Fairground Zinnias

You KNOW I couldn't resist those glorious zinnias in front of a turquoise building - even in strong wind!! After turning in an earlier painting in the nearby building, I just could not leave this location until this painting was done!  Those gorgeous colors were calling me and i had to answer! So, quickly with my oils, I sketched this one out with my brush and paints, squinting to see the big shapes.  I've had fun today painting with my oils, and I'm looking forward to the week ahead!  Day 26 #stradaeasel challenge ♥️🎨

Roadside Sunflowers

 

I love these wild sunflowers that grow with reckless abandon!  With sprawling branches, they bloom profusely - and oh how the bees and birds love them!  Today I just oils to capture their beauty - tangled stems and all.  Rather than sketch my composition with brush and paint, I started with the masses of color, dotting in every area like a puzzle.  This actually helped me paint accurately, since their were no stems winding through as my brain would have it.  I like the very realistic portrayal this process led me to.  Painting number 2792 in 2792 days. 

Love Locks

 I had no idea there were so many wonderful padlocks!  This Love Locks Bridge in Kansas City has such a beautiful collection!  Many are engraved with names, dates and verse - and some look ancient and rusted shut.  It looks like solar fairy lights adorn the top of this bridge at night.  What a cool nocturne painting that would be!  Painting number 2787 in 2787 days. 

The Trail in Dunedin

After a day of family time and lunch in downtown Dunedin, I grabbed my stool from the trunk and sketched this street scene right from the bike trail that runs down the coast through these vintage towns.  With plenty of shopping and entertainment, this was certainly a day well spent.  The icing on the cake was a sunset run on the causeway out to Honeymoon Island.  I think that island needs to be explored in paint!!  Painting number 2612 in 2612 days.

Studio Santa

This day took me to the Crossroads Art District, Crown Center, and many other stops before landing home.  A crazy day of jump starts and flat tire fun, I am seeking sanity with my pen and ink tonight!  Pampering myself, I choose my favorite TWSBI and the fancy Caroube de Chypre anniversary ink from J. Herbin.  Look how red it turns when heavily applied with water added!  It has such a shimmer in with all that gold!  Just a little treat to turn all my tomorrows to golden days of sunshine and roses!  Seriously, enough with that other stuff!!  Painting number 1795 in 1795 days.

Millwork Night Market

The wet as drizzly day turned into a beautiful evening to spend downtown.  After getting two paintings completed in the drizzle, I was ready for some hot food to recharge and do it again!  Tonight's venue was the Millwork Night Market on 8th add Jackson, where I could capture a graffiti artist at work!  As I walked up to the scene, I could already see the painting unfold.  Choosing a vantage I could capture the bikes, trailer, graffiti artists, night market AND urban buildings, I got to work quickly.  Starting with a dark panel, I am basically painting the light, one stroke at a time.  It was fun to see old friends from last year's event and paint such a unique place with fellow artists.  Nowhere but Dubuque offers up such an experience!!  Painting number 1738 in 1738 days.

sold

Thomas Hart Benton House Inked

This week we visited the home of artist Thomas Hart Benton and took the tour.  Today I am exploring a new ink - Noodler's Beaver.  The brown is rich and warm.  It moves and spreads easily when a wet brush is applied - which is perfect for me!  I used my fine nibbed glass pen to apply the ink, which worked perfectly.  I've learned to use a light touch with this nib on the handmade paper - otherwise, the nib will scratch the surface.  I prefer broader nibs, but am learning to embrace each one!  I think this ink will find a home in one of my fountain pens, so I can always have it at the ready!  Painting number 1720 in 1720 days.

Lilacs in Ink

Oh my gosh!  I tried a new fountain pen today,  highly recommended by one of my artist friends.  I'm in LOVE!!  This Pilot Varsity fountain pen smoothly lays down my lines,  gliding evenly over this textured handmade paper.  With my line work complete,  I lightly wash over those lines with a water brushpen.....and watch the magic happen!!   Oh my, its a good thing all my Easter prep is done.........I will not be spending any more time in the kitchen tonight!  This pen is calling me with it's "siren song"!!  Painting number 1557 in 1557 days :)

Nutcracker Family!

