Horse Drawn Wagon

 Mom and I visited Jamesport, and we found plenty of Amish at the local market.  Buggies were parked, awaiting their riders, while others dotted the roads and shops in town.  It wad a lovely day to be out, and fun to share this place with Mom.  She's been wanting to come up here for years!  Painting number 4984 in 4984 days. 

Blue Jersey Giant Sketched

I have a special Chicken Sketchbook, that I am filling with only paintings of my girls - and our one rooster!  This sweet chicken is a Blue Jersey Giant, and a sweetheart with a floppy comb. It lays over a little, giving her extra personality. Once in a while she delays her re-entry to the run by hanging behind the others for those last few bugs in her way in!  Painting number 4960 in 4960 days. 

 

Blue Jersey Giant

We have "chicken time" every evening, where the girls - and Able - take treats from our hands and get extra greens.  Mom comes by and Kirby and Casper join, too.  The chickens know Mom has her own bucket of goodies, so they run to her when she settles on the glider with her goodies!  I love sketching the fun and it's such a nice way to end the day.  What a blessing these chickens are to all of us.  Painting number 4957 in 4957 days. 

Lady Belle

 

Lady Belle is VERY interested in what I'm painting, and offering her suggestions as I work!  She's trying to figure out what I'm doing when I'm NOT there specifically to grain her, pet her, offer her treats or clean out the fence line.  She sniffed and tried to nibble on the paper, but I was too quick for her!  She's real nosy, and it's been fun getting to know her and her antics! I'm so happy Teddy wanted to rehome her with us!  Painting number 4792 in 4792 days. 

Peeps and the Broom

 

This little beauty is critiquing my sketches, and giving me some good feedback!  Both of these buff brahmas are sweethearts, the smaller is the official Chicken Guard.  If Proggy perceives any danger, she sets off an alarm call, and I go out to check.  I've got cameras in the run and the henhouse, and motion sensing lights on the front and back corner of the coop. I've seen a big coyote and large raccoon, and found tracks in the snow of the same, but no predator has gotten through our security.  I hope one never does!  Painting number  4785 in 4785 days. 

Lady Belle

First sketch of Lady Belle at sunset in her new pasture and she's such a pretty girl!  She comes to us through my dear painting friend, Teddy Jackson.  Arriving Sunday afternoon, she is getting used to our family and the new space.  She watched me paint her today, as I stood in the middle of the field, without coming closer. As soon as I finished and started walking away, her head popped up and she followed me all the way to the gate.  She likes sweet talk, and might have been looking for a treat, but I didn't have one today.  I'll have one next time! Painting number 4761 in 4761 days. 

 

Santa and Meringue

Behind door number four of the Diamine Inkvent Calendar is this lovely warm brown ink called Smokey Tobacco.  If gives a vintage glow to this Santa drawing, as he cuddles Meringue, one of our Calico Princesses. Once quite yellow, she has gotten lighter as she matures, nearly white on her undercarriage and tail! I've used a matching glass dip pen, and I'm working on an unknown handmade paper.  I often tear up small pieces into miniature ATC size. This painting is number 4727 in 4727 days. 

A special thanks to all who stopped by to see my paintings at the Historic West Bottoms Holiday Open House last night!  It was a lovely evening to celebrate the West Bottoms community with artwork created during the Historic West Bottoms Plein Air event in May.  I've had so much fun exploring this historic area with paint. 

 

Pumpkin Chick Mini

 

As I painted trim on the coop today, I took a sketch break to paint a miniature chick and pumpkin!  It was the perfect day to be working outside, so I took full advantage!  I got a coat of pink paint on the windows and some of the door trim, as well as some other coop chores.  The girls cooed and came close to me through the windows from their upper roost bar, and Phinny even sat on her nest and laid an egg - singing her egg song as I painted the henhouse doorway, watching the magic.  I hope to get all the painting done during these beautiful, warm days - and more painting, too! Painting number 4689 in 4689 days. 

Pumpkin Chick Mini

 

There's always time for a quick sketch with the chickens!  I've introduced a few pumpkins to the girl's run, and they don't quite know what to think!  Little Beans kept popping her head in, as if trying to figure out what I'm doing.  She's very nosy - and sassy - so she draws my eye quite frequently.  It's so fun to spend time with them, whether sketching them or holding them, rubbing their backs!  This painting is Now Showing at Powell Gardens and is my 4646th painting in 4646 days. 

Calico Princess Inked

 

My chickens went in before I finished this sketch, and they wouldn't even come out for treats!  This pretty chicken laid her first pink egg yesterday, and her "sister" laid one today!  I only had time for a drawing today, but I hope to paint her in oil one day soon!  Painting number 4626 in 4626 days. 

