On the Strip

I started this one out standing on the sidewalk, close enough to jump in the car should the rain begin.  Well, I didn't get much sketching in before the clouds opened up - and I tossed my gear in the car.  The ink I use would bleed into a black mess if rained on!  So, I sketched in the car (which I'd backed into a spot for a good vantage), and resumed my line work.  Not long after, a "sketchy" guy in a truck parked beside me.  I had several friends on the street who honed in on the situation, stopping by my window, and walking to to me frequently.  Even though the rain had stopped, I finished this one in the car.  It pays to be alert to your surroundings and your intuition.  Happy to have friends looking out for me as well! Painting number 4317 in 4317 days.  This painting now showing at Lake Fine Art Galleria on Bagnell Dam Boulevard!  

Ha Ha Tonka Overlook

 

The view from the castle ruins at Ha Ha Tonka castle are remarkable!  From the castle on the steep bluff to the sweeping arm of the Lake of the Ozarks, this vista is beautiful.  I had painted this earlier in the day with a heavy, overcast sky, but as I was departing another painting spot, I realized how beautiful the color now was!  So, I pulled this back out and added the bluer sky and water layer, making it far more appealing. I'm so happy that I walked back by this ridge! Now Showing at Lake Fine Art Galleria! Painting number 4315 in 4315 days. 

The Butcher Shop

 

What a treat to find and paint this vintage style butcher shop in the heart of Camdenton! I was turning around, looking for a good angle to paint Ozarkland, when i stumbled upon this lovely place!  Judging from the stream of patrons going in and out - it must be amazing, too!  With ink and watercolor I sketched out the scene, careful to reserve my whites against the reds.  This place really is a slice of Americana in the Ozarks!  Painting number 4314 in 4314 days. Now Showing at Lake Fine Art Galleria! 

Stark Cavern Reflections

LOVE getting to paint lake reflections IN a CAVE!!  It's not every day I get an opportunity like this - in fact it is the first time plein air artists have been allowed to paint inside this cave!  After scouting several views within the first few rooms, this long view over the lake was my choice location!  The light filtering in from the entrance, as well as other lights, illuminated the space in a magical way, other worldly, in fact!  It is ethereal and timeless to paint in the still of a cave.  I heard the guide say there are no fish in this lake, but something jumped from the water as I painted.  There was far less dripping here than in the Bridal Cave, but still there was a gentle lapping of water.  The water runs out the cave entrance flanked on either side with trees and a rocky ridge.  I used my mighty light in this cave - and it's a good thing I had it, since it was very dark behind me!  Painting number 4310 in 4310 days.  Come see this one in person at Lake Fine Art Galleria on Bagnell Dam Boulevard!  

Seven Springs Winery

What a lovely place to spend an evening with artist friends, painting the beauty of this terraced garden!  Friends joined me here, ordering a couple of dishes for my benefit - and wine, of course!  The crab cakes and spinach artichoke dip was delicious, as was my dry white!  Recharged, a painted this ink and watercolor while leaning against the fence, sipping my wine!  It's a tough job, but someone has to do it!!  Painting number 4309 in 4309 days, and this one is now showing at Lake Fine Art Galleria on Bagnell Dam Boulevard! 

Hot Summer Night on the Strip

This watercolor nocturne sure was a challenge during a busy car show on Bagnell Dam!  There were so many people, I could hardly see my scene at times, and I had to stand back from the walkway without tumbling down into a ravine!  My first attempt at using watercolor for a nocturne, I struggled with getting the colors as dark as I wanted.  I added and added pigment to get it where I needed it.  It is also my first time to use a light while painting at night, and it was a good thing I had it.  It was very dark at my back with no light to paint by!  I would normally choose a more comfortable place from which to paint - this was the view I wanted, so no other place would do.  This painting was certainly a lesson in perseverance, from the gridlock in traffic beforehand to the long walk from the car, to pushing me to pick up my gouache after many years of neglect.  I've found a while new painting adventure with that medium. So happy the gallery owner wanted this painting for her very own, too!  Painting number 4308 in 4308 days. 

Bridal Cave Pipe Organ

Painting inside the Bridal Cave is ethereal, especially by the "pipe organ" formation!  I recently purchased a mighty light from Judson's Art Outfitters, and this is my first time to use it.  Small enough to slip in my pocket, it has three settings and clamps securely on my pochade.  In this cave setting, it was a lifesaver, since my back was toward a rock wall which was very dark.  The constant dripping echoed within the cave, and was almost like a serenade.  My second time to paint in this cave, I layered up for warmth with a rain coat for my outer layer. What a lovely special way to experience this cave!  Painting number 4307 in 4307 days, and this one is now showing at Lake Fine Art Galleria on Bagnell Dam Boulevard in Lake Ozark, Missouri. 

Grandma's Country Kitchen

After a rather frustrating nocturne paint in watercolor - my very first attempt using watercolor at night - I pulled out my virgin travel gouache kit for some heavier paint application.  I sketched in ink as normal, and the gouache instantly gave me stronger color in those dark masses.  I left some of my lights, not knowing how gouache would behave in those areas - and it was a good thing!  It was hard to get strong highlights on top of other color.  My rough cotton paper was probably not ideal - but it was the only remaining piece I had stamped.  I meant to get a couple others stamped earlier, but was running late to the nocturne with the additional show set up.  There are things about this gouache that peak my interest, and I will definitely have to explore a little more.  I tried both soft and hard pastels, but only the oil pastels left good marks. Total experiment here, but it was rewarding on a chaotic car show night on Bagnell Dam!  Next time I'll be super early and prepared for gridlock and big crowds, lol! I ended up with two good paintings, but oh it was work tonight!  Painting number 4304 in 4304 days. 

Garden at the Lodge

Finding a lovely garden at the entry to the Willmore Lodge was a special treat!  I wanted to capture the beauty of the place with my focus on the blooms, as the grand Lodge stood in the background.  I had to sketch this out from a lower vantage to get this composition before adding color to the masses.  It was probably pretty funny to watch me so 500 squats to achieve this in process! It was a lovely afternoon spent in the garden, and this painting was awarded the Liz Kahrs Memorial Award, a ribbon, and found a new home, too!  Painting number 4303 in 4303 days.