Guarding the Girls

 

I loved painting these sweet chickens at Sunflower Hill Farm- and just realized I forgot to share them! I paint so many paintings at a plein air event, that one or two slip through the cracks at times.  This handmade paper is particularly rough, and it soaked up the paint like crazy!  I thought I was finished a couple times only to go back in with more color.  Watercolor can fade so much on this handmade cotton paper!  Painting number 4894 in 4894 days. 

Showdown

 

It was so fun to capture the antics of these cuties at Sunflower Hill Farm!  While two were butting heads, another watched cautiously from the sideline.  The paper I use is handmade cotton rag, and each batch is artisan made.  What this means is every batch is different - and this batch felt like there was no sizing in the mix or on the surface.  So, the paper soaked up paint like crazy - and seemed to fade as it dried.  I had to reapply paint and ink until finally it remained.  I love exploring new papers, even when they require much more work on my part!  Painting number 4871 in 4871 days. 

Spring Chickens

 

What fun it was to paint the whole chicken flock as they wandered down the hill at Sunflower Hill Farm!  I was halfway through a small painting when it was time to start this morning's paintout.  As I pulled out the fresh sheet, these girls began their meander down the hill!  I sketched and painted only the chickens until they had moved out of sight.  Then I began filling in the rest of the scene!  I've learned through the years that one must paint what is seen - before it flies the coop!  It was an absolutely gorgeous day for painting! I'm so happy this painting found a good home with a brand new collector, too!  Painting number 4860 in 4860 days. 

Iris Bloom at Sunflower Hill Farm

 

Sunflower Hill Farm is such a beautiful place to paint - and I simply couldn't resist this scene!  It called to me as I walked up to check in, and yet again as I scouted the area. With ink I sketched my scene, then filled in the color with watercolor. I went back in with a little more ink until I found the balance I was looking for! It was a wonderful afternoon spent visiting and painting, and what is better than that? Come see this one in person at the Harmonie Verein in Augusta beginning Saturday! Painting number 5022 in 5022 days. 

Plant Sale!

When I saw this beautiful new greenhouse - I HAD to paint it!  I parked very near this spot, and didn't look any further until I finished this painting!  After so many years of daily painting, I have learned to listen to that inner voice, and it never steers me wrong.  Loving the dramatic slope of the hill, I set up on hill, tilting downhill a bit.  So, I situated my three leg stool so that it would balance with the two legs on the downhill side, allowing me to keep my balance better as I worked.  I get so focused on my painting process, that it's best to build in a few safety measures up front - lol!  I always love painting at Sunflower Hill Farm - and I'm happy this painting has a new home here, too!  Painting number 3776 in 3776 days. 

Spring Comes to Sunflower Hill

Arriving for the Premiere Artist's Paintout, I found my location before I even checked in.  Normally I would use my oils for this paint-out of award winners during the last 5 years, but this place called for ink and watercolor.  I sketched out the very detailed drawing before adding any color, visiting with the public as they floated from artist to artist. I loved the spring colors singing on that hill, and it was a joy to paint this on such a lovely day.  So happy my painting will stay with this place, and add to other work I have on these walls.  Painting number 3416 in 3416 days. 

Sunflower Hill from the Creek

I think I walked the whole property before deciding on this location, even though this place called me from the start!  Approaching it from two sides, of course the wetter, weedier location had the best view!  Standing in the tall brush and wildflowers, I sketched out my lines with two fountain pens with different nibs and inks, following with a water brush pen to get those mid tones.  The overcast sky grew darker as rain threatened, so I hurried back to the car to frame and turn in.  This painting won an award in Mixed Media for the final judging, and has a new home along with the oil painting from the same place.  Painting number 3047 in 3047 days. 

Sunflower Hill Farm

 

Sometimes I have to get deep in the weeds, in the rain, to get the best paintings! After an ink sketch while it was only misty, I hiked to the car to frame, then up that hill to the barn to turn in.  My oil gear in tow, I rushed back down to the wet and rising creek to paint this gorgeous scene.  The waterfall just behind me was so loud I could not listen for approaching snakes - which meant I had to keep checking over my shoulder. After all, this is prime snakes territory.  I squeezed between 5 trees with just enough room to raise an umbrella until my panel was covered with paint.  Then, I could freely paint until finished.  The wild sweet William and mustard blooming along the creek was breathtaking, and so saturated with color in the rain!  It was a pretty wet, miserable evening, but oh I had so much fun!  Painting number 3038 in 3038 days. 

Sunflower Hill Farm from the Pond

I had heard this was a wonderful place to visit, but I was unprepared for the sweeping view across the landscape.  After completing one drawing from a lower vantage, I moved up to the pond to start this one.  The sun was dropping and the mosquitoes were rising like a cloud around me within 2 minutes!  In search of more big spray, Peggy offered her Bug Out jacket for me to use.  It is amazing!  Not one bite did I get and they were all around me!  This jacket allowed me to finish and this drawing has a new home with the family that owns this place!  Painting number 2315 in 2315 days.

Sunflower Hill Farm

sold

This composition grabbed me as soon as I stepped out of the car.  After scouting the grounds, I returned here to sketch.  I fully intended to then paint this in oils, but the ink rendering has a drama that leaves me fulfilled. So, I went out and drew this scene from another angle, and it sold, too!  Painting number 2310 in 2310 days.