Sister Bay Marina Inked

On a day of rain, this artist seeks shelter for my work.  Using a water soluble ink pen makes me vulnerable to the bleeding of the ink.  I have even had one sketch blur into obscurity when the cotton paper absorbed too much moisture from the atmosphere!  From a gazebo in the water front park, I had a great view of the marina, and started my drawing.  Several other artists grouped under this shelter, looking out into the harbor for inspiration.  Once complete, I closed the sketchbook to protect it from further moisture.  Painting number 1665 in 1665 days.

Sister Bay Boats Inked

When I come upon a scene, I like to observe the various angles and values before making a mark. Once I begin to draw, the process goes quickly, and I soon take the water to wash in the values.  Working on white paper in the full sun can be pretty blinding.  I had to close my eyes and let them adjust before I could start with the paint!  Painting number 1664 in 1664 days.

Sister Bay Reflections

Arriving early for the quick paint in Sister Bay, I had no idea what my painting location would be.  The vintage cottages called you me, as did the rhythmic lake, but the reflections of the boats reeled me in.  My intended painting surface was awol, so I decided on a smaller size. An artist friend of mine let me buy a frame to match it, as the stars aligned!  I started with an ink sketch, moving to the paint. Once again, standing in full sun, I talked and visited as I worked, the colors unfolding before me.  I really enjoyed this scene even though my boats kept pulling out!  I had to lay that color in fast when I realized they were on the move!  Just another quick paint adventure!  Painting number 1663 in 1663 days. 

oil on panel, 12x9
purchase here

Lavender Field

What a perfect day this was for plein air painting!  I was unprepared for the breathtaking beauty of this place!  Setting up in the fields of the Fragrant Isle lavender farm, this place is simply heaven.  The lavender is in full bloom, and the fragrance is intoxicating.  I could paint here all week!  There is a wonderful shop here, full of all things lavender.  My lemongrass lavender tea was fabulous! It never ceases to amaze me how lucky I am.  Painting number 1662 in 1662 days.

oil on panel, 10x8
purchase here

Cave Point Morning

Arriving at one of my favorite painting haunts, I could hardly wait to jump into the paint!  The color in the water as it swirls into the rock cove is nothing short of spectacular.  I drew two different compositions, and actually adjusted the second to arrive with this landscape.  Starting with the darks, I then dropped in local color for the masses.  I worked very quickly to catch that radiant light before it changed. The beauty of this place simply takes my breath away.  Painting number 1661 in 1661 days.

Sister Bay House Inked

With only an hour until the next event, there was only time for sketching.  A pouring rain had me seeking shelter, and I found several of my artist friends there under the gazebo!  Using my ink and cotton paper, I was careful to keep my sketchbook dry.  After drawing a sketch of the boats in the harbor, I turned towards the main street through town for this old house sketch.  I love the sweep of the street and the garden surrounding the house.  Such an inviting place - I would like to go sit for a spell!  Painting number 1660 in 1660 days

Hydrangea Path Home

Sunrise found me painting  hydrangea, lining a path to this house in the woods. It was cold enough for two jackets, fuzzy socks and my boots, and the light was glorious!  This was exactly whay I wanted to paint this morning.  I first sketched this scene, establishing my values, and jumped right in to paint.  The painting almost painted itself, all I had to do was hold the brush.  Painting number 1659 in 1659 days.

Boardwalk to the Beach

Morning on the beach was brisk and windy, and SO inviting!  Choosing Bailey's Harbor for my first Door County painting, the boardwalk was my lead in to the painting.  The color of Lake Michigan was deep blue to green, with gold in the waves as they approached the sandy edge.  Using my polytips for the bulk of my painting, I only brought out a soft brush for the finish. Another beautiful day for painting! Painting number 1658 in 1658 days.

Woodville Water Tower Inked

The charming town of Woodville is just down the road from my parent's house.  On a daily scouting excursion, this scene appeared before me, demanding attention!  With my favorite fountain pen in hand, I quickly drew the lines, filling the values in with my water brush pen.  I've been afraid to keep my fountain pen in the car, thinking the extreme heat might damage them.  I think I'll try it anyway, I hate to be without my favs when a fabulous scene presents itself!  Painting number 1657 in 1657 days.

