Prickly Pear Cactus

I sketched this lovely prickly pear at the top of the Window Trail Loop as we played with Casper and Kirby. These beauties are abundant here, so I captured them with pen and ink on the aged pages of one of my favorite travel journals.  We enjoyed prickly pear shiners and prickly pear tacos that were amazing, too!  These come in shades of yellow green to purplish pink, and I can't wait to paint them in oil and watercolor, too!  Painting number 5100 in 5100 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. 

Astral Deer

Tonight, as the whole family played games, these two deer came for a visit outside our windows.  I'm sketching them with Astral black ink with it's lovely green shimmer.  I am very particular about my black inks, only the darkest, richest, and most velvety make the cut.  This ink has all of that AND a gorgeous green shimmer that sparkles in the light of the darkest areas.  I could totally try this one on a broader level, perhaps in it's own fountain pen.  I do wonder if that shimmer would clog up the works at some point.  I am very demanding of my pens - i want to pick them up and have them work perfectly no matter how long I've left them in a sketch bag.  I guess time will only tell with this one, but i will look for it is a bigger size for sure! This first painting of the year kicks off 11 years of daily painting, and is my 4011th painting in 4011 days. Happy New Year!  ❤️ 

Old Saint Nick

On December 3rd, I will be painting a live Santa at GotArt Gallery in Lee's Summit from 3:00 to 5:00.  I will have several Santa paintings as week as 10 miniatures showing for the Holiday Show opening December 1st.  I am using only my black and white acrylics and a dry brush technique for this one, which is so effective when doing portrait work!  This painting makes 1412 in 1412 days :)

Clover Bee

Clover Bee
Watercolor on paper, 7x5

I seem to be fascinated by bees as of late!  I love the way they drift among the blooms - and they never bother me as I work on the flowers.  Once, while plein air painting near a hive, I had them landing and walking over my skin!  I stayed pretty still and just let them as I worked - and they didn’t sting me.  I did brush them off of my face though - I have to draw the line somewhere!  We have these large clumps of clover in the pasture - and the bees and butterflies alike flock to them.  I like the loose strokes of watercolor - and the way the colors mingle when dropped into the wet paint.  This painting makes 1197 in 1197 days.

Marceline

Marceline
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6

This little darling in another of my daughter’s cats - and she as a beauty!  So curious and active - she loves to climb inside of computer bags, purses and totes!  I chose her for my subject at today’s “paint in” for the Tri-County Art League.  These events are so fun!  Not only is it an opportunity for painting with other artists, it is great to catch up and visit, even sharing our latest tools and techniques as we work!  I am using my limited acrylic palette today, and am painting on gessoed masonite.  When I start a cat like this one, I start by blocking in the background first, until the shape emerges.  By working in this fashion, it makes it very easy to see where adjustments need to be made.  I then start blocking in all color masses, finishing with the face - which is almost the opposite of how I use to approach this painting!  It is amazing how much our techniques change as we progress!  Painting number 1141 in 1141 days.

Cat Eyes

Cat Eyes
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6

It looks like this is turning into “cat week”!  I had an afternoon free of commitment, which is rare indeed!  So, I leisurely spent the afternoon getting things done - instead of my “lit on fire” normal pace! How refreshing!  I don’t even feel guilty about not painting large today, which I would do any other time that I had several uninterrupted hours at my disposal!  Today’s subject is one of our black cats, Soco, and boy, it was hard to zoom in so close!  I thought this would be a piece of cake, but the extreme close up made the composition and values difficult.   I need to do more of these, until they become second nature.  This painting makes 1129 in 1129 days.

Barky Dog

Barky Dog
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5

This little Barky dog pull toy is SO sweet!!  This has been a day full of dog activities!  First, I had to wrestle Chewy into the bath - he was super dirty with his long hair and all this rain!  He soaks up that dirty water like a mop!  Then, once he was dry, it was off to the vet for his shots - which he did not care for!  He didn’t mind the vet last time, but this time, he shook all the way there, and all the way home.  When he was finally out of the car, he was so happy to return to the cats!!  So, tonight finds me keeping with the dog theme for painting, but alas - I switched to the cats for my daily sketch!  This is painting number 1101 in 1101 days, and Day 7 of the current 30 Day Painting Challenge.

