Rose Arbor and Poppies

Wowza!  This painting is the 1600th in 1600 days!  Truth be told, there are many others that have not been posted, too!  On this painting journey,  I've gotten faster, and bolder,  jumping into unknown mediums just for the thrill of it! I often do more than a painting a day now, and I'm drawing so much!  Who knew there were so many untried papers out there?  That very first step of "trying" to finish one painting each day was the beginning of a whole new world for me,  one where I could lose myself with reckless abandon in all things art.  My thirst for knowledge is unquenchable, and I am only limited by my imagination.  Want to improve your art skills?  Try a painting a day.  It might just change your life.

purchase here

The Rose Arbor

The morning was calling, and I knew I would have to catch this light!  Pushing a million chores out of my mind, I grabbed my palette and headed to the arboretum.  I walked past this place twice,  before setting up. It was a little awkward as I had squeeze close to the hedge, with the arms of a spruce tree reaching over me, and my panel in the light.  The bright light bouncing up from the path was nearly blinding, and yet, this scene called. I had to walk halfway across the bridge just to step back from my painting.  Despite all this, the paint fell right off my brush and the image emerged.  I like it,  though I've not really had a chance to see it in good light.  Hopefully I feel the same way later!  Painting number 1593 in 1593 days.

purchase here

A Dream of Climbing Roses

A Dream of Climbing Roses
Oil on panel, 12x9
Overland Park Arboretum
Stems Plein Air Event

After two classes and an awards picnic for my oldest grandson, I headed over to the arboretum to paint with Crystal Manning.  This landscape was begging to be painted - and paint it we did!  I have painted it at least 2 previous times, but this year it is simply overflowing with roses!  The first bloom is the fullest - and I wanted to take full advantage of the timing.  I only had two hours to paint before I needed to get to Five Petals in Lee's Summit to paint for the Fourth Fridays event.  So, I slapped on the paint in a rather mad and fast dash - and not in my usual order, either.  Instead, I painted intuitively, hopping from mass to mass in random order.  I wish I had taken a photo of the process, because at one point, it looked crazy with all those darks marked out with pink rose masses - and plenty of orange underpainting showing!  I really didn't tie together the masses until almost the end - and then I did it in a hop-scotch fashion.  Perhaps it was just a reflection of my chaotic day - and the therapy of painting with abandon under a shady tree surrounded with all that beauty, and visiting besides.  I guess this is about as close as I get to painting on auto-pilot!  Painting number 508 in as many days.

Of Memories and Roses

Of Memories and Roses
Oil on panel, 9x12
Deanna Rose Farm, Memory Bench

The rain poured heavy this morning, allowing me to get some housework finished.  As the skies cleared a little, I packed my gear and headed to the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead.  Much to my surprise - there was very little traffic here today, making it the ideal day to get a little painting done.  The last time I was here, it was so crowded that it was hard to keep my focus.  Not so today.  I was also able to park in the east lot, which meant I didn't have to carry my gear all the way back there - about as far from the front gate as possible.  I worked in the deep shade, quickly laying this scene to canvas.  It is a memorial bench dated from 1991, and the rose is so lovely and heavy with bloom.  I have a weakness for roses on arbors - so here I have painted yet another.  I am posting a bit sooner than normal, as I am headed out to paint another nocturne.  I sure hope the weather cooperates!  This is painting number 148 in 148 days.