Twilight in the Garden

 

The flowers are really stunning along the path to the LongHouse! It was a pleasure to paint them at twilight, when the garden was still.  My daughters painted nearby, and we visited as we finished up.  Mom waited for us in the LongHouse, and we turned our next paintings in and joined the reception.  Come see this in person until November 1. Painting number 4625 in 4625 days. 

Butterflies in the Garden

 

The gardens at the Overland Park Arboretum are full of butterflies - and it was a joy to paint them for their very first plein air event!  A wedding reception was taking place in the background, and the music wafted up from the terrace as I worked. The temperature was perfect and only gentle breezes stirred the air. Both of my daughters participated, and Mom walked the garden, finding benches in the shade to rest.  Their paintings are beautiful, and all will be on display until November 1st at the Long House.  What a lovely way to spend an afternoon!  Painting number 4624 in 4624 days. 

Just us Girls

I'm learning how to paint with chickens! First rule - keep paint covered between strokes!  The Black Star chickens, Peeps and Beans are VERY interested in everything I have in my hands, so there is a real learning curve on how to distract them as I paint!  This is going to be a very fun adventure!  Painting number 4623 in 4723 days. 

Black-eyed Susans and Butterflies

The black- eyed Susans are really gorgeous right now, and the butterflies can't seem to resist them!  I have shorter varieties in the meadow, and large ones in my front flower bed!  I love planting all the things I want to paint.  It's very rewarding when my visions come to life in blooming color for me to paint!  Painting number 4622 in 4622 days. 

First Egg Layer!

 

Hooray!  We have our first eggs - and I just had to commemorate the day!  We actually had two - and I think both of these girls on the left were the ones!  It's been such a fun adventure to raise them from tiny chicks, cuddling them daily to keep them friendly.  Now, they hop on my lap and peck my easel as I try to paint as fast as I can, lol! I'm going to have so much fun painting these sweethearts!  Painting number 4621 in 4621 days. 

Cow and Calf

I LOVE finding the time for quick paints not far from my front door - especially when they include mama and baby animals!  Now that the grass has been cut in the west field, I can see these sweethearts as they move about.  I watch for painting opportunities while working in the gardens, ready to drop everything and paint (sometimes, lol)!  The wildflowers are blooming abundantly on my side of the fence, so I use my Artistic License to drop them right into my painting!  Painting things like this just make me smile the whole time in doing it!  Painting number 4620 in 4620 days. 

 

Dancing in the Fountain

 

After a busy weekend of painting in Marceline and watching grandsons, I didn't decide until the last minute to join watercolor friends for our weekly plein air day.  The Kauffman Garden was absolutely stunning today!  And to think that I almost stayed home to catch up on chores!  This is sweet reward for putting everything else on hold.  I actually pulled out several of my rarely used fancy inks to use for final punch - in matching fountain pens, no less.  Lesson of the day?  Don't put off until tomorrow what can be painted today!  Painting number 4619 in 4619 days. 

Stroll Down Main Street

 

I love visiting the hometown of my grandparents and greart-grandparents to paint the main street where they once walked.  I remember some of the stories Dad would tell of walking up to meet the train with his Aunt Minnie to sell livestock, then walking to the bank with her apron full of coins. I can almost see these events unfolding as I'm painting, and I feel my family near.  I'm so happy this painting has a new home, too!  Painting number 4618 in 4618 days. 

The Heart of Marceline

 
I knew as soon as I saw this scene, I would paint it.  This would be the very first painting of the day, as it would not let me leave without painting it.  It was cloudy and cool, and absolutely the perfect weather for standing completely in the open to get this vantage.  After my very detailed drawing, I began adding the watercolor, pushing the ink a little more too, until I was finished.  I'm so happy to have received the Reginal Bank Purchase Award for this painting!  Painting number 4617 in 4617 days. 

900 Hansen Ave

 

I love sketching the vintage places I stay in when painting out of town!  I added the sweetest little black chicken when she came around the corner right after this pic! The kitchen is much adorned with all things chicken - which I love!  So this has been a joyful place to land before painting! This is my very first painting in Brookfield, and only my second to visit.  Long ago, I came with my parents to visit Great Aunt Minnie Clark, my dad's mother's sister.  Painting number 4616 in 4616 days. 

