Blue House Forsythia

This may have been the nicest weather we've ever had for the Daniel Boone paint outs!  The forsythia are blooming, and I am capturing them before they fade for another year.  So happy to get to paint them again! Making this quick because champagne is waiting!  Painting number 1920 in 1920 days.

Boone Garden in Ink

The early morning was warm and beautiful, but by the time I finished my run,  the raindrops were starting to fall.  Invigorated from my run,  I couldn't wait to get out and paint!  First up,  the Daniel  Boone farm inn Defiance.  I chose to paint the scene through the garden from the back porch of the home.  I've never painted from here before, and the scene was so alluring!  The bonus was ducking under the porch when it really started raining!  I've been at this for years,  ave I know when to set up close to a shelter!  I enjoyed painting this scene as much as I enjoy time spent in the garden!  Painting number 1567 in 1567 days :)

Tucked Away

This morning,  I got to participate in a live broadcast for "Great Day St. Louis"!  Several of us plein air artists painted the view from the pavilion at the Daniel Boone Farm,  with a live audience and the camera panning along behind us.  It is so fun to paint with all the excitement in the air!  We started painting right before the show began at 9:00, and we finished by 10:00.  Then, we rushed off to a paintout already in progress at Montelle Winery!  This painting makes 1563 in 1563 days, but really,  I'm way ahead of my count by now.  I may never post them all if I stick with only one a day!

Morning at the Farm

Morning at the Farm
Oil on panel, 12x9
Daniel Boone Farm Paint Out

The day of the Daniel Boone Farm paint out was cool with rain expected.  I love the historic structures on site.  I found a dry porch to paint from, and this collection of barns in front of me.  Painting alongside two of my favorite artist friends, a pair of lizards popped out from between the boards to scurry along the porch floor.  The peachy morning glow peaked out from the clouds, and a cool light illuminated the landscape.  It was a very enjoyable day, visiting as we worked.  This painting is the 1217th is 1217 days.

Painting the Chickens

Painting the Chickens
Oil on wood panel, 9x12
Boone Farm Paint-Out, Augusta Plein Air Art Festival
purchase here

This day's paint out was at the Daniel Boone Farm in Defiance, Missouri. When I walked upon this scene - I KNEW I had to paint it!  After spending over an hour scouting all over the property, with a good idea of what I wanted to paint, I stumbled onto this scene  - and it totally grabbed me!  Lon Brauer had dressed in period attire to paint - so he was the perfect model in the perfect setting! Never before had I even attempted painting a figure for a timed plein air paint, but I LOVED it!  I should have been doing this years ago!  I had so much fun getting this scene down in oils - it was like a concentrated workshop on life drawing - of both Lon and the moving chickens!  With a scene like this, with constant movement - the most important thing to capture is what is most likely to change. The light, shadows, and especially Lon!  He is a fast painter, moving quickly from one painting to the next, so I painted his figure within the first few minutes.  Working next in finer detail, I blocked in the light and shadow.  As one of the chickens would get into a position I liked, I would switch to them, getting them painted in before they moved again.  I had so much fun painting this!  I can't wait until the opportunity presents itself again!  Painting number 872 in 872 days :)