Alley Magic

What an amazing evening it was to paint such a beautiful alley!  This magical little place is just outside of Jovalou on Main Street in Fairfield, Illinois.  I started this before the twilight sky turned black, and the play between the colors was magical!  Getting lost the moment, I got a little crazy with my color  - as is often the case with nocturne painting.  It seems I stray farther from reality and more toward painting what I feel.  It's all about expression - and SO MUCH FUN! Painting number 5174 in 5174 days.  

North 4th Street Alley

From the back perch of our B&B, this scene down the back alley called to me.  While waiting on my husband, I sketched out the composition with India ink.  Before I could get to the paint, it was time to leave for the historic Mill Stream Inn and some shopping in the oldest part of town.  Knowing the light couldn't possibly be the same in the morning, I ventured out anyway to take a peak.  It was wonderful!  Not quite the same, as different as late light and early light, but the strong light and shadow hit from almost the same masses in different directions!  Yay!  So, while everyone prepared to head out, I painted those masses as quickly as possible!  I'm so glad I did, this painting holds all of the original vision I had the evening before!  Painting number 2030 in 2030 days.

Samsara Alley Inked

An alley may seem like an unlikely place to find beauty, but there are hidden treasures here!  This alley behind Samsara Home in Parkville boasts red doors, window boxes full of flowers, and a wooden awning full of charm!  I quickly decided to do a sketch and just see if this was truly what I wanted to paint. Often times, this step will help me made the big decisions on composition.  Sometimes, I'll move on or make changes.  Most of the time, this helps me mentally work through the painting before laying on a stroke.  Painting number 1726 in 1726 days.

ink on paper, 8x6
purchase here

Back Alley Beauty

Another perfect day for plein air painting! Today finds me at Samsara Home in Parkville - in the alley again!  A nice breeze kept me comfortable on this day in the 80's. The wonderful flower boxes drew me to this scene, and all the splashes of color! Red doors, blue walls, yellow walls, even a flag on the distant building - led to a colorful composition!  Pushing those hues a little, I let the experienced of the day seep into my painting.  All the while, another artist painted me at my easel!  Painting number 1725 in 1725 days.

sold

The Mill from the Alley

Fourth Fridays are always a lively event in old town Lee's Summit.  Tonight there was a quick paint plein air event sponsored by Got Art.  I walked down Third St, and back up again, looking for a way to frame the glorious clouds in the sky.  Each way, the scene down this alley caught my attention.  It is not my normal subject matter, but I could not resist it!  I started right in with paint, since I was beginning a bit late.  The stormy sky was the perfect backdrop for the old Mill, and all those lines just lead right to my focus.  This was fun, and a good warm up for tomorrow in Marceline.  I was awarded 2nd place for this painting, and it is my 1331st painting in 1331 days.

From Main Street to Delaware

From Main Street to Delaware
Oil on masonite, 9x12
purchase here

on location

Arriving this afternoon, we settled into our swanky digs and did a bit of scouting. After narrowing my choices down to about three, I kept returning to this alley.  I have never painted an alley before, not in daylight or night, so this was my chance!  It was fun to drop in color with loose and impressionistic strokes - and those overhead wires!  The way they caught the light was awesome!  What a fabuous first day this was in Fairfield - and we are up early tomorrow to get at it again.  We couldn't have more beautiful weather for this!  Painting number 1008 in 1008 days :)