Sunset in Downtown Fairfield

 

No, I could NOT resist that amazing sunset tonight as we disbanded from our Fairfield PaintOut meeting!  I tried to persuade my artist friends to stay, but one by one they fell away to get to their host homes.  I simply could not leave, so I quickly sketched out the scene with a pastel stick on a gessoed  board. I still had plenty of sunset color in the sky so I quickly set up my easel and slapped on paint as quickly as possible, first the darks then that fabulous color that was still fresh in my mind, though fading in the sky. I won't know until tomorrow how it really looks, when I take it out of my trunk!  It was super fun and I'm so glad I stayed to capture it in oil!  Painting number 5012 in 5012 days. 

Downtown Albion

What a surprise and honor it is to win Best of Edwards County AND People's Choice Award for this street scene painting on Main and 5th in Albion!  Thanks to @averilgoodman and the whole committee for hosting the Edwards County Paint Out, an event I love to paint!  This historic square in Albion, Illinois is full of small town charm. I started this one thinking the rain would hold off.  As it started to rain, I popped in the car to work.  When it stopped, I hopped out - only to feel the rain picking back up again.  Ink and watercolor can't be rained on - so back in I went.  Starting late in the day, this was quite a bit to bite off before turn in.  It was challenging and fun - and definitely worth the effort!  Painting number 5011 in 5011 days, and it will be hanging in the local bank. 

Along Mill Creek

SOLD 

 

It's so much fun to paint the Country Club Plaza for the Brush Creek Art Walk!  I get to paint with artist friends among the gorgeous architecture of the plaza, with live music serenading me. The plaza will be changing in the future, and I want to paint it as it is right now.  It's especially fun when a painting sells off the easel and I'm so happy this painting found a new home, too! Painting number 5010 in 5010 days.  

Legacy Park

What a beautiful morning to paint the Anita Gorman Conservation Center for the Brush Creek Art Walk!  This community garden is a favorite of mine to return to and paint.  I love the linear design with an those soft edges of blooms and vegetables.  The early light was amazing, and a treat to capture in oils.  I was happy to run into a few artist friends I haven't seen in a while, too!  Painting number 5008 in 5008 days. 

Mum Sale!

SOLD

 What fun it was to paint the mum sale in downtown Rocheport!  The whole community seemed to pop in for mums while I painted - and I even painted a couple of them into my painting!  It was fun to see small town life unfold in front of me, and to get to capture the magic with ink and watercolor.  I do love the charm of visiting and painting these small towns so much. Life just seemed simpler here.  There were only a handful of mums left by the end of that sale!  I'm so happy this painting found a new home, and it is painting number 5007 in 5007 days. 

Blufftop View of the River

 

How quickly the light changes at the A Frame Les Bourgois!  This is THE best view of the Missouri River that I've found to paint in Rocheport!  It's been so fun exploring this place in paint - and equally fun to do it with artists friends!  I hope to return next year to see what other jewels I can find to paint!  Come see this one in person at ART Off the Trail gallery on Central!  Painting number 5006 ink 5006 days. 

Rocheport Winery

 

This beautiful vintage home-turned-winery is right off the Katy Trail in Rocheport, and I couldn't resist painting it!  I've painting quite a bit along this trail, and this is the busiest trailhead I've painted yet!  The Meriweather café and historic depot are right behind me, and if I had the time, I'd paint them, too!  I've really enjoyed these days in Rocheport! Now Showing at Art Off the Trail gallery on Central in town! 

A Frame at the Blufftop

SOLD

The view of the A Frame Les Bourgois from the blufftop overlook was so much fun to paint!  I've only been here once, years ago.  The entertainment space is much expanded and the overlook on the Missouri River is gorgeous!  Rambling flower beds soften all the hard edges - making this very paintable. This view grabbed me, and I HAD to paint it!  I'm happy this painting has a new home, too!  Painting number 5005 in 5005 days. 