Margaret's Shop

Not ready to head for home, I started a street scene in the pedestrian part of town.  There is only foot traffic here, and a gathering place for those coming in for ice cream.  The shop to the left is a favorite and local icon for kids near and far.  So many families entered while I painted, many leaving with goodies in hand!  I have had so much fun painting here - I can't wait to return.  So many paintings, so little time.  How will I ever paint all the paintings I see around me?  Painting number 1656 in 1656 days.

Kenton Row Inked

My very first drawing inside of the Lakeside Chautauqua, focusing on the cottages of Kenton Row, with the cool breezes wafting in from Lake Erie.  Set up in the deep shade under the mature trees of Central Park, this was a glorious painting day!  Having left the Missouri heat behind me, I thoroughly enjoyed this newfound comfort!  I concentrated on two cottages in this drawing and added one more to the right in paint.  I was on the fence, two or three.... and the sketch helped me to make that decision.  If I'd brought wider panels, I would have painted five of these cottages.  But alas, I did not!  Painting number 1655 in 1655 days.

Second and Vine

The morning light was stunning as it spread across Second street. After a few quick looks, I decided to paint.  At the edge of the opposite side of the street, I set up my easel and pulled out my pen.  Drawing helps me to get acquainted with my scene, making friends with the lines and shapes to come.  Within minutes, I am ready for paint.  Starting with my panel and palette in the shade (which is ideal), I finished in the sun.  If I have to paint in the full sun, I turn my panel to the shade to check my values.  If I forget this important step, my painting may be too dark when I bring it inside.  Bright sunlight has a way of tricking the eyes, so it is best to check before packing up those paints!  Painting number 1654 in 1654 days.

East Harbor Water Lilies Inked

After spending the whole day at the beach, we were headed out when we came upon this scene.  The water was so still on this inlet, the reflections enhanced the shape of the lily pads floating on the surface.  We had to climb out onto a bench hovering over the water for the best view.  Taking care to not drop my pen or brush in the water, I slipped them in my pocket between steps.  I drew out the scene first with my fountain pen, and then washed in the values with my waterbrush pen.  The sun was fading fast, but oh how I would have loved to paint this place, too.  Painting number 1652 in 1652 days.

Lakeside Sailing

The light was simply amazing as I opened my paints, and it only improved from there.  Standing in a sliver of shade, I followed my drawing with paint.  Taking the time to sketch first solidifies the lines and values in a way that jumping into paint does not.  It makes the work easy since I've thought through the painting first.  I also like to observe my scene thoroughly before I pick up the pen.  Once the paint was flying, so many colors reflected off the surface of the water!  It was fun to keep up with them in paint!  I never tire of painting by the water.  Painting number 1651 in 1651 days.

Lakeside Sailing Inked

The sailboats moved in and out of the harbor, families playing in the water together, and I had to paint them.  Standing in a sliver of shade, I grabbed my favorite pen only to find it out of ink! Oh no!  After trying to coax the last little bit of ink out of my fountain pen, I gave up. I tried several pens before landing on this Le Pen, which I don't care for normally, but it does move with water, and that is what I needed.  Today's lesson?  Keep that extra fountain pen in the easel bag.....where it was before I removed it!  Painting number 1650 in 1650 days.

Jame"s Boats

After a morning paint up on Second Street, I headed down to Central Park to paint the wooden boats.  A show was scheduled for noon, and already the lawn was filled with these beauties.  Once I saw these two boats, I walked no farther - this was my spot!  I loved the way the blues and greens popped against the mahogany - gorgeous!  First setting up behind the boats, with the Lakeside Hotel in the background, I them changed my mind and painted with Lake Erie behind.  Setting up in the full sun was not preferred, but the scene dictates the spot.  This was a joy!  Wonderful location, friendly onlookers, and a cool breeze off the lake - who could ask for more?  Painting number 1649 in 1649 days.

Lakeside Cottage

What a gorgeous morning along the edge of Lake Erie!  This vintage cottage is surrounded by flowers spilling out onto the lawn. I spent the hours visiting with passers by as they strolled the path, and finished as my parents came by to visit!  Another perfect day in paradise!  Painting number 1648 in 1648 days.

