Phillips Taylor Century Farm

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When I arrived in Marceline, I passed the most amazing field full of hay bales.  Instantly, I wanted to paint some, even though I have some dotting my pastoral landscape at home!  Rather than painting in town, I set off for this farm with the landscape in mind.  After scouting within the perimeter of the fence, i decided to walk out into the field, too see what I could see.  Of course, there was no going back after I saw this beautiful scene. Sometimes I've got to set up way back in the pasture to get the full scene I didn't even know I needed to paint!  I'm so happy and honored this painting was selected for the Magnolia Antiques Purchase Award in Paint Marceline!  The extra effort is always worth it.  Painting number 4982 in 4982 days. 

Garden at the Walt Disney Hometown Museum

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I'm so happy and honored this painting was selected for the Missouri Regional Bank Purchase Award tonight at the Marceline Paint Out!  I loved painting the garden leading to the old depot, visiting with guests as they entered.  There's a beautiful new clock on the grounds, and the garden has expanded since I was last here. I love seeing the extra additions from one year to the next.  Marceline is shining bright today!  Painting number 4981 in 4981 days. 

Stroll Down Main Street

 

I love visiting the hometown of my grandparents and greart-grandparents to paint the main street where they once walked.  I remember some of the stories Dad would tell of walking up to meet the train with his Aunt Minnie to sell livestock, then walking to the bank with her apron full of coins. I can almost see these events unfolding as I'm painting, and I feel my family near.  I'm so happy this painting has a new home, too!  Painting number 4618 in 4618 days. 

The Heart of Marceline

 
I knew as soon as I saw this scene, I would paint it.  This would be the very first painting of the day, as it would not let me leave without painting it.  It was cloudy and cool, and absolutely the perfect weather for standing completely in the open to get this vantage.  After my very detailed drawing, I began adding the watercolor, pushing the ink a little more too, until I was finished.  I'm so happy to have received the Reginal Bank Purchase Award for this painting!  Painting number 4617 in 4617 days. 

Marceline Wine Stroll

Painting this historic street has special meaning for me.  My Dad's mother and father grew up here, met and fell in love here.  I can imagine them walking down this street with siblings and friends from school, sharing their days and making plans for the future.  I wonder what these buildings were back then, and Walt Disney was just a boy in class and the families knew each other.  Mom is with me this weekend, and for the first time we are staying overnight.  It will be nice to not worry about the drive after such a busy day.  Painting number 5145 in 5145 days. 

On East California

There is something nostalgic about silos and grain bins by am old depot.  These places grace every small town in the Midwest, and many are now vacant.  I love all the architecture, and chose pen and ink for this painting.  I had a dry place to stand, though it was still raining when I started this one. My cotton paper has absorbed so much moisture from the atmosphere today, it's a wonder I didn't use my oils at all!  Mom waited in the dry car while I worked - and I think she even took a nap!  We're going to grab dinner later and join the wine stroll, too!  Painting number 5144 in 5144 days. 

Bridge Over the Water

 

I love painting in this park, nestled in the heart of Marceline - even in the rain!  After a grueling drive through torrential rain to get here this morning, I found myself ducking for cover soon after setting up.  So from under the beautiful new shelter in Ripley Park,  I was able to paint and stay reasonably dry.  I don't think I've ever worked on wetter cotton paper! Painting number 5142 in 5142 days, and I'm happy to receive an Honorable Mention on this too!

Historic Marceline

It was raining when I arrived in Marceline for the Wine and Art Stroll, so I pulled into the park to have a look around.  Loving this composition, I walked to the new stage for shelter.  As the rain picked up, I pulled in a little farther to keep the rain off my ink and watercolor.  The rain let up by the time I was finished, so I could frame out of my trunk.  What a honor that this painting was chosen for the first Purchase Award sponsored by Nature's Grace and Wellness!  Painting number 3882 in 3882 days. 

Sunflowers in the Garden

 

My first time to visit this place, several locations grabbed me immediately!  When I saw the garden in the back, I knew this would be my painting. I love getting to paint amazing farms like this!  I used my artistic license to move the glorious zinnias on the back side to the front of the sunflowers, layering those blooms as they were on the back. Though the sunflowers were past their prime, the magic of my brush revived them to the vision I see through my eyes.  I could feel the rain returning behind me, so I quickly packed my gear and got this framed at my car as the first big drops were falling. I had trouble getting up the muddy hill to this farm, and I certainly wanted to get through it before more rain washed away the gravel! I'm so happy this painting has a new home tonight, with patrons who first purchased a painting from me last year! Painting number 3881 in 3881 days.  ♥️🎨🌻

Main Street USA

 

I LOVE painting Main Street USA - where my paternal grandparents grew up 3 generations ago. Each of their families lived in this town, where siblings grew, married and started families.  As I stood in the park sketching this street scene, I wondered about those family members shopping in these beautiful buildings when they were new.  It is always lovely to return to a place with so many roots, even when those roots were tramsplanted many years ago. Wish I'd remembered to take the on site photo!  Day 5 #stradaeasel challenge, and painting number 4325 in 4325 days. 

South Main Street

Starting this very detailed ink drawing late in the event, it took me longer than normal to get all that information down. Once my ink work was done, I started in with the watercolor, working all masses of like colors at the same time.  Short on time, this is a real time saver.  I went back in with the ink a couple times - when I realized I missed a sign or a window - no more than a tiny mark, but necessary to the whole story.  Watching my time closely, I pushed it to 7 minutes left, then quickly packed, got to the car, and framed with 1 minute to spare!  Then I went in for my tag to place in the back!  It reminds me a bit of the old days when it took me all day long to finish a painting, and I still couldn't seem to turn in until the very last minute!  Haha!  The difference now is that this was my fourth painting of the day, instead of my first!  There is something to be said about persistence!  Painting number 3155 in 3155 days. 

