Vintage Peonies

Vintage Peonies
Oil on masonite, 12x18
purchase here

The day started off with a great piyo strength class - made challenging by using the heaviest kettle bell I have ever used!  My back is already feeling it!  Next, I was right off to Alan's boy scout Pinewood Derby - where his car came in 3rd place, and his little brother's came in first of the "friends and family" category (since he is too young to join, yet)!  The snow started falling earlier than predicted, and the cars and roads were covered before the race was over.  After a quick lunch out with Mike, it was home to get busy on my weekly theme of peonies.  I am in a nostalgic mood today, and that is flowing right through my brush and onto the panel!  In painting each petal, I have used the brushstroke to move the paint to the form, curving as the petal curves.  It is important to accurately paint where the light hits, as well as where the shadow forms - for this entirely shapes the flower.  As I work, I already have the next two paintings working itself out in my mind.  I have had a whole afternoon of uninterrupted working time - amazing!  Michael and Michaela have been on the other side of the state today for the Vex State Competition, where Michaela's team won the Excellence Award, and Michael's team placed first. Great day for all family members for winning competitions!  The weather is so bad though, that the kids have to find a place to stay overnight, as the bus driver thinks it is too hazardous to get home.  Painting number 791 in 791 days.

Blush of Red

Blush of Red
Oil on panel, 12x18
purchase here

Today, I am working on a special project!  I will be painting two special pieces for a new home, and I am doing a few paintings to scale - which will be large.  One will be 4 ft by 6ft, and the companion piece will be 2 ft by 3 ft.  So, with color swatches from the designer and a clipping of a style of work - I start first with sketches.  The gears start turning immediately, with different images coming to mind - and these are what I want to put down in oils.  Once I have worked out the initial paintings, I will have several choices to choose from, all in the same theme.  Peonies may just be my favorite flower, and I have many of them int he yard.  From white to pink, to deep red - they smell as glorious as they look.  With their many, many petals, they are rather complicated to get down in paint!  I start with a sketch on wood, then fill in with my lights and darks, next working to the mid-tones.  The background is a blend of some neutrals, white, and grey - pulling in some of the colors on the swatches, and some blue to cool off all the warm shades.  There is quite a bit of palette knife work for texture and to add more interest throughout.  We are expecting some accumulating snow this weekend - so perhaps I will get some quality painting in while I am home-bound!  This painting makes 790 in 790 days.  I am almost to the big 800 number!!  I never thought I'd be here just over two years ago :)

Sailing Sister Bay

Sailing Sister Bay
Oil on hardboard panel, 7x5
purchase here

This large, gorgeous sailboat was sailing in Sister Bay, Wisconsin when I was last there for the Door County Plein Air event.  The skies were putting on a show of their own, with glorious color dipping in and out of the clouds.  Catching that colorplay on sky and water is a matter of brushing one color right up to the other, without crossing the line with the brush and "muddying" up those oils.  I then pulled the palette knife across the top with thick, juicy strokes here and there to add to the depth. I sure wish it was warm sailing weather right now! This painting is number 789 in as many days.

A Horse to Water

 A Horse to Water
Oil on panel, 12x9
purchase here

This beautiful, balmy day finds me "pumping up the color" in this landscape.  Perhaps I am being influenced by the barren winter landscape, and rebelling with my bolder hues!  I can't quite decide whether this is finished or not, so I will let it rest on the easel and look at it with fresh eyes tomorrow.  My wood panel was first primed with a pumpkin orange color, which can be seen peeking through here and there.  I do love painting on that color - it adds to the energy of the paint.  I have a whole stack of bare wood panels - just waiting for my attention.  If only there were more hours in every day!  Painting number 788 in 788 days.

Magic Over the Marsh

Magic Over the Marsh
Oil on panel, 12x9
purchase here

Every summer, we go visit my parents near Lake Erie, and I have so many wonderful photos from this beautiful area!  I am using that reference for today, and started with a pastel sketch.  Next, I brushed in the blues of the sky, working from cool to warm at the horizon, and I lay in the water at the same time.  Next, I brushed in the thick, warm whites of the clouds, followed by the plum shadow sides.  The landscape is just a supporting role to the main feature of the sky, so I handle the colors accordingly, being sure to get those sky colors into that landscape for good color harmony. I did not use my palette knife on this - I had so many distractions today, that it is a miracle I was able to finish this at all!  Painting number 787 in as many days.