Kenton Row

My very first day in Lakeside Chautauqua - and WOW - what a gem!  I have never been here but have driven by it many times!  This vintage place is a step back in town with turn of the century cottages, historic buildings and super friendly people!  With so much to paint - the narrowing down was unbelievably hard!  I chose this spot on Kenton Row because I love the sliver of Lake Erie behind the charming cottages!   After a drawing in ink, I made a couple of adjustments and forged ahead with paint.  I have talked all day long to people as I worked, and the time just flew by.  I don't know how I'm going to be able to leave this place on Sunday.  Too many paintings - too little time!!  Painting number 1647 in 1647 days.

Path to the Lake

Beach sketching has it's own set of challenges.  I don't like to lay my journal in the sand, as sand already blows into everything.  I need to keep my ink pen capped for the same reason.  If I'm nut careful, the water will splash onto the pages, all paintings of which would dissolve, if wet. On a day like today, the spotty sprinkles from the sky could leave their mark on my page. But, how's a girl to resist the beauty of such a place?   Painting number 1646 in 1647 days. 

Marblehead Lighthouse

Before setting up to paint, a nice couple shared the weather info with me, warning that a storm was imminent and pulling up their radar to show me where it is. Looked like I would have an hour to paint.  Five minutes in, the raindrops started to fall. Yikes!  I had to get that panel covered with paint before rain hit it!  I tilted the panel downward and painted as fast as I could!  A young girl came up and asked if she could paint, so I handed her my brush and showed her how to lay in some green for the trees.  The rain picked up and I took over, working fast.  I just knew the clouds were going to open up before I finished, but I got it done - and the storm went completely around us!  Painting number 1645 in 1645 days.

Dischinger Road Farm

I love these old family farms, and can hardly drive by one without reaching for my paints. 
After inking this farm twice, from two different locations, I am finally laying paint!  The cluster of  old barns is very appealing, and so well set against the crops and field of the foreground.  With a brief torrential downpour, water sat in the field, reflecting the sky color. I referred to my second sketch for the block in, especially for the values.  Standing in the shade of a large, unoccupied building, it was very pleasant even on this warm day.  Twice the local policeman came by to check on us, smiling and waving  as he drove past.  The second time he laughed as he realized we were painting!  I don't think the locals see many plein air painters up here!  Painting number 1644 in 1644 days.

Down the Street

Many times I have walked this street back from the park, with kids in tow, to my parents house in Elmore.  This street scene with their welcoming house at the end was the perfect way to finish off a day of art!  The humidity is high with today's rain, and I find these 100% cotton papers really absorb water from the atmosphere. The ink goes on with more strength and spreads more readily.  I find I need to be careful to keep the drawings from getting too dark, and sometimes I can't control it.  I don't have a waterproof bag to slip them into, and that may be the only way to keep the moisture from moving the ink!  Painting number 1643 in 1643 days.....I think!

Rose Garden Inked

Loose Park Rose Garden is one of my favorite places to paint - and now to sketch, too! The architectural design of this garden is wonderful, and dramatic in ink! I'm getting used to this larger format journal, a 9x6, and am growing to like it.  After absolutely loving my 4x6,I felt this one may be too large for these daily drawings. They are not, and it's always good to get out of our comfort zone!  Painting number 1642 in 1642 days.

Fountain at the Rose Garden

Another beautiful morning spent in one of my favorite places - the Rose Garden at Loose Park!  Today was the Urban Sketchers KC event, and I planted myself among the roses!  What a joy to paint such a beautiful place, surrounded by the fragrance of roses!  I first did an ink painting of this spot in the deep shade of a tree.  After a dropping bug bit me, I decided to move back 50 feet, getting out from under the branches.  My angle of the garden shifted a little, and I used my sketch less for reference.  I also need to reload this palette, as I have a lot of tacky paint on here!  I wish fairies would come at night and do all these little chores for me, allowing me to jump right into the important stuff!  This was another quick paint, just over an hour, and this could certainly be more finished.  I must come back here and paint large!  I love this place!  Painting number 1641 in 1641 days.

