Goats in the Pasture at Kill Creek Farm

In the Pasture at Kill Creek Farm
Oil on wood, 14x11

In the early morning, it looked as though rain would be my painting companion.  But, it turned out to be a beautiful painting day - even warm at 88 degrees by the time I finished this one!  I have been to this historic farm several times through the years to paint, but I have never actually painted near the farmhouse and old barns!  The goats were very interested in me at first, but soon grazed on to a greener field, ending up back in the woods!  Whenever I paint animals en plein air, I get their shapes in as fast as I can - you never know when they will dart out of sight!  It was so quiet where I painted, I could even hear a rat chewing on the old dead log behind me!  My daughters used to have pet hamsters, rats and mice - so I know that noise!  Painting number 998 in 998 days and Day 25 in the 30 day painting challenge.

Sunflower FIeld at Kill Creek Farm

Sunflower Field at Kill Creek Farm
Oil on panel, 14x11
Sunflower Fest Plein Air Event, DeSoto, Kansas

The morning light was gorgeous on this field of sunflowers at the Kill Creek farm today.  I set up out in the full sun, but at 8:00am, I knew I had time to get this painted before it got too hot.  I loved this composition, the way the angles of sunflower rows and background trees complimented each other.  Perfect weather had me shedding my jacket by 10:00, and finishing by 11:00, ready to start another!  I thoroughly enjoyed this whole process of painting!  Pushing and pulling the paint was a joy, and the bees buzzing from one bloom to another were my constant companions.  This painting won Best of Show today, and is my 635th painting in as many days.  Also, the 25th painting in the

Best of Show

current 30 Day Painting Challenge.