Bridge at English Landing Park

This painting was a race with the clock, as turn in was in only 30 minutes!  I just love a challenge, even when I know there's not enough time, and I'll have to quit painting before I want to!  What better way to keep things fresh?  Painting number 4669 in 4669 days, and this one is now showing at the Parkville Art House. 

Wild Flour and Wine on Main

 

What fun it was to paint upper Main Street in Parkville, and share a drink with Tiffany and artist friends at Deviant Kava afterward.  We tried a Kava Selter that was sweet and delightful!  It's been a crazy 5 days of painting in multiple places and events, but it was especially fun to have both of my daughters join me with their paints!  Paint Parkville has been so much fun this year! Painting number 4667 in 4667 days. 

Night at Kactus Creek

SOLD

 It's always fun to explore a new place - especially with paint!  This Croquet Club is super cool! The bright greens illuminated at night, with a vintage home as a backdrop was all I needed to set up on the spot and start painting!  When painting a nocturne, I like to wait for the darkness before really laying paint.  So, I sketched out my scene with my brush, marking lights and darks as they developed. I wanted some of that last blue light in the sky before full darkness, and the water tower in shadow in the background, too.  A real sense of place can be established with just a few small details.  I'm so happy this painting was selected for the Purchase Award, too.  What an honor!  Painting number 4666 in 4666 days. 

Infield at Creekside

SOLD 

 

This is the largest, giant fiber optic tree sculpture I have ever seen - so OF COURSE, I HAD to paint it!!  When I walked up on site, all I could think was, "Wow!" It was so unexpected, and gigantic!  The leaves look like pale green glass, and were not illuminated in the morning.  I stood and really studied this scene before I marked a line.  After my line work, I ate my salad as I stared at my paper, envisioning the next step.  I rarely do this on any painting, so intuitive the whole process is to me.  But this painting called for it, so I let this painting unfold thoughtfully.  I try to always listen to that small voice inside, and go where I am lead.  I am honored this painting was selected for the Creekside Purchase Award tonight!  Painting number 4664 in 4664 days. 

Morning at Gateway Park

 

What a lovely day for painting Gateway Park at Paint Parkville!  This new park is a great stop along the bike trail for relaxation and repairs, and a special place to paint.  The morning light was fantastic and it was especially nice to have both daughters here and little Kirby, too!  What a fun day!  Painting number 4663 in 4663 days. 

Parkville Overlook

This was a lovely bird's eye view over Parkville from the Evolytic's parking lot.  I spent a lovely afternoon painting with my daughter, Tiffany, to capture this scene.  With ink and watercolor I worked on my normal method, then went back into certain areas with more ink.  I have many fountain pens loaded with matching inks, and I carry a few with specific landscape colors.  I went to these four added impact and depth for the finish.  It's so fun exploring what the ink can add!  Painting number 5180 in 5180 days and I'm happy this painting won the Evolytics Purchase Award, too!  Still showing at Parkville Art House for the rest of the week! 

Life on Main Street

With two hours left before torn in, I started this painting at the Pocket Park on Main.  The light was luminous as people strolled along the streets, shopping along the way.  It was delightful to visit with my daughter as she also worked on her painting.  What a great way to wait for judging!  This painting is now hanging at Parkville Art House, and is my 5160 painting in 5160 days. 

Light on Banneker School

 

I loved painting the morning light on this historic Banneker School to the music of birdsong! When I arrived, golden orange light radiated from the sky behind the school, and was stunning.  With ink I sketched it's perch upon the hill, and painted the light in quickly, before it could change.  Timing is everything and had I waited, I would have missed that beautiful invitation to paint!  Painting number.5156 in 5156 days.  

Blooming Wetlands

 

This is day 1 of the Annual Paint Parkville event, and I'm happy to return to paint.  I missed this event last year when our middle son married on our property, bringing another daughter to our family!  I didn't know there were wetlands in Parkville until they were on the schedule for today!  I had to park a long way from this location, but the view was stunning.  Little sweat bees found me at the end, and kept stinging me until I moved my easel and doused my gear with eucalyptus oil! It was totally worth the turmoil to capture the wildflowers blooming in reckless abandon!  Painting number 5155 in 5155 days. 

Truckload of Gifts

 

As I walked along Main Street in Parkville, this scene captured my attention through the window.  One of my favorite shops, I took a quick spin and picked up a couple of "must haves".  As I checked out, I asked for permission to paint - and was warmly welcomed!  On my way to another location, it took me a day to get back - oh but when I did - this was so much fun to paint!!  Still in progress - this shot was taken before the "finish work" - and I didn't get another one!  What a special, one of a kind place to paint - I will remember this experience forever!  Thank you White Farmhouse Flowers for allowing me in to paint - and for purchasing this painting, too!  Painting number 4368 in 4368 days. 

Sunset on Union Chapel Rd

 

It's fun to explore a quick ink and watercolor sunset north of Parkville in the rolling hills of this farm!  I seldom choose watercolor for a sunset, opting most often for my oils, where layering of paint is quick and thick.  Watercolor is a completely different medium to approach the sunset with. Reserving my lights, and working on the landscape until the actual light appears that I want to capture, leaves the sky for the very last.  With a few strokes and adding more color in wet on wet, I am finished, and the sunset is fading.  This is such a peaceful place for such a scene.  I hope to get my own hay bales painted while they lay in the field!  Painting number 4367 in 4367 days. 

