Morning on Sunset Ridge

 

SOLD

It was a lovely afternoon to paint the view from the top of Sunset Ridge. As I was cleaning my brushes, the two horses walked into my scene - and I added them before my last brush was clean!  What a treat to see them in their happy place - and paint them!  On a personal note - I also have a palomino and a black horse, who is a Rocky Mountain horse, so these two reminded me of my own.  It's so much fun to paint a place I feel such an affinity to!  I'm happy this painting has a new home here, too!  Painting number 4912 in 4912 days. 

Clouds over the Water

 

Some days, I've only to look skyward for painting inspiration!  I started working in the garden after the gym this morning, and the hours flew by as Swiss chard and tomatoes found their homes. I like to take my salad outside, to walk the garden as I eat, often finding inspiration to squeeze in a painting before "chicken time". That is when Mom comes by and we let them out for an hour or so, to roam around the yard.  What fun these sweet girls have as they keep close to us in their ventures!  Painting number 4893 in 4893 days. 

Rain on the River

A dramatic sky always grabs me - and this one was no exception.  With an eye always on the sky, I could see clouds approaching on the horizon.  Dodging wind and rain, I knocked this one out quickly before the whole sky changed.  I've lately felt the pull to explore sky paintings more.  Here's the first to upping my sky game!  Painting number 5015 in 5015 days.  

Glory in the Sky

 

I've only to look to the skies above to find such awesome inspiration! So often, I'm too busy to stop everything and paint a gorgeous sky, but I'm trying to be more mindful with my schedule.  Always filling every minute with a many things as I can, I find there really is merit in the here and now, and allowing those things that appear in the moment to REALLY make an appearance.  I let go of time a little, so these opportunities can slip right in, and I can appreciate them completely.  As the color grew in the sky, I knew there were possibilities growing, too.  Beautiful cloud formations abounded to the south where only clearing skies were to the north.  With 3 big brushes, I jumped right into it, painting all the large masses quickly.  Reserving each brush for a color - yellow, blue, and violet, I could didn't waste time cleaning my brushes until I had everything painted - and I saved the green bits until the end, when a dirty brush wouldn't matter.  My paint is getting thick from all my days of painting in the heat. I must clean it up before the next plein air event, but for now I'll concentrate on using it all up!  Painting number 3861 in 3861 days. 

Flint Hills Sunset

The Kansas terrain is so very different than Missouri - especially a couple hours past the state line.  The air is drier, the colors are also cooler, less green, less yellow, and there are wide open spaces without trees to paint under!  That was probably the most surprising, because I can find shade anywhere I paint, normally!  I love exploring new places with paint, it is truly the best way to immerse myself!  I can look at those paintings years later, and remember everything about that place, right down to the sites, smells and weather.  Funny how deep that connection is!  Painting number 2428 in 2428 days.

Little Barn by the Creek

On really busy days, sometimes I can only slip in a miniature painting.  Using my acrylics, I chose a 4 inch square gallery wrapped canvas as my substrate.  These tiny surfaces are perfect for small painting windows, and the  bonus of acrylics is that they dry quickly.  Really looking forward to painting a beautiful snowfall tomorrow!  Painting number 2200 in 2200 days.

Sunset Over the Island

On the last night of the Brush Creek Art Walk, I found a spot overlooking the creek towards the island.  The western light was hitting the sides of the tree trunks and foliage as it lit up the clouds in the sky.  I had to paint it.  I had already turned in an ink painting of the Benton Boulevard Bridge for the quick paint, so I could paint ay my leisure.  I began with the cloud colors, reflecting that color in the water.  The trunks and foliage grew lighter and warmer as the sun sank, and the pinks came up on those clouds!  This very loose, spontaneous expression of that evening was fun to capture in oils.  Painting number 2068 in 2068 days.

