Balducci Sunset

Balducci Sunset
Augusta Plein Air Event

It is good that I have a few paintings I have not posted - I can bring one out for a day like today.  I am on the road, headed to Ohio, where my dad is in the hospital.  Since I will not be arriving until 1:00 or 2:00 am, I am posting from my laptop at a McDonalds - where the wifi is free!  I hope you enjoy this painting of one of my favorite places to paint - Augusta!  This is painting number 269 in as many days, and Day 29 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge.  Back on the road I go.

Pride of Jeek's Farm

Pride of Jeek's Farm
Oil on panel, 12x9

I have fond memories of the first estate paint that I attended at Jeek's Farm in Augusta, Missouri.  It was a very rainy day, and I was using acrylics at the time - so I painted from within the shelter of a barn.  I remember the smell of the wet earth, and the beautiful horses on the property.  The hosts were very gracious, welcoming each artist warmly.  I painted one of the barns on that day, and have only now gotten around to putting these beauties down with oil.  After yesterday's charcoal sketch, this was an easy paint today.  Painting number 175 in 175 days.

Montelle Magic

Montelle Magic
Oil on panel, 16x12
Montelle Winery Paint Out

After 8 years of participating in the Augusta Plein Air Festival, we finally had beautiful weather for the Montelle Winery Paint Out!  We have endured, heavy rain, storms, hail, freezing cold temps through the years, but now, I have been able to paint from the terrace overlooking the amazing hills of Augusta.  The landscape is breathtaking - simply meant for paint and panel.  This one is my 114th painting in 114 days.  I am so tired from all the festivities - I may just sleep clear through tomorrow!

First Flowering Crab

First Flowering Crab
Oil on panel, 8x10

I started painting this one in the middle of a good rain.  I had dropped off a painting for judging, and Teddy and I had an hour before we were to get back for the results.  So, we set up in a gazebo (for shelter from the rain), on a hill, to paint this glorious crabapple tree.  The rain steadily increased, building up to thunder, as we frantically painted to capture the beauty with our paints.  The wind was blowing the rain in, and my oil palette had water pooling on the surface.  I didn't want to stop.  The thunder didn't sound close.......in times like this, my logical self steps aside, letting my creative self take over.  An hour later, we had to pack up and get back for the social - which was fabulous!  It is never easy to leave a painting when I'm in the zone.  I returned to this today, to add the final touches.  This makes 113 paintings in 113 days.  Come see the show tomorrow at Mount Pleasant Winery - if you happen to be near Augusta, Missouri :)

The Bluffs of Klondike

The Bluffs of Klondike
Oil on panel, 6x12

This is my second painting of the day - done quickly and with the freedom that comes from having your first piece framed and ready to turn in.  Painted at the Klondike State Park in Augusta, these majestic scenes are all over the park!  The weather was warm , the winds were calm, and the sun was out - a perfect day for painting.  On this day I painted three different landscapes - although my sunset needs quite a bit of work!  This is my 112th painting in 112 days - and I have got to get to bed before I fall asleep with my laptop!  Can't wait to sleep in tomorrow :)

The Road Less Traveled

The Road Less Traveled
Oil over acrylic with pastel, 16x12

This morning at sunrise, I was out up on the hill overlooking the Virant estate - Vineyard Hill.  As snow fell around, I scouted the perfect spot for my first painting of the day.  This HAD to be painted from the middle of this narrow lane to the crest of the hill.  Each time another painter wanted up or down, I had to pick up my easel and hold it out of the way until they were through.  This magical location was worth all the trouble.  Our hosts were SO gracious - and the chili was perhaps the best I have ever had!  This makes the 111th painting in 111 days - I'll be at Klondike Park tomorrow :)

Rebirth and Renewal

Rebirth and Renewal
Oil on panel, 12x9

This beautiful little church is in the heart of Augusta, and I have wanted to paint it for years!  We found a good covered porch with this view - and started laying paint on panel.  It was raining steadily as I worked.  Once I had all the masses in, the clouds opened up to shed a few rays of light right through the middle of my scene!  I brushed them in quickly - before they disappeared.  Everything has been washed so clean by the heavy rains - the spring colors are simply bursting forth!  This one makes the 110th painting in as many days, and I have another sunrise paint in the morning :)

Babbling Brook

Babbling Brook
Oil on panel, 18x14
Mount Pleasant Winery - Winning Website Painting
Private Estate Paint - 3rd Place

The weather was absolutely perfect today for painting!  Warm temps, mostly sunny, and a calm breeze until the finish - a wonderful day of painting on the Shipley Estate.  This creek ran the whole length of their property, and offered many amazing paint sites.  After picking several locations, I decided on the one that was the furthest away!  I took my time, enjoying the paint with the brook babbling over the rocks beside me. It was so secluded, it was like being nestled away in a private outdoor studio - with only one other artist close by.  Sometimes a painting just flows from the brush - this was one of those paintings!  Winning 3rd Place today - and Mount Pleasant Winery's Painting with the most votes - this is my 109th painting in 109 days :)

