Mum Sale!

SOLD

 What fun it was to paint the mum sale in downtown Rocheport!  The whole community seemed to pop in for mums while I painted - and I even painted a couple of them into my painting!  It was fun to see small town life unfold in front of me, and to get to capture the magic with ink and watercolor.  I do love the charm of visiting and painting these small towns so much. Life just seemed simpler here.  There were only a handful of mums left by the end of that sale!  I'm so happy this painting found a new home, and it is painting number 5007 in 5007 days. 

Blufftop View of the River

 

How quickly the light changes at the A Frame Les Bourgois!  This is THE best view of the Missouri River that I've found to paint in Rocheport!  It's been so fun exploring this place in paint - and equally fun to do it with artists friends!  I hope to return next year to see what other jewels I can find to paint!  Come see this one in person at ART Off the Trail gallery on Central!  Painting number 5006 ink 5006 days. 

A Frame at the Blufftop

SOLD

The view of the A Frame Les Bourgois from the blufftop overlook was so much fun to paint!  I've only been here once, years ago.  The entertainment space is much expanded and the overlook on the Missouri River is gorgeous!  Rambling flower beds soften all the hard edges - making this very paintable. This view grabbed me, and I HAD to paint it!  I'm happy this painting has a new home, too!  Painting number 5005 in 5005 days. 

Downtown Rocheport

SOLD

I finished this painting up just as the rain started in downtown Rocheport.  This place is so charming that not even rain can discourage me from painting!  This was the first is my paintings to sell at the Wet Paint Sale! Painting number 5002 in 5002 days. 

Looking Down Second St

 

It was a beautiful day to paint the streets of Rocheport! There are SO many lovely, historic buildings lining the streets of this small town, it's hard to choose my painting location.  The red brick homes in the lush green landscape called to me the loudest - so this is where I landed!  This painting is now showing at Art Off the Trail Gallery in Rocheport, Missouri.  I'm so happy this gallery is now showing my work, too!  Painting number 5001 in 5001 days. 

Red House on Second

 I'm so happy the rain let up just long enough to get a couple of paintings in!  Rocheport is so charming! This is only my second time here, and my first to paint the area in plein air.  This small town of 200 has many historic homes and a few wonderful shops that I HAD to check out before my first brushstroke.  With matcha late in hand, I started painting this in oils, filling in the areas quickly.  I work fast when rain is in the air, and I hung my new bug scarf from my easel to ward off any unwanted visitors. It was fun to visit with the locals as they walked by, and I look forward to painting this town tomorrow and Saturday, too. This painting is now showing at Art Off the Trail Gallery in Rocheport, Missouri.  I'm so happy this gallery is now showing my work, too!  Painting number 5001 in 5001 days. 

Portrait Study in Black and White

On a weekend full of portrait study, it is so fun to try different colors and techniques!  Here I laid down the planes with ivory black and titanium white, adding the tiniest bit of ultramarine blue.  I arrived with my plein air set up, but am now wishing I had a few more soft brushes.  I use a lot of heavy duty workhorse brushes (Princeton Catalysts) in the field for my daily work, and only had a couple of Rosemary brushes in this box.  A softer, lighter brush is better for blending where desired. I find that I like leaving plenty of brushwork and strong strokes untouched.  This portrait journey is going to be SO FUN!  Painting number 2876 in 2876 days. 

Looking Down the Katy Trail

The artist in me LOVES exploring new towns.  My first trip to Rocheport finds me rising before the sun to paint as much as possible before focusing on portraiture for the rest of the day!  I'm invigorated by painting en plein air - no matter how little sleep I get nor how little I've eaten. The simple act of putting paint to panel or paper makes me feel so alive.  Why waste a minute?  I'll catch up on sleep and food when I get back home! Painting number 2875 in 2875 days. 

Rocheport Depot

Here for an artist weekend of portraiture study, I simply can't resist my gorgeous surroundings!  Out at first light, I am squeezing in as many ink and watercolor paintings as I can before returning to my all day portrait study!  Love this historic small town and I can't wait to return with my oils to capture more of it's beauty!  Painting number 2874 in 2874 days. 

Katy Trail B&B

I am staying in Rocheport for the first time for an artist weekend, and this Katy Trail B&B has been a wonderful place to land.  The charm of this sweet place is right down my alley- so of course I had to paint it!  After a day full of portrait work, it was great to get out in the fresh air.  I sketched this with ink on handmade cotton paper, then added watercolor from my travel half pans.  This town is so full of vintage scenes - I wish I had more plein air time!  I will definitely return for more plein air and biking, too!  Painting number 2873 in 2873 days. 

Dean

 

This weekend finds me working on my portrait skills in oils!  Joining 7 other artists in the charming town of Rocheport, I've spent today in the Community Hall.  I'm hoping to complete 6 portraits, honing my skills in the process.  I've already learned something very valuable - I can breath life into a portrait by working from a black and white reference photo, working in the color organically.  Who knew?  I plan to really delve into portraits during the winter months, so this weekend is meant to kick start that process.  Thanks, Nyle! This historic district is amazing, simply filled with vintage buildings - all calling to me to paint!  Oh how I wish I had several plein air days scheduled!  So, I'm sketching before and after the scheduled portrait hours, and will certainly return for more work in oils one day.  Painting number 2872 in 2872 days.