Shuttlecocks on the Lawn

It sure was a windy day for painting on the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum during the Arterie event!  I LOVE capturing these iconic shuttlecocks in paint!  

Releasing Negativity

As a plein air artist, I've long wondered if I could possibly make watercolor batik work in the field. This weekend, I discovered that I could!  I ordered a tiny travel iron for wax removal and withmy tiny crockpot for melting wax, all I needed was an outlet.  It was super fun to participate in multiple classes - and paint in the other ones!  I love exploring new methods in painting AND yoga!  What a fun weekend!  Now Showing at Halcyon Spa in Augusta, Missouri!  Painting number 4954 in 4954 days. 

All Tuckered Out

How could I possibly resist painting these cuties?!!  I'm teaching them how to paint - and they are very attentive!!  We've got mamas and babies here for some pasture clean up, and I only wish I had more time for painting their antics!  I am playing with a new watercolor travel palette by Soho that I picked up at the Plein Air Convention in Branson.  There are several blues and yellows, and no greens - so I'm mixing them.  It actually gives me a wide range of greens, like the old days when I used a very limited palette.  That limited palette for years taught me more about mixing than anything else I was ever exposed to. Well, the rain is starting and it's time to head back to the house!  Painting number 4895 in 4895 days. 

Calico Dreaming

 

It can be hard to paint a moving target - especially this affectionate new kitty!  She loves attention and winds around our legs as we walk. If we're still, she's in our laps and climbing to shoulders, which also makes for difficult painting, lol. So, I wait for her to settle, then start my process.  When I'm ready for a photo, she's on the move again, making it nearly impossible to get a pic.  She's a beauty and I look forward to painting her in the years ahead.  Painting number 4800 in 4800 days. 

Saint George Hotel

It was so fun to stay at this hotel with Mom and Teddy for a girl's weekend while painting in the 7th annual Weston Plein Air event!  This historic place was built in 1847 - just a few years after our home was built!  Reported to be haunted, their were ghost hunters in the hallways trying to capture images on their phones!  We dined, shopped and enjoyed as many local sites as we could paint! This painting will hang with 6 others of mine in the gallery space at the Weston Coffee Roastery! Painting number 4673 in 4673 days. 

Three Ornaments

This painting and local plein air work will be at the Holiday Open House at the Oliver Building Gallery tomorrow night in the historic West Bottoms from 6:00 to 9:00. What a wonderful way to celebrate the season!  I'll be featuring two paintings from the Inaugural Historic West Bottoms Plein Air Event in May as well as 4 holiday paintings, one of the Country Club Plaza, one of Union Station and another Christmas ornament painting.  It promises to be an evening full of good cheer with friends and local businesses.  Painting number 3985 in 3985 days. 

Holiday Ornaments

After spending time with the Nolan, Quinn and Layne, I find a little time to paint before bedtime.  Oh what fun it is to paint these shiny, colorful ornaments!  This large bowl of balls waits on the back porch for little hands to adorn them, and hang them on our outdoor spruce.  I will help the little ones dip their hand into acrylic paint - and then grab the ornament, leaving a lasting impression of this year's Christmas handprint. I hope to paint these a few more times before I put them away in January!  Painting number 3983 in 3983 days 

Heartland Arts Inked

I started this ink drawing on location, when waiting for the daily judging to finish in Steelville. Choosing this paper from the art's council to use for their upcoming fundraiser, I had no idea what to expect.  Well, the paper did not release the ink, water could not persuade it to.  With pen, I heavily applied ink, which also held it's spot when dampened. So, I brought it home to finish, and actually used a brush with ink to get the darks.  This paper is thin and not cotton or rice, and has a wonderful color, but I will not work with it again by choice! I guess I am a bit of a paper snob, lol! Painting number 4267 in 4267 days. 

Ornament Impressions

I do love getting loose and impressionistic with these shiny vintage ornaments!  Using my acrylics in a dry brush manner, I can layer in the values and colors.  The heavy body acrylics dry quickly, so different from my oils.  I rarely pull out my acrylics these days, but doing so puts all kinds of ideas in my head!  How fun would it be to paint this large and hang out over a sofa?  I know the perfect spot - if I can find the time to get it done before Christmas!  Painting number 3258 in 3258 days. 

Baubles!

I really love getting expressive with the paint on these shiny, reflective Christmas ornaments!  There is something so liberating about grabbing full strength paint from the tube and dropping it right onto the canvas - to work in additional colors at will!  There's no right or wrong, only the marks as they land, sometimes with wild abandon!  After a very full day, it is just the art therapy I need to unwind a bit at day's end.  Love these stolen moments away from my duties!  Painting number 2912 in 2912 days. 