John Lasater judging this event

Sunrise at the Gray House

Sunrise at Gray House

The first paint of today was at Chandler Hill Winery, which sits high on a hill, with amazing views on all sides.  They served us a wonderful breakfast reception afterwards - which was so delicious!  This was my second sunrise paint in a row - and after 4 paint outs between yesterday and today - I'm a bit tired now!  This image is not so clear.  I had to take it with my phone, inside and at night.  I will replace it with a better one later in the week, when I have time to catch my breath!  This is painting number 108 in as many days.  I am turning in early tonight :)

On location

Lift-Off at Sunrise

Lift-off at Sunrise
Nobeleis Winery
Oil on panel, 14x11

The Nobeleis Winery invited the artists of the Augusta Plein Air Festival to come paint the hot air balloons lifting off at sunrise this morning.  We had to check in at 6:00am to start painting (SO early after the sunset paint at Balducci last night!)  The sunrise was beautiful - and the balloons made such excellent painting subjects!  I am so glad to have been able to attend this event! Where else can an artist set up to paint hot air balloons in our region?  This makes painting number 107 in 107 days.  I love painting in plein air :)

Birdbath at Sunrise

Birdbath at Sunrise
Oil on panel, 11x14
not available

So, this is day three of the Augusta Plein Air Festival, and I painted this one at the Sunrise Paint at Frisella's Nursery.  The morning was SO cold, and the wind was absolutely biting!  Frisella's was so gracious to allow us to paint in the greenhouse!  Surrounded by garden beauty and flowers, it was hard to narrow down a painting subject!  Two scenes from outdoors were also calling my name - but the wood stove and a warm place to paint won the contest!  This was my first painting of the day - and thoroughly enjoyable!  I could paint the gardens in all their glory all day long.  I love the color and movement, the breath of life that flows through the foliage and flowers.  We next did a little scouting for paint spots before heading to Balducci's for the Sunset Paint.  I will post that painting another day.  This is painting number 106 in as many days.  I'd better get to bed - I have another sunrise paint in the morning!

On location

Spring at Peace Chapel

This beautiful chapel is located in the lovely village behind the Daniel Boone Farm.  This is the first day of my favorite plein air painting venue  - the Augusta Plein Air Event!  We drove through very heavy fog all the way here, to have it lift off into a beautiful spring day.  It was actually hot as we finished - a steamy 82 degrees.  It is always like a family reunion to come back to this area!  So many friends and fellow artists - it is just so fun to catch up!  Painting number 104 in 104 days.  I hope we don't get all of the storms expected tomorrow!

Spring at Peace Chapel
Oil on panel, 12x9
Daniel Boone Farm Paint Out

Morning Glow

Morning Glow
Oil over acrylic on panel
On display at the Executive Offices of Blue Cross Blue Shield

This secluded Augusta cabin was my painting "home" for 4 days on my very first plein air adventure.  A fellow artist, Julie Wiegand offered me a place to stay when she found out I was returning after a quick trip home for 2 days.  It seemed like I drove for miles before reaching this picturesque cabin!  It was a perfect artist retreat!  Julie was a gracious host - inviting over fellow artists, and friends, in the evening.   I will always remember the friendships forged in that little slice of heaven.  It was only the beginning of so many more painting adventures!  This one is mainly acrylic with only a glazing in oils over the top.  Painting number 88 in 88 days - now back to work on a large piece!

First Redbuds of Augusta

First Redbuds of Augusta
Oil on panel, 16x12

Eight years ago, a dear friend of mine talked me into attending my first plein air event.  Actually, Teddy Jackson had to twist my arm to get me to go for the weekend.  It was so hard to abandon my family and all of my obligations for something so frivolous.  The very first time, we parked high on a hill (where now a fire station resides) to paint the beautiful overlook of hills and farms and vineyards.  It was cold, windy and drizzling - we had to back up under the hatchback of her SUV just to keep our panels dry!  I loved it.  Cold, wet, and shivering, I still loved it.  I was hooked.  I remember Teddy telling me, "If you can paint here, you can paint anywhere!"  She was right!  From 20 degrees to 106, I am out in it - and loving it.  I don't even feel the temperatures while I am painting.  Once finished, I often realize my hands are very cold - and they don't work right!  But, it just doesn't matter while I am in the zone!  I found the photo reference for this work while pouring over old photos.  The very first painting I did on location, I painted in acrylics - and did not get a good image of it.  It was my very first sale in Augusta, to a sweet couple from Indiana - just in town for the weekend.  That very first year, all of the trees were blooming - a perfect spring paradise!  I remember seeing these redbuds in town - and I set up my easel on the street a block to the north, and started painting.  While I worked, a young girl with long, curly hair came over to the center redbud - and started climbing the tree, even hanging upside down from it's branches!  A special place, with special memories........and it was only the beginning.  This painting makes 76 in 76 days :)