scene and fill in the words later - when I'm not so distracted by family and friends.  I can paint all day while talking to others, but it takes solitude to pull together the right words that really 'paint' my experience.  Painting number 5068 in 5068 days. 

Pastel Winter Creek

 

The girls were asking for some oil pastel instruction - so I dusted off my oil pastels and started playing.  Who can tell me what their favorite blending tools are?  I pulled all my oil pastels out of storage bins, cleaned them (as best as I could) and organized them.  I located my various pastel paper, limited as it is, and separated the ones reserved for soft pastels.  I've never used this medium much, but I have all the tools, many from the estates of a couple of artist friends. This is my first attempt, but I'm sure there will be more with our family sketch gatherings!  Painting number 5067 in 5067 days. 

Downey Woodpecker

 

I've seen so many woodpeckers since the blizzard - and I'm happy to get to paint this Downey woodpecker today!  I've noticed them all over the trees, moving up and down in search of lunch.  The snow is a gift that shows them off to their best advantage, and I can't wait to do it again.  Painting number 5066 in 5066 days. 

Sunset on the Snow

 

Time spent out in nature painting is time well spent.  The temps have gone up and it's absolutely balmy here as I work.  The shivering of a few days ago is now a cozy warm.  I must be acclimating to the cold now, and no wind is a blessing!  I've long looked across these pastures to watch the setting sun from the house.  It's a joy to paint it now from a little closer to the woods.  The air is so still and calm, there hardly seems to be any sound and l love the peacefulness of it all.  I'm ticking a few more of my new year goals with this one - spending more time in the woods, and painting more meaningfully. Of the thousands of times I've watched the sun set here, I need to be painting it more.  Painting number 5065 in 5065 days. 

Cosmic Glow

 

What a gorgeous snow for a little pen and ink!  Cosmic Glow is another beauty from the Diamine Inkvent Calendar!  I think I'll need to do this one in oils, as well!  This ink is such a vibrant blue - there are so many uses for this ink!  I'm looking forward to exploring more of them! Painting number 5064 in 5064 days. 

Creek in the Snowy Woods

Another snowfall is nearing as I capture this winter wonderland in oils.  I've recently been playing with multiple mediums, but oh, how good it feels to pick up my oils again.  A few colors on my palette have hardened, so there is palette cleaning in my future. Since I keep my palettes in the freezer, I never know until I'm in the field what needs attention. I could always check first, but I'm always in a hurry to get outside and paint!  The days are so short this time of year, I really do feel limited.  Ever painting what I feel, I've pushed this one a little bluer and darker, as I see the dark clouds moving in from the north.  I haven't used this pochade for a while either, and it needs a little cleaning, too.  This day was absolutely balmy compared to the last few days!  I'm looking forward to fresh snow on the trees tomorrow!  Painting number 5063 in 5063 days. 

Wooded Winter Creek

If you look closely, my altoid tin palette has chomp marks in it - left by my pictured painting assistant above!  I pulled my pallette from the freezer and set it on the stairs as I gathered my thumb box and bundled up.  I rounded the stairs to find he had my palette in the front room, trying to get into it! Thankfully, he did not get any paint, but it will no longer close right.  So when this paint is gone, I will load another.  Silly dog!  He has not gotten into my paint for 10 years - and then, he licked all the cad lemon yellow off of a fresh forsythia painting!  Another day, another adventure, and this is painting number 5062 in 5062 days. 

Warm Winter Light

 

Hooray for a chance to paint this winter wonderland!  Now, if we could only raise the temperature a bit...!!  I love when the warm light in the sky reflects and bounces off the winter snow, pushing those shadows to blue and purple.  Thank goodness for no wind because it's a little brutal out there.  I layer up, beginning with Canadian running pants and base layer shirt, warming socks and topping off with a down coat that is warm to 7 degrees below zero and warming gloves.  I also wait for the warmest part of the day - and work fast!  If I get too cold, I go in.  New this year - rechargeable hand warmers!  Painting number 5061 in 5061 days. 

Pin Oak in the Snow

Oh what a lovely snow we have after yesterday's blizzard! Only the 4th one in KC's history, it was glorious to behold. Wild and blowing, it was hard to see into the pasture.  This is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and I hope to get several more paintings in the snow completed before it melts.  Thank goodness for the extreme cold this week, though it will take me a few days to acclimate!  My fingers were pretty cold by the time I got back inside today!  Painting number 5060 in 5060 days. 

