Armor for Man and Horse

It feels so good to be sketching again with the Art Mob, and in one of my favorite places, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.  The horse and men in armor are very striking at first sight.  I set up immediately to get them drawn.  A challenging subject with all that detail, I actually started at the back and worked forward.  Drawing each angle and line as it related to what was beside it, the drawing came together.  I think I'll draw this again, only using watercolor.  No paints allowed in the museum, I'm afraid.  Painting number 2248 in 2248 days.

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Hereford Face

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I have completely switched gears with this one, feeling the need to mix things up.  I have been so immersed in the dark winter scenes, that today I just wanted to paint something fresh and different.  This big guy is one of my neighbors to the west, and each time I see them I want to paint them!  Fully intending to paint a few in the landscape, I instead zoomed in on the face and chose a square format. Well, this was way more challenging than I thought it would be, which only tells me that I need to paint a few more cows before I'm comfortable with them again!  Every painting is a lesson, after all.  Painting number 2247 in 2247 days.

Port Clinton Lighthouse

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The lighthouse in Port Clinton was built in 1896 and placed at the entrance of the Portage River, where it remained active on Lake Erie for 56 years.  This is the river that runs through my parent's back yard. This winter, the ice jammed up, flooding the bottom acre, and was still there when I left town.  This lighthouse has been restored and one can climb the staircase for a wonderful view of the islands beyond.  Using my TWSBI Go fountain pen on this one!  Painting number 2246 in 2246 days.

Yellow Bouquet ATC

Oh this has been one of those very busy days, where I hardly get a breath in, following another very taxing day.  I am worn out, though I wouldn't have missed the KU engineering EXPO with little Alan for anything!  It's so fun to share these experiences with our next generation of engineers!  Painting tiny at 2.5x3.5, ATC size to match my very tiny painting window!  Painting number 2245 in 2245 days.

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Tulip Bouquets miniature

Quick little tulip bouquets by special request! Painting number 2244 in 2244 days.

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Farm on 208

Down every back road in northwest Ohio, I find old farms with the charm of days gone by.  I love to sketch their lines with my India and fountain pens, adding color with my favorite watercolor confections half pan set.  It fits in a pocket, and is at the ready at a moment's notice.  I've really enjoyed my little sanity art breaks amidst all the chaos of helping mom sort through a lifetime of stuff.  Looking forward to easier days.  Painting number 2243 in 2243 days.

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Snowmelt in the Corn Field

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Most of the snow has melted now in northwest Ohio, so I'm painting what little bit I can find on a local farm.  We've had so much on our plates the last couple of days, it has been hard to get in that art therapy time.  Hoping I can get most of those old home videos converted before I leave.  So wonderful to sit in on those family gatherings again, I love hearing voices I haven't heard for a long, long time.  Painting number 2242 in 2242 days.

Murdock's Fresh Fish

By special request, I am sketching a local Kansas City favorite seafood shop.  I choose this view to show off the interesting angles above the front door, loving the geometry of the building.  I have to really make an effort to keep my lines loose, as this kind of place seems to coax those straight edges right out of my pen!  I've mixed things up - using India and fountain ink, and watercolor on this velvety handmade paper.  Painting number 2241 in 2241 days.

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Snowy River Grays

After a day of digitizing some of dad's home movies, and scanning in old photos, I squeeze in a little sanity time with my brushes.  I love the dark days of winter up here in northwest Ohio.  So different from Missouri, the subtle color shifts inspire me.  And it seems only fitting, as we all adjust to life without dad.  Painting number 2240 in 2240 days.

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Tom's House

This grand old house is part of a wonderful farm with multiple barns.  As I started the sketch for the farm painting, I captured a different view of the house, in order to include as many barns as possible.  Once finished, I HAD to get this view of the house, as one would approach the front door.  Even as I finish this one, I am thinking ahead to a long panel, to paint the entire place in oils.  The sweep of land rolling back from the buildings is exceptional!  Painting number 2239 in 2239 days.

