Island in the Lake

It has been years since I've been to Shawnee Mission Park - and it has really changed!  I hardly recognized the place with the new buildings and entrance.  Today was the Missouri Valley Impressionist Society paint out, and we met at Shelter 2.  Of course we distanced socially, and it was still fun getting to visit with a few artist friends!  With strong breezes, I could hardly feel the heat as I worked.  I think all my hard yard work in the heat has conditioned me!  I walked right to this spot and started painting, sketching out my composition with a brush.  I should have topped off my palette, as I was low on some paint.  I'll remember before I next grab that palette.  I never have to worry about that when I'm painting at my own place most of the time!  Painting number 2746 in 2746 days.

Tarpon Avenue and S. Safford View

I could certainly get used to painting in shorts and sandals in February!!  For my very first day landing on the streets of Tarpon Springs, I wanted to paint the whole scene from Safford, looking down Tarpon Avenue.  This beautiful vintage town on the gulf coast of Florida is beautiful in every direction!  How on earth will I decide what to paint next?!  Painting number 2608 in 2608 days.

Leading to Mines of Spain

SOLDWhile trying to work our way out to some farmland, I drove right to a "road closed" sign, where cement barriers blocked entry.  Loving the look of this old bridge, of course we had to check out the view!  Amazing!  I have been longing for a winding creek to paint, and here it is!  What a beautiful way to start a Monday!  Painting number 2471 in 2471 days.

Morning at Sister Bay

SOLD

Sometimes, I paint in low coverage areas, and can only post very limited images - if anything goes through at all!  I did not realize how much of the midwest does not have good internet until I started painting in many small towns.  Door County is such a place, and I only recently realized that I could not post this painting as it was completed.  This quick paint in Sister Bay was so fun to paint - and it was the first one purchased that evening at the Peninsula School of Art.  Such a great place to paint!  Painting number 2464 in 2464 days.

Barn Among the Sunflowers

These yellow wildflowers are blooming like never before down at the Disney Barn.  I'm not sure if they are tickseed or blanket flowers, but wow, they steal the show!  Perhaps my favorite place in Marceline to paint, this Disney Barn is surrounded by wildflowers.  A path winds around the barn and down to the pond, and it was hard to choose what angle to paint from.  I sure wish I'd put cad yellow medium on my palette!  Painting number 2445 in 2445 days.

Fields of Lavender

I look forward to painting in these lavender fields on Washington Island all year.  There  is nothing like the experience of painting while that fragrance wafts through the air around me.  Heavenly!  I took panels of a different size than last year, hoping to paint a wider vista.  I've only started using the 8x16 size, and can hardly keep the frames on hand. I love this format for this scene!  I'm able to show so much more of the landscape than with the 11x14s. I'm so glad I had ordered a Panel Pak in this size.  It is the perfect way to carry two wet paintings face to face.  I can toss them in a bag or beside my easel in the trunk and know they are safe.  Love them!  Painting number 2409 in 2409 days.

Doug and Cindy's Labor of Love

What a beautiful place to paint in the morning light!  This house and very large barn are being restored to their former glory by one of my high school friends, Doug and his wife Cindy. After seeing a photograph as I was painting in Door County, Wisconsin, I HAD to stop by on the way home to capture this jewel in oils!  It was really a pleasure to spend a few morning hours here soaking up the beauty.  I wish all such places would be restored!  Thanks, Doug! Painting number 2408 in 2408 days.

Big Sky Country

What an amazing place to paint this morning!  Hugh on a hill, with all this glorious landscape surrounding me.  How lucky can one girl be?  Painting number 2341 in 2341 days.

Wheelgate Farm Morning

What a great morning for painting - right up until the downpour!  Love this Wheelgate Farm in St James!  Painting number 2340 in 2340 days.

Homestead on the Hill

This little slice of heaven is the first scheduled paint out of Steelville Plein Air. The light was amazing, the weather gorgeous, and who could ask for better subject matter?  Everyone was so friendly as they hiked to find artists in the field.  I was right on the gravel road to get this view - so I'm sure the is some organic matter from the scene embedded in the oil!  I think I'm really going to like this event!  Painting number 2339 in 2339 days.

Wagon Rides on the Prairie

The Party on the Prairie is always a fun paint out!  Not only do they have horse drawn wagon rides, but also prairie walks, live music, a scavenger hunt and more!  I set up where I could see the wagon loading and unloading riders, giving me more time to paint the horses and wagon.  The harp music wafted over as I painted, and walkers stopped to talk to me on their stroll. The weather was perfect, though a little warm in the sun towards the end.  I'm so happy to have painted this horse drawn wagon, it is certainly like stepping into the past. Painting number 2335 in 2335 days.

Double Waterfall

This is the second time I've painted in this garden this week. I couldn't get this landscape off my mind, I wanted to paint it in a longer format.  Thinking I would choose 6x12, I brought several panels with me in case I changed my mind.  I did, I wanted to use the 8x16. It is only the second time I've painted that size, and I really like it.  I feel like I can really interpret the scene better with a few more inches of space.  There are a few more landscapes rolling around my mind, I hope to get them painted before turn in on Thursday!  Painting number 2330 in 2330 days.

Afternoon in the Train Garden

So much work has been done on this train garden since I've been to the arboretum!  The veronica was in full bloom - pulling me to it's side to paint!  A very complicated scene, this one took me longer to paint than most.  It was nice to have the luxury of time on this dry afternoon, I've been dodging rain for weeks now!  Planning to finish three today, I only completed two.  Perhaps I'll make up the difference tomorrow!  Painting number 2329 in 2329 days.

Lingering on Locust Street

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Tonight's paint out was anywhere within Augusta city limits.  Loving the view on Locust, I set up and started drawing.  I have run out of my larger papers, so had picked up a watercolor paper to fit a couple of new frames I bought (I was also out of ink frames).  The smooth surface drove me crazy, and the resistance to the water was also hard to navigate.  I will not be using this paper again, unless I cut it up for ATC work!  Painting number 2312 in 2312 days.