Turquoise Bike Garden

 Once in a while, I forget to capture a photo while still on my location.  The bright backlighting on the sunny deck made it impossible to get a good shot, so I meant to move to the shade and try again - but I forgot in the packing up of supplies to get paintings turned in on time.  I started this oil painting right after the ink and watercolor at the tree top garden. The turquoise bike was the perfect compliment to those gorgeous flowers - and caught my eye right away for the "floral" category.  I have so enjoyed this plein air event in Steelville - I feel so restored in the midst of covid craziness!  This painting is now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville, MO.  Painting number 2784 in 2784 days. 

Turquoise Bike Garden

 What better place than a tree top garden to spend the afternoon with ink and watercolor?  The turquoise bike surrounded with flowers hooked me right in!  With a steady breeze, my watercolors seemed to dry as soon as I laid them down - so I had to coax them along to deepen their hues.  I am very much a wet into dry painter, and I seldom layer.  So. I need to get those areas where I want them while wet - which is sort of like speed painting on a sunny, windy day!  Painting number 2783 in 2783 days. 

Sergio's Ride

Before last week, I had only drawn one motorcycle ever, and I had never painted one.   This week, I have painted 11 - all of them in night scenes!  The nocturne was set up by the organizers of Bluffstrokes plein air event, and several motorcycles were parked outside of 1st and Main, under a street light with a freshly painted mural by a graffiti artist as the backdrop.  What fun it was to capture the scene!  I love taking liberties with the color!  I am painting this one from my previous painting reference and a photo of my favorite bike.  This painting makes 1378 in 1378 days.

Bike Along the Fence

Bike Along the Fence
Oil on wood panel, 6x4
purchase here

Spending time with friends tonight, I am reminded of how truly special each day is!  Each one is a jewel - and it is SO fun to reconnect!  After a wonderful dinner out, I return to my easel to complete my painting.  I had this sketched out yesterday, but was seriously considering a totally different subject.  Would you believe that I could hardly decide whether to paint this bike along the fence, or a happy cow face?  Those subjects couldn’t be more different, and yet they were both calling to me!  This is painting number 3 in the 30 Day Painting Challenge, and 976 in 976 days for me :)