purchase here

Clouds Over the Red Barn

Mid day, the clouds started building with the heat, and I watched and waited.  As they grew thick and the winds kicked up, they were ripe for the painting!  I chose to paint towards the north today, where the color was rich.  To the south, they were far more washed out, with very little value difference, though they were rimmed in gold light - which was tempting!  When I approach a cloud painting, I squint down my eyes and start applying the masses that stand out, mindful of the values.  When the clouds are blowing, I do this quickly, hoping to put down all that information before they are out of view.  Once the panel is covered, I start checking edges.  Where are they soft?  Hard?  Always, I'm checking the sky, trying to capture it's likeness.  I REALLY do love painting a cloudscape.  Painting number 2066 in 2066 days.

purchase here

Clouds Over Brush Creek

With every intention of painting the Benton Boulevard Bridge, I could not ignore the cloud show in the sky.  I switched out my ink supplies for my oils, and started laying in that color.  The cloud lingered for the 45 mintues it took me to capture the scene.  It seems like my recent cloud study is really helping me to understand their forms and colors.  I had so much fun, I did another before leaving for the night!  Painting number 2064 in 2064 days.

sold

Clouds Over the Lane

The skies have been SO exciting the last few days!!  I'm afraid I'm driving my daughters crazy with all my cloud comments (while shopping, getting pedis, buying snacks). I just can't keep my eyes off the sky!  Arriving home too late for paint, I grabbed my ink and got busy.  I've rarely inked clouds before, their very softness has me grabbing the paint every time.  So, the challenge itself was as exciting as the sky show! I sketched lightly, then let my water brushpen fill out the clouds.  I left the overhead lines out until the very end, but had to put them in.  This is the eastern view down my lane, and as such, they just needed to be included.  Such a Midwest thing, after all.  Painting number 2033 in 2033 days. 

Clouds Over Farmland

I've been gazing at the clouds since I was very young.  I love the movement, the way their forms change in fluid fashion.  The colors are as countless as the clouds themselves, and such a challenge to capture with paint.  On this one, I begin with an acrylic under painting that loosely renders the gradating sky plane and the land plane.  When this is very dry, I use my oils with a dry brush method of applying the paint.  I am using 1 inch and 3 inch bristle brushes to softly form the clouds.  When the composition is in, and I'm happy with my shapes, I push and pull the paint, tweeking edges as necessary.  This is such an effective way to paint clouds, and a fun shift from the bold palette knife work of yesterday!  Painting number 1886 in 1886 days.

February Cloudscape

The winds never let up today!  Sundays are always filled with family activities, so I didn't find my painting window until the light was beginning to fade.  The clouds made for some excellent color shifts, and I had to be fast with that brush!  Without time to dig out my best brushes for soft edges, I used my workhorses - Princeton's polytips angled.  I can handle them with vigor, and they stand up beautifully with that thick paint.  I used only one of my Silverwhites to soften edges, adding a little warmth as well.  A large bristle brush softens big masses, and my finger is always one of the best ways to soften specific areas.  Just like those days of finger painting - who doesn't remember how that slick paint felt on the fingertips?  Painting number 1857 in 1857 days.

Morning Breaks

The skies are full of wonder this time of year!  Sunrise and sunset compete with each other with reckless abandon - and this artist is taking full advantage!  I've pulled out my 5x7 guerrilla painter thumb box for speed in painting, and I've used my acrylics for the dark underpainting.  Once dry (which is pretty fast) I begin with the colors in the sky.  Here, I start with the horizon color, and then jump to the darkest clouds shades. I finish with the orange hues, then blend a little here and there.  I leave the application  thick at the horizon, softening towards the edge.  Painting number 1755 in 1755 days.

Wonder in the Sky

Today was the Art Fair at the arboretum, and it is my last day for painting in the Stems event.  I've had so much fun painting in the gardens.  Today was hot and humid, with rain threatening.  For this painting,  I was set up under the edge of my tent,  so when the rain began, it was okay.  I could keep on painting until finished.  The clouds were simply amazing as they raced across the sky.  I started with the shadow sