Holton Family Farm

It was such a lovely day to paint the Holten Family Farm.  This place reminded me of my Great Uncle Richard's farm, with many outbuildings and livestock.  The chickens would enter the yard fun the left, and the big, sweet dog at my feet would jump up to herd them back!  I painted them in loosely while they dotted the yard.  Just feet from me, baby calves had their own housing, so very curious about what I was doing!  The closest one jumped every time he heard a distance tractor start up, and pulled on his tether in an effort to reach me.  I remember hand feeding the calveson my uncle's farm with giant plastic baby bottles.  It was the coolest thing! I really love soaking in the essence of the place as I paint.  There's nothing like baby calves, chickens and a big sweet dog for painting companions!  Painting number 4228 in 4228 days. 

17791 Chieftain

I love getting to paint a new area, while staying in an historic B&B.  I have such a fondness for old places, I seek them out when traveling.  I also love to sketch these special places in ink and watercolor, memorializing this moment in time.  This stone farmhouse is now a B&B, on this working farm, which is also an event space.  On that front porch, I enjoyed my morning hot tea before starting my day, returning to lunch there.  In the evenings, live music wafted over as a few of us artists shared a bottle of wine on the back porch, enjoying each other's company.  My bedroom is the second floor windows featured, a comfortable place to rest after a day full of painting.  I hope this farmhouse and farm will stand another 100 years for other generations to enjoy.  Painting number 4227 in 4227 days. 

Art Festival

The scheduled paint out during festival hours was the "People" theme paint, and what better place to paint than the crowd watching performers?  Using my ink fountain pen, I sketched out the scene, realizing I was running out of my favorite black ink again!  It seems that I need two pens full of ink when painting for an event.  I can really go through the black ink!  Once the sketch was complete, I started adding the watercolor.  I didn't have enough black to use as I normally would, so I switched to Robert Oster's Thunderstorm ink in another pen in my bag.  This color is a great shadow color, and I often use it for that purpose.  It pushes a little violet and turquoise when wet.  In fact, the signature inks in this series are really great.  Once complete, I framed it and turned it in, then spent the rest of the day with Mike and my mom.  They came out to enjoy the festival and all the live entertainment.  What a fun way to spend the day!  Icing on the cake was that I won the theme paint with this one!  Painting number 4225 in 4225 days. 

Kane Family Farm

I thought I had taken several photos of this drawing in the field, with the farm behind it, but my camera failed on each of them.  Thank goodness I took one more in the trunk, before framing!  This working farm is dotted with barns and outbuildings, many in stone, and known as the Kane Family Farm.  I do love rendering it in pen and ink, so fitting to the era it was built.  I stayed in that farmhouse while participating in the Tonganoxie plein air event, and it was charming and comfortable.  So much better than the very long commute each day!  Painting number 4224 in 4224 days.

Last Days of the Old Barn

The rain had cleared as I finished my first painting of the day.  This scene was behind me, while all artists faced the large regal barns.  This may have been the first barn, replaced with bigger and better ones who still help their stature on this farm.  This barn had to be painted, if only to memorialize it's service in days gone by.  These run down barns dot the midwest landscape, and strong winds blew them down with each storm.  I'm glad I could draw this barn before it is no longer standing. Painting number 4222 in 4222 days. 

Helen's Hilltop

 I arrived on location just as the storm rolled in, abs all went dark as night. Loving the nocturne feel of the place, I started knocking in those colors within my car, with my wipers on. The sky opened a little with that warm early morning light - so I painted those fleeting colors while I could.  The reflections on the wet pavement were the icing on this cake.  Today, the star of this painting was the weather, adding drama to this biker bar. I was surprised to see those bikes out in the rain, but I guess they were not in any shape to drive the night before. I'm happy I could paint them in - and this painting won the Purchase Award for Helen's Hilltop!  Painting number 4221 in 4221 days. 

