Monarchs Four

 

I'm playing with a new Diamine violet ink (All the Best) in this glow in the dark purple fountain pen by TWSBI, and I LOVE THEM BOTH!  I just loaded a dozen new pens with new inks, and I thought I was picking up  Robert Oster's Black Violet, but alas I got my purple pens mixed up, lol! This ink is a deep, velvety purple, and is actually perfect for deepening the blacks of the butterflies and shadow shades of the phlox. I will definitely be reaching for this pen often in the future, and exploring this ink in detail!  Painting number 5181 in 5181 days 

Parkville Overlook

This was a lovely bird's eye view over Parkville from the Evolytic's parking lot.  I spent a lovely afternoon painting with my daughter, Tiffany, to capture this scene.  With ink and watercolor I worked on my normal method, then went back into certain areas with more ink.  I have many fountain pens loaded with matching inks, and I carry a few with specific landscape colors.  I went to these four added impact and depth for the finish.  It's so fun exploring what the ink can add!  Painting number 5180 in 5180 days and I'm happy this painting won the Evolytics Purchase Award, too!  Still showing at Parkville Art House for the rest of the week! 

Chiefs Mouse

 

This little guy is cheering the Chiefs on towards that Threepeat!  GO CHIEFS!  I do love playing in the ink, and these little mice images just seem to march along in my mind!  So, when this one popped in today, I picked up a favorite fountain pen to get sketchy!  This handmade, dyed cotton paper is thin, soft and absorbent, which means I need to use a light touch on the nib, holding back in the water. To easily this paper can tear and pill, so careful is the key with this one. I love the vintage feel of black ink on this paper, even if my subject is quite contemporary!  Hoping for a win tonight as we cheer on our hometown boys! Painting number 5179 in 5179 days. 

Hickory and 13th St

 

The West Bottoms is such a cool historic place to paint, and this day my daughter, Tiffany, joined me with artist friends.  This building was beautiful in the morning light, and super fun to get all those lines and angles in! We only had about an hour and a half to sketch, and that goes by quickly with all that architecture!  I'd love to capture more of these vintage places as they are now, because much of the area is getting a face lift, and these streets will not be the same.  Painting number 5178 in 5178 days. 

Burr Oak Woods

 

Oh what a gorgeous morning for painting in Burr Oak Woods with Urban Sketchers KC!  It has been years since I've been here, and it is certainly worth the drive. Birdsong surrounded me as I sketched, and squirrels played among the branches. The cold morning soon warmed, and I found myself shedding layers. I enjoy this quiet time in the woods with ink, paint and paper.  Time stands still here as I work, and I can truly focus on my subject. I find myself wondering, is there any better meditation than this? I think not. Painting number 5177 in 5177 days. 

Heading to the Lake

It was so good to be painting in the shores of Lake Quivira after such a long absence.  The last scheduled plein air event here was 9 years ago. On this lovely day, my daughters finished their paintings while I started this oil, longing to capture the light in the kayaks. This was such a fun painting and it is now showing in the Lake Quivira Clubhouse along with three others of mine and 4 of my daughters' paintings, too.  Painting number 5176 in 5176 days. 

Witches at the Cauldron

Happy Halloween to one and all!  Keeping with the theme of the day, witches at their cauldron are on my Halloween easel!  I've chosen rice paper for this watercolor batik, and have sketched my composition with India ink.  This ink has the staying power to remain visible after multiple layers of watercolor and hot wax. Though it will fade considerably before the finish, it is all I need. The watercolor mingles freely on this paper, and I must allow plenty of drying time between layers.  It's so fun to play in this medium - and always unpredictable.  Painting number 5175 in 5175 days. 

Jack-o-lantern Mouse

 

It's fun to sketch this little trick-or-treater with a favorite TWSBI Diamond Mini fountain pen and ink!  In this small pen I keep De Atrementis archive ink, which does not move with water.  I use it for the initial sketch lines before I start to fill in with more ink and watercolor.  This pen has an extra fine nib, one of the few that do, and it in perfect for early sketch lines.  I do need to be careful not to tear this thin handmade paper with that extra fine nib. Every sketch is an exploration of both ink and paper!  Painting number 5174 in 5174 days. 

Longhouse at the Arboretum

 It's so fun to sketch at the Overland Park Arboretum with artist friends and my daughter, too!  This grand new entrance with it's long reflection pools spilling one into another, is beautiful.  I am using a long, thin cotton paper for this sketch, and it buckles a little when wet. As with all handmade papers, each one is different, and part of the process is learning it's attributes, and focusing on what works rather than what doesn't. Once, I set the more challenging papers aside, now I embrace those differences, and am driven to make the most of them.  It's a bit like life, isn't it?  Painting number 5173 in 5173 days. 