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Barn at the Creek

A couple days ago, we found this wonderful barn down by a run off creek. The twist of water was inviting, as was the rich, late winter foliage.  I pulled an older birch panel for this one, and the priming was very rough and porous.  It soaked up the paint as it wore down my brushes, which are already on their last hairs!  I think this still needs work, but I'm going to let it rest tonight and see what calls to me tomorrow!  Painting number 2238 in 2238 days.

Portage River Snow

What a beautiful scene unfolded by the river as the snow began to fall.  This winter in Ohio has been full of these days, and it has been my pleasure to really explore those dark and moody colors.  Sunny winter days are few and far between this close to Lake Erie, so different from Missouri.  I've put my ultramarine violet to good use, using far more this winter than ever before.  My browns ran out early, and I've spent a lot of time with my grays and violets.  I have hardly touched those warm cads - except for those sunset days!  It is so very interesting how my palette changes according to region.  I can only hope to have what I need in Arizona!  Painting number 2237 in 2237 days.

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Barn at the Creek

As many times as we've been to visit my parents, I've never been down this road!   It is so inspiring to be surrounded by this rich history!  There are many paintings on this side of town - historic farms at every turn!  I'm sketching in ink today what I'm considering in oil for tomorrow!  Painting number 2236 in 2236 days.

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Luebke Farm

We had breakfast today with some of my parent's friends, and one of them asked me to take a look at his farm.  On our way home, we went by there, and the whole route took us by wonderful farms!  What a treat to see this beautiful old home with rambling barns!  So many, in fact, I couldn't get them all down!  I'm sure this is only the first painting of this charming place!  Painting number 2235 in 2235 days.

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Home by Sunset

So, I'm letting this painting rest for now, but I'm not yet sure if I'm finished.  Sunsets are always a challenge, and with my new palette, my colors are also a little different.  Therefore, some of my very natural mixes are not quite coming out as anticipated.  It is like the first snow scene I did with the new palette, there was definitely a learning curve!  I think I may need to lighten the horizon a bit, and cool off that foreground - again!  It seems like the more I paint, the more critical I become!  Lol!  Painting number 2234 in 2234 days.

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Portage River Inked

I am exploring my newest ink - Colorverse Black Hole - at the river today.  This ink gets very dark quickly, so I use a lighter touch on the pen.  Leaving a lighter line allows me to get those mid tones with a little water, without getting too dark as a whole.  Have I mentioned how smooth the ink flow is off of the TWSBI Eco?  Every time I use this pen, I wonder why I use any other!  It is perfect, every time.  I now have 5 of their pens, and love them all!  Painting number 2233 in 2233 days.

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Portage in February

Oh how I LOVE these dark, moody days of winter!  With freezing rain coming down all night, this scene awaited in the morning.  The river now melted, was dark in the early light.  I could sense the light changing, so I rushed to get those first colors in before the warming.  My preliminary sketch was formatted longer, with the front bank included.  But after studying the sketch, I decided to go in close and square it off.   Nothing like a pre sketch to work out all the issues.  Painting number 2232 in 2232 days.

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Barns on 51 Hwy

A new TWSBI Eco fountain pen in Blossom Red, and Colorverse Black Hole ink awaited my return today!  I love how smooth this pen is - and the ink is rich and velvety.  The ink lays down black, but moves towards plum with the addition of water.  It gets dark very quickly with water, making it a challenge to get those mid tones.  Perhaps less ink on the paper would help.  Can't wait to play with this ink some more!  Painting number 2231 in 2231 days.

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Red Roof Barn in Snow

The palette of winter is soft and earthy, a challenge every day to find it's true colors.  The shifts from warm to cool are subtle, and reflected light is everywhere as it bounces off the snow.  I brought all four of my new Richeson browns loaded on my palette, when I headed to Ohio.  I'm now out of them all.  I am once again mixing my browns, mindful of my favorite colors, to make them last.  The ochres, blues, and violets are prevalent in this landscape.  I lost the light before truly finishing, so I will check this again in the daylight tomorrow.  Painting number 2230 in 2230 days.

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Genoa Bridge

This old metal bridge is only visible from the main road this time of year, when all the foliage is down.  With snow still edging the creek, this landscape begged to be painted.  With only my Varsity Pilot fountain pen and a water brush, I first draw the lines and then the mid-tones.  I thought I might add color after this step, but decided to leave it alone.  I always try to listen to that inner voice.  Painting number 2229 in 2229 days.

