Prayers by the Water

Prayers by the Water
Oil on panel, 24x20
Penn Valley Park Plein Air Fest

This is my favorite place in all of Penn Valley Park!  When a large painting was on the “to do” list, I knew I would come here to paint it.  I had stamped a 24x18 birch board the day before, but once I had gessoed it, there were a couple of flaws that showed up in the wood.  So, I took another panel in the next morning for stamping - this one a 24x20.  It is the largest I have painting in plein air, and it took me three different times on location to get it.  I had only loosely blocked in the masses when I got a call that I could get in to see the baby.  So, of course I packed up my gear and headed over.  Once I returned, the light was so different that I only worked to middle values, leaving my lights and darks alone, so as not to lose them.  I returned the next morning at about the same time I had started, to finish and tweak anything that had been missed in the multiple visits.  I much prefer to paint it all at once, but at least I got it in - without giving up my “baby time” to do it.  If this one does not sell at the gallery, I am hanging it in the front room.  The title is an apt description of my time spent at this spot, praying for little Nolan, longing for healing.  Painting number 1228 in 1228 days.

Quiet Reflection

Quiet Reflection
Oil on panel
Penn Valley Park morning quick paint
Showing at Buttonwood Art Space in Kansas City, MO

Up at five, out by six, I arrived on location before the sun for our morning quick paint.  I walked around the lake a bit, before deciding on this rather unconventional composition with sky and it’s reflection in the lake.  After painting the very green landscapes of the last couple of days, I was longing for some cool colors to break up all that green.  It was a beautiful morning with soft breezes, and the painting unfolded before me as I thought about little Baby Nolan, just minutes away.  I would be heading there right after the quick paint, for a little quality “baby time”, before turning in my artwork to the Buttonwood Art Space.  If this event hadn’t been so close to the hospital, I would never have been able to participate.  Thank heaven for small favors.  These little getaways help me far more than hours spent in the waiting room.  Painting number 1227 in 1227 days.

The Scout

The Scout
Oil on panel, 14x11
Penn Valley Paint Out

After visiting the NICU in between painting windows down at the Penn Valley lake, I packed up my gear and headed up the embankment to my car.  Having placed my large painting in the trunk, I pulled out a fresh panel for the Scout, and climbed up the hill to it’s eastern side.  I was one of only three or four artists in site, and the quick paint was starting in 5 minutes.  I thought it was strange - where were they all?  I had forgotten my frame (with all of the turmoil of juggling the hospital visits and painting), so I texted my friend to borrow a frame.  When I rounded the Scout, to my amazement were the other 50 artists, all bunched up on the other side of the hill!  I had felt almost alone, and couldn’t even hear them over the hum of the mowers on my side!  There is nothing like a little “painting therapy” to keep my mind occupied.  Painting number 1226 in 1226 days.

On the Lawn of the Frontier Mother

On the Lawn of the Frontier Mother
Oil on panel, 14x11
Penn Valley Plein Air Fest
Buttonwood Art Space, KC, MO

One of the best things about being involved in so many plein air events is that I get to see new places!  This wonderful statue is one such thing!  This quick paint was my third painting of that day - and we were just glad to miss the big rain that was headed our way!  I just realized today that I had not posted this one, so I am doing so now.  I am ahead so many paintings, that it has become a little hard to keep track of them!  This afternoon was spent at Art in the Vines out in Louisburg, KS at the Sommerset Vineyard and Winery.  What a wonderful place, so picturesque and with a guitarist playing for the crowd - who could ask for more?  Painting number 509 in 509 days :)

Beneath the Sycamore

Beneath the Sycamore
Oil on panel, 12x9
Penn Valley Plein Air Fest
Buttonwood Art Space, Kansas City, MO

I arrived early for the Firefighter Memorial paint-out.  Having already picked my location for the quick paint, I still had too much time left to waste.  Nyle Gordon was talking about doing a light and shadow study - and I was in!  We set up looking towards this beautiful sycamore, with 45 minutes to paint!  It was so fun to just lay in those oils!  I started with the darkest darks, moved next to the lights, and then quickly filled in all the mid tones - and remembering to simplify those shapes.  When the time was up - I had a quick and loose interpretation of yet another wonderful view in the Penn Valley Park.  This painting makes 504 in 504 days and is now showing at the Buttonwood Art Space :)