On the Run

 

Today, I am painting sweet Meringue, who is our lighter Calico Princess.  She is very well mannered, sweet and docile.  She only takes treats when no one else is near, and gentle in the taking. It's only a matter of time before one of the other girls jumps up on my easel!  Beans is especially spicy as she checks out my ungloved fingers - looking for a treat!  More than once I had to deflect her advances as I painted. I may need to paint outside the run next time!  Painting number 4615 in 4615 days. 

Elmore Train Station

There is something magical about capturing memories in ink and watercolor in the pages of a sketchbook.  The blank white handmade cotton paper begins to transform into a story with each line and letter.  The color brings the shapes to life, and my experience spills out onto the page.  The painting brings up other memories of children playing, biking this trail, and dinners held on festival days.  And then, the many solo runs that started not far from here, always running past as I really gained momentum for the miles ahead.  My parents lived here for 35 years, and Mom and I visit yearly to reconnect with her friends.  It's a special place indeed.  Painting number 4614 in 4614 days. 

Augusta Winery

SOLD

 

Each time I'm in Augusta for the Yoga Bliss Festival - I seem to run into a bunch of friends at this winery!  To the left of this winery, and up the hill a bit, is a wonderful vine covered pergola perfect for outdoor gathering with friends. I remember when it was first built, and the fountain was running.  There was absolutely no shade, and it was a very hot day for plein air painting in the sun. Now, this area is delightful - just like the vine covered terrace along side this building.  It was super fun to paint it, and ship it back to Augusta!  Painting number 4613 in 4613 days. 

Monarchs and Goldenrod

 

I'm growing native goldenrod in my garden - and the pollinators LOVE it!!  This one is the first to bloom, and it is blooming with reckless abandon!  Bees and butterflies are all over it, so, of course, I had to paint it!  I don't think I've ever painted this beauty before now.  What fun!  Side note - Goldenrod was my "horse" name on the playground at Pawnee - lol! It's funny what comes to mind when I'm out painting in the garden!  Painting number 4612 in 4612 days. 

Adventures of Calvin

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It was so fun to finally paint in historic Fort Scott, Kansas!  Years ago, I was near here painting, and I took a quick spin around town before heading back home.  The beautiful historic buildings lining the cobble stoned streets were so inviting! I was pleasantly surprised to find new life and fresh paint on some of these places - especially this block!  It was a pleasure to paint here - even if I had to work around a downpour! Thank you, Tim Van Hoeke for inviting me, my old high school friend turned mayor!  This painting is celebrating the 10th anniversary of this place.  Painting number 4611 in 4611 days. 

 

Blue Lace Golden Wyandottes!

 

Beans" wants to know why she isn't in this painting!!  I love her sassy personality!  All of our chickens have been named by the grandkids - so we have some fun names for these girls!  Beans is the first one looking for treats and nipping the fingers of my gloves for more!  Painting number 4610 in 4610 days. 

Gossip Girls

I love seeing how my little chicks are maturing!  Those sweet little peepers have grown up voices now - and they love to converse with each other and me!  Painting in the run with them may prove harder than I thought, as Beans is getting pretty spicy with my paper!  She keeps pecking at it, and at some point she'll break right through it!  Painting number 4609 in 4609 days. 

Damiyr at Yoga Bliss

Not available 

Yoga Bliss was such an amazing retreat weekend, I can hardly touch the surface of what it embodied.  Damiyr played at one of the concerts during that event, and his music was so powerful and heartfelt.  It was my pleasure to capture the moment in pen and ink. Painting number 4608 in 4608 days. 

Kansan City Skyline Trio

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It was such an honor to create three unique paintings of the Kansas City Skyline, as seen from the office windows of Helm.  Each is part of the whole, created on the largest handmade cotton paper available, in ink and watercolor.  These have been the most complicated paintings I have ever had the pleasure of completing!  

Llama Trio

 

Each time a sketch super cute animals - I want to take them home!  These beautiful animals are very social, communicating with each other and with me!  Their long lashes and bright eyes are so sweet, and I certainly could use more time sketching their shapes.  The more familiar I am with a subject, the better I can draw it.  I wish my neighbors would get a few for me to paint!  See this llama painting in person at Gallery Zeke in Steelville!  Painting number 4606 in 4606 days. 

Wooden Boat Show

 

I just found this painting in my sketch bag of the Wooden Boat Show at the Lakeside Chautauqua!  I never framed or displayed it in the wet paint sale.  Once in a while I run out of time and simply stash my painting in my bag - fully intending to take care of it when I have a moment.  Alas, I completely forgot about this one! Painting number 4605 in 4605 days. 

