Fall over the Mississippi River

After turning in our work for judging this morning, it was time for a large Chai late at Charlotte's Coffee House and a little plein air at Eagle Point.  The leaves are turning even more than a couple days ago, and this place on the bluff called out to me.  The Mississippi River flows in the background, and the foreground yellow foliage was magnificent.   It has been such a joy to capture the beauty of Dubuque in oils.   This is painting number 1376 in 1376 days :)

Cave Point Cove

Cave Point Cove
Oil on panel, 12x9
Door County, Wisconsin

This amazing place is certainly a feast for the eyes!  I think I could spend every day painting on these bluffs, and never tire of it!  Lake Michigan is ever changing, as the sky - and the color combinations are endless.  This is the kind of landscape I seldom see in Missouri - so I really enjoy the chance to study the moving water!  Waves and crashing water are certainly a challenge!  I have been using my Querilla Painter box and tripod since April, and I officially love it!  This medium French Resistance easel is the perfect compliment to this artist's whims.  If I ever get another, it will be the same style, perhaps in the large size - to give me another option in the field.  If they made a "mini" - I would buy it too!  LOVE this set up!  So light, I can hike into the wilderness without a care about weight.  This dramatic painting is my 1307th painting in 1307 days.

First Autumn Color

First Autumn Color
Oil on masonite, 8x10
purchase here

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of plein air painting!  Back to back events have kept me so busy - I could hardly see straight.  Today marks the end of out of town trips, unless I find a couple of days to go paint fall foliage!  I had an afternoon artist reception in Parkville from 2:00 to 4:00, and an evening event from 6:00-9:00.  With an hour travel time each way, there was not enough time to go home in between.  So, I came with my paints packed and set up in between receptions to get my daily painting fix!  I didn’t have to go far - there was beautiful fall color starting right outside the gallery in the old depot!  The composition with it’s rocky edge really reminds me Augusta in the fall........I wonder if I can find time to get back there before the weather turns cold....  Thank goodness I finished this painting in the afternoon - the last thing I wanted to do when I got home at 10:30 was to get out my paints!  Looking forward to a few days to catch up around the house and relax!  Painting number 1020 in 1020 days :)

on location

Lover's Leap Landslide

Landslide at Lover's Leap
Oil on panel, 6x12

Trying to get my work done with a new puppy is like having a baby around again!  Everything I do must be done in little spurts - with lots of interruptions.  Today, I am capturing another of Missouri's little known events in history - the Landslide at Lover's Leap in Hannibal, Missouri.  Wanting to show the height of this landmark, I am painting on a tall vertical panel for this scene.  Using an orange primed surface, I've allowed little pops of color to show through here and there for added energy.  Painting number 453 in 453 days.  Following - the story of the event.

Terrific Landslide near Hannibal, Mo

Jan 13, 1859

The Hannibal MO Messenger states that a great landslide took place a few days since at Lover’s Leap, near that city. From the top of the bluff, for some four hundred years, the entire mass of earth has slid some forty or fifty feet, carrying in its wake trees, stumps, and everything in fact that offered any impediment to its wild career. It must, indeed, have been a grand sight to witness this awful avalanche of upwards of 100,000 square yards, whirling down the steep descent with the speed of a hurricane, and a rumbling almost to that of thunder. From ten to twelve dirt cars were smashed to pieces, and many of their axles (four inches in diameter, and of solid iron) were snapped like so many reeds, others were bent completely double, and the bodies of the cars scattered hither and yon.

Autumn Color in the Quarry

Ruckus Ridge
oil over acrylic on panel, 12x9

The misty sky was a good backdrop for the changing leaves in Augusta.  The locals call this "Ruckus Ridge" - a place where people like to hike up the ridge and gather around a campfire.  I under-painted this one in acrylic, and layered the oils over this foundation.  The palette knife was my last tool, building up texture on the rocks and foliage.  There are rumors that a cougar has been spotted here - so each rustling of the brush behind me pushed me to work a little faster.  It is so fun to experiment surrounded by such beauty!

Augusta Pride

This amazing view was painted in Augusta on the morning of the Augusta Shores Paint-Out.  Walking into this scene was just like slipping into a piece of heaven.  It was a cool April morning as the light cut in between the rocks over the pool of water.  Magical.  To get this view, I had one leg of the easel too close to the water.  I had to keep readjusting it to prevent the whole thing from toppling in!  Thank you to the Lindsey family for allowing me into their back yard for such a wonderful painting experience :)

Augusta Pride
14x18  Oil on panel

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