Brooker Creek Preserve Morning

 

I am so honored to have won this morning's Quick Paint at the Brooker Creek Preserve with my painting of the creek.  On the back side of the trail that winds through the preserve, the bridge over the creek is a favorite spot to paint.  With a gorgeous, clear day, the blue of the sky reflected deep into the water.  I moved my easel 3 times on this bridge, landing on this spot right at go time.  I had to have this framed and turned in by noon, making this less than a two hour paint.  My painting companions today were a mama and baby young alligator, who kept popping their heads up and gliding through that water.  It's not every day I paint with alligators! I loved this place so much that I stayed to paint another! Painting number 3688 in 3688 days. 

Old and New on Conser

When faced with the architectural challenge of the InterUrban Lofts, I was compelled to capture the whole street scene.  There is a real movement going on in old town Overland Park, where new lofts are merging with the historic old buildings, creating a wonderful environment to live, work and play in.  I wanted to capture a small slice of that in this painting, the two sides of one street.  I had first sketched it in ink, shifting my composition to include more of the scene in paint.  I don't often struggle with a painting, but I did with this one!  All those angles, and the reflective light bouncing off so many surfaces of the lofts drove me a little crazy.  I left the scene thinking I must be crazy to attempt such a thing, and left it bagged two days.  When I pulled it out this morning to frame, it wasn't nearly as bad as I remembered.  In fact, I even liked it.  I guess it was worth all the struggle after all.  This painting number 1948 in 1948 days took the purchase award tonight for Stems Plein Air.  I'm so glad I turned it in!

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InterUrban Lofts Painting Challenge Winner - yay!