Sunrise Glory on the Lake

Sunrise Glory on the Lake
Oil on panel, 7x5
bid on auction here

It is always an adventure to find a painting window on a Monday! This morning I squeezed it in between a kinesis class and teaching a painting class!  This rustic beach scene is from my Door County reference photos, as is the sailboat.  There were always boats near the water - and they are such a wonderful, peaceful subject in a painting.  On this painting, I have used a quite a bit of palette knife work - especially on the rough beach.  I am again playing with my colors a bit, capturing a muted sunrise.  After yesterday's very loud colors, I wanted to tone it down a bit!  This painting is number 786 in 786 days.

Two Ships Sailing

Two Ships Sailing
Oil on panel, 7x5
original sold - print available here

Of all the colors in the skies, I think the sunsets are most challenging.  The bold, vibrant hues seem so unnatural on the panel - and I find myself trying to reign them in!  I lay the water colors in right beside each other, stroke by stroke, careful to not mix as orange and purple will soon turn to mud.  I then take the edge of a flat palette knife through the highlight color, placing it down on the dark brushstrokes and lifting with one movement.  This creates a thick "wave" that seems to crest, and I use a plastic knife that I can curve gently as I place the mark. I think I will do a few more sunsets until I really feel comfortable with them!  Painting number 785 in 785 days.

Beyond the Clouds

Beyond the Clouds
Oil on panel, 7x5
purchase here

Looking to the skies is an age old past-time.  So many times in my childhood, I can remember laying on my back in the grass, staring up as the clouds swept across the sky. Finding shapes in every cloud, that shifted in seconds to another shape right before my eyes.  I love painting these skyscapes, so I am working a little magic with brush and palette knife today.  Although working small, I am keeping the strokes loose and impressionistic.  This keeps the landscape fresh and the energy moving.  One of the last things I check is to make sure I have married my colors, bouncing them around the landscape for good color harmony.  This painting makes 784 in 784 days.

Clouds Over the Inlet

Clouds Over the Inlet
Oil on panel, 7x5
purchase here

I recently sold a cloudscape, and it occurred to me that it has been a long time since I have painted skies.  So, after a day full of the KU Expo with my youngest son, I returned home - thinking about beautiful skies!  When looking at the sky, the higher you look, the more violet the blue.  The closer to the horizon, the warmer the blue.  The clouds reflect some of the ground color, which is reflected into the water.  It is important to shape the clouds with warms and cools - and thick paint in places to really add to their dimension.  I reveled in this painting - and I'm ready to start another!  Perhaps, I will paint several while the mood strikes me!  Painting number 783 in 783 days :)

Cabin in the Winter Woods

Cabin in the Winter Woods
Oil on panel, 6x8
purchase here

The first layer of this painting is painted with Genesis heat set oils.  The theory behind this paint is that they never dry, not until you set them with heat.  They are pretty pricey, and I found myself using this paint sparingly.  You can only use their medium with the paints, but I don't normally use it, so this did not affect me.  The paints are thinner than my normal oils, which could also contribute to the thin layer.  Once cured with heat, I painted over with my regular oil paints using brush and palette knife.  I like the depth achieved with the thin layer as the underpainting, and the thick marks of the palette knife.  I've used a different color theme for this winter landscape, too.  I've pushed the warms to orange brown and the shadows towards the ultramarine blue deep.  The peachy highlight tones are a new fav found in Door County - Gamblin's caucasian skin.  It is also great for that winter foliage hit by sunlight.  The cabin in the background is no more than a bit of eye candy for those who follow the stream leading to it.  I am lucky to have gotten this one finished today!  With overlapping events all day long - I have pieced this one together with short bursts of time!  I'm so thankful to call this one done, so I can head off to meet some friends for dinner!  I don't like having to come back to finish a painting late at night! Painting number 782 in 782 days :)

Sailing the Ocean Blue

Sailing the Ocean Blue
Oil on hardboard panel, 7x5
purchase here

Some days, I pick up my brushes and just feel like painting a certain subject.  Today, I was longing for warm seas and vintage sailing.  I have added some grumbacher's greenish umber for the depth in the ocean, as well as my new fav Rembrandt's ultramarine blue deep.  I've used loose strokes to bump up the movement in sky and water, with choppy highlight strokes to lift the waves.  The primed pale yellow of the panel pops through, adding warmth to the cool blues and greens.  It is important to ground water vessels with a dark shadow crease at the base of the ship.  Without it, the boat will seem to be pasted onto the water, instead of sitting in it.  Painting number 781 in 781 days.

