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. 

Looking Across Mill Street

SOLD

 After looking at this scene from multiple angles, I find this one most compelling. I love the historic building in the focus, and the train cars leaving the scene behind it. The front corner building led me in, as did the road, sidewalk and parking lot. I loved the composition, and it had to be painted.  I stood in the shade of a small tree, in high wind, moving with that shade as needed.  I was little uneasy painting right by the jail, and thought twice when someone was released, and he came to my corner to wait for his ride.  But, another artist was within view, so I painted a little faster.  I'm happy this painting was awarded the Purchase Award from Isley, Curry and Howerton, and that it has a new home, too.  Painting number 4660 in 4660 days.  

Plant Sale at the Garden

Purchase Award Winner

I love painting in the community garden at the Anita Gorman Conservation Center - especially with artist friends. I started and finished this one in the sun, but painted in between from the shade.  It was 96 degrees as I headed home, such is super hot for this time of year.  The zinnias were glorious, and I've never seen the native plant sale wrap around the parking lot before today - so, of course, I had to paint it!  Today is the second Quick Paint for Brush Creek Art Walk  - and I'm so honored that my painting was chosen for the Purchase Award!  This painting will hang by a bronze plaque with my name on it!  So exciting!  Painting number 4638 in 4638 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. 

Parkville Aglow

 

Enamored with the night lights on Main Street the night before, I arrived early to try to capture the magic.  Lights adorn buildings, street lamps abs doorways, spilling or onto the street.  So, I painted all that light first, and then started in on the buildings and the dark passages.  I saved the night sky for last, when light was coming up at the horizon.  That transitional light is my very favorite in the field, and a joy to capture with paint.  I love painting on Main Street in Parkville, and I'm honored this painting won the Paint the Town Purchase Award tonight!  Painting number 5158 in 5158 days. 

Good Year for Pumpkins

SOLD

 

Shreve's Pumpkin Patch is one of my very favorite places to paint when in Fairfield!  It's just not autumn until I paint here.  With a dramatic sky for a backdrop, these pumpkins nearly glowed in their rows leading to the barn.  I had not painted from this side, so I jumped right in.  Families and children came by a I worked, so interested in what I was creating.  It was a lovely day - and the rain held off until after I was finished  I'm so thankful Shreves chose my painting for their Purchase Award!  Painting number 5176 in 5176 days. 

Indiana Design Center

 

So excited this painting won the Indiana Design Center Purchase Award!  It was the very last thing I painted for this event, finishing just before turn in time.  After walking all sides of this building with the bold lines, I decided on this entry. The front side was definitely more glorious, but the strong lines and changing light on this side pulled me in.  Rain threatened as the skies darkened enough for the interior lights to shine a glow from within.  Working fast, I painted that light even as I finished my sketch in pen and ink.  I love when a painting simply falls into place.  Thanks to the Indiana Design Center for choosing my painting and the organizers of Carmel on Canvas for hosting such a fun plein air event!  ♥️🎨 day 19 #stradaeasel challenge

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. 

Kick'n K

It was such an honor to win tonight's Purchase Award at Kick'n K farm!  Thank you to the Strong Family for hosting and selecting my painting!  I love everything about this place, from the historic farmhouse and outbuildings to the Meramec River beach.  I knew immediately that I had to paint this scene, and I had three more paintings I wanted to squeeze in!  I felt such a pull to this scene, as if I was led to capture the essence of this place.  There is also an equine therapy stable here, with classes scheduled in the morning.  I sure wish I had more time here!  I'm happy this painting will stay with the family who have been here for 5 generations!  Painting number 3803 in 3803 days. 

Life Cycle at the Carmel Depot

Once again - I forgot to get a photo of my painting on site, but at least I did get one before it goes to a new home!  This beautiful sculpture depicting the life cycle of a butterfly is on display at the old Carmel Depot, surrounded by a butterfly garden.  With the depot as the backdrop, I knew I would paint it with ink and watercolor.  In the hot mid-day sun, I chose to get very close my subject, sitting on a camp stool for a lower view looking up.  The unique vantage allowed me to capture the real essence of this sculpture tucked into a flurry of flowers.  I was on the very edge of the shade cast from the roofline, and it was very comfortable with a little breeze.  I was so honored to receive the Life Cycle Purchase Award for this painting, and love that it will be enjoyed by the family of the sculpture artist.  Painting number 3167 in 3167 days. 

Wild Sunflowers

What a glorious morning for a quick paint at the Anita Gorman Conservation Center for the Brush Creek Art Walk!  This community garden houses all kinds of gems for the artist - but these sunflowers grabbed me right away!  Without even scouting the grounds, I set up my easel here, waiting for the start.  Taking a quick spin around this 8 acre spread, I returned to indeed paint these beauties in the sun!  With the hazy skies from those western wildfires, it was very pleasant even out in the full sun.  I let the composition unfold organically, as I marked flower heads and stems in the wild abandon that they grew.  I love the complication of it all, and thoroughly enjoyed myself through the whole process.  It was fun to chat with the visitors to the garden as I painted.  Time flew by!  So honored to have this painting selected for the Purchase Award!  What a great day!  Painting number 2812 in 2812 days. 

August Bounty

SOLD

 The artists drew numbers out of a bowl to determine which location we would go for the quick paint on Main Street.  At each place on the map, a still life was set up outside of the business.  I was pleasantly surprised to find a table full of fresh produce straight from the garden, at the front corner of this insurance office, with beautiful awnings and flag in view.  How could I not paint it all?  As I painted, the temperature rose, especially as I stood on the cement parking lot - in the full sun!  Not my usual choice of set ups - but the only choice for this view.  It was a very hot paint, but I finally finished and got this framed and turned in a little early.  I was SO surprised when this was chosen for the day's Main Street Still Life Purchase Award!  It sure made the suffering for my art with the price!  Lol!  Painting number 2770 in 2770 days.