47th and Nichols

What a lovely morning to paint at 47th and Nichols on the Country Club Plaza!  I was so happy to gather with artist friends again for an Urban Sketchers KC event with our sister city Seville, for a sketch exchange!  I was on the Plaza earlier this week to get in some early sketching. As one of the admins, we were all trying to do extra work, to be sure there is enough to exchange with the artists in Urban Sketchers Seville. For each artist who sends a painting (size 9x6), a painting will come to them from an artist in Seville, Spain.  How cool is that?  I've only just turned in my work, and I can hardly wait to receive my treasure!  I hope we do much more of this in the future - just imagine the international connections to artists of shared interests!  What a wonderful way to spread a little joy across the pond! Painting number 3363 in 3363 days. 

Fogo de Chao

I love getting an early start on this weekend's Urban Sketchers "Paint the Plaza" day.  The weather has been spectacular this week, so it has been a joy to sketch outside!  This building is another iconic stand out in the Country Club Plaza. I can't tell for sure from here, but it looks like the face of the clocks are also plaza images.  I'm always surprised by the details I see when I'm painting on location.  They are so much more apparent as I work.   The opposite is also true - sometimes there are big ugly things in my line of vision, and I don't see them at all as I paint.  I think there is a lot of "self-editing" going on in my head - without my knowledge! Love painting down here!  Painting number 3361 in 3361 days. ❤️🎨

Pear Tree Blooms

After spending the entire day working in the gardens, I find I can hardly hold my pen!  Choosing tre closest blooming tree to the house, I sketch out tre blooms and branches of this pear.  These trees are outrageous with blossoms!  Why didn't I just capture the whole tree?  Maybe tomorrow.... if I can move....!  I think tomorrow I will paint first and then return to the yard.  I never know when to quit!  Painting number 2288 in 2288 days.

Autumn Leaves

With only a small window available for running and painting today, I hit the North Coast Inland Trail as soon as we arrived home.  Running is such therapy, as if I am running away from all those things I don't wish to think about, and one by one they are left in the dust behind me.  The hard and fast run is the best for this, and when I wear out, it is time for a quick paint.  Today, however, I ran extra miles and could only pick up leaves on my way back, to paint after our appointments.  So, here I am, studying leaves with pen and ink, and longing for my dad.  Painting number 2118 in 2118 days.

Mission Antique Mall 305

Browsing through an antique shop is like stepping back in time, and I could spend hours in such a place!  The experience is amplified when I am immersed with my ink and paints at my favorite booth!  With only months left open, the Mission Antique Mall will be closing, so I am capturing the magic while I still can. I use one of my Pendora artisan pens for the sketching, testing the ink lightly to see if it moves. The fine nib is a little hard on this handmade paper, so I lighten my pressure.  The ink is softer and grayer than my usual, so it is an experiment as I add watercolor to it!  It moves more with a wet brush than anticipated, so I'm careful not to work that pigment into the ink too much.  The pen handles well, and the beautiful barrel makes it a joy to use!  I like the sassy dressform on the left, as she is outfitted with a leather hat, red cowboy boots and a holster slung around her waist!  That holster just may be calling my name! Love it!  Painting number 2044 in 2044 days.

Shredd Inked

I spend so many hours at the gym each week, isn't it natural that I would gravitate to inking one at the paint out tonight?  Historic Lee's Summit was the venue, and this evening paint out was so fun!  I used my TWSBI mini fountain pen and Levenger Raven Black ink for this rendering, moving the ink a little with water.  Finishing early, I dashed up to turn it in - and forgot to take a photo on site!  I do that sometimes when I'm in a hurry!  Not a great photo, I hope someone else got one tonight at awards!  This was the Purchase Award for Shredd! Painting number 2042 in 2042 days.

