A Frame at the Blufftop

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The view of the A Frame Les Bourgois from the blufftop overlook was so much fun to paint!  I've only been here once, years ago.  The entertainment space is much expanded and the overlook on the Missouri River is gorgeous!  Rambling flower beds soften all the hard edges - making this very paintable. This view grabbed me, and I HAD to paint it!  I'm happy this painting has a new home, too!  Painting number 5005 in 5005 days. 

Jazz in the Roses

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It was a lovely evening to paint Jazz in the Roses at the Loose Park Rose Garden!  It is a special treat when I can paint to live music - and these jazz musicians were stellar!  It was fun to visit when onlookers stopped to talk, and two young girls even painted petals onto my rose garden!  The littlest couldn't hardly reach - and she was very thoughtful with that stroke! Perhaps they are the next generation of painters in this rose garden!  I'm happy this painting went home with a new collector, too! Painting number 5003 in 5003 days 

#artistlife #jazzintheroses #looseparkrosegarden #kansascityart #pleinairpainting 

Downtown Rocheport

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I finished this painting up just as the rain started in downtown Rocheport.  This place is so charming that not even rain can discourage me from painting!  This was the first is my paintings to sell at the Wet Paint Sale! Painting number 5002 in 5002 days. 

Looking Down Second St

 

It was a beautiful day to paint the streets of Rocheport! There are SO many lovely, historic buildings lining the streets of this small town, it's hard to choose my painting location.  The red brick homes in the lush green landscape called to me the loudest - so this is where I landed!  This painting is now showing at Art Off the Trail Gallery in Rocheport, Missouri.  I'm so happy this gallery is now showing my work, too!  Painting number 5001 in 5001 days. 

Red House on Second

 I'm so happy the rain let up just long enough to get a couple of paintings in!  Rocheport is so charming! This is only my second time here, and my first to paint the area in plein air.  This small town of 200 has many historic homes and a few wonderful shops that I HAD to check out before my first brushstroke.  With matcha late in hand, I started painting this in oils, filling in the areas quickly.  I work fast when rain is in the air, and I hung my new bug scarf from my easel to ward off any unwanted visitors. It was fun to visit with the locals as they walked by, and I look forward to painting this town tomorrow and Saturday, too. This painting is now showing at Art Off the Trail Gallery in Rocheport, Missouri.  I'm so happy this gallery is now showing my work, too!  Painting number 5001 in 5001 days. 

Monarch on Sunflower

 

It's fun to paint the butterflies circling these sunflowers - even in miniature!  I migrate to these blooms this time each year, and I can't get enough of painting them!  The butterflies,  bees, and hummingbirds love them, and add life to any garden AND painting!  I'm using up some random pieces of watercolor paper on these minis, and it's a great use for them.  When my time is short, Tis size fits my painting window perfectly!  Painting number 4999 in 4999 days. 

Long House Summer

 

It was fun to gather with artist friends for a quick paint at the Overland Park Arboretum!  The Long House is a cool feature in the landscape to paint!  I first spotted the construction on this hill from Monet's Pond, as I painted a sunset quick paint.  I couldn't imagine how the building would enhance the gardens, and could only think of the loss of natural space.  Well, now I see how it anchors the landscape, and has become a wonderful community space.  I love capturing this place in oil, and it is now showing in the gallery space inside that building.  Painting number 4996 in 4996 days. 

Sunflower Song

It was a beautiful evening for painting sunflowers at the Overland Park Arboretum.  These Maximilian sunflowers have been planted in dedication to a member who has enriched the arboretum through the years, and they are putting on a show!  It was a wild and crazy tangle of flowers to try to make sense of, but I gave it my best - and it was fun, too!  I am honored to be among the top 4 with this painting.  This painting is 4996 in 4996 days, and now showing at the Long House gallery on site.  

Bee in the Petunias

 

The bees seem undaunted by the heat as they buzz through the garden - and I'm happy to paint them in miniature!  This paper is buttery soft, and if I press too hard on the nib of my fountain pen, I could damage the surface.  I'm using a little Ocean Blue ink by Robert Oster at the edge, and a bright pink by Diamine to punch the watercolors a bit.  This is the only petunia I planted this year, after many years of not planting them.  I think this bed may be a little too hot, but the beesdon't mind.  Painting number 4994 in 4994 days.  

Swallowtail on the Sunflower

I love this time of year when the butterflies are abundant in the garden!  The sunflowers are blooming and I am painting in miniature on this bright and sunny day.  It's been close to 100 degrees for so many days in a row, that I've fully acclimated to the heat.  I'm completely comfortable in the shade for hours!  Good thing, because this heat wave is expected to last for another week at least!  Painting number 4992 in 4992 days 

Nocturne at the Nelson

 

What fun it was to paint the illuminated Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art from across the reflecting pool - at NIGHT!  LOVE the painting opportunities that arise for the Brush Creek Art Walk!  It was my first time to paint this beauty at night - and also the first time for me to paint the back of this iconic building.  The evening weather had cooled back from nearly 100 degrees, and it was fun to share this space with other artists, and visit along the way.  Painting number 4991 in 4991 days. 

