Cafe on Broadway

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 I have wanted to paint the streets of Excelsior Springs for years - and today, I seized every opportunity to paint during the Excelsior Springs Plein Air event!  After first painting an ink and watercolor of the street scene in the opposite direction, I turned around to paint this vantage.  This scene called to me - even though it meant standing in the sun for part of it! I waited for my favorite trolley to drive by, too!  What a busy, thriving small town community this is - and so much fun to paint!  This painting was selected for the Purchase Award and of number 4656 in 4656 days. 

South Lake at Antioch Park

 

It's fun returning to Antioch Park, where I used to play as a child - to paint!  A budding artist before kindergarten, Childhood Me would LOVE that I'm painting the very steps across the lake to the island!  I remember the feeling of walking gingerly across them, careful to step in the very center of each one.  My brother and I would cross to the safety of hard ground - and be thankful for the feel of it!  Four generations of my family have gathered here. In fact, my daughter,  Tiffany, has joined today and is on the other side of the water sketching turtles. We met the Monday Morning Watercolorists here today, and hope to paint again with them next Monday.  Painting number 4633 in 4633 days. 

Cook Station Stream

 

There is nothing like painting to the music of a stream! Cook Station was such a treat!  Teddy and I drove out to this location in the rain. The rain continued through my first painting, letting up just enough for me to get it framed.  As I waited for Teddy to finish, I found this spot, and couldn't resist it!  The rain had nearly stopped, so I painted as fast as I could, and wrapped it up in time to get back for judging.  I could have painted here for days!  Several people mentioned the outhouse with 4 seats in that painting!  It seems to be a local icon!  This one now hanging at Gallery Zeke in Steelville! Painting number 4540 in 4540 days. 

Chicken Talk

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I have had a whole chicken theme woven through my Augusta Plein Air work this season!  I painted several places with chickens - and I'm especially drawn to them since we got our own special chicks for Easter weekend!  So, as I learn about raising chickens, I am compelled to paint them everywhere I see them!  I'm so happy this one will live with my host family at Augusta Shores!  Painting number in days. When will I ever look that number up?  Who knows - I'm to busy painting! 

Girl Talk

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I LOVE hanging out with my peeps in Augusta - and this painting has a new home there, too! It seems I've gone a little chicken crazy during this plein air festival!  Our little chicks at home are now 3 weeks old - and I am migrating to all chickens and coops at our paint outs!  After my larger paintings at each coop scene, I've gotten a chance to sketch a small one, too.  I put this into the Golden Ticket event - and it sold that night. I guess I'm not the only one crazy for chickens!  Painting number in days. 

The Girls

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I was so excited to paint these sweet chickens that I forgot to take a photo on site.  When I walked out into the Harmonie Verein for the pop-up gallery, it was snapped up before I could even tag it. So, I had no record of it until I reached out to the buyer to send a photo of it my way.  I've done this three times this week - and one was in New Melle. I'm so happy everything is selling, but I seriously need to focus on getting those pics on site!  Painting number......?

Boquillas Canyon

Boquillas Canyon was more beautiful than I'd hoped, and thrilling to paint!  I hiked in with the family and my gear, and set up here as soon as I set eyes on this scene.  My family hiked on and there were only 3 other's on the trail as I worked. Sensing the remoteness and a wish that I had packed what was currently with my husband, I quickened my pace.  The beauty though enthralling, I couldn't shake the feeling of being vulnerable oot there.  Minutes later, and authentic Mexican in horseback walked up behind me, asking if I'd like to buy tamales, empinadas or sopapillas. His two dogs flanked him as his very long knife hanging in a handmade leather case caught my attention. He asked if there were more people in the canyon, and of course I mentioned my family "just over there" and others who just went by.  He stood too close behind me, didn't talk enough, and I was packing up.  He asked if I was done, and I said yes, and that he'd make a great painting - so I took his photo, hoping it wouldn't be needed for evidence.  I walked quickly on and didn't breathe a sigh of relief until I met back up with my party.  As we left the canyon, we did but tamales and sopapillas from him, as he lurked behind some bushes with his horse.  He had crossed over from Boquilla with a friend who was also seeking goods from the little town. One can easily wade through the Rio Grande here, and they watch for the border patrol with their binoculars to cross. I could have painted 3 different paintings here I'd there were more people on the trail.  This one was truly a quick paint and  painting number 5097 in 5097 days. 

Santa Elena Trail Head

 

What an amazing day to paint in Santa Elana Canyon! The left side is Mexico and the right is Texas!!  I have never been here before today - and what a treat it was!  We hiked the trail along the canyon with Michaela, Cooper, Casper and Kirby, and i headed back early to paint here while the kids threw rocks into the water.  I'm painting as fast as I can in between family activities, to make the most of our time in this park!  Painting number 5097 in 5097 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. 

West Salem Square

 

I am so honored this painting was awarded the Best of West Salem award at the Edwards County Paint Out!  This is a wonderful area to paint, full of good people! My host family took me on a 4 wheeler ride to their 40 acres and surrounding area, and it was so fun.  It's lovely to see the area as only the locals know how to see if, and a great way to start the day.  I'm so lucky to have stayed with them for 3 years running, now.  Painting number 5172 in 5172 days. 

