Bridge at the Spring

SOLD

My demo for the High School Plein Air at Maramec Spring was so much fun!  Each of us artists had a group of students at the park during the Folky Fish Fest. We chose this gorgeous area by the waterfall for our painting location.  Each student could choose their own subject and medium of choice. I shared my process as I checked in with each during our painting time.  It was a wonderful painting and learning experience for us all! One of my favorite paintings of the week - I'm happy this painting has a new home in Springfield! Painting number 4905 in 4905 days.

Lazy Afternoon

Come see this painting in person and more unseen work in Steelville tomorrow from 10:00-3:00 at Gallery Zeke!!  I painted this scene along a road leading out of Meramec Adventure Ranch, where the cows were in and out of the water.  I worked fast to capture them before they moved on, and had to adjust a few things while I waited on them.  I have 8 other unseen paintings that will be showing tomorrow, first come, first dibs! Painting number 4903 in 4903 days. 

Morning on Sunset Ridge

What an amazing day to paint on Sunset Ridge Road!  This place has been created by an artist at heart, and every detail reflects that.  I knew as soon as I arrived that I would paint this scene. As I worked, I wished a happy birthday to my dad (in heaven).  Soon, a butterfly landed on me, as if my Dad was sending a little messenger my way.  Our hosts were SO nice - I'm happy this painting has a new home with the family, too!! Painting number 4903 in 4903 days.  

Cabin in the Clover

I am SO at home in a pasture, painting a lovely log cabin homestead on the hill.  This scene grabbed me as soon as I arrived on location, but another scene pulled me away.  After finishing the first painting, I returned to this spot to paint a quick capture, and ended up looking it more!  I'm happy that I was able to get them both finished before heading back up to town!  It has been another beautiful plein air day!

Meramec Adventure Ranch

 

How does one choose a single spot to paint in 1200 acres?!!  With just a little scouting, I decided on this view, with the light spreading across the landscape. I've been painting so much recently, that I seem to be working the block in quite fast.  An artist recently shared that he begins his painting with a paper towel - and dips it in paint and rubs in the underpainting, before pulling out his brushes.  It seems weird, but is a great solution for this solvent free artist!  I think I'll try make- up sponges next!  Now Showing at Gallery Zeke, and this painting is number 4900 in 4900 days. 

Morning at the Power House

I LOVE painting the vintage charm of this power house at the Maramec Spring Park.  I try to paint at this park every time I'm in town, so I set off for a different painting spot then I had before. To get the dramatic water angle, I had to plant myself practically in the tree line by the water. The cool air was rising from the spring water - nearly like air conditioning!  Birdsong was my serenade as I painted today, and I can't wait to do it again. Come see this in person at Gallery Zeke in Steelville! Painting number 4899 in 4899 days. 

Stone Bridge over Hoppe Springs

I have enjoyed mentoring at the Steelville High School Plein Air SO much this weekend!  This is such a special opportunity for our youth, I wish more art councils would offer this kind of program.  As I travel the country painting, I see many youth centered art classes, but this program benefits the young artists in ways the others do not. Plein Air Artists are asked to mentor a group of selected high school students during a weekend spent at a camping lodge in Steelville. We guide them through 6 different painting sessions in different locations around the property, working on small groups.  They get to explore their new art supplies, working along side seasoned plein air artists. These paintings then culminate in a gallery show on the final day for friends and family.  It is so rewarding to see these artists bloom during these painting days, immersed in nature.  I absolutely love sharing my passion for painting with another generation.  These will be our future plein air artists!  Painting number 4898 in 4898 days. 

Along the Meramec

There is something magical about painting next to water.  The movement and babbling of the Meramec River is almost hypnotic as I paint, completely in the moment.  The weather was perfect with overcast skies, saturating the color in the landscape.  This was my demo for the High School Plein Air this morning, a wonderful event offered by the Steelville Arts Council.  It's SO rewarding to watch their talents bloom when completely immersed in nature.  I can't wait to see what they create next!  Painting number 4897 in 4897 days. 

Cabin 2

 

First demo of the Steelville High School Plein Air - an ink and watercolor of my cabin!  What fun to introduce new students to the plein air experience! I drove 4 hours through sometimes torrential rain to get here this morning, and I really needed some paint time to unwind.  We're headed to the Folksy Fish Festival tomorrow, where we'll find the stunning Meramec Springs park. Painting number 4896 in 4896 days. 

All Tuckered Out

How could I possibly resist painting these cuties?!!  I'm teaching them how to paint - and they are very attentive!!  We've got mamas and babies here for some pasture clean up, and I only wish I had more time for painting their antics!  I am playing with a new watercolor travel palette by Soho that I picked up at the Plein Air Convention in Branson.  There are several blues and yellows, and no greens - so I'm mixing them.  It actually gives me a wide range of greens, like the old days when I used a very limited palette.  That limited palette for years taught me more about mixing than anything else I was ever exposed to. Well, the rain is starting and it's time to head back to the house!  Painting number 4895 in 4895 days. 