On the Run

 

Today, I am painting sweet Meringue, who is our lighter Calico Princess.  She is very well mannered, sweet and docile.  She only takes treats when no one else is near, and gentle in the taking. It's only a matter of time before one of the other girls jumps up on my easel!  Beans is especially spicy as she checks out my ungloved fingers - looking for a treat!  More than once I had to deflect her advances as I painted. I may need to paint outside the run next time!  Painting number 4615 in 4615 days. 

Just Us Chickens

As I painted these sweet chickens at the yellow chicken coop, several nestled beside my pink boots, chatting me up with their cooing sounds. I'd peep to them, and they'd peep back.  If I peeped twice, they'd peep twice - just like we were having a conversation!  I am drawn to these chickens now, and the Hoffman Farm is a wonderful place to paint them!

SOLD

Freya

 

I was working on this while introducing all my daughters to pastels!  It's been MANY moons since I've picked up a stick, and it sure was fun to explore the medium again.  I sketched my composition first with a pastel pencil, then a base layer with my pan pastels.  I followed with hard then soft pastels, and will hit just a couple more spots before framing.  I like the paper tortillions for blending, so far.  Who knows where this adventure leads? Painting number 5069 in 5069 days.

Jingle Titmouse

 

It was such a beautiful December day for sketching in the garden!  The birds are not too sure about the new red bells. They jingle slightly with movement, and I hope they get used to them, and even play with them.  They are not far from their feeders, so we'll see.  We spent the whole day outside with Casper and Kirby, taking care of many chores as we played.  It is nice to get in a quick painting, too.  Painting number 5032 in 5032 days. 

Chicadee and Pine

 

The little chicadees kept me company as I worked in the garden, and then I painted one! I'm using three inks, Diamine Nutcracker, Robert Oster's Detox, and Levenger Raven black on a watercolor paper I thought was handmade..... but now I'm not so sure sure... It should be cotton, but I don't think it's 100% based on the ink and water reaction.  It's not bad, but it's different, and every new paper is an exploration of how it handles my specific technique.  I love spending time in nature, and the birds are begging to be painted!  Painting number 5184 in 5184 days. 

Carolina Wren

 We have a pair of wrens that nest here several times a year.  The male makes multiple nests in any conceivable container, and his mate chooses her favorite.  It's a bit like hide and seek, just to discover their newest abode. Once, they even sneaked into the house - and I had to herd them back outside from their lofty perches!  I'm using a new TWSBI fountain pen filled with Diamine's Nutcracker to match the pen.  I've used a lot of it in the ink work, along with a couple of others.  This was so much fun, I think I'll paint more of my feathered friends!  Painting number 5183 in 5183 days. 

Chiefs Mouse

 

This little guy is cheering the Chiefs on towards that Threepeat!  GO CHIEFS!  I do love playing in the ink, and these little mice images just seem to march along in my mind!  So, when this one popped in today, I picked up a favorite fountain pen to get sketchy!  This handmade, dyed cotton paper is thin, soft and absorbent, which means I need to use a light touch on the nib, holding back in the water. To easily this paper can tear and pill, so careful is the key with this one. I love the vintage feel of black ink on this paper, even if my subject is quite contemporary!  Hoping for a win tonight as we cheer on our hometown boys! Painting number 5179 in 5179 days. 

Jack-o-lantern Mouse

 

It's fun to sketch this little trick-or-treater with a favorite TWSBI Diamond Mini fountain pen and ink!  In this small pen I keep De Atrementis archive ink, which does not move with water.  I use it for the initial sketch lines before I start to fill in with more ink and watercolor.  This pen has an extra fine nib, one of the few that do, and it in perfect for early sketch lines.  I do need to be careful not to tear this thin handmade paper with that extra fine nib. Every sketch is an exploration of both ink and paper!  Painting number 5174 in 5174 days. 

Frost Deer

This buck emerged from the frosty fog this morning, visiting until I headed to the gym.  It's hard to leave when the wildlife is near!  Pen and ink with Lavender Frost, from the Diamine Inkvent Calendar, using one of my glass dip pens for the dual work. We have deer visit almost daily, and it is helping me practice on their forms.  This beauty was alone today, and he stood proudly in that frosty landscape.  I do love capturing these little moments of life here on the farm.  There is a wonderful shimmer to this ink, though it doesn't seem to get very dark.  Perhaps I need to apply a thicker coat next time to see what it can do.  Painting number 4013 in 4013 days. 

Jake

I love getting to paint a beloved pet portrait, to be cherished when they are no longer at one's side.  This sweetheart is striking a signature pose on this canvas, and was given as a Christmas gift.  I have lately painted a few of these in acrylic, after a pretty long separation from this media.  I do like it's layering and crisp lines, and the almost instant dry time is a big bonus.  I use a dry brush technique, never wetting those brushes until I am washing them out. Heavy body paint gives me strong pigment, even in the lightest areas.  I hope this painting will be cherished for many years to come.