Letting Out the Horses

Letting Out the Horses
Oil on panel, 12x9
purchase here

Once in a while, we have a "paint-in" at our Tri-County Art League meeting - and that was today!  We all bring a dish to share for lunch, and bring whatever we want to work on, and just paint and visit. This is what I worked on today - one of my reference photos from our reenactment.  I really felt like leaving the strokes loose and impressionistic as I pulled away from the focus of the horses and boy, even softening those edges as I approached the perimeter.  It is a good thing I left this in the trunk while the giant puppy was still out - because he tackled me like a linebacker when I got home - and this painting would have been ALL KINDS of impressionistic! Just another day in paradise - painting number 780 in 780 days :)

February Snow at the Creek

February Snow at the Creek
Oil on panel, 16x12
purchase here

Finally, we have a beautiful blanket of snow on the ground - turning all into a winter wonderland!  So, on this very overcast, snowy day, I am painting one of our local creeks.  With the unexpected extra time, I am painting larger than normal - 16x12.  The wood panel was first primed a pumpkin shade of orange, which I have allowed to peak through here and there for a little "pop" in a cool winter landscape.  Unusual winter colors used here - a little prussian blue, ultramarine violet and cad orange for that pop.  This is painting number 779 in 779 days - I hope I can make it to all of my scheduled events tomorrow!

Red Umbrellas in Fish Creek

Lunch in Fish Creek
Oil on panel, 10x8 - purchase here

This painting has a secret - another painting underneath it!  I have done this before, but today I decided to show the progress as I painted over the first landscape.  I chose it because it was a bit lack-luster, and I don't want to leave substandard paintings in my wake!  My pastel sketch lines are visible, where I simply drew my composition over the existing painting.  The second "in progress" pic shows how I have painted down, adding in details.  I have finished this painting after dark, and you can see how the color is visibly warmer under the artificial light than the north light I work in.  I will try to take a pic tomorrow in good light - as the colors are cooler than they appear!  I pulled this from my Door County reference photos, and I think it is in Fish Creek, but I can't remember the name of this place!  The gardens were fabulous - and the ambiance so charming, it simply begged to be painted! Painting number 778 in 778 days :)

Summertime Cafe

Summertime Cafe
Oil on panel, 8x6
buy here

Today finds me painting one of my favorite haunts in Fish Creek, Wisconsin - the "Summertime" Restaurant.  A great place to grab a quick meal on the terrace, it is full of ambiance and fragrant with blooms!  I have been wanting to work on these wonderful cafe scenes for some time now - so today is the day!  Going through my abundant photos, I picked out a few to turn into paintings.  It seems that most of my reference is from Door County!  I just love those charming little towns, each with their own cafes with umbrellas open and waiting! Nothing is as inviting as one of these spots after a day of painting! Painting number 777 in 777 days - now I'm off to buy a lottery ticket!

Dreaming of Phlox

Dreaming of Phlox
Oil on panel, 7x5
bid here

I know, I know....it is my self proclaimed "figure" month, so...what are flowers doing here?  Well, I have broken free from my shackles and am painting them with reckless abandon!  The cold and snow of winter will be arriving again this weekend - and I am dreaming of spring and beds full of blooms!  Today was so very busy that I came to my easel late. After such a full day, the last thing I wanted to do was to actually concentrate on painting.  So, the very best solution is to work free and loose and just let those strokes guide themselves!  Painting number 776 in 776 days :)

Back to the Barn

Back to the Barn
Oil on panel, 7x5
bid here

While watching some "Sons of Anarchy" with my middle son, I sketched out a few upcoming compositions.  I had planned out two other paintings to get started on today, but I didn't have the right size of panels for them!  I pulled a couple of old paintings to prime over, but did not want to take the time to do it!  So, I pulled from a few other photos to work from, and this is where I landed! Since my time was short, I worked small - only 7x5 inches.  Using 2 brushes and palette knife, I have painted this one with quick strokes.  The figures are getting easier with each one I paint - but I'm not sure I can stick with them for a whole month!  Painting number 775 in 775 days :)

Gathering the Horses

Gathering the Horses
Oil on panel, 7x5
bid here

Another reference photo from the pasture is my reference work for today.  Working on a small scale again - only 7x5, makes these figures very small!  Using the brush for gestural strokes, I did not use my palette knife at all on this one. With a smaller brush than usual, I pulled the foliage loosely back and forth, lifting the brush up to indicate the movement of leaves.  It is important to follow form with the brushwork - especially at this scale!  I think I will go ahead and sketch out some new paintings, so when my painting windows open up - I will already have a leg up on the painting!  Painting number 774 in 774 days.