Road to Marceline

I love how a road going into town tells a story.  Water towers are such icons for small towns, and this one begged to be painted.  So, in positioned myself in the parking lot of Walworth Publishing with a view of the sweep of road.  Starting with De Atramentis Archive Ink, I sketched in the lines of my composition, following with Levenger's Raven Black ink and watercolor. Though the day was hot a good breeze kept me cool while working.  Every day that's not a 100 degrees feels cool to me now!  Haha!  Painting number 3148 in 3148 days. 

North Main Street

My dad used to tell me stories of this town, how his parents grew up here, met in high school and fell in love.  He used to walk these streets as a young boy, carrying coins to the bank with his Aunt Minnie - who his mother fondly called "Mouse" when they were growing up.  Could she possibly be the inspiration for another famous Minnie? They did go to school together.... several of the homes in town were built by his uncles.  Lynns, Slaughters, Gardners and Cupps all have their names in the history and businesses of Marceline, and it feels like home.  I only knew a few of these relatives, but their history lives on.  So, every year I return for the annual NOMO Plein Air Event, paying homage to a place that brought my grandparents together, and capture the beauty of my history.  Painting number 3147 in 3147 days. 

Late Summer Blooms at the Disney Barn

I love painting in Marceline, Missouri each year for the NOMO Plein Air Event!  This place calls to me in the early morning light from afar - and I always head here for my first paint of the day! The bloom season is more progressed here than in years past, and I revel in the changes!  Many greens are golden now, and the trees actually have fall color starting  - probably from so many hot days and the stress of causes.  I walked the grounds twice before settling on this spot, and then I jumped right in.  Painting in my composition with a burnt umber, I then marked the light, shadow and color pops with paint.  My fresh ultramarine violet was too buttery to serve me well, so I was mixing my cool shadow shades again. That color has been disappointing me lately, I think I may just banish it from my palette! As I finished, I dropped heavier paint marks for all this wildflowers - and loved the effect and dimension it added.  It was a wonderful morning spent among the wildflowers, soaking in the quiet beauty of this very special place.  I'm so happy this painting won a Purchase Award tonight and will now go live in New York to remind it's family of Marceline!  Painting number 3146 in 3146 days. 

Wine Stroll on Main

The Wine Stroll in Marceline is so well attended, and a lot of fun to participate in!  I had turned in my last painting for the plein air event when I walked out of the gallery to see this scene.  What grabbed my attention was the bright turquoise VW Bug - but it was soon blocked by festival goers!  So, I got in what I could of the bug, and filled in the rest of the scene while it was completely blocked!  LOL - at least it didn't drive away!  Painting number 2466 in 2466 days.

Fountain in the Park

Heading through Ripley Park to paint on Main Street, I couldn't help but notice the wonderful light on the lake. Setting up for a quick paint, I marked the masses with their appropriate colors and started working from there. When I am very short of time, I don't sketch in ink or even with paint on the panel, just a quick marking of masses with an accurate color.  I then push and pull that paint until it is heading in the direction I want it to go. I really love the way the fountain water breaks the surface, causing a dynamic exchange of light and motion to capture with paint!  Painting number 2446 in 2446 days.

Walt Disney Hometown Museum

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As I rounded the corner, I found myself drawn to this place. I don't remember seeing this beautiful garden before today!  I paint in Marceline each year, how could I have missed it?  I found a little spot in the shade and started drawing out my composition.  This beautiful building once busy as the town's train station, now houses the Walt Disney Hometown Museum.  Once the lines were drawn with India ink, I brushed in the watercolor, pushing and pulling the color and value.  What started as a quick sketch became more detailed, and as I completed, I no longer wanted to do it in oil.  This 2445th painting in 2445 days was awarded Honorable Mention and has a new home, too!  I love painting Marceline!

Barn Among the Sunflowers

These yellow wildflowers are blooming like never before down at the Disney Barn.  I'm not sure if they are tickseed or blanket flowers, but wow, they steal the show!  Perhaps my favorite place in Marceline to paint, this Disney Barn is surrounded by wildflowers.  A path winds around the barn and down to the pond, and it was hard to choose what angle to paint from.  I sure wish I'd put cad yellow medium on my palette!  Painting number 2445 in 2445 days.

Barn Among Wildflowers

One of my favorite places to paint in Marceline is Disney's old barn at his childhood home.  Surrounded by wildflowers and rambling paths, it truly is a wonderful place to immerse oneself in nature.  My first painting of the day, while it was still cool, is my 2043th painting in 2043 days.

oil on panel, 11x14
purchase here

Happy Place Wildflowers

Since the first time I found this place, I make it a point to return here whenever I'm in town - and paint!  I LOVE this place!  A quick walk along the paths reveals painting after painting to me, and I can choose only one before heading up to the Wine Stroll. The light was so warm, and the wildflowers more beautiful than I've ever seen them, I could hardly wait to paint!  Without time to even sketch this one, I jumped right into the paint, filling the masses with their local colors.  Standing in the shade, it was a very comfortable paint with birdsong and rustling leaves to keep me company.   Alas, I didn't want to leave!  But duty called, and I pried myself away. Painting number 1694 in 1694 days.

oil on panel, 14x11
purchase here