Penguin Pair

I spent several days plein air painting at the Kansas City Zoo, really enjoying the opportunity to study the animals.  Especially fun was getting to sketch the Humboldt penguins before and during feeding time.  These two were so sweet, preening each other, standing together the whole time I sketched, only moving when the girls came in with tasty morsels!!  Such a treat to get to paint these darlings.  This painting will be in the "Art of Kindness" Show at the Buttonwood Art Space in February and March.  Painting number 2634 in 2634 days.

Kansas City Zoo

Arriving early at the Kansas City Zoo, I walked up the hill past the first parking lot to take a look.  I really loved this view, but scouted a little further before returning with my inks and watercolors.  Having only one paper in my chosen format, I had to make it work.  Still 100% cotton rag, the texture is far smoother than my preferred paper.  I've tried it two other times, and did not care for it.  Here were are, 200 ink and watercolors later, and it is not that bad to work with.  I have to be more deliberate in my water flow, and control that pigment, but I actually like the results.  Will I add it to my paper arsenal?  Probably not, but it is fun to conquer it, instead of the other way around! Painting number 2426 in 2426 days.

Llamas at the Zoo

Finding a sliver of shade over to the side, I worked pretty comfortably as I spent time observing these animals.  So much of sketching and painting is in the actual observation, before a mark is made. The llamas were curious, and kept coming by to look me over.  At one point, I was getting a side eye look that had me backing up a little!  Lol.  I used ink to sketch with and watercolor to add some color for this quick little paint.  I need to paint a lot more llamas to be comfortable with them!  Painting number 2425 in 2425 days.

Three Goats!

Goats are so active, they can be a challenge to paint!  These little guys rotated all over the place - jumping on rocks, eating from their bucket, running along the fence, and back to the rocks again!  I picked one at a time, sketching with quick lines. Once the lines were down, I painted in a little watercolor to capture the scene.  Animals are super fun to paint, even if they don't stand still!  Haha!  Painting number 2421 in 2421 days.

Humboldt Penguins

These sweet little Humboldt penguins are so personable!  These two are very social, and seemed to have a deep conversation with each other.  In fact, they posed for me longer than I needed, and didn't move from the spot until dinner was served. And then, they were not in a hurry, either!  It has been super fun painting at the Kansas City Zoo!  Painting number 2419 in 2419 days.

Kansas City Zoo Entrance

I had planned to paint this entrance right after sketching it with ink and watercolor, from a distant hill.  As I finished that first sketch, the backlight became very strong, darkening all details in the foreground.  So, I went in and painted animals!  The next morning, the light was not inspiring, so after scouting several angles, I went in again to paint the animals.  Checking the light a couple of times during the day, I was still uninspired.  Finally, as I decided I might be done for the day, I walked out to see the light on the face of the buildings.  Now this was something I could paint!  So, I set up my oils and captured this in paint, before packing up for the day.  Painting number 2416 in 2416 days.

Elephants at the Zoo

Spending time in nature, with these amazing large elephants, has been such a wonderful experience.  As a painter, I'm set up for a longer period of time, really studying the animals.  Studying them with ink and watercolor as they move back and forth has been surreal. I can't wait to paint them in oils, now that I'm familiar with them!  Painting number 2415 in 2415 days.

Flamingos in the Zoo

I spotted these beauties yesterday afternoon from the tram - and added them to my list of "must paints".  The best part of plein air is getting to spend time in nature with your subject!  These graceful, delicate birds made delightful noises as they chattered, and were constantly herded out of the water by the black necked swans.  As they walked up the hill a new boss met them - a large stork, who bullied them up to the fence, and then went back to primping and preening.  These birds all have so much personality!   I'm having so much fun painting at the zoo!  Painting number 2414 in 2414 days.

Penguins at the Zoo

It was a perfect day for painting animals at the zoo!  Getting an early start, this was my second painting of the morning.  With so many penguins on display, I could easily paint them.  I first sketched their shape, and if they hadn't moved much, I quick painted their colors in.  Often one had turned away, so I would find one in a similar pose and use him for my model instead.  Most animals will circle back to their positions, so I work on another until that happens.  It has been a long time since I've painted here - it is great to be back!  Painting number 2413 in 2413 days.

Flamingo Tango

Flamingo Tango
Oil on panel, 12x9

After days of being snowed in - and painting snow, tonight I am painting tropical!  I had every intention of trying a new technique on this, but after a VERY full day and a late start on this one - I didn't dare!  Besides that, a sane person would choose a MUCH simpler composition to practice something new (not that I am normally sane)!  I have wanted to paint this scene for almost a year.  So, using some wonderful summer reference from the KC Zoo, I put the paint to panel.  The reflections are as big a part of this painting as the lovely flamingoes!  This makes the 58th painting in 58 days :)

A Little Gossip

A Little Gossip
Oil on panel, 14x11

I wanted to study the light on these birds in depth - so I worked from photo reference and my sketches from the plein air day at the KC Zoo.  The last two days have been my first experiences in painting these beauties - and I wanted to do them justice.  They are just so sassy with each other - it was a joy to watch them so closely - and capture them with paint!  I underplayed their real colors in this one - truly the red on these birds is cad red light straight from the tube!  I am finding that I LOVE painting animals!  This is day 22 of the 30 day painting challenge - and this daily painting has now become a habit :)