Drifts of Yellow

 

I love painting wild mustard in bloom - especially near the barns!  It's just getting started, and I'm happy to find that the horses don't eat them in the meadow!  So, I will continue to have lovely mustard filled landscapes in the years top come!  Painting number 4849 in 4849 days. 

Rainbow's End

 

There's nothing like a tiny cheerful flower painting to end the day on a happy note!  Michaela and her family stayed over a couple nights in their camper, just heading home tonight.  It's amazing how quiet this house becomes after they leave.  We're so lucky the kids all live close so we can gather frequently!  Painting number 4767 in 4767 days. 

Green Mustard

 

Who knew green mustard could be so beautiful?!!  So, of course, I had to paint it!  I grow various lettuces, herbs, tomatoes and flowers indoors, and it is a joy to get to paint beautiful blooms in February!  I actually gave multiple plants blooming right now - and I hope to get them painted while they are still in their peaks! I LOVE bringing spring inside for the winter!  Painting number 4041 in 4041 days. 

Springtime in Defiance

 I just couldn't resist the light on the foliage and house!  This is the Defiance post office, adorned in it's spring beauty.  I wonder if I can find more blooming trees to paint tomorrow?  Painting number 3762 in 3762 days. 

Green Mustard Blooms

It's not spring, but my green mustard is bolting - so I'm painting their lovely blooms!  I am a winter gardener - growing many greens, tomatoes, peppers and more hydroponically.  After a wonderful trip to Florida, I have arrived home to find several green and one red mustard blooming in my absence!  Seeds are forming on the lower stalks, so I have them in the center of the table like a spring bouquet!  With ink and watercolor I capture these blooms on a miniature handmade paper. When the seed pods dry, I will scatter them in the front pasture - where I will paint their new blooms afresh by the barn!  Painting number 3703 in 3703 days. 

Lilac Blooms

I was so worried these newly opening lilacs would be nipped by last night's frost!  Checking them yesterday, they still were not open enough to paint. Upon awakening, I could clearly see they were unaffected by the heavy frost covering the lawn and trees.  Only my tulip tree had lost some blooms.  We are expecting another one tonight - and I hope it leaves all my blooms alone!!  Spring has really bloomed in my yard and I'm not ready to let it go!!  Painting number 3024 in 3024 days. 

Redbud Splendor

The redbud trees have been glorious this year!  My grandmother planted this row many years ago, and I look forward to seeing them every season.  Since I'm not on the plein air road yet, I've really been able to enjoy them!  The petals were blowing to the ground as I painted, I sure wish they lasted for months!  Painting number 2674 in 2674 days.

Orchid!

Suburban Lawn and Garden is a warm, inviting place to paint during the cold winter days in Missouri.  The Art Mob meets here to paint about once a year - and out host is generous indeed!  With cookies, a veggie tray and pizza they welcomed us to their nursery for a morning well spent!  What could be better than sketching with artist friends in such a wonderful environment?  Painting number 2600 in 2600 days.

Snowball Blooms

This snowball bush always blooms around Mother's Day, and the big white blooms are a showstopper.  Mike's mom was the first person I knew with such a bush, and we planted ours soon after we moved in many years ago.  I spent 8 hours in the flowers today, so it was only natural to bring a few blooms in to paint after dark!  I have always loved big round blooms of all kinds and these were a joy to paint!  Best way to end the day!  Painting number 2321 in 2321 days.

Paperwhites ATC

I had finished a little early and set my other paintings with the group montage, and realized I had 10 minutes more to paint before lunch.  Well, you KNOW I had to take advantage of that time!  I rushed to where these paperwhites stood, rising gloriously from exposed bulbs.  I could have used a taller paper, but I didn't have one with me.  So, I set those lines down, loose and sketchy and tried to wash that color in fast!  To my dismay, my water brushpens had gummed up with the sizing in my journal, so neither was feeding water.  I almost used spit.......and then thought better of it, digging into my bag for a tiny water bottle I keep for emergencies.  Problem solved, and I didn't have to paint with spit!  Painting number 1832 in 1832 days.

Allium in the Garden

The morning was cool and rain threatened.  With a few free hours for painting,  Michaela and I headed to the arboretum. This is the scene I picked out for the quick paint, and today I painted it! These blooms are among my favorites,  and I love capturing them in oils!  In fact,  I'm thinking of getting experimental with them later in the week!  Perhaps some acrylics with a little molding paste!  Before I had gotten the surface covered wth paint - the clouds broke open!  I picked my easel up and walked to the front porch of a shed for cover.  Once I got that paint down,  I could return to my spot with no worries.  The rain had let up,  and I was able to finish and head to my painting class.  Michaela finished a beautiful pen and ink climbing rose and filled it in with watercolor.  So nice to share my painting adventure with my daughter!  Painting number 1594 in 1594 days.