Guarding the Girls

 

I loved painting these sweet chickens at Sunflower Hill Farm- and just realized I forgot to share them! I paint so many paintings at a plein air event, that one or two slip through the cracks at times.  This handmade paper is particularly rough, and it soaked up the paint like crazy!  I thought I was finished a couple times only to go back in with more color.  Watercolor can fade so much on this handmade cotton paper!  Painting number 4894 in 4894 days. 

Clouds over the Water

 

Some days, I've only to look skyward for painting inspiration!  I started working in the garden after the gym this morning, and the hours flew by as Swiss chard and tomatoes found their homes. I like to take my salad outside, to walk the garden as I eat, often finding inspiration to squeeze in a painting before "chicken time". That is when Mom comes by and we let them out for an hour or so, to roam around the yard.  What fun these sweet girls have as they keep close to us in their ventures!  Painting number 4893 in 4893 days. 

Drift of Iris

 

I love painting the yellow flag iris when they erupt in bloom!!  The way they sweep through the lawn is magical - and it all started with a small clump that I ordered from a seed catalog years ago. Great in wet areas, I've seen them planted underwater in the elephant exhibit at the zoo!  I've shared them with friends and family, and they are great to sop up extra water in low lying areas.  Their rhizomes are so dense they need to be cut through to divide.  Their shiny large seeds drop liberally - and those readily grow new plants, too.  I've put a few down by the pond, and they should be blooming now, too.  I love painting the magic that stems from a tiny clump so many years ago!  Painting number 4892 in 4892 days. 

Old Fashioned Peonies

 

I wait all year for the chance to paint the peonies of my garden.  This season seems extra short to get these beauties painted, with multiple storms abs heavy rain to weigh them down.  These are the original variety that my grandmother planted, abs I've moved it to multiple beds around the yard, and it never disappoints!  The bees were buzzing and the big black ants were climbing, and the smell was heavenly indeed!  Painting number 4891 in 4891 days. 

Mother's Lilies

 

In a day full of gardening, I just had to paint the prettiest lilies in the beds today!  I moved these from Mom's home in Ohio when she moved back to Missouri. I remember digging the bulbs from the front corner of their brick Victorian home, as we were preparing to move Mom to the house she found near us.  It was a bittersweet time of loss and heartache, and the grueling task of packing up 35 years to return so close to where she grew up.  Putting them in a large pot with soil, they made the journey to my place, Mom's childhood home, to spread gloriously in several beds.  I think of those times every year when they bloom, knowing they are one of Mom's favorite flowers from a place she loved.  Painting number 4890 in 4890 days. 

Canyon Falls

 My favorite painting location of the week was this gorgeous waterfall n Dogwood Canyon, along the water's edge!!  Best. Office. Ever. 

Light Beyond

 

So happy I could return to Big Cedar to paint during the Plein Air Convention.  I just couldn't resist this bold backlight, and it was fading fast. This is the small lake by the restaurant near a devil's pool, where so many artists gathered earlier in the day.  I only had about 45 minutes to work in this, so I jumped right in and painted that color fast.  I think I might just tweak a could of things before calling it good.  Haha!  Does an artist ever think a painting is finished?  Not this artist but surely someone thinks that!  Painting number 4888 in 4888 days. 

Dogwood Mill

I just about closed down the place with this last sketch at Dogwood Canyon!  On arriving, I thought I'd return to this location to paint.  The waterfalls called me away, so away I went, only to arrive here with 30 minutes to sketch. With pen and ink I drew out my composition, thinking of how timeless it all was.  The vintage feel of this place lends itself well to the medium of pen and ink. I hope to paint this place in oils one day, as well.  On another note, I nearly stepped on a large water snake on my hustle back to my car, in my sandals!  The Plein Air Convention has been SO much fun, and I'm taking good memories and inspiration back home with me!  Painting number 4887 in 4887 days. 

In the Garden

 

It was so peaceful to paint this lovely scripture garden,  squirreled away in a hidy hole, along with 100s of artists at the Plein Air Convention!  The College of the Ozarks has so many wonderful things to paint, but I knew I must paint the garden as soon as I saw it!  Though my perch was a little awkward, my vantage was perfect - and it was fun to hear the joy as people rounded the bush to find me painting!  What fun, and what lovely people I talked to!  Painting number 4886 in 4886 days. 

Waterfall along the Trail

Dogwood Canyon is a magical place.  The spring fed river winds through the park, with multiple low water bridges overflowing. As I hiked to the chapel to paint, I found this hidden gem along the trail.  It was enchanting to paint in this solitary place to the music of the waterfall.  I think I need my own personal waterfall at home.  Painting number 4885 in 4885 days.