Autumn Bench

 

It was super fun to paint the autumn color with artist friends and my daughter at the arboretum today!  This place is beautiful in every season, and it's always a treat to paint here. I used only my newest mini Qor palette today, and i love the fluid spread of this paint - even on my very absorbent, thin, soft cotton paper today.  This red may be my all time favorite red watercolor!  It's so rich and vibrant!  This was only a 30 minute sketch, but I'd love to return and paint here in oils!  Painting number 5172 in 5172 days 

Sailing Dreams

 

What an honor to find this painting was awarded 2nd place at the Lake Quivira Paint Out!!  It was super fun painting here with BOTH my daughters for our first plein air event together. It had been 9 years since I had painted here, and I found myself drawn to the waterfront. Last time, there was a yacht race in progress, but today the water was still.  With those lovely sailboats waiting on shore, the wet ground reflected light as though they were on the water.  The painting unfolded naturally as I visited with my daughters, each finishing their own paintings. I'm looking forward to all of our painting time ahead. Painting number 5171 in 5171 days, and this painting is now showing at the Lake Quivira Clubhouse.

Old Boettcher Farmstead

SOLD

This place is miles off the beaten path, down a narrow country road canopied with trees. One here, this scene unfolded before me, like a story wanting to be painted.  An old saltbox once stood proud on it's foundation before a fire brought it down.  Two swings still hang from the oak tree, reminders of children playing and lives lived through many, many years.  In ink and watercolor I painted the story, and enjoyed a gorgeous day as the autumn color blushed.  I'm so thankful this painting has a new home now and is number 5170 in 5170 days. 

 

Wennwood Farms Winery

 

I love sketching a country road winding through farms and wineries in rural Missouri!  This farm turned winery is on Old Brick Church Rd in Gasconade County, where cattle and sheep are just a pasture away.  Though I was tempted by the livestock, I opted for this turn in the road, capturing the very essence of this place as one drives by.  I intended to add color, but when the drawing was finished, it said all I wanted to say in vintage black and white.  Painting number 5169 in 5169 days. 

Stone Hill Sunset

 

What a treat to find such a gorgeous barn to paint, high on a hill on Hermann! Wandering down the streets in search of autumn color brought me here, and little did i know what I would find.  From this spot were multiple paintings in all directions!  Stone Hill Winery is absolutely stunning, and i week definitely be back!  This painting is now available at Art Works On Main in Owensville!  I sure do love painting this part of Missouri! Painting number 5168 in 5168 days. 

Waterfall on Clare Rd

Today was Plein Air Waterfall Workshop Day for a private group in Olathe, Kansas.  Using acrylics, we set up along a road directly across from this scene. I broke the process down into three steps, as each student created their own unique masterpiece.  I had so much fun with this great bunch of ladies - including 3 Shawnee Mission West alums!  Thanks to Tammie Johnson for organizing this fun event in a gorgeous landscape!  Painting number 5167 in 5167 days. 

Stone Hill Autumn

 

I chose the top of a hill on a cold, windy day for painting Stone Hill Winery for the first time! The view from here is magnificent, and the sun came out to light up the scene after a morning of rain.  There are many buildings up here to paint, and an amazing view of all of Hermann.  I'll have to return when I can enjoy a glass of wine while I paint!  Painting number 5166 in 5166 days, and this one is now showing at Art Works On Main in Owensville, Missouri. 

Morning with the Scout

SOLD

 

Today's Walktober event was held in Penn Valley Park, and my daughter Tiffany rode up to the city with me - and is sitting to my right above!  I haven't painted here for years, and was excited to share this place with Tiffany.  I have drawn the iconic Scout in ink, and painted it on oils, but today I wanted to use ink and watercolor.  I'm still using my travel Qor palette that I got a month ago, and I am now used to the colors placements and mixing capabilities.  The brown and the ultra blue seem to be a bit grainy now, and they are resisting my brush when I try to pick them up.  I may need to clean the surface?  I have been working on backcountry roads full of gravel dust and dirt!  Maybe some of that is embedded in my palette!  Tiffany had an amazing painting - though the time limit cut into her painting time.  We only had an hour and 40 minutes by the time we set up, lol.

I'm so happy this painting was selected as the Quick Paint Award Winner in the Penn Valley  Plein Air during Walktober!  This painting is a retirement gift to one who has dedicated himself to the Kansas City Missouri Parks.  This is painting number 5165 in 5165 days. 

Old Brick Church Rd

I don't think I've ever been on Old Brick Church Rd before now, and it's beautiful as it winds through the Gasconade County countryside between A and P.  It's very dry here, so painting right on the gravel road was quite dusty.  This road was irresistible, and the painting unfolded almost by itself in this beautiful light.  It was a joy to paint near the Wennwood Farms Winery, I only wish it had been open at the time.  Painting number 5164 in 5164 days. 

Lenaur Covered Bridge

 

We had a wonderful painting day - perfect weather and lovely places. After a morning at the Boettcher Farm, I found this lovely scene at the Lenaur Farm.  How could I possibly resist painting such a lovely covered bridge?!!  In an effort to paint fast and fresh, I only used this simple palette, and mixed my colors from these. I do love the strength of the Qor paints - I think I'll order more when I reload my supplies! Painting number 5163 in 5163 days. 

Tiefenbrun Farm

SOLD

 

Tiefenbrun Farm was so much lovelier than expected!  I felt like i had walked into a French landscape, complete with outbuildings, lakes, and a creek winding through it!  The children of the family were so interested in what we artists were doing - and Alice even painted the pink flowers into the garden on my painting.  She's already has an eye for art, i hope she's inspired to explore all the possibilities!  I LOVED painting this incredible 1889 French inspired home and farm today- and I'm so honored this painting was awarded an Honorable Mention, too!  Painting number 5162 in 5162 days.