Rural Missouri Creek

As we drive across Missouri to Michaela's graduation ceremony at Missouri S&T, I am urban sketching from my lap as I look out the window!  I've noticed a few things while working from a moving vehicle. My pen and paintbrush move with inertia as we twist and turn in increasingly smaller roads.  I took several long seconds looking at this scene, before it was gone, and sketched those lines super fast.  Laying color is easy, at the light and color remained the same as I referenced what was out the window.  It would have been far easier to paint a cloudscape, maybe I'll do that tomorrow!  Painting number 2323 in 2323 days.

Road to the Salem Country Church

Early Sunday morning, I slipped out to find the perfect painting spot.  The little gravel road winding through town was irresistible, and I set up my easel along side the road (although, the best vantage was from the middle of the road, I resisted)!  The early sunlight spread across the landscape, and I marked it first, followed by the shadows.  The wind was down, which made for a much easier paint than yesterday - painting in the wind can really be a battle!  This painting unfolded naturally, in this peaceful, quiet setting.  Painting number 1392 in 1392 days :)

Oil on panel, 10x8
purchase here

Night at Classic Pizza

Night at Classic Pizza
Oil on masonite, 9x12

After painting at the park in the morning, way out on a country dirt road in the afternoon, I still wanted to capture another painting after dinner - as it was getting dark.  With temps near 70 degrees, and a calm, still night - I couldn't resist the urge to return to Classic Pizza - for the painting I envisioned the first night I got here!  When I set up, there was a lull in the traffic and I was able to get a good sketch in.  Cars would come, I'd work on another part, and when they left - I'd go right back to the street level.  The car pictured is a delivery vehicle that darted out, back in for less than 60 seconds - and back out again!  It was such a challenge to paint him seconds at a time!  I really studied the colors radiating from the various lights, and dropped them in accordingly.  This little shop has the most amazing cheese stuffed breadsticks!  The townspeople are so sweet, one even brought me a "pumpkindoodle" for working so late into the night!  The last few days have been so wonderful, and such a joy to put my memories down in paint! Painting number 1011 in 1011 days....I know, it sounds crazy to me too :)

Forgotten in the Snow

Forgotten in the Snow
Oil on panel, 10x8
Rural Cass County

I started off this morning by giving myself a one hour painting time limit.  I watched that time pass.  Only 30 more minutes.....I tell myself.  That, too, slipped away.  Oh well, who needs time limits?  I'll get to that housework when I'm done!  With an impromptu party now fours away, it is time to get those other things done - and walk away from my easel.  Sometimes that is SO hard to do!  This painting site is just a couple miles from my house in rural Cass County - another find while out scouting with my parents in the snow.  Painting number 324 in as many days :)