Allium in the Garden
oil on panel, 14x11
purchase here

Summer Phlox

The gardens were perfect a month ago. Then, I  had family in town for two weeks, followed by a fabulous plein air trip to Door County, Wisconsin. Throw in the countless things I had to catch up on, and today my focus is back to the garden.  Some heavy rain produced a new crop of weeds right at the hottest temps of the summer, and so today I spent almost the whole day regaining control of my flowers!  The phlox are holding on, though not as lovely as in early July.  It was only fitting that I paint them this evening, since I have been up closer and personal with them all day long.  Painting number 1317 in 1317 days.  Tomorrow will me in Parkville, for the Plein Air Invitational this week - where I am one of the featured artists :)

Summer Phlox
Oil on panel, 5x7
purchase here

Lavender and Roses

Lavender and Roses
Oil on panel, 8x10
purchase here

It was such a warm day, that for my second painting, I was looking for shade!  Standing in the deep shade of a tree, I was able to look onto the northern side of Monet's Garden to capture this view.  This lovely new pillar offers structure to the freely blooming flowers.  The lavender  is so delicate, and the salmon climbing rose a perfect compliment.  The skies clouded over, and rain threatened, but I was able to complete my painting before the first drops fell!  Another wonderful day painting at the arboretum!  Painting number 1245 in 1245 days.

Garden Stroll

Garden Stroll
Oil on panel, 14x11
purchase here

The morning light spilled into the garden, illuminating foliage and bloom.  Setting up in the shade, I had a perfect spot from which to paint.  Soft breezes and friendly conversation were my painting companions.  I was close to the walkway, so many stopped to visit as I worked.  I enjoy the conversation, it allows my creative side to take over while my mind is otherwise engaged, and my creative side never disappoints.  My right brain really needs no attention from my left, when it comes to painting!  I am having an issue with my tripod - I have already stripped out the top!  After a visit to the camera shop, I am giving this project to Mike.  He can fix anything!  Then, I will have something that will never break!  Painting number 1244 in 1244 days.

Rainy Day Peonies

Rainy Day Peonies
Oil on panel, 10x8

After a very busy day, I come to my *new* easel late - and I’m trying out this “French Revolution” easel table top!  I rarely sit at a table to paint, but thought I would give it a try.  It worked beautifully - which also means it will also work if I need to paint in the car, due to rain or hail or the many other conditions that arise mid-painting!  I loaded my new palette, minus a few colors, as this one is smaller.  I also chose a few brushes (several of them from My Artscape), but I have yet to add small tubes of paint to the box.  I tried out both angled brushes tonight - and I like them!  I rarely stray from my brights and flats when in the oils, but I liked the strokes I could achieve, especially when it came to leaves and petals.  This painting makes 1230 in 1230 days - and what a wonderful day it was, Baby Nolan came home!

still life set up

Blooming Bee

Blooming Bee
Pen and ink on paper, 5x7

So much time spent in the garden has keep all things garden on my mind!  This theme of my days is slipping right into my creative wanderings, spilling out in ink on the paper before me!  I have only recently been attracted by these bees as a painting subject - and they add so much life to a simply garden scene!  I can remember the first painting I saw at the Nelson Atkins Gallery (in Kansas City) with a bee amongst the flowers!  I thought it was crazy!  Why would anyone want to put a bee into their artwork?  Well, now I know.  The addition of one little bee livens up the composition in a way no butterfly could.  This is piece number 1192 in as many days.  Now, back out to the garden I go!

Bluebird in the Pear Tree

Bluebird in the Pear Tree
Pen and ink on paper, 5x7

Oh my!  This bradford pear tree is glorious with blooms!!  It is so full, I can hardly see the birds as they fly into it’s branches!  This tree was one of the first we planted so many years ago - and now it is 30 feet tall and nearly as wide!  What a beauty it is each spring, and it turns a fiery red each fall!  The bluebirds love flying from tree to tree up the lane, and it is a joy to see them getting closer to the house!  This piece is the 1175th in 1175 days :)

Goldfinch in the Plum Tree

Goldfinch in the Plum Tree

I’ve been stretching myself way too thin lately, so I am taking a little “pen and ink” vacation, where I revel in the ink for a little art therapy!  I will return to the figures in a day or two, but for now I am enjoying the freedom of the birds in my fruit trees!  Everything is exploding in bloom - and I am drawn to capture it in pen and ink!  I may have to get some of this down in paint, as well!  Spring may just be my favorite time of the year!!  Drawing number 1174 in 1174 days.

Cardinal in the Flowering Pear

Cardinal in the Flowering Pear
Pen and ink on paper, 5x7

The flowering pear on the front lawn could not be more abundant with blooms, and this sweet little female cardinal has found a favorite perch!  I love capturing the spring beauty with pen and ink, freely using my pen as I squiggle on those petals feathers and bark.  I have a wonderful collection of india ink Pitt pens, but I return again and again to my favorite superfine and brush tips.  It seems I don’t even pick the others up until my favs runs completely out of ink.... and then, of course, I do!  This drawing is the 1173rd piece of completed artwork in 1173 days.

Monarch

Monarch
Pen and ink on paper, 5x7

Another day reveling in the freedom of drawing butterflies!  I should be working on figures, and I really need to work on my cafe scene skills, but instead I choose india ink and paper for a light and airy butterfly sketch!  I love to watch them fly about, and with spring unfolding before my very eyes - the grounds will soon burst with them!  This drawing is number 1172 in 1172 days.  Perhaps, I’ll return to my figure work tomorrow......