Halter Me Not

Halter Me Not
Oil on hardboard panel, 7x5
bid here

I am moving to a smaller format on this busy day!  It takes far less time to paint a 7x5 than the 18x14 of yesterday.  Using some of my wonderful reference photos from the civil war reenactment, I have stayed with the colors in the photo. With all of my recent winter paintings, I am longing for the long summer days - and GREEN! When will spring ever arrive? With it, arrives SO many plein air events that my calendar is already very full!  I already have the next 6 paintings planned out - I wish I had time to start another today!  I do still have some panels to prime.......This is painting number 773 in 773 days :)

Standing at Kill Creek

Standing at Kill Creek
Oil on wood panel, 18x14
purchase here

Mondays are busy days now that I am teaching two classes - so I have to plan ahead when it comes to my own painting.  I am working on a larger scale today - 18x14.  Starting this one yesterday between breakfast and family bowling, I got back to my easel twice today to get it painted.  The landscape reference came from a MVIS paint-out we had some time back by Kill Creek in Kansas.  Such a beautiful place with this rambling wide creek.  I used some of my own reenactment reference for the figures - since that is my focus for the month!  I'm not quite sure it is done.  I am going to leave it on the easel and look with fresh eyes tomorrow, and see how I feel about it then.  This is painting number 772 in 772 days.

Missouri River at Kaw Point

Missouri River at Kaw Point
Oil on panel, 12x9
MVIS Paint-Out - purchase here

When I first arrive at a paint out, I first scout out the area for landscapes that "draw me in".  The fabulous color of the river and sky in the morning light grabbed me.  Looking to the north, the eastern glow on brush and branch added sparkle to the foreground.  I have never seen the water of the Old Missouri this shade of blue before! Was it all of the ice flowing down that kept it crisp and so reflective of the sky?  I used my prussian blue to get the shade right, and used my palette knife for the finish work on water, trees and brush.  All of the browns of winter can be a little tricky, so I squinted down to see the values and warmed up the foreground.  I could see just a bit of green in the water as it came close, so I carried a bit of that color onto the ground and trees to

on location

create better color harmony.  I must look carefully to see all those hints of color during this time of year.  Although the wind off the icy river was cold in the morning, it soon warmed up to 70 degrees for the second painting!  This paint out was sponsored by the Missouri Valley Impressionist Society at the Lewis and Clark Park at Kaw Point in Kansas City, Kansas.  It is just like a family reunion when we all arrive on location - it is great to paint en plein air again!  Painting number 771 in 771 days.  I am back to "figures" for tomorrow!

Kansas City from Kaw Point

Kansas City from Kaw Point
Oil on wood panel, 10x8
MVIS Paint-Out - purchase here

Oh, it feels SO good to be out painting plein air again!  Planned by the  Missouri Valley Impressionist Society, this is my first time to Kaw Point - where the Missouri River and the Kansas (Kaw) River meet.  Watching the ice flow rush down the river while painting was surreal.  That ice moves at a pretty good clip!  On the land mass at the left side of this painting, an eagle nest lie in the upper part of a tree.  Two eagles arose and soared above the river periodically, only once at the same time. This park is located on the north side of Kansas City, so I am looking south to capture this view.  It is wonderful to be painting with my artist friends again, especially on a warm February day (almost 70) - even though the wind off that ice was a bit chilly!  This is the life! Painting number 771 in 771 days :)

on location

On location with ice flow on Missouri River   

Driving the Oxen

Driving the Oxen
Oil on panel, 12x9
Old Missouri Town - purchase here

Each time I return to Missouri Town is like stepping back in time. Nostalgia reigns on the rural land where old barns, homes, and shops dot the landscape.  On this chilly day, a woman drives her oxen, calling them each by name.  Having pulled out an orange primed panel, I have let bits of that orange pop through here and there. I love getting back to this color after so many days of pale yellow.  I have used loose, impressionistic strokes here, negatively painting in the trees.  I'm trying to find the gentle balance of loosely painting a face with a few strokes, instead of my natural tendency to completely render it - though it is only the size of two peas together!  This is painting number 770 in 770 days.