The White Bow

The White Bow
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
sold

This little darling was my demo for this afternoon's painting class!  The granddaughter of one of my friends (and a student - though she was not in class today), her photo was on my desktop.   I used her to demonstrate how to lay in the values in black and white while using a color photo.  The emphasis is on using short, impressionistic strokes to define all the planes of the face, all the time getting those values correct.  As I work loosely, a likeness naturally develops. Once I feel her likeness captured - I step away from the brushes!  I want her to be fresh and lively, with plenty of those lush, impressionistic strokes visible. The more I paint these portraits - the more I love doing them! Painting number 1056 in 1056 days :)

Thoughtful

Thoughtful
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
purchase here

Now that the season is becoming so busy, I am going to try to finish my painting early in the morning, before going to the gym.  So, getting up earlier than usual for just this reason, I found a few chores leaching into that time!  I still was able to lay paint - but I couldn’t finish before heading to Zumba.  It is VERY, VERY hard to stop painting when I am “in the zone”!  I did toy with the thought of missing the class........but decided against it.  The gym is also a habit I never break - unless I’m out of town painting.  I will just have to get up earlier, to ensure plenty of time to paint.  I have been painting so much in acrylics that I am actually going to have to get a new tube of titanium white!  These portraits are so rewarding to do, and I like pushing them towards impressionism or realism - whatever my mood of the day dictates.  I really do like using the Mars Black, it gives a vintage black and white feel to these paintings.  Thank you, Barb, for letting me paint your grand-daughter!!  Painting number 1053 in 1053 days.

Michael - value study

Michael
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
sold

Tonight finds me painting the baby of the family - Michael!  This child has been a joy for his entire life. He is such a peacemaker, so loving and there is not a cross bone in his body.  It has been my pleasure to parent him these last 16 years.  I've been truly blessed when it comes to children, every one is a shiny star and as good as they come!  I am working him up in black and white, value study style.  One reason for this is that the light in my photo is not very good, so the true colors are hard to read and very diluted. So, rather than struggle for colors I could not see - I painted in black and white, where I could strengthen those values for powerful portrait. I am loving this portrait month and wondering why I didn't do it sooner!  Painting number 1051 in 1051 days :)

Counting Sheep

Counting Sheep
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5 - sold

I simply love the sweet innocence of a sleeping child!  This is fast becoming one of my favorite painting subjects!  Using only titanium white and Mars black, I have painted this subject in true value study style.  Working from the photo below, I cropped in tight on the face working the large planes.  I normally use one large, scrubby filbert right up to the end, where I switch to a smaller cat's tongue for final definition.  I am beginning to like the whole dry brush technique - what was completely foreign two weeks ago is now very natural.  As for not using any medium - I don't miss it.  I don't use any with my oils, so the transition in the acrylics went smoothly - and the intensity of the hues is so much better!  Two more weeks of "portrait month" - where will tomorrow take me?  Painting number 1049 in 1049 days :)

Alan Smiles

Alan Smiles
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
value study - purchase here

I find that I really love painting these value studies in black and white!  The recommended black is Ivory Black, but I had several tubes of Mars Black - so that is what I am using.  I like the old black and white photo feel these paintings have - and I’m carrying them farther than just value studies.  I want them to stand alone as powerful paintings, with no need for color.  I want to paint one every day - and at 40 minutes each, that should be totally doable!   I do wonder if my strokes are loose enough on this one......This little darling is my oldest grandson, and I hope this painting does justice to his sweet, adorable soul!   Painting number 1042 in 1042 days.  I'm going to need to start photographing everyone I know just to keep up with my new habit.....!

Michaela - value study

Michaela - value study
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5

I am hoping that one month of these 40 minute value studies will sharpen my portrait skills. Improving accuracy with speed, and injecting genuine mood that can be felt with spontaneous strokes, are just a couple of rewards I hope to glean from this one month of portrait concentration.  I feel I am already better understanding the application of the masses to create form, rather than the sketching out of the composition first - which is a big step for me, as I have deep, deep roots in linear work!  The real key to success here is to step outside of my box, open myself up totally to this new way of portrait technique, and throw myself in whole-heartedly!  Capturing the perfect likeness in 40 minutes still evades me, but I am going to work on that until it happens every time!  I did decide to leave out her hand, to strengthen the composition. Painting number 1039 in 1039 days.

