Witches at the Cauldron

Happy Halloween to one and all!  Keeping with the theme of the day, witches at their cauldron are on my Halloween easel!  I've chosen rice paper for this watercolor batik, and have sketched my composition with India ink.  This ink has the staying power to remain visible after multiple layers of watercolor and hot wax. Though it will fade considerably before the finish, it is all I need. The watercolor mingles freely on this paper, and I must allow plenty of drying time between layers.  It's so fun to play in this medium - and always unpredictable.  Painting number 5175 in 5175 days. 

Jack-o-lantern Mouse

 

It's fun to sketch this little trick-or-treater with a favorite TWSBI Diamond Mini fountain pen and ink!  In this small pen I keep De Atrementis archive ink, which does not move with water.  I use it for the initial sketch lines before I start to fill in with more ink and watercolor.  This pen has an extra fine nib, one of the few that do, and it in perfect for early sketch lines.  I do need to be careful not to tear this thin handmade paper with that extra fine nib. Every sketch is an exploration of both ink and paper!  Painting number 5174 in 5174 days. 

Longhouse at the Arboretum

 It's so fun to sketch at the Overland Park Arboretum with artist friends and my daughter, too!  This grand new entrance with it's long reflection pools spilling one into another, is beautiful.  I am using a long, thin cotton paper for this sketch, and it buckles a little when wet. As with all handmade papers, each one is different, and part of the process is learning it's attributes, and focusing on what works rather than what doesn't. Once, I set the more challenging papers aside, now I embrace those differences, and am driven to make the most of them.  It's a bit like life, isn't it?  Painting number 5173 in 5173 days. 

Autumn Bench

 

It was super fun to paint the autumn color with artist friends and my daughter at the arboretum today!  This place is beautiful in every season, and it's always a treat to paint here. I used only my newest mini Qor palette today, and i love the fluid spread of this paint - even on my very absorbent, thin, soft cotton paper today.  This red may be my all time favorite red watercolor!  It's so rich and vibrant!  This was only a 30 minute sketch, but I'd love to return and paint here in oils!  Painting number 5172 in 5172 days 

Sailing Dreams

 

What an honor to find this painting was awarded 2nd place at the Lake Quivira Paint Out!!  It was super fun painting here with BOTH my daughters for our first plein air event together. It had been 9 years since I had painted here, and I found myself drawn to the waterfront. Last time, there was a yacht race in progress, but today the water was still.  With those lovely sailboats waiting on shore, the wet ground reflected light as though they were on the water.  The painting unfolded naturally as I visited with my daughters, each finishing their own paintings. I'm looking forward to all of our painting time ahead. Painting number 5171 in 5171 days, and this painting is now showing at the Lake Quivira Clubhouse.

Old Boettcher Farmstead

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This place is miles off the beaten path, down a narrow country road canopied with trees. One here, this scene unfolded before me, like a story wanting to be painted.  An old saltbox once stood proud on it's foundation before a fire brought it down.  Two swings still hang from the oak tree, reminders of children playing and lives lived through many, many years.  In ink and watercolor I painted the story, and enjoyed a gorgeous day as the autumn color blushed.  I'm so thankful this painting has a new home now and is number 5170 in 5170 days. 

 

Wennwood Farms Winery

 

I love sketching a country road winding through farms and wineries in rural Missouri!  This farm turned winery is on Old Brick Church Rd in Gasconade County, where cattle and sheep are just a pasture away.  Though I was tempted by the livestock, I opted for this turn in the road, capturing the very essence of this place as one drives by.  I intended to add color, but when the drawing was finished, it said all I wanted to say in vintage black and white.  Painting number 5169 in 5169 days. 

Stone Hill Sunset

 

What a treat to find such a gorgeous barn to paint, high on a hill on Hermann! Wandering down the streets in search of autumn color brought me here, and little did i know what I would find.  From this spot were multiple paintings in all directions!  Stone Hill Winery is absolutely stunning, and i week definitely be back!  This painting is now available at Art Works On Main in Owensville!  I sure do love painting this part of Missouri! Painting number 5168 in 5168 days. 

Waterfall on Clare Rd

Today was Plein Air Waterfall Workshop Day for a private group in Olathe, Kansas.  Using acrylics, we set up along a road directly across from this scene. I broke the process down into three steps, as each student created their own unique masterpiece.  I had so much fun with this great bunch of ladies - including 3 Shawnee Mission West alums!  Thanks to Tammie Johnson for organizing this fun event in a gorgeous landscape!  Painting number 5167 in 5167 days. 