West of the Courthouse

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What fun it is to return to Albion to find a new view of the courthouse!  Of course, I had to paint it! I'm the space between here and the courthouse stood an old building last year, that was just beginning to be torn down.  When I came through this back alley, the view was striking.  So, in ink and watercolor i captured a view that had possibly never been available until now.  Come see  this and more tonight at the Arist Reception at the Main Event in Albion at 6.  Painting number 5171 in 5171 days. 

Hotel Lakeside

Hotel Lakeside is such a beautiful historic hotel on the coast of Lake Erie. One can look out over the water while dining or sitting on the screened in veranda. Steeped in vintage charm, it is low stepping back in time to a more peaceful pace.  It is a joy to paint here, if only for a few days.  Painting number 5105 in 5105 days. 

865 Ashley

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I love getting to paint historic homes full of vintage charm in Weston!  While shopping at one of my favorite boutiques, Missouri Bluffs, the lovely lady ringing me out mentioned that she requested her house to be painted last year, but all there was done on site was a painting of her outhouse.  I asked for her address and popped by to see this antebellum gem!  Finding shade to paint from put me on the side of this home, and this composition was irresistible.  I finished too late to stop back by the shop, but left a message and delivered it to the coffee shop before leaving town.  This painting is number 5082 in 5082 days.  Now Showing at the Weston Coffee Roastery on Main! 😍🎨

#westonmo #pleinairpainting #inkandwatercolor #historichome #antebellumhome #westonpleinair

Hoppe Springs

 

I lose all track of time when painting by a spring, especially when the water is rushing by at my feet  I stood on the small footbridge crossing this spring, wanting to keep an eye out for the copperhead I just saw dissappear into a crack between rocks. As the minutes rolled by, I forgot about him altogether, so mesmerized I was by the water.  There is something so healing about a spring, so soothing to the soul.  This spring is an amazing painting companion with it's magical sounds, and I think I'll be returning each time I'm in town. Painting number 5071 in 5071 days. It looks like I've got a bit of catching up to do on my blog, a few entries didn't post again.  If only every place had a good cell connection in the Midwest. 

Nestled in the Woods

This rainy day painting started as one of my acrylic demonstrations with the High School Plein Air sponsored by the Steelville Arts Council last weekend.  I mentored 20 students over three days in 5 different paint-outs.  It was such a super fun weekend filled with very talented young artists, and I hope that I have impacted their art journey in some small way.  I would have loved an opportunity like this at their age.  This painting is now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville, Missouri through mid-July.  Come take a peak in person.  Painting number 5068 in 5068 days. 

Jake

I love getting to paint a beloved pet portrait, to be cherished when they are no longer at one's side.  This sweetheart is striking a signature pose on this canvas, and was given as a Christmas gift.  I have lately painted a few of these in acrylic, after a pretty long separation from this media.  I do like it's layering and crisp lines, and the almost instant dry time is a big bonus.  I use a dry brush technique, never wetting those brushes until I am washing them out. Heavy body paint gives me strong pigment, even in the lightest areas.  I hope this painting will be cherished for many years to come. 

Light on the Tanks

I've lately been hunting up special requests from patrons, and have come across a few paintings never posted. In an effort to update my records, I'm adding them when I find them. It gives me a place to tag those paintings and make them visible to those in search of them. This is an acrylic painting of an oil field site somewhere near Fairfield, Illinois.  It was down a gravel path unknown to me, and I didn't record the exact location.  I've not been to that site since, so can only guess that is was north/northwest of town, based on what I remember. Painting number 3963 in 3963 days. 

Zinnia Garden

Oh my!  I love painting a zinnia garden in full bloom!  What a glorious sight to capture in paint, especially in oils.  Carefully marking the masses with color and value, this painting unfolded as I worked.  Getting to use full strength oil paint on those vibrant blooms is so much fun - as seldom do I get the chance to do that.  These zinnias are really a celebration of color - and I'm so happy I get to paint them!  Painting number 3899 in 3899 days. 

Bandstand at Lakeside

It is so fun to paint this iconic bandstand along the path, listening to the waves crash along the coast of Lakeside!  The winding path rambles through Lakeside near the water, to the town, and right back to this bandstand.  Lush and green, the lawn and gardens are beautiful, adding to the romance is this painting.  I'm so happy to get to paint this! Painting number 3849 in 3949 days. 

Lamp Post Garden

Even the rain couldn't keep me from painting this lovely lamp post garden!  Choosing oils for this rainy day, the shelter of the Lakeside Pavilion was the perfect spot to paint from.  As I worked, there was a mama red-winged blackbird that kept swooping down on unsuspecting people passing by that lamppost!  One after the other, she pecked their heads- especially targeting the men without hats!  She never bothered me, perhaps my wide brimmed hat didn't threaten her?  Who knew these sweet birds turned to dive bombers with little ones nearby?  Painting number 3845 in 3845 days.