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Winter Farm on Schultz-Portage Rd

When I run the North Coast Inland Trail, I pass this farm every time.  In all seasons, from all angles on the trail, this place makes a wonderful painting.  I love the wet, dark ground against the melting snow, and the lane leading to the farmhouse.  The otherwise quiet colors of the day pop against the fairground, and my challenge is to really capture those colors with my paint.  My Richeson ice blue has been a "go-to" color this winter, and I'm now officially out of what I brought on my palette!  I only bring a few basic colors to reload when away from home, and they are the primaries.  I really wish I had brought that tube with me!  Live and learn!  Painting number 2228 in 2228 days.

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Sunset Over the Portage

With the foliage off the trees, sunsets over the Portage River can be very dramatic this time of year.  Ice has jammed up on the lower land, keeping it's snowy look.  I wish I could get down there for some fabulous compositions, but I dare not.  There is still flooding on that plane  under all that ice, and I don't want to sink in that icy water!  Painting number 2227 in 2227 days.

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Downed Trees at the Creek

With the creeks and rivers up, the coolest scenes appear out on the North Coast Inland Trail.  Snow melts slowly along the deep sides of the trail, with the trees keeping it shaded.  The downed trees add interest, and I try to capture all the diffused colors of this deeply overcast day.  It is very helpful to study all the colors in the landscape carefully before painting.  This is a never ending process, the more I study, the more I see.  Painting number 2226 in 2226 days.

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Immaculate Conception Church

I've been through Port Clinton many times through the years, but I think this is the first time I've committed it to paint.  Full of fabulous vintage buildings, there are so many things to paint!  This jewel was across from the courthouse, and since I love historic old churches, it landed on my paper today!  I had my Watercolor Confections and a Pilot Varsity fountain pen on board today, so these are my tools for the special handmade cotton paper that I cannot be without!   Painting number 2225 in 2225 days.

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Covered Bridge at Sugar Creek

For the second day in a row, it has been warm enough to run North Coast Inland Trail!  Oh, how I miss running when the weather is too severe!  One of my favorite trails runs right past Sugar Creek and this wonderful old covered bridge.  The best part of this time of year?  The foliage is down and I can really see the turn of that creek as it winds into the background!  Painting number 2224 in 2224 days.

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Turning Creek

Grabbing panels in a hurry before heading to northwestern Ohio, I have a mixed bag of primed surfaces!  I used to use this orange surface all the time, switching to a cool blue tone last year.  With the dark winter landscape as of late, I thought it would be fun to use one of the old orange substrates for such a scene.  It is!  Little bits of that primed surface pop through here and there, giving an energy to an otherwise cold winter scene.  I'm working small today - only 5x7, and using my Guerilla Painter thumb box easel. I love this easel for quick paints and traveling, and I use an Altoid tin for my palette inside.  Super convenient!  Painting number 2223 in 2223 days.

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Snow at the Creek

Studying compositions today for an upcoming painting, I choose ink for my medium.  No fancy pants fountain pen today, with no extra ink I turn to my trusty Pilot Varsity pen.   No matter how long I've left this modest fountain pen packed in my bag, it drops a line effortlessly.  No dipping the nib in water or coaxing ink to flow, it simply works every time.  I leave one in each of my sketch bags, just in case I might need a back up, which happens far more than one would think.  One of the hazards of daily painting!  Painting number 2222 in 2222 days.

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19025 W Portage River Road S

This house is beautiful from many angles, but today I choose this side.  I'm using my Pilot Varsity fountain pen because I am nearly out of ink in my TWSBI Eco T.  I've also switched to my favorite half pan set of Watercolor Confections after days of using the 42 color set.  I love the richness of pigment I get with these that is lacking in the 42 color set.  I also like the slight shimmer I get from a gold and silver in this set, which I mix into my colors at will.  You really only see it when holding it up to the light, or out on the sun!  A little bit of eye candy for those who REALLY look!  Painting number 2221 in 2221 days.

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