A Stroll through Kauffman Garden

 

The cannas are putting on a show at the Kauffman Memorial Garden, and I am happy to paint it with a few artist friends today!  Taking a break from framing artwork for an upcoming show, I just couldn't resist the chance to paint here again.  I've not seen the cannas blooming here before - and they grabbed my attention immediately. I dreaded seeing the entrance with the stately old trees removed, but found the area charming, with a replanting of my favorite redbud trees in their place.  Flanked by rows of vivid blooms, the space really was much improved.  The music of the fountain had me longing to repair my own.  I didn't realize how much I miss the trickling water.  In this canna bed were white narrow leaf zinnias which looked like daisies, starclusters, and tropical milkweed - three flowers I couldn't identify without Google lens! I LOVE learning something new while out painting something I love!  Painting number 4990 in 4990 days. 

Shuttlecocks on the Lawn

It sure was a windy day for painting on the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum during the Arterie event!  I LOVE capturing these iconic shuttlecocks in paint!  

Vanderslice Hall

 

How could I possibly resist painting this gorgeous historic building?!!  I couldn't!  All those lines and angles called out to me as soon as I checked in, and I KNEW I would paint it.  I didn't even scout the area until it was finished!  We had All Day at the Arterie today, a new painting event on the Kansas City Art Institute campus - and it was super fun!  Check in was at 8am with the final nocturne paint ending at 9:30pm - which is a long day!  Yes, I'm tired, but painting cool new areas is so worth the lack of sleep and food, lol! I'll sleep tonight and eat tomorrow!  Painting number 4988 in 4988 days. 

Calendula Mini

 There is something so rewarding about growing flowers and plants from seeds! I love watching that first little sprout, and the first tiny leaves unfold!  Imagine my joy when that plant grows into this beautiful flower!  I hope to plant these outside, too, where I will paint them in glorious masses!  Painting 4988 in 4988 days. 

413 Market Sketch

There's always time to sketch when the sky lights up!  Mom and I stayed in a sweet Airbnb in Brookfield, and I just HAD to do a quick sketch in my art journal!  It's super fun to create a visual journey through my days in a sketchbook!  I keep several going at a time, one for travel, one in vintage pen and ink only, one for gardening and a few others picked up at random.  All have a blurring of the lines when it comes to theme, as I follow whatever creative muse calls out to me at a given time!  I hope these journals will be fun for my children, their children, and their children to browse through some day!  Painting number 4986 in 4986 days. 

Horse Drawn Wagon

 Mom and I visited Jamesport, and we found plenty of Amish at the local market.  Buggies were parked, awaiting their riders, while others dotted the roads and shops in town.  It wad a lovely day to be out, and fun to share this place with Mom.  She's been wanting to come up here for years!  Painting number 4984 in 4984 days. 

413 Market Street

Mom and I stayed in this sweet vintage house in Brookfield, after a day spent visiting Jamesport.  We shopped the antique stores and I found a few vintage chicken things I had to have!  We had the buffet and Gingerich's Dutch Pantry, and closed down the town before heading out. I stocked up on Amish spices and Mexican vanilla at the local Amish store.  It's the largest Old Order Amish settlement in the state of Missouri.  This house was very comfortable to stay in, even with the quirky, wavy floor from the front door to the back!  Super nice host, too!  Painting number 4983 in 4983 days.  

Phillips Taylor Century Farm

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When I arrived in Marceline, I passed the most amazing field full of hay bales.  Instantly, I wanted to paint some, even though I have some dotting my pastoral landscape at home!  Rather than painting in town, I set off for this farm with the landscape in mind.  After scouting within the perimeter of the fence, i decided to walk out into the field, too see what I could see.  Of course, there was no going back after I saw this beautiful scene. Sometimes I've got to set up way back in the pasture to get the full scene I didn't even know I needed to paint!  I'm so happy and honored this painting was selected for the Magnolia Antiques Purchase Award in Paint Marceline!  The extra effort is always worth it.  Painting number 4982 in 4982 days. 

Garden at the Walt Disney Hometown Museum

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I'm so happy and honored this painting was selected for the Missouri Regional Bank Purchase Award tonight at the Marceline Paint Out!  I loved painting the garden leading to the old depot, visiting with guests as they entered.  There's a beautiful new clock on the grounds, and the garden has expanded since I was last here. I love seeing the extra additions from one year to the next.  Marceline is shining bright today!  Painting number 4981 in 4981 days.