Landscape in Tundra

 

Tundra by Diamine is the perfect ink for a snowy day!  We are actually in the middle of a Blizzard warning, only the fourth in Kansas City's history.  The snow is gorgeous and blowing large and small flakes everywhere.  I was out a couple times before the temps dropped and the wind increased.  Being homebound offers so many opportunities to catch up on things that I'm looking forward to being snowed in!  I think I'll organize my pastels next, they seem to be calling my name!  Painting number 5059 in 5059 days. 

Gingerbread House

I loved meeting artist friends with Tiffany at the Urban Sketchers KC event at Family Tree Nursery this morning!  Though the winter storm was fast on our heels, we had time to sketch in the greenhouse and enjoy the light and foliage!  This gingerbread house is new in the Cafe seating at the Shawnee nursery. So of course, I had to sketch it!  I'm using ink and watercolor in a new leather sketch bag I picked up in Branson.  The ATC miniature sketch I left as a thank you for allowing us in to sketch today. I think this is the first time I've been here in January!  It was the perfect way to spend our last morning out before becoming ice abs snow bound!  And now, I'm looking forward to painting snow!! Painting number 5058 in 5058 days. 
 

Noble Fir Woods

This lovely, almost cad green hue is Diamine's Noble Fir ink from day 3 of their Inkvent Calendar.  It shows a little chroma as it bleeds into wet masses, and a glass dip pen adds a darker layer while still damp.  I want to walk along the bank of this water, exploring further into these woods.  There is so much depth that can be achieved with one ink and a miniature ATC sized paper. Now, we're off to a game of Spades at Mom's tonight!  Painting number 5057 in 5057 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. 

Parsley Seeds

 

I was just sharing seeds with Rebekah when I only found one flat leafed parsley seed in my collection. The very next day I found this parsley plant growing in my garden!  It's been so warm and misty that many plants think spring is here! I brought it inside, hoping it will grow in my hydroponic system!  It's a little wilty now, but I sketched the leaves before the droop.  

In the new year I want to plant more, paint more, and fill out some of my sketchbooks, among other things.  So, here I am on day 1, ticking three of my boxes and pursuing a desire to sketch my own seed packets, too!  Yay for starting the year off right and having some family time with Tiffany and Gus, Tyler, Nolan, Quinn and Layne.  It's always a great day when those darlings come to play!  Painting number 5055 in 5055 days. 

Sunset Sleigh Ride

 

Happy New Year's Eve! I hope you all have an amazing New Year!  Before heading out to celebrate the ringing in of the new year with a family game night, I am sketching a sunset landscape in Sleigh Ride red ink by Diamine, day 15 in the Inkvent Calendar.  The red is lovely and softens when applied to wet areas, getting pretty dark when heavily applied.  It's so fun to play with the inks and pens!  Painting number 5054 in 5054 days. 

Wishing Tree

This ink from the Diamine Inkvent Calendar is misty and moody, abs called Wishing Tree. It reminds me of the Disney Dreaming tree at Walt Disney's  boyhood home.  I love the way it moves with water, and on wet paper.  It's perfect for the winter landscape.  This ink is day 9 of the calendar, and perfectly suited for today's weather.  Now, I'm off to more family fun at Mom's with a Poker Tournament!  Painting number 5052 in 5052 days. 

Winterberry Santa

Santa has been very busy on his journey around the world, and now he's dozing off.  Winterberry is another lovely fountain pen ink from the Diamine Inkvent Calendar, and a perfect color to use on Sleepy Santa.  I sketched this one lightly with India ink first, then went in with glass dip pen and Winterberry red.  I used a little water to move the ink, then a little more ink with the pen to finish. I love this beautiful pen, too.  It's a work of art on it's own!  Painting number 5053 in 5053 days. 

Michaela and Casper

I normally do this type of drawing in graphite on Bristol, but I've chosen ink and handmade paper instead.  I use ink so much now that it seems a natural choice, though it was a bit of a challenge.  I started this years ago, and did not feel it was complete, so I left it unfinished.  This is something I almost never do, and it felt brand new to return to it.  It was much easier to finish now,  and I could see what was needed.  I feel so happy to have finally finished this, and love that it will now have a new home.  Painting number 5052 in 5052 days.