Shredd Purchase Award Winner- Lee's Summit Plein Air
sold

Rural Kansas Sketched

I have several painting journals that I pick up from time to time, and each time I do I wonder why I don't use them every day!  I don't like to remove journal pages if someone wants one, so the individual sheets make more sense.  Here, I show my tools, all so compact I can take them anywhere.  I like these watercolor half pan sets so much, I think I'll get a couple more classic sets.  One for the car, and one for another bag.  An artist can never have too many supplies!  Painting number 2040 in 2040 days.

19025 Portage River Rd

Each morning one starts the day and it unfolds hourly.  Beginning in one state, ending three states over and 12 hours later, finds me at the end of a long day indeed.  It seems I must always pay the piper when I return home, and I'm not done paying yet.  Taking a little break for posting, I'm remembering the last day on my parent's lawn. We visited as I painted,  sitting on lawn chairs in the shade of a large tree.  I am so thankful for the fun family times shared and another clear ct scan for my dad.  Painting number 2003 in 2003 days.

Kayaks!

Summer is in full swing, and I will soon be painting watercraft of all kinds!  I love the vibrant color of these kayaks as they stand along the outside walls.  Scouting several angles, I decided to do them all!  At Scheels for our monthly Art Mob event, I was able to squeeze this in right before taking Beau to the vet - again!  A little ink and watercolor was just the therapy I needed after another night of scant sleep.  It's remarkable how a little time spent painting can restore me,  no matter what!  This cheerful painting is number 1987 in 1987 days. 

sold

Root Beer Stand

The Arts in the Park festival at Macken Park was a lot of fun!  Live music, fabulous root beer and plein air - who could ask for more?  This rustic root beer stand caught my eye right off, and I returned to draw it for my second work of the day.  Finding a spot in the shade, I sketched as my daughter shopped the art booths for special works. One can find the coolest things at these festivals! This drawing and two others will soon be hanging at the Paper Birch Landing, a gallery in the Northland.  Painting number 1971 in 1971 days. 

ink on paper, 6x9
purchase here

Monet Painting his Garden

Today I am experimenting with a new paper I picked up at my favorite local art store - Creative Coldsnow.  This one is a little creamier in color than my usual paper, and has a stiffer, yet thinner feel.  When I drop a little water on it - the paper turns very transparent until it dries.  The ink bleeds well, though does not move as readily as watercolor paper.  I love the long fibers in it, which leave wonderful ragged edges.  This is a printer's paper, which I've never tried before. The jury is still out on it's use for actual watercolor, but I think it could be magical for the inks.  I'm hoping to draw a larger one on site in the morning,  since the trial went so well!  Painting number 1954 in 1954 days.

ink on paper, 6x9
purchase here

Redbuds and Barn Watercolor

Today's painting class focused on inking a landscape, then filling in with watercolor.  This scene is one of the first I ever painted in Augusta years ago, only the trees are more mature now. Using one of my favorite journals, I first draw the scene with India ink.  This ink Is permanent and does not run with water, though it will fade a bit.   Once the composition is complete, I start filling in with my watercolor, saving the whites.  As watercolor dries, it lightens considerably, so adjustments are necessary.  I like to tweak the masses while they are still wet, allowing the color to mingle in that special way unique to watercolor.  This journal has quite a bit of sizing in the paper, so I will most likely need to rinse out my brushes before using them again.  Painting number 1937 in 1937 days.

unavailable for purchase

Ha Ha Tonka - journal

The Ha Ha Tonka ruins are majestic as they sit high on the bluffs, above a winding spring.  I start first with my TWSBI mini, filled with Caran D'ache Cosmic Black ink.  I most often use black when sketching a scene.  It wasn't long before my pen ran dry - oh why didn't I check it?  It is a demonstrator pen and I can clearly see the ink, if if only pay attention!  So, I move to another favorite, the TWSBI Eco filled with a fancy J. Herbin Caroube de Chypre ink.  My favorite part of this ink is the tiny gold flecks!  I use a little watercolor to tint and a little water to move my ink - which is a little new for me.  I almost always use India ink when using watercolor because it can be tricky to control the ink on a wet surface.  But, I'm growing more adept at the media, and like the depth I can achieve here.  Cool pens, cool ink, cool paper - how can one go wrong?  Painting number 1901 in 1901 days.