What a super fun painting to do!  Each nutcracker of this nutcracker ensemble represents a member of a family, and together, this is really a family portrait unlike all others!  I must say, the artist complete with his palette, paintbrush and easel is my favorite - but each is full of so much character!  It is a wonderful idea to find nutcrackers that take on the personalities of family members!  I think I will be on the lookout for my own "family" gathering!  This painting makes 1430 in 1430 days, and now back to work!

sold

Truck Tagging on Jackson

Oh my gosh!   This was a super fun nocturne paint out!   I have never been to an event like this one!   In downtown Dubuque, there was a graffiti artist painting a truck trailer outside of a club at 10th and Jackson, and four of us artists were brave enough to tackle this nocturne in the dropping temps.   So many people came by to visit and show their support - and I was even brought a hot toddy to warm me up!  Everyone I've met is SO nice in Dubuque!  This painting sold off the easel tonight, and is my 1374th in 1374 days :)

Painting from the Point

Painting from the Point
Oil on panel, 12x9

Since Teddy had an easel disability today - we stayed on the point for both paintings of the Augusta Shores event. Once the sun had appeared, I found a place under the deep shade of a red cedar to set up my easel.  As Teddy framed her first piece, I really got into the zone - completely forgetting that I was to turn in my first painting in only minutes!  The sky was changing so quickly, that I wanted to get all sky and water color blocked in while the formation was so fabulous!  Once done, we ran our paintings up to the Berg House - and rushed back to finish up this second.  I had first intended on paint the boat by the water, but Teddy’s umbrella demanded to be painted!  What a fun day - and only a couple of sprinkles in a day calling for rain!  Painting number 1206 in 1206 days.

Painting from the Pasture

Painting From the Pasture
Acrylic on masonite, 5x7

As the final assignment in a figure class this month, I have painted myself!  The photo reference in from the civil war reenactment we had in the pasture, where I invited the MVIS artists to capture the event in paint.  One of the women from the camp loaned me her dress, and voila - I became a period painter!  The hat is one I paint in, and the apron was one I had tucked away from who knows where!  Using my limited palette of acrylics, I blocked in the values and colors that shape the scene.  Next, I tweak those masses using loose, impressionistic strokes.....although I may have tightened up a bit on my palette and brushes.  They are prized possessions that make my life a joy - so, I guess they’re allowed the extra attention!  Twice, I have forgotten to pack my make-up and curling iron on out of town plein air trips, but I always have my art supplies with me!!  This is painting number 1183 in 1183 days.

block in

Nutcracker Artist

Nutcracker Artist
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
sold

Yes - this is actually an artist nutcracker!!  I wish this beauty was in my own collection!  This is another wonderful nutcracker shared with me by Candy Kultgen - and I knew I had to paint him as soon as I saw him!  The palette, paintbrush, and easel are fabulous - and that wild hair and mustache!! He has definitely been painting en plein air!  I love the way it flows with reckless abandon!  He is certainly a free spirit - and so fun to capture with acrylics!  As an artist, I must say that no self respecting artist would lay colors out in this order on their palette - it should run yellow, green, blue, violet, the red. Silly nutcracker!  This is painting number 1085 in 1085 days.

Santa Painter

Santa Painter
Acrylic on masonite, 6x4
purchase here

Some days, I come to my easel with absolutely no idea of what to paint.  After such a busy day filled right up to the brim - I had no plan in mind for subject matter.  As I got my paints and brushes out, the idea came to me - why not Santa at his easel?  I’ve been working on several Santa paintings for my Christmas cards - so this fit right into that theme!  I am working a little darker tonight - and as it is already way past dark, I may have to check this again in the daylight.  For now, I let it rest, as Santa remains at his easel.  Painting number 1063 in 1063 days :)

Along the Esplanade

Along the Esplanade
Oil on panel, 11x14 - Leavenworth Paint Out
purchase here

I am painting in Leavenworth, Kansas today for a plein air event in conjunction  with Buffalo Bill Days at the Ray Miller Park.   An artist friend directed me to a lovely old part of town, called the Esplinade.  On one side of the street, fabulous antebellum homes line the avenue.  On the other side, looking out high above the Missouri River, is the oldest and first park in Kansas.  Any of these homes would make an amazing painting - but I can choose only one, so I chose my favorite!  Four of my students joined me today, three of which have never painted out in the open air before!  It was SO fun introducing them to something I hope will stay with them for a lifetime!  This painting makes 964 in 964 days.

