Pumpkins Five

I'm trying a new mini watercolor palette by Sennelier for these watercolor batik pumpkins.  I LOVE tiny kits that fit right into a pocket!  So, I love the portability, but the feel of the brush against the paint drags a little, almost as if there is honey in the mix.  It is also a little resistant to the brush, not picking up as much paint in a stroke as I'm used to.  I think I'll need to play with it a bit more, and keep it in an extra sketch bag, but it will not supplant my current favs.  Painting number 4708 in 4708 days. 

Autumn Hay Bale

 

Autumn leaves and hay bales, I just had to paint the beauty!  This lush landscape is ever inspiring, just outside my door. The red color seems to be the last to hang on, and the yellows were the first to drop. The bales dot the pastures, and only my busy schedule keeps me from painting them every day.  Perhaps, I should paint them at sunrise or sunset, while I enjoy the glory with a hot cup of tea? Maybe I'll start that tomorrow.......! Painting number 4703 in 4703 days. 

Pumpkin Batik

 

The pumpkins have been gorgeous this season, and I'm painting this one with ink, watercolor and hot wax on super thin rice paper!  With tissue thin paper, I must work this paper very lightly.  The slightest bit of pressure when wet can cause it to tear, and brushing the paint in can brush right through the paper!  So carefully I work until the image emerges, and I lift the hot wax away.  Painting number 

Autumn on the Lake

 

It is my pleasure to capture the fleeting colors of autumn, one brushstroke at a time.  Something magical happens when the leaves begin to turn.  The greens of summer shimmer gold and red, intensifying daily until the fade begins.  The leaves crunch beneath me, a sound like music to my ears.  Only once a year do I get to revel in autumn splendor, and too quickly it is gone.  Many of my hours have been spent working in the garden and painting the new chicken coop, trying to catch up after my very busy plein air season.  So, these quiet moments alone in nature are a treasure.  I hope to paint a few more autumn landscapes before they fade away.  Painting number 4695 in 4695 days. 

Pumpkin and Squash Batik

 

It's fun to unwind with a little ink, watercolor, hot wax and pumpkins!  I start by sketching my composition with India ink.  Next, I add watercolor, layering until the hot wax is applied.  Several layers later, crinkling, more watercolor and ironing between paper, the image is revealed.  Only then do I find out what has emerged with the process. I love the serendipity of it all!  Painting number 4692 in 4692 days.

Antiques and Pumpkins

I wait all year to paint the gorgeous pumpkins of autumn - and today I'm using oils!  This is a treat after a full day of yard work, a perfect creative outlet.  The antique pot belonged to my great grandmother, and the old watering can is a lucky find at an antique shop long ago.  I love the way the colors reflect the pumpkins, too.  It turned out to be a beautiful day, even though we had a hard freeze last night.  Too bad the covers didn't protect my flowers, it's going to be another warm week ahead.  Painting number 4688 in 4688 days. 

Pumpkin Patch Chicks

 

It's fun to hang with the girls, sketching!  They've gotten used to my antics and let me paint after I reward them with treats and scratch!  These wild and flighty girls have settled into a routine as they've matured, and I can actually work around them now.  They are so much fun to spend time with, and to paint!  I'm looking forward to plenty of bonding time this winter!  Painting number 4687 in 4687 days. 

Swallowtail and Pumpkin

 

Butterflies and pumpkins are showing for a few more days at Powell Gardens. The butterflies have been plentiful in my garden, so I sketched as I waited for another to fly by.  Then, I would capture their form and color as fast as I could before they moved on to a new bloom.  The mums and cosmos keep them coming, but it's only a matter of time before a frost comes our way.  I am working on new paintings to go into their gallery space next week, so come see them for the holidays! Painting number 4684 in 4684 days. 

Path to the Pumpkin Patch

There is something magical about visiting farms and orchards in the fall, especially when I'm painting them!  I watched children and families walking up and down that path, with pumpkins in tow.  The Weston Red Barn Farm is the kind of place families return to year after year.  Come see this place in person at the Weston Coffee Roastery.  Painting number 4683 in 4683 days. 