Garden at the Barns

 

Not every day en plein air is sunshine and roses.  I started this oil painting in the rain, careful to keep my panel tilted downward to avoid the water.  Sketching in paint my composition, I quickly blocked in the masses with a large brush. It is important to get paint on the panel before it gets wet, even if loosely.  Once covered, I could then face it up a little to polish my edges and values.  Often times those are a little off when facing down in the rain, lol! I always knock in that light when I start, trying not to chase the light as it changes - especially in the rain. As the sky began to clear, the scene began to change, and it was a good thing I had already captured that magic, because it evaporated with the rain!  So happy this humble painting won the "Barns" theme paint at the Tonganoxie plein air event - and it has a new home, too!  Painting number 3420 in 3420 days. 

Flowers by the Barn

What a treat to find such a lush landscape surrounding this amazing stone barn in rural Tonganoxie!  It was lovely to paint with birdsong and bees buzzing from bloom to bloom!  The painting unfolded organically as I marked all the masses, afraid I'd lose that early morning light.  The purple and green played so well together, it was a joy to stand here and paint.  A couple of snakes rustled out of the small pond, and headed away from me, and only one tick landed on me - and was easily brushed away.  Got to love nature when you're in it every day!  Painting number 3419 in 3419 days. 

Night at Kane Family Farm

The live music and people gathering were simply irresistible to this artist!  With gear in tow, I set up with a vantage including the large barn, and started painting the light.  I'm using a new clip-on mighty light that I bought from Judson Art Outfitters, to help with night painting.  I never use lights, choosing instead to paint under street lights when working at night, but the pastoral landscape does not offer lights!  So far, so good, but I'm not sold on the color of the light yet, it is warmer that what I see in the landscape. It's size and ease of use are a big plus, though.  I won't know how this really turned out until tomorrow - in the daylight!  Painting number 3418 in 3418 days. 

S Delaware and 4th Inked

This little ink drawing was my Tonganoxie quick paint pre-sketch.  In the mad rush that defines a quick paint, I tossed this clipboard in my bag, and did not pull it out until tonight.  I found several watercolor and ink paintings, which I removed in preparation for the painting weekend ahead.  Brush Creek Art Walk starts early in the morning, and runs through Sunday night, and is full of all kinds of painting fun!  There is an artist party tomorrow evening at Union Station to kick things off right!  Painting number 2061 in 2061 days.

purchase here

Kathys Kottage Inked

What a treasure I found when arriving in Tonganoxie!  This was literally the first place I scouted, and I stayed for TWO paintings - one in ink and the other in oil!  With such a charming cottage, I tried two different approaches compositionally.  The first in portrait orientation, and the second in landscape, unable to choose a favorite!  I liked how the trees reached up to the sky, leaving all that dreamy light through the branches.  I could have stayed all day to paint, with an abundance of subject matter all around!  So happy this drawing has a new home!  Painting number 2052 in 2052 days.

sold

S. Delaware and 3rd Street

The amazing light is what first drew my attention.  I had planned to paint the view looking down 4th Street, but oh, that light was calling.  I moved my car closer to the spot, and took my ink and paper out.  I would first ink the house, and then the street - and then decide which to paint. I never made it to the second drawing!  This was my scene!  I took out my oils and decided on a  8x10, because I was now 30 mintues into my 2 hour Quick Paint time.  Undaunted, I let the painting unfold.  I had already worked out the composition and values in ink, so I could allow that intuitive part of me lay down that paint. Would you believe I even finished 15 mintues early?  I had time to clean my brushes, frame and pack up at my leisure. Icing on the cake?  This painting was awarded 1st place in the Sunflower Stroll Quick Paint!  Painting number 2051 in 2051 days.

Sunflower Stroll Plein Air Winner
oil on panel, 10x8
purchase here

Kathys Kottage

Would you believe this was my first day in Tonganoxie ever?  It always amazes me to find such hidden treasures just 60 miles from home!  This charming cottage is an Air B&B in the making, and will soon be ready for company!  I could not leave without completing two paintings - one in ink and one in oils.  I can already tell I'm going to need more time painting in Tonganoxie!  Maybe I'll return with artist friends and stay right here!  Painting number 2049 in 2049 days.

Sunflower Stroll Best Of Show Winner!!
oil on panel, 9x12
sold