Bridge Near the Willow

Bridge Near the Willow
Oil on panel, 14x11
Penn Valley Plein Air Fest
Buttonwood Gallery, Kansas City

On the night of the opening social, I saw a couple of the artist's paintings with this amazing stone bridge in it.  I had driven through the park, but had not seen it.  It was therefore, my mission to find this bridge first thing the next morning. After scouting various locations to no avail - I spotted two of these bridges down by the lake in Penn Valley Park!  This side is the rather unkempt part with a wonderful, natural feel to it.  The other side has been manicured with appropriate landscaping, and it faces the lake.  It was a bit of a task to haul my gear down to this location - but hauling it up was quite a workout, indeed!  I finished this one up just as the rain was starting, and stopped for lunch before starting the next painting of the day.  I just can't resist a stone bridge, and this one reminds me of the ones down in Dogwood Canyon - not far from Big Cedar in southern Missouri.  Wonderful and historic, they make such an addition to the landscape!  This painting makes 497 in as many days, and is now showing at the Buttonwood Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri at 31st and Main :)

Honeysuckle Path

Honeysuckle Path
Oil on panel, 12x9
Penn Valley Plein Air Fest
Buttonwood Gallery, Kansas City

This was the second painting of a three painting day, just before the Pioneer Mother Paint-Out at the Penn Valley Park on Thursday.  While walking the loop around the Pioneer Mother Statue, the sweet smell of honeysuckle along the western edge wafted through the air.  The bushes spilled over the path, creating such an inviting scene, I just had to paint it. With under 2 hours before the quick paint, I blocked in the light and shadow - loving the way the shadows stretched across the lawn.  The lightposts gave a nostalgic feel to the place - so like Central Park!  This was another day spent fighting the wind!  It really is exhausting when gust of wind blow me, the panel and the brush in unexpected directions!  I guess that just adds to the impressionistic strokes on this painting!  How wonderful it is to have such a beautiful park in the heart of the city.  This and 5 others are now showing at the Buttonwood Gallery just down the street from this park in Kansas City.  Painting number 495 in 495 days.  Happy Mother's Day!

Winding Creek in Penn Valley Park

Winding Creek in Penn Valley Park
Oil on panel, 11x14
Lake Area Quick Paint
Buttonwood Gallery, Kansas City
sold

When I arrive at a quick paint location, I first walk the entire site.  I don't even get my gear out, until I have selected my scene.  I knew it was going to be hot today, so a place in the shade would be best - and the wind was up again, so a windbreak would be in order.  As I walked the lake area of the Penn Valley Park, I started on the east side, then completing the circle around the lake.  Finding a creek flowing to the south from the lake, this composition instantly called my name.  And, I liked the view best from an incline in the full sun, looking towards the sun - and with a good headwind, as well.  So much for seeking comfort!  All that goes out the window when the place calls my name!  Since this was a two hour quick paint, it was important to mark the lights and the darks first, especially when there was so much information to get down on the panel.  Shadows change quickly, and as I was looking towards the sun, there was a backlighting effect on the background brush, as well as a diffusing effect on the distant trees.  The sun laid a golden light on the shallow water, which was challenging to capture.  I have found to trust my eyes in these special situations, and simply paint what I see.  This was my favorite painting of the whole event - and a great way to finish the Penn Valley Plein Air Fest.  Who knew we had such beauty in the heart of Kansas City?  I was born here and have spent most of my life here, and I have never been to this park before this event.  I look forward to participating in the years to come!  This painting is now showing at the Buttonwood Gallery on Main Street in Kansas City, MO.

Firefighter's Memorial in May

Firefighter's Memorial in May
Oil on panel, 14x11
Penn Valley Firefighter's Memorial Quick Paint

Wow - what a beautiful day to paint!  Me second paint of the day was the quick paint scheduled for this fountain.  I had scoped out my spot early, but then went on to paint a tree study.  When I finished, I turned to find that three other artists had set up in my chosen location!  So, as I carried my easel to the fountain area, the dappled light of the sun through the trees captured my attention.  This composition was so much more "me" than the first I had selected!  I set up - in the sun, which I had to be to soak in all of the scene, and got to work when the whistle blew.  This is a two hour timed event, and I finished a little early.  My first fountain painting of the season and 493 in as many days :)