Chicken Walk

 

Who knew painting with chickens would be so fun?!!  We've raised many animals through the years, and I spent time on two family farms as a child, but I had never been exposed at length to chickens before Easter.  We've raised many birds - parakeets, parrots, doves, pheasants, ducks and geese, but never chickens.  These sweet darlings are so very personable, coming to greet us whenever we head their way.  I'm teaching them to jump up on my lap for treats - and four learned the trick the first day!  I know it's silly, but they really are wonderful - and I see many chicken paintings in my future!  Go see this one in person at Gallery Zeke in Steelville.  Painting number 4604 in 4604 days. 

Old Railway Bridge

 

I love capturing memories in my sketchbook as I travel - this one of a favorite bridge over the Portage River on the North Coast Inland Trail.  I've run many miles on that trail. It used to be a plank bridge, bumpy when ridden with bikes, as we so often did when our family was young.  Later, I ran this trail when Dad was having health issues, and i found comfort in every footfall.  Now, the surface is concrete and the sides are high, almost too high to see over, and it goes all the way to Geneo through farmland.  I have so many memories here, and one day my kids can relive them through these pages. Painting number 4603 in 4603 days. 

Sunflower in August with Monarch

 

As I work in the garden, I listen to gardening podcasts that cover all things garden related.  I've heard in the last few years of the drop in numbers of the monarchs.  I was amazed, because we had so many around the flowers, and we leave stands of milkweed in the pastures.  Well, this year, I have noticed a drop in numbers.  I live out in the country with plenty of open land and native plants, so I felt like our numbers would never drop. I'm thrilled each time I see one, and I try to do a quick painting in the moment.  Perhaps they are a little late this year, one can only hope they are on their way! I just dropped this painting off at Powell Gardens!  Come see this and more when you visit this beautiful place! Painting number 4601 in 4601 days. 

Vineyard Yoga

The Yoga Bliss Festival has been such a wonderful experience to share with my daughter, Michaela!  Our first Mother-Daughter trip together, this retreat has deepened our special bond.  The experience was magical, and we had fun exploring new classes with open minds.  This truly is a place to restore body, mind and spirit, made so much better when sharing with family.  I have so many paintings forming in my mind's eye, I look forward to letting them fall off my brush when the time is right.  I hope to share this special event with the rest of my daughters next year!  Painting number 4600 in 4600 days. 

Watering Hole

 I love painting the gorgeous red hereford cattle in the bright summer landscape!  These beauties are always calling my name - and it feels good to get them painted!  I'm looking forward to a relaxed schedule this month, to allow me to paint some of my favorite local places!  Painting number 4599 in 4599 days. 

Hanging with the Girls

 

I LOVE hanging with the girls - with ink and watercolor!  Just returning from my Yoga Bliss weekend, I can see these beauties have grown in the last 4 days! They are so sweet, and come running to me when I walk out to their coop! They grow in beauty every day - and soon I'll try painting them in oil - but I'll have to stay outside the run, or these curious girls will have my paint everywhere! Painting number 4598 in 4598 days. 

Bounty on the Farm

I've painted this beautiful farm multiple times in the spring, but I've never seen the corn tall in the field. I knew it had to be painted as soon as I saw it.  I'm using a paper from a new batch, and I'm learning it's specific little idiosyncrasies.  It somehow soaks up color, and I add another layer.  I'm finding that working a little drier facilitates this, though I often want to wash on that color.  I do like the finish and the feel, once I play enough with that pigment.  It's a thing that is both challenge and joy, and I love the process of it all!  Painting number 4597 in 4597 days. 

Sunset Yoga

 

I love exploring how ink, watercolor, and hot wax play on delicate rice paper.  First, I draw the lines with India ink, then follow with the first layer of watercolor.  Hot wax is added where a resist is desired, and I build the layers from there. Once the crumbling of the wax and last wash of watercolor goes on, I iron off the wax between sheets of paper, this revealing the painting.  I love the very unpredictable nature of this medium. Come see this watercolor batik on rice paper painting at the Harmonie Verein, and take a restorative class at the Yoga Bliss Festival!  Painting number 4596 in 4596 days. 

Harmonie Verein Montras

Tonight I had the pleasure of painting "An Evening of Kirtan Bliss" while at the Yoga Bliss Festival in Augusta! The music performed by Ananda Das was so beautiful on a higher level.  To paint such a place filled with such music was bliss!  I can't believe there are only two days of class left!  Painting number 4595 in 4595 days.