Stone Hill Autumn

 

I chose the top of a hill on a cold, windy day for painting Stone Hill Winery for the first time! The view from here is magnificent, and the sun came out to light up the scene after a morning of rain.  There are many buildings up here to paint, and an amazing view of all of Hermann.  I'll have to return when I can enjoy a glass of wine while I paint!  Painting number 5166 in 5166 days, and this one is now showing at Art Works On Main in Owensville, Missouri. 

Morning with the Scout

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Today's Walktober event was held in Penn Valley Park, and my daughter Tiffany rode up to the city with me - and is sitting to my right above!  I haven't painted here for years, and was excited to share this place with Tiffany.  I have drawn the iconic Scout in ink, and painted it on oils, but today I wanted to use ink and watercolor.  I'm still using my travel Qor palette that I got a month ago, and I am now used to the colors placements and mixing capabilities.  The brown and the ultra blue seem to be a bit grainy now, and they are resisting my brush when I try to pick them up.  I may need to clean the surface?  I have been working on backcountry roads full of gravel dust and dirt!  Maybe some of that is embedded in my palette!  Tiffany had an amazing painting - though the time limit cut into her painting time.  We only had an hour and 40 minutes by the time we set up, lol.

I'm so happy this painting was selected as the Quick Paint Award Winner in the Penn Valley  Plein Air during Walktober!  This painting is a retirement gift to one who has dedicated himself to the Kansas City Missouri Parks.  This is painting number 5165 in 5165 days. 

Old Brick Church Rd

I don't think I've ever been on Old Brick Church Rd before now, and it's beautiful as it winds through the Gasconade County countryside between A and P.  It's very dry here, so painting right on the gravel road was quite dusty.  This road was irresistible, and the painting unfolded almost by itself in this beautiful light.  It was a joy to paint near the Wennwood Farms Winery, I only wish it had been open at the time.  Painting number 5164 in 5164 days. 

Lenaur Covered Bridge

 

We had a wonderful painting day - perfect weather and lovely places. After a morning at the Boettcher Farm, I found this lovely scene at the Lenaur Farm.  How could I possibly resist painting such a lovely covered bridge?!!  In an effort to paint fast and fresh, I only used this simple palette, and mixed my colors from these. I do love the strength of the Qor paints - I think I'll order more when I reload my supplies! Painting number 5163 in 5163 days. 

Tiefenbrun Farm

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Tiefenbrun Farm was so much lovelier than expected!  I felt like i had walked into a French landscape, complete with outbuildings, lakes, and a creek winding through it!  The children of the family were so interested in what we artists were doing - and Alice even painted the pink flowers into the garden on my painting.  She's already has an eye for art, i hope she's inspired to explore all the possibilities!  I LOVED painting this incredible 1889 French inspired home and farm today- and I'm so honored this painting was awarded an Honorable Mention, too!  Painting number 5162 in 5162 days. 

Looking up 1st Street

It was so much fun to return to Hermann to paint on 1st Street.  It's been a couple of years since I've been here, and I have never painted this view before.  It was very cold this morning, and the first cold snap always hits me hard!  With my smart wool base layer and winter coat (warm to -7 degrees) I was warm.  Today was a struggle with the wind - and the paintings were a fight indeed.  At least the sun came out to spread light upon my scene as a was just beginning to add color.  Yay!  Painting number 5161 in 5161 days. 

Life on Main Street

With two hours left before torn in, I started this painting at the Pocket Park on Main.  The light was luminous as people strolled along the streets, shopping along the way.  It was delightful to visit with my daughter as she also worked on her painting.  What a great way to wait for judging!  This painting is now hanging at Parkville Art House, and is my 5160 painting in 5160 days. 

Parkville Aglow

 

Enamored with the night lights on Main Street the night before, I arrived early to try to capture the magic.  Lights adorn buildings, street lamps abs doorways, spilling or onto the street.  So, I painted all that light first, and then started in on the buildings and the dark passages.  I saved the night sky for last, when light was coming up at the horizon.  That transitional light is my very favorite in the field, and a joy to capture with paint.  I love painting on Main Street in Parkville, and I'm honored this painting won the Paint the Town Purchase Award tonight!  Painting number 5158 in 5158 days. 

North Building

I spent the whole day painting at the Shawnee Indian Mission for a special event tonight for supporters of the mission.  The weather was perfect, autumn color was blooming and the place was humming with preparations for the evening.  This last painting I finished was the very first to sell tonight, with a portion of the proceeds going back to the mission.  What a lovely way to spend a day.  Painting number 5157 in 5157 days. 