Hay Bales in the Field

I plan my plein air locations around my schedule each day, and today I had to drop off a painting at the Rice Gallery.  I took advantage of this and stopped by my favorite local hay bale field in Overland Park. The bales were still out, so I set up for a small painting according to my available time. I forgot my favorite sketch journal, and only had a pen I do not like (le pen), so I skipped the drawing and got right in the paint.  It is always when I'm in the field that I remember that I should have topped off my palette!  Yet again, I still need sap green and yellow ochre!  Arghhh!  Another day, another lesson. Maybe I'll do it before the next time I use this pochade box.....! Painting number 1640 in 1640 days.  Wow, the time flies by!

Pink Gladiolus - journal

I am experimenting in this new journal tonight.  The paper is handmade cotton rag from India, and the texture velvety and rather thin - I only work on one side.  Until now, I've only used my fountain pen and water brushpen in this. Today, I long to add color to the blooms, so I'm trying my watercolors with my brushpen.  The texture is not strong like watercolor paper, so I have to go easy on the water.  My brushpen is a little to abrasive too, and I have to be very careful.  My real brush would be better.  Once I got the color down, I took my Pitt pen and added some line work.  It is also the first time I've used that pen on the paper, and the super fine worked well. When it came to taking a photo on location, Beau jumped right in, knocking down one of those blooms in the process!  Another day, another plein air adventure!  Painting number 1639 in 1639 days.

Train Yard

I held my weekly painting class at the train yard tonight - and we did it at night!  I love the spontaneity and freshness that comes with plein air painting - and especially when it comes to nocturnes!  I did two ink drawings before returning to my original spot for capturing the light.  When standing at a distance on a night scene, I have to wait until it is pretty dark to see where the light lands. This train yard is complicated for an hour paint, so I concentrate on the light and the color of that light. I caught the deep blues in the sky before they faded to black.  I love painting at night!  Painting number 1638 in 1638 days.

Doorway Inked

This may be the first drawing I have done at night!  I normally jump right into the paint when starting a nocturne painting.  I like to position myself under a street light, where I can see the illuminated landscape before me.  The white soda lights of downtown Belton are perfect for this. It is important to look for white lights, and not the yellow or blue ones, for the best results. This is not always possible, and I truly don't know what I've got until I see it in natural light in the morning!  Painting number 1637 in 1637 days.

Water Lilies - watercolor journal

While working on this painting, I was a little too aggressive with my journal, trying to separate the last pages which were glued too much into the margin.  As you can see - I created more work for myself, now having to reglue and stitch this back together.  I'll be more careful next time!  I used a medium black Pitt pen to sketch out these water lilies at the arboretum.  Next, I used my largest water brushpen to lay in the colors.  The larger brushes work more effectively on this rough paper, allowing plenty of water onto the surface.  While wet, I drop in more pigment as necessary, to bump up the intensity as watercolors lighten as they dry.  Jumping back and forth from the fountain pen to this technique is fun.  I like to mix things up regularly!  Painting number 1636 in 1636 days.

Kingdom City Lines Inked

I remember when I used to omit power lines from landscape paintings, not wanting to break up a beautiful composition with man made lines.  Now, I like them and the realism they add to a simple drawing.  I really think this is a nod to the increased urban sketching I've been doing these last months!  I love the paper in this particular journal, a velvety, 100% cotton long fibered rag on the thin side.  I can add a really wet brush to my ink renderings, and still the ink does not bleed through the paper..... though I fear it might.  I like this journal so much, I got another one just like it!  This painting makes 1635 in 1635 days....I think,  maybe I better check.....!

Hay Bales

I drove by this little slice of heaven after running errands in the thick of town, and HAD to double back!  At 127th and Metcalf - this view can be had from the parking lot of a business, no bugs, no standing in tall grass, and with my XM running.  My pocket box was loaded and ready to go, so after a quick sketch, I started painting.  My tiny Altoid tin palette could use a few summer adjustments, like sap green and yellow ochre, but I made due. All those years of using a limited palette only make acclimating to whatever I have a piece of cake.  I like the stiffer oils, and find the creamy ones just a little mushy. I loaded paint to this tiny palette from a broken piece of glass I was cleaning off, and a few of those were Rembrandts. I like the brand, but find laying a stroke over the top more difficult. I love these big round bales, and these are only the first of the season!  Painting number 1634 in 1634 days.