View from World Mark

Finally, the sun is out - and the view from our condo is amazing!  The sunrise woke me up and I inked and painted before the others were up.  I left my India ink pen in another bag so I'm using my favorite fountain pen for the initial sketch. I tried not to get into it too much with the water afterwards, because I didn't want the ink bleeding into the gouache.  This is the first time I've used gouache on this extra rough cotton paper - and it worked well.  I don't realize how heavy and rough this paper is until I return to it from the soft, buttery papers. I do love to try them all!  Painting number 1899 in 1899 days.

Roasting Coffee

If you've never been to Messenger Coffee in Kansas City, you have got to stop in!  It is three floors of fabulous!  There is a wonderful rooftop sitting area complete with a fireplace and bird's eye view of the surrounding cityscape.  The second floor is where I found this young man roasting coffee.  The sun streaming through those windows was the perfect backdrop for roasting and baking alike. Just to the right, several bakers were busy with their treats, it made me so hungry!  The first floor is the busiest with a constant stream of people ordering coffee and baked goods, sitting at tables and visiting. A wonderful place to draw with a hot beverage in my other hand!  Painting number 1887 in 1887 days.

Starbucks Sketched

A coffee house is a really great place to sketch people.  There are often some waiting in line, waiting for coffee, standing with their beverage, or sitting around the tables.  All of these situations are relatively still, offering a few minutes to get down those poses.  I like to get all my drawing finished before adding watercolor, but this is not always the case.  This week is the #oneweek100people2018 challenge, which means each artists renders 100 people however they wish.  Yesterday, I used pen and ink, today I'm using India ink and watercolor.  I did this challenge last year, too - and I can see the improvement in my figures.  Not only is my speed better, but their shapes are more life like.  I should probably do this challenge monthly to nail those quick pose skills!  Painting number 1875 in 1875 days.

Milk Barn Jounalled

Another beautiful sunset - and this time I'm capturing it in one of my favorite journals.  This rough, textured paper compares to 300 lb watercolor paper in the way it accepts the water and paint.  The pen skips a bit, hitting the high spots, but that is part of the charm of working with such tools.  Embrace the different and make it your own, you'll never be bored in your craft.  Painting number 1830 in 1830 days.

Lakeside Retreat

I am putting pen to paper and filling in with watercolor.  This cotton rag paper has a rough texture, so I must use a fine or medium tip pen for the drawing.  The super fine seems to skip around too much, only hitting the high spots.  The paint flows freely on this paper, staying wet long enough to add more colors to mingle into the wet areas.  Each painting is an exploration in the media, pushing and pulling to see what evolves! Painting number 1818 in 1818 days. 

Merry Go Round

Our monthly art mob event was at Oak Park Mall this morning. We met at the carousel and soon began our work. I first started my composition with an ink drawing, followed by watercolor. With the constant motion of the merry-go-round, I had to work quickly and loosely. One of the best parts of meeting monthly with fellow artists is getting to visit over lunch afterwards. We all display our work together for a quick photo, then off to lunch we go. Today was especially fun because these are my old stomping grounds where I grew up! This painting makes 1793 to in 1793 days.

Northeast Pasture in Watercolor

Oh what a difference a new pen makes!  I've been trying to squeeze every tiny bit of ink out of my other pen. It took me forever to remember to get a new Pitt pen in my bag, so I HAD to use what should have been tossed days ago!  I use India ink when I want to continue with watercolor.  This ink stays put, unless I use it on wet paper.  Then, it spreads with a life of it's own! I have some beautiful yellows in my watercolor confections sets - the perfect ones for this autumn color!  When I'm finished, I embellish with a little more ink.  Painting number 1785 in 1785 days...... I think, I'm going to have to check that!