Moore Creek

Perfect painting weather!  Today's little slice of heaven will surely be appreciated tomorrow as temps drop and snow returns.  Invited for a little plein air on an artist friend's property, I jumped at the chance!  Plein air with friends is so fun - especially when the weather is perfect and there's a creek involved!  We painted to the music of the babbling creek, running along side us.  I sun was behind my shoulder, and even though my body shaded my panel, I may have gotten a little too dark. It's so easy to do, the way my eyes react to all that light is to compensate with my values.  I did turn my painting to the side ever so often, to check that very thing.  I'll take a look in the daylight tomorrow, then see if I need to tweek it a little.  Painting number 1905 in 1905 days.

Peculiar Farm Supply in Watercolor

This place is reported as one of Cass County's haunted locations, with a lonely, desolate mood lingering here.  Even so, I have always loved the structure and have painted here multiple times.  Once, I was here just past sunset, and my intuition led me out before dark!  The building composition is wonderful for a painting, especially from this angle with the old water tower in the background.  These old buildings are relics of the past, once bustling centers of activity, now to live forever in the pages of my journal.  Painting number 1783 in 1783 days.

Redbud Walk

This was a perfect day for plein air painting!  Warm temperatures,  mild winds,  and the sun shining on the fresh spring landscape,  who could ask for more?  Diane invited me over to spend the afternoon among her redbuds  - and I jumped at the chance!   Heading over right after teaching painting class,  I started sketching out the composition in paint.  With such warm light on the scene,  I chose a cool violet to sketch with.  Once in,  I marked my darks with this same shade before working on the light.  Next,  I skipped to the background,  working forward until the stage was set and ready for the stars - the redbuds!  In hindsight, I should have massed them in a bit first.  Oh well,  I'll do that next time!  Painting number 1554 in 1554 days :)

First Day of Spring

On this first day of spring,  the temperature soared to 87 as I arrived at a friend's house for a little plein air after painting class!   Her land is wooded with many oaks,  and there was little shade to be had.  It was surprising to stand in the woods, in full sun!  After checking the lake,  we decided to venture to the creek.  The bend of the creek was perfect - and the high banks,  a bonus!  Looking towards the west was fine at 4:00,  but I was painting into the sun by the time I finished.  Even with my wide brimmed hat,  my eyes were burning as I packed it up.  It was so peaceful down by the water,  and pretty cushy with her husband playing "cabana boy" and delivering cold drinks as we worked!  If only every day could be so sweet..... Painting number 1531 in 1531 days.

Peculiar Farm Supply

Today is all about time management!   There has been a certain order to everything I've done today, just to cram everything in!   I got to this location directly from the gym, and the light was fleeting!  Working fast, I draw quickly and start floating in paint.  I've only used my "classics" and "decadent pies" watercolor tins for this painting.  While I was painting the uppermost door and windows in that building, a shadow crossed the light path I could see from a window, through the open doorway......yikes!   This place is reported to be one of the most haunted in Cass County!   Perhaps he was just interested in what I was doing out there!   You just don't know what will unfold in a daily painting adventure.  Now, I'm on to an Opening at the Buttonwood Gallery for the Urban Abstract Show! Painting number 1514 in 1514 days :)

Cornerstone Chapel

This chapel was calling my name, long before I got home from the gym.  I've been wanting to paint it, and each time I had a chance, the light was lacking, or time was too short.  With the beautiful sunny day, this was my chance!  I scouted the area a while before deciding on the angle.  I was also tempted by the Feed Store down the street, but it will be best with morning light, so I resisted!  I am using my limited palette of yellow oxide, red oxide, alizarin crimson, ivory black and white, but with the addition of ultramarine blue.  I absolutely had fits last time I was trying to mix green, so I added the blue. This beautiful chapel has 1909 stamped in the concrete over the large window.  I once attended a wedding there, and it was charming inside with the graceful stained glass windows.  I love painting this small town treasure!  Painting number 1513 in 1513 days :)

Coleman Baptist Church

I had not yet decided what to paint today, when a friend sent me a message about this old church.  It's not far from me, but I've never driven this road east of J Hwy.  I saw several wonderful old houses, barns and farms that I will need to return to, but this church suited me perfectly for my small painting window.  I started this one by looking at each mass carefully, and then blocking in that color on my panel.  With the gray day lighting, my colors and values were close in the scene before me.  I look for subtle differences within each plane as I paint.  The charm of this old church was a joy to capture, even though it was getting blustery out.  Cattle were lining up along the fence to my right - I sure wish I had time to paint them, too!  Painting number 1477 in 1477 days.

The Red Kayak

The Red Kayak
Oil on panel, 12x16

Today, for our monthly Tri-County Art League meeting, we had a "Paint In".  This is when all the members bring their own supplies, mediums of choice and paint whatever they want.  I have had this panel sketched out for over a week, but simply did not have time to start blocking it in.  Since I ran short of prep time this morning, I grabbed this off of my easel and took it for my project of the day.  I didn't take my normal set up with me either.  Instead, I brought a table easel, my palette, brushes and safflower oil.  Just the bare minimum.  With no extra paint - and barely enough paper towels - I jumped right in with my block in.  I had painted this spot on location just over a week ago, so the place was still fresh in my mind.  The painting developed quickly, and I was able to finish before I left.  I do see a couple of things I need to adjust, but I will do that in the morning.  We just got home from Michael's last baseball game of the season - where he scored 4 runs (!) and I have got to get in the shower!  This is painting number 194 in 194 days.

At Water's Edge

At Water's Edge
Oil on panel, 16x12
Peculiar, Missouri

Thanks to a phone call from a dear friend, I had the chance to do a little plein air painting from her back yard today.  Her lake is absolutely gorgeous, with marsh grasses and cat tails on the back side.  The weather was perfect, and this was such a peaceful location from which to paint!  Yes, I played hooky for a while from my long to-do list, but it was totally worth it!  I'm looking forward to many more painting days like this one!  This is my 180th painting in 180 days.