Afternoon at the Pumpkin Patch

SOLD

 

I've painted so much this fall that many paintings are yet unposted. Shreve's Pumpkin Patch is one of my all time favorite places to paint!  I had painted one here, getting the farmhouse into the view, but I couldn't quite squeeze in the events building.  So, I painted from this angle to include the back building and some of the side yard.  Honestly, the whole place is magical, and I really needed a long format panel to get it all in, but alas, I had none. It seems I am forever running out of panels and frames!  This painting is 4677 in 4677 days, and I'm so happy they purchased this painting, too! 

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. 

Wagon Load of Mums

 

What a treat to find these mums and vintage wagon in Parkville!  How could I resist painting this?!!  I had intended to find something cute inside to sketch, but didn't even make it in the door until I had painted both wagons with their mums in two different paintings!  These were brought in by the Amish in Jamesport, and wow, they impress!  Mom and I stopped on Main Street for quiche before landing here, then shopped a bit before heading back home.  Oh, I hope these are here during Paint Parkville, but I bet they will sell out before then!  Painting number 4642 in 4642 days. 

Autumn Leaves

The autumn leaves are falling, and I've picked up a few to study before heading of for a family shopping day at Legends.  The colors are rich and its fun to play with the colors a bit in the wet masses of each leaf.  I could get a little darker here and there, but there's no time for extra layers. It's been a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend and there's still more fun to have!  Painting number 5205 in 5205 days. 

Hay Bale in Autumn

 

I love how the oaks retain their autumn leaves long into the season.   That gorgeous orange red is so inspiring, I just had to paint it.  We've been very busy with family activities, and it has been hard to find that painting time lately.  But the daily painting habit is a well oiled machine that finds that little painting window every day.  Painting number 5203 in 5203 days. 

Wet Streets in Autumn

 

Wet streets with autumn color is simply irresistible.  The dark, rainy day only accentuates the bright, warm hues in the landscape.  These days of color ends too soon, especially with wind and rain driving those leaves down the road. All I can do is paint as fast as I can, and hope for a few more golden autumn days. Wishing everyone a Thanksgiving full of family fun! Painting number 5201 in 5201 days. 

Autumn in Peaceful Valley

 

I love the crunch of fallen leaves as I paint a rich autumn glow on the hill! We've had such an amazing season for painting, I wish it would last for months!  Soon the leaves will all lay on the ground and winter will creep in.  I'm already adding my layers when I paint early, and I'm never really ready for the cold to begin.  I'm so thankful for lovely painting days like this! Painting number 5200 in 5200 days. 

Autumn Road

 I do love the autumn season, full of warm color and unreasonably warm temperatures this year!  The leaves are fast falling and I an trying to paint them before they blow away.  If only I had more time for painting! Painting number 5199 in 5199 days. 

Autumn Lane

 

The oaks are really showing their color, now.  I'm never ready for them to lose their leaves, though i know it's coming.  This season is so fleeting, and my time so heavily scheduled that I ever feel as though I'm missing wonderful opportunities. This small 6x6 size is a perfect solution for crazy busy days and a regular go to this time of year.  I'm looking forward to quiet days with plenty of painting time this winter. Hope springs eternal, after all.  Painting number 5198 in 5198 days. 

Sunset Impressions

 The setting sun has been amazing this autumn!  Even though I didn't have the time, I jumped out for a quick paint of the colors as they ripened and spread across the landscape.  Every day is a gift, and this one is full of color.  Painting number 5197 in 5197 days. 

Burr Oaks

 

I'm playing with ink in the woods again, and trying out three different ones.  Diamine Nutcracker and J.Herbin's Caroube de Chypre are new in this paper, and my immoral sketch marks are with a Pitt pen.  I was hoping to achieve a fuller color range with these two, and black.  At the same time, I find myself wanting to drop in those gorgeous autumn reds. Perhaps I should revisit this paper with ink, and adding watercolor on top of it.  I have not done it yet with this paper.  It's very soft, thin and absorbent, so it may not lend itself well to watercolor.  There's only one way to find out!  Painting number 5182 in 5182 days.