Wooden Bridge

I just found out that this painting of an old train trestle in Salem, Illinois won "Best Representation of West Salem" at the Edward's County Paint Out!  It is such a nice surprise to find happy news in my email in box!  With covid changing all events since March, this event is held without the artists in person this year.  I sure miss getting to visit with everyone from the area and painting with fellow artists, but I'm very happy to still be participating in a socially distanced way!  Thank you to Albion for hosting this event!  Painting number 2826 in 2826 days 

Gesa at the Fence

What a treat to paint such a gorgeous horse in her natural surroundings!  As I composed this scene I knew I wanted to go for a square format.  With two choices, I chose the new 8x8 Shizen paper that I had just picked up at a new favorite local shop (Artists and Craftsman Supplies).  This paper was the hot pressed one, which is different than my normal paper.  Oh my!  Was it ever different!  I had to work and work to get the paint to move like I wanted it to!  This paper was fine for my inks, but oh how different it was for the watercolors!  The very best thing about a challenge is how it drives me to power through until I succeed!  Haha - I guess that is my secret competitive nature shining through!  I ended up very happy with this piece after the struggle - but I will save this paper for ink only in the future!  Painting number 2623 in 2623 days.

Trixie Inked

I had a request recently for a painting which had already sold, but I did have the pre-sketch.  In fact, I had been so busy at the time, that I never posted it anywhere.  So, thinking this little darling should see the light of day, I am sharing this post.  I used a different paper here, one I had picked up at a local art store and found the ink moved a little more fluidly that on my preferred paper.  It does have a nice, heavy thickness to it, which I love. My fountain pen of the day is a TWSBI Eco in a limited edition yellow, filled with my favorite black ink.  I'm running low on that very ink and am waiting for it to come in.  I sure go through the ink!  Painting number 2463 in 2463 days.

Looking Down Market Street

This building has the coolest enclosed porch over the shop, and the pillars set off the openings beautifully.  As I stood by that shop for my morning paint, I had the pleasure of listening to a couple of older gentlemen sitting on that bench, visit and spend some time chatting with everyone who passed.  They introduced me to "Ally Cat", telling me the story of her rescue, as that same cat rubbed against my legs, purring. It was just like a scene from Mayberry, and I love getting to immerse myself in the culture as I stand on the street and paint.  Painting number 2401 in 2401 days.

Main and Thomas Street

This wonderful corner building in Weston, Missouri is the grand Saint George historic hotel.  The architecture is very high brow - and I HAD to draw this at first sight!  The sun was moving pretty fast, and what I started in the shade turned into full sun by the time I finished!  I'm so glad I decided to come to this plein air event - there are so many cool things to paint!  Painting number 2399 in 2399 days.

Entry to Hardwood Garden

Sometimes it is the very architecture of a place that draws me in.  I love the way the pillars flank the stairs, and those wonderful terra cotta urns filled with blooms - simply inspiring.  The garden here is the backdrop, and these strong features - the stars.  I had to stand on a decline to draw and paint this, the lawn sloping down to the street.  With the gentle music of waterfalls and fountains, I could paint here all week.  Painting number 2386 in 2386 days.

Barnett House Inked

This private estate was a beautiful place to spend the day, complete with barn, lake, lakehouse and woods along the lake.  I could have painted here all day in such beautiful surroundings.  This pen and ink drawing was my first of the day.  Painting number 2350 in 2350 days.

Waterfall in the Woods

With our recent rainfall, the waterfalls at the arboretum are stunning!  I've been drawn to them, and the cool stillness in this wooded area is very appealing.  I begin with an ink sketch, using a square paper this time.  With so many shades of green, I am mixing plenty, and starting with the cool greens in back.  Sketching so many stones, I finally realize that if I round off the rectangular shapes, they are so much more realistic!  Why has it taken me years to figure this out? Another day, another lesson!  Painting number 2329 in 2329 days.

JC Fountain Drama

A return to old school pen and ink techniques - shading and hatching with lines, on perhaps the most iconic fountain in Kansas City.  Using my favorite paper in a square format, I simply begin to draw groom the focus area out. If I feel I need a little guidance for those lines, I drop a dot to mark beginnings or ends of a mass.  I don't ever use pencil first, because I feel it resists the ink.  No water added today - I'm using India ink!  This painting is the 2260 in 2260 days, and is hanging at Burns and McDonnell, 9400 building, straight back from the main entrance, along with 13 other paintings.

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Boulevard Brewing Company Inked

Sold

The Boulevard Brewery is a favorite place to sketch and paint, and a wonderful place to gather with friends.  I had an Opening this weekend at The Buttonwood Art Space, where a drawing very much like this sold before I ever got there.  While looking it up on Daily Paintworks and my blog to mark it sold, I realized that I had already marked it so a year ago, instead of even posting this one, which is the original one that sold!  Lol!  So, I am correcting the error and getting this one on the books!  It has been a great weekend, with four paintings selling in 24 hours!  A great way to kick off March!  Painting number 2251 in 2251 days.