Jazz in the Roses

SOLD

It was a lovely evening to paint Jazz in the Roses at the Loose Park Rose Garden!  It is a special treat when I can paint to live music - and these jazz musicians were stellar!  It was fun to visit when onlookers stopped to talk, and two young girls even painted petals onto my rose garden!  The littlest couldn't hardly reach - and she was very thoughtful with that stroke! Perhaps they are the next generation of painters in this rose garden!  I'm happy this painting went home with a new collector, too! Painting number 5003 in 5003 days 

#artistlife #jazzintheroses #looseparkrosegarden #kansascityart #pleinairpainting 

Downtown Rocheport

SOLD

I finished this painting up just as the rain started in downtown Rocheport.  This place is so charming that not even rain can discourage me from painting!  This was the first is my paintings to sell at the Wet Paint Sale! Painting number 5002 in 5002 days. 

Looking Down Second St

 

It was a beautiful day to paint the streets of Rocheport! There are SO many lovely, historic buildings lining the streets of this small town, it's hard to choose my painting location.  The red brick homes in the lush green landscape called to me the loudest - so this is where I landed!  This painting is now showing at Art Off the Trail Gallery in Rocheport, Missouri.  I'm so happy this gallery is now showing my work, too!  Painting number 5001 in 5001 days. 

Red House on Second

 I'm so happy the rain let up just long enough to get a couple of paintings in!  Rocheport is so charming! This is only my second time here, and my first to paint the area in plein air.  This small town of 200 has many historic homes and a few wonderful shops that I HAD to check out before my first brushstroke.  With matcha late in hand, I started painting this in oils, filling in the areas quickly.  I work fast when rain is in the air, and I hung my new bug scarf from my easel to ward off any unwanted visitors. It was fun to visit with the locals as they walked by, and I look forward to painting this town tomorrow and Saturday, too. This painting is now showing at Art Off the Trail Gallery in Rocheport, Missouri.  I'm so happy this gallery is now showing my work, too!  Painting number 5001 in 5001 days. 

Monarch on Sunflower

 

It's fun to paint the butterflies circling these sunflowers - even in miniature!  I migrate to these blooms this time each year, and I can't get enough of painting them!  The butterflies,  bees, and hummingbirds love them, and add life to any garden AND painting!  I'm using up some random pieces of watercolor paper on these minis, and it's a great use for them.  When my time is short, Tis size fits my painting window perfectly!  Painting number 4999 in 4999 days. 

Long House Summer

 

It was fun to gather with artist friends for a quick paint at the Overland Park Arboretum!  The Long House is a cool feature in the landscape to paint!  I first spotted the construction on this hill from Monet's Pond, as I painted a sunset quick paint.  I couldn't imagine how the building would enhance the gardens, and could only think of the loss of natural space.  Well, now I see how it anchors the landscape, and has become a wonderful community space.  I love capturing this place in oil, and it is now showing in the gallery space inside that building.  Painting number 4996 in 4996 days. 

Sunflower Song

It was a beautiful evening for painting sunflowers at the Overland Park Arboretum.  These Maximilian sunflowers have been planted in dedication to a member who has enriched the arboretum through the years, and they are putting on a show!  It was a wild and crazy tangle of flowers to try to make sense of, but I gave it my best - and it was fun, too!  I am honored to be among the top 4 with this painting.  This painting is 4996 in 4996 days, and now showing at the Long House gallery on site.  

Bee in the Petunias

 

The bees seem undaunted by the heat as they buzz through the garden - and I'm happy to paint them in miniature!  This paper is buttery soft, and if I press too hard on the nib of my fountain pen, I could damage the surface.  I'm using a little Ocean Blue ink by Robert Oster at the edge, and a bright pink by Diamine to punch the watercolors a bit.  This is the only petunia I planted this year, after many years of not planting them.  I think this bed may be a little too hot, but the beesdon't mind.  Painting number 4994 in 4994 days.  

Swallowtail on the Sunflower

I love this time of year when the butterflies are abundant in the garden!  The sunflowers are blooming and I am painting in miniature on this bright and sunny day.  It's been close to 100 degrees for so many days in a row, that I've fully acclimated to the heat.  I'm completely comfortable in the shade for hours!  Good thing, because this heat wave is expected to last for another week at least!  Painting number 4992 in 4992 days 

Nocturne at the Nelson

 

What fun it was to paint the illuminated Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art from across the reflecting pool - at NIGHT!  LOVE the painting opportunities that arise for the Brush Creek Art Walk!  It was my first time to paint this beauty at night - and also the first time for me to paint the back of this iconic building.  The evening weather had cooled back from nearly 100 degrees, and it was fun to share this space with other artists, and visit along the way.  Painting number 4991 in 4991 days.