Light on Banneker School

 

I loved painting the morning light on this historic Banneker School to the music of birdsong! When I arrived, golden orange light radiated from the sky behind the school, and was stunning.  With ink I sketched it's perch upon the hill, and painted the light in quickly, before it could change.  Timing is everything and had I waited, I would have missed that beautiful invitation to paint!  Painting number.5156 in 5156 days.  

Blooming Wetlands

 

This is day 1 of the Annual Paint Parkville event, and I'm happy to return to paint.  I missed this event last year when our middle son married on our property, bringing another daughter to our family!  I didn't know there were wetlands in Parkville until they were on the schedule for today!  I had to park a long way from this location, but the view was stunning.  Little sweat bees found me at the end, and kept stinging me until I moved my easel and doused my gear with eucalyptus oil! It was totally worth the turmoil to capture the wildflowers blooming in reckless abandon!  Painting number 5155 in 5155 days. 

Pin Oak Acorns

 

This is today's INKTOBER post and I am sketching our acorns before they all drop off.  As i worked, those acorns were falling from the tree.  I even though a squirrel might be tossing them down, but there was not one in sight  I am getting to know this paper better each day. It is a handmade and dyed paper that is thin.  At first, it is resistant to the water, but then saturates and wells up a little until it dries.  The ink spreads at will when wet, and dries lighter than it first appears. So, layers are necessary to get the full effect. I love how these drawings look so vintage, as if drawn a century ago.  Painting number 5154 in 5154 days. 

On Main and Kansas

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I'm honored to win 1st Place in the first Liberty Plein Air event with this painting on Main Street. After all these years in the Kansas City area, I've never been to the square in Liberty. I chose this section of Main Street because the Pumpkin Festival was in full swing, with families ands vendors up and down the street. Today was not only the first Liberty Plein Air, but also my first plein air with BOTH daughters painting, too! I'm so happy this painting was awarded a Purchase Award, too!  This may have been my first time to visit here, but it won't be my last!  Painting number 5153 in 5153 days. 

Night at the Museum

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What fun it was to paint this special event, "Night at the Museum", for the Salina Arts Center!  After participating in the first Liberty Plein Air event with BOTH daughters, I left early to drive the three hours to Salina.  I had enough time to check in to my suite, freshen up, and get to the Arts Center to paint!  This whole area is full of art, and this renovated space is really beautiful.  Paintings fill the walls and a special exhibit is just across the room, through adjoining doors. The people were lovely, and excited to find themselves in the painting when it was finished.  It was a lovely evening, and I'll need to head out before dawn to get to the Walktober at Jerry Smith  Park in time!  Painting number 5152 in 5152 days. 

Great Horned Owl

 

I love listening to our resident Great Horned Owl at night, but he goes silent when I step outside.  INKTOBER day 4. I'm having fun with pen and ink on this handmade paper, which has been dyed.  It is a little resistant to ink at first, then swells when saturated with water.  It quickly goes back down to shape as it dries. When wet, it accepts more ink, and the ink spreads at will before drying.  Each time I use it, I learn a bit more about the paper.  I love exploring what this paper can do with ink.  Painting number 5181 in 5181 days. 

Night Impressions in Fairfield

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I think this was the first building in town that I painted when I arrived in Fairfield years ago.  I stood in the shade of the giant maples on the courthouse lawn, and painted in this direction. The architecture is so unique, I've not seen anything like it in other Midwest towns.  So, after dinner at a friend's home, a few of us artists hit the streets to paint a nocturne in this lovely night. Rain is coming, so we all must paint while the weather is great!  I'm so happy this painting won the Purchase Award from Diane Robinson.  Painting number 5180 in 5180 days. 

Vintage Pumpkins

It's INKTOBER - and this is my first ink drawing of the month!  Not one for prompts, I am delving into vintage Halloween this month.  Using a dyed handmade cotton paper, i draw my pumpkins with a TWSBI fountain pen filled with Raven black ink by Levenger.  I use a little water to move the ink, then go back in with a little more pen work.  This paper is perfect for the vintage vibe I am going for.  I can't wait to try it again tomorrow!  Painting number 5179 in 5179 days. 

Victorian Garden

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One of my favorite places to paint, the early light was beautiful for just a little while. Rain moved back in,  and became too heavy with my panel not yet completely covered with paint. So  I had to finish this painting inside my car, and even had to frame inside, too.  It was worth it all to capture the beauty of this place. I'm so happy this painting will dwell within those beautiful walls. Painting number 5178 in 5178 days.