Alastair - value study

Alastair - value study
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5

This is my second value study on this month's atelier on portraiture. I am working from a photo that I took with indoor lighting and a flash - which does not produce wonderful lights and shadows for painting.  But, I love the expression, and am going to find a way to make it work....push the values a little.  Originally, the background was light, but I found it competing with the subject, so I painted it dark.  The focus is now on Alastair.  I have used some really loose brushwork here, but I like the effect!  As with all of these studies, they must be completed in 40 minutes, all in black and white - from which I mix the grays I need. My sta-wet palette is indeed keeping my acrylics wet, and I have not added water since the very beginning.  I am still waiting for my special brushes to come in, but I am making do with what I have on hand.  This painting makes 1038 in 1038 days.

Alan - value study

Alan - value study
acrylic on masonite, 5x5

Today, I am starting a new painting adventure - portraits in acrylic, using an impressionistic style!  I am taking an online atelier for the month of November - and this is my assignment for the week.  From the reference photo of my grandson below, I had to capture the lights and darks in 40 minutes.  I thought this would be so hard - but to my surprise I finished most in 20 minutes!  Hard to believe, I use to be much slower.  I guess the daily painting has really sped up my time!  I have always started portraits with a line sketch, not in this workshop!  Instead, capturing the form with shapes of paint is key.  I though this would be SO daunting, but it was not!  It was fun to see the image emerge with loose strokes!  Additionally, I have not used my acrylics since June, and have only used them sparingly in the last 3

years.  So, the thought of having to make those paints work, when I feel oils are so much better suited, was also scary!  But, it was not!  It, too, was fun to build stroke upon stroke, as the layers dried.  SO crazy, to enjoy this whole assignment as much as I did!  I already did another one for tomorrow, and will begin combing through my photos for the best reference work!  This photo of Alan is from a few years ago.  Without even thinking about it, I have painted him to look more his age now!  I can't wait to see how my portraits improve over the next month!  Painting number 1037 in 1037 days :)

Rearing Stallion

Rearing Stallion
Oil on masonite, 9x12
Red X Paint Out - purchase here

This is probably the most unusual place I have ever painted inside of - the RedX in Riverside!  I know, it sounds crazy.  This is my first time in this hodge podge mix of a store - where collectibles, bronzes, bikes and groceries live in harmony with a fabulous wine collection!   After taking a quick stroll around the place, I landed near the bronzes - this one taller than I am.  What a great opportunity to paint a bronze in light that doesn’t change - so different than the ones on the Plaza, where all colors change as the sun progresses across the sky!  The red backdrop turned out to be a challenge, with the values so close to that of the sculpture itself.  I let my brush have free reign at last, and went a little crazy with the palette knife, letting in some wild color choices......oh the freedom is exhilarating!  Painting number 1019 in 1019 days :)

on location

A Pair of Sheep

A Pair of Sheep
Oil on masonite, 10x8

The sheep at the Green Dirt Farm were simply adorable!  Despite growing up with farmers in the family - I was never around them. My great-uncle had every other farm animal, and my grandma did have sheep, but long before I was born!  So, it was a treat to get to spend some time with them!  I love their sweet and gentle nature. In an effort to separate the color of the sheep from their background, I got a little carried away with the red oxide.......so these are "breast cancer awareness" sheep....you know, their pink color........!  I plan to tone them down a bit tomorrow - but as for today, I am already onto other projects!  Painting number 1004 in 1004 days :)

Cow Face

Cow Face
Oil on canvas, 6x4
SOLD

While I was in Augusta, painting on a wonderful cattle farm, I took many photos of the beautiful cows.  This nosy boy strolled right up to the fence to see what I was doing in the tall grass with my easel.  One by one, many came right up to me, before heading back down to the creek for water.  This spot was a hidden treasure, nestled behind old sheds and farm equipment.  I could fill a book with just the reference for this one place.  I sure wish it was close enough to run by and paint en plein air!  This is painting number 11 in the 30 Day Painting Challenge, and 984 in 984 days for me :)

Red Hot Wine Glasses

Red Hot Wine Glasses
Oil on canvas panel, 7x5
purchase here

Switching gears completely tonight and playing with bold, wild color!  Brushing on thick and topping off with palette knife - this bright and lively still life closes my very busy day.  Some days are too busy for eating, but I can always squeeze in a painting!  I hope I can paint more than one tomorrow during the Tri-County paint in.  It is definitely better to be ahead by a painting - it adds a little breathing room when life becomes too hectic!  Painting number 959 in 959 days.