on location

Painting the Chickens

Painting the Chickens
Oil on wood panel, 9x12
Boone Farm Paint-Out, Augusta Plein Air Art Festival
purchase here

This day's paint out was at the Daniel Boone Farm in Defiance, Missouri. When I walked upon this scene - I KNEW I had to paint it!  After spending over an hour scouting all over the property, with a good idea of what I wanted to paint, I stumbled onto this scene  - and it totally grabbed me!  Lon Brauer had dressed in period attire to paint - so he was the perfect model in the perfect setting! Never before had I even attempted painting a figure for a timed plein air paint, but I LOVED it!  I should have been doing this years ago!  I had so much fun getting this scene down in oils - it was like a concentrated workshop on life drawing - of both Lon and the moving chickens!  With a scene like this, with constant movement - the most important thing to capture is what is most likely to change. The light, shadows, and especially Lon!  He is a fast painter, moving quickly from one painting to the next, so I painted his figure within the first few minutes.  Working next in finer detail, I blocked in the light and shadow.  As one of the chickens would get into a position I liked, I would switch to them, getting them painted in before they moved again.  I had so much fun painting this!  I can't wait until the opportunity presents itself again!  Painting number 872 in 872 days :)

Karl and Kaden

Karl and Kaden
16x20 graphite on bristol
sold

The bonds that tie are such a compelling subject for me.  This is the companion portrait to the "Kat and Chloe" of the last post.  I love drawing mothers and babies, but I also love the father-baby bond.  There is no relationship as tender as that of a parent and child.  This piece was also executed mainly with an 8B pencil.  I like to use a variety of paper tortillions to blend and shade the flesh areas of the faces and hand.  I additionally use a mechanical pencil for the lash and brow work - once I have shaded in the main areas.  Once I feel like the portrait is finished, I spray it lightly with workable fixative to prevent amy smudging of the graphite.  I also try very hard not to touch the bristol with my hands as I work.  If the oil from my skin gets onto the paper, it changes the way those spots accept the lead.  If I decide more work is needed, I simply continue drawing, always finishing with a fixative on top.

The Peaceful Portage

Judge's Merit - HFAA 2012 Show

This was painted from a small plein air study that I did from my parent's back yard.  I set up on the bank of the Portage River in Elmore, Ohio, early one morning.  With family health concerns looming, the act of putting paint to panel calmed and soothed my nerves.  This special place called to me each day.  As I walked it's banks, I could see paintings in every direction.  On this day, rain was coming and the sky was changing - so I had to work quickly.  All stress evaporates with brushes in my hands.

The Peaceful Portage
Oil on panel - 18x24

Windows of the Soul

Honorable Mention - HFAA 2012 Show

Sometimes, a drawing just flows off the tip of the pencil.  Other times, it is brought into this world like a hard fought battle.  I must say, this falls into the latter category.  Using new pencils AND changing up my normal methods was certainly the biggest drawing challenge I have had.  No resting in my comfort zone for this little darling.  After so much more work (i.e. blood, sweat, and tears...) I can lay my pencils down.  This one is now framed and ready to go to the HFAA show tomorrow.  I feel like I poured my own soul out on this one!

Windows to the Soul
tinted graphite on bristol, 20x16

Autumn in the Air

I have mixed it up again with this fall plein air painting.  I started first with my sketch, then with my palette knife applied the texture for the tree and shrub foliage.  Once dry (again, holding it in front of my car heater on high), I worked a loose underpainting in acrylics.  I like my Golden acrylics the best, I love their high pigment content - and they have wonderful mediums to play with!  The acrylic dries very quickly, so I then started with the oils.  When I layer like this, I find the depth and atmosphere build up easily and naturally.  I painted on location at the top of Kill Deer in Augusta Shores - where the autumn color is amazing :)

Autumn in the Air
9x12 oil, acrylic & molding paste on panel