Two Riders in the Snow

Two Riders in the Snow
Oil on wood panel, 8x10
purchase here

Since "figures" are my theme for February, I decided to bump up the number and include four figures in this painting!  Well, that definitely takes more time!  I have started and stopped this painting several times today - once for family bowling time, along with the countless chores in a day's work.  New on the palette today, Grumbacher green earth and greenish umber.  Their umber is the darkest one I've used, I almost always have to mix in another color to lighten it.  The green earth I used on a whim, not expecting to like it, but it has it's merits in the landscape.  It feels transparent in the way it handles, and these old paints also include some of the toxins the new ones don't.  Which is bad, and means I should only use them outside.  I have used several blues here, Rembrandt's ultramarine blue deep - which I LOVE, ultramarine violet and prussian blue.  I like the way they play together in the snow and pushing the warms and cools in this landscape adds to the energy.  This is painting number 769 in 769 days.

Coming Home

Coming Home
Oil on wood panel, 7x5

Working again on figures tonight, I am including a horse and a rider.  A little known fact - I was obsessed  with horses when I was in grade school!  I read every horse book I could get my hands on, I drew them all the time, filled a 3-ring binder with stories of them, and even "played horses" on the playground with my friends!  I know how really weird this sounds, but it is was SO much fun!  I still love horses, and I am finding that I really love painting them.  Getting figures right at this small scale is a challenge - but I feel that after 30 days of doing so, it should become natural!  I guess we'll see!  Painting number 768 in 768 days :)

Back in the Saddle

Back in the Saddle
Oil on panel, 8x10

Another day of coming late to my easel.  I had picked my subject out early, but without time to sketch it in.  Then, one thing after another soaked up the hours, leaving me a 30 minute window - or wait until tonight.  Well, 30 minutes is just enough time for me to really get in the zone, and I can then HARDLY pull myself away from the easel!  With grandchildren to pick up, I just couldn't risk it.  So, it was nearly 9:00 when I started this one (with grandchildren settled into playing a game).  I think that I will declare this month "Figure February"!  I have been wanting to dedicate time to figure work - right down to tiny "carrot" figures in a street scene, and now is my chance.  A funny thing has happened with so many days of painting.  The more I paint, the more critical I am of my own work.  Little things just pop out at me, things I would not have noticed a year ago.  I also paint faster, and I get right to the point with my values and colors.  The values and temperatures are so much easier to see and paint, too.  I can remember when I didn't understand temperature at all.  I guess all good things come with practice!  Painting number 767 in 767 days.

Preparing the Horse

Preparing the Horse
Oil on hardboard panel, 7x5

What a great day!  I just started a weekly painting class last Monday, and I am having SO much fun teaching it!  With my already super full schedule, I have resisted committing myself to a weekly time slot for so long!  I simply love sharing all that I have absorbed through the years, and don't know why I put it off!  This painting is small - only 7x5 inches, which is pretty tight for so much information.  I have started offering this size for auctions, and since the western scenes are attracting so much attention, I thought I'd give it a try.  I was able to sketch and block in the masses after housework and before class.  I was then able to return to it briefly to finish between class and picking Michael up from practice.  With a sorority meeting tonight - and so much laughing and visiting late into the evening, I have only now returned home to get his image uploaded and posted.  Some days are just a non-stop whirlwind of activity - and truly, I revel in it.  I should sleep well tonight!  This painting is number 765 in 765 days :)

Returning Home

Returning Home
Oil on wood panel, 10x8

We finally have a bit of snow for today - only a dusting at present, but still a wonderful accompaniment to the winter landscape!  I am painting in the western theme again tonight, I think this one if done.  The barn image was supplied to me by a dear friend, and the horse and rider are from my own reserves.  With a hint of fading light in the sky, lantern light pours out from the barn onto the horse, rider and snowy ground. For this color, I have used yellow earth by Terra Grezze D'Italia oils. I have never liked yellow ochre, and I use this color in place of it always.  It does not have the greenish cast that yellow ochre does.  This particular paint is coarsely ground, and has a wonderful texture - different from all other varieties of paint.  I also have an olive green and a red earth shade - but I seldom use them.  This yellow earth is always on my palette.  I am having so much fun with this western theme - I wonder how many I'll do before I feel the pull to move on to another subject.  This is painting number 764 in 764 days :)