Rooster of Main Street

 

I love departing from my normal plein air landscape to paint something so fun - the Rooster of Main Street!  One of the themes for this week at Paint Parkville was "Nook and Crannies" - and this was what caught my eye with his bold and bright colors!  He's at the top of the street in front of Cafe des Amis - right by the outdoor menu.  Parkville is full of hidden treasures, and it's so fun to get to paint them!  ♥️🎨

Autumn Comes to Centering Souls

When I arrived at this lovely location, the landscape was luminous, backlighting the turning leaves.  As I scouted all sides of the property, the distant view truly captured the essence of the day. Warm and sunny, the weather could not be nicer, and the winds were light where I stood.  After first sketching out my scene, I started dropping in the lights where I saw them - and with bold color strokes.  This is a great way to mark the lights and darks before they change - and a few clouds were popping up on the horizon.  From those first marks, I painted the light, reveling in the day, enjoying the experience.  Centering Souls is a creative space for pottery, clay work, and art of many kinds, and the way it nestles into the surrounding landscape is creative and inviting, too.  Painting number 4361 in 4361 days. 

12 6th Street

 I have a fondness for old homes full of character and charm, and this place was a joy to paint!  As I scouted the area, I really wanted to include the garden and tree house, so I went back to my car for a longer paper.  I first start my line work with De Atramentis Archive Ink in a favorite TWSBI Diamond fountain pen with an extra fine nib.  I then start in with a broad nib and Levenger's Raven Black ink.  This second ink will move with a little water in a brush pen while the first stays put. As I bring the drawing to completion, I go back in where needed with more ink.  I love the way a fountain pen nib drops a line of ink, and the feel of the nib on the handmade paper.  I guess I really am a fountain pen nerd! Painting number 3156 in 3156 days, and day 7 of the current #stradaeasel challenge. 

Park University Campus

I love painting the architecture of the grand old buildings on the Park University Campus!  Sitting in the shade of a tree, I do my line work with De Atramentis Archive Ink, following with Levenger's Raven Black in this pictured fountain pen with a broad nib.  This is my first pen in all these years to have a broad nib, and in only a few paintings I have grown to love it!  It drops a smooth, rich line, more intense than the medium nib. On smoother papers, the line may be too bold, but the majority of my papers are rough in texture, so the broad nib really helps speed the drawing process.  I love my fountain pens!  In fact, I have a brand new one just out of the box, just waiting to be inked! Painting number 3143 in 3143 days.  This painting now showing at Cathy Kline Art Gallery through October! 

Light Over the River

I love capturing peaceful moments along the Missouri River, with it's ever changing moods and colors.  The water has been still and calm this week, which is not often the case.  My painting window was small, so I chose to paint small, laying in lights and darks first, before filling in the masses.  Walkers on the trail beside me commented and visited as they strode by, and the water lapping at the edge was soothing as I worked.  These moments spent by the water are soul soothing indeed, and I love capturing it in oils. Painting number 3125 in 3125.

Flowers on Main Street

 

I LOVED painting the Flower Truck in front of White Farmhouse Flowers in Parkville today!! As soon as I arrived on location, I KNEW this would be a fun paint!  The Volkswagen truck filled with buckets of flowers made the store front adorable!  So, with brush and paint I sketched out the scene, allowing the sun to move a little before adding the light and shadow.  The afternoon light is amazing on this row of shops, so I waited for it!  As it slid into place, I marked those masses quickly.  Light is a fleeting thing, so speed matters.  The shop owner graciously welcomed us with wine and cheese, and I did a little shopping.  This place is just as cute inside as outside!  So happy this painting went home with the Master Florist!! Painting number 3123 in 3123 days!  ❤🎨

Main Street Shops

It was so fun to paint the charming Main Street of Parkville - even in the rain!  The rain was not called for, but it started not long after I blocked in the masses in oil. I scooted back deeper under the store awning to prevent the rain from hitting palette and panel. As the rain grew a bit heavier, I painted a bit faster!  The rain did offer a little reflected color on the pavement, adding interest. I framed up and left it with a friend to turn in for me - as I was rushing to meet with Mike and Michael and his prospective new employer, Burns and Mac!  Painting number 3122 in 3122 days. 

Main and 4th Street

 

I'm so incredibly humbled and honored to win my second Purchase Award tonight in Paint Parkville! I loved painting this street scene from the corner of Main and 4th Street.  The late afternoon light spread across the scene, illuminating the historic building. As I approached from the side of this building, I knew I would stop right here and paint.  The composition was striking, light and shadow leading to the house. I really enjoyed the whole painting process here, basking in that golden light and the cool, beautiful weather!  Have I mentioned how much I love painting Parkville?  Painting number 3121 in 3121 days. 

Looking Down Main Street

I have never painted from the top of Main Street in Parkville before today. I parked way up the hill, hiking down in search of my perfect scene. As I approached the  French restaurant, I stopped, backing up to the middle of that side street!  I stood there for most of my line drawing, as it was the only way to get most of the shops  the train tracks, and the park beyond. With so many complicated buildings, this ink and watercolor painting took longer than my norm, but it was so worth it!  In my excitement to get out framed and start another, I once again I packed up and left my spot - without getting the pic on my easel! A helpful visitor saw me struggling to prop this against some stones, and offered to get a photo!  The glass is messing with the color a bit - but at least I have an image.  I'm so honored that this painting won the Main Street Purchase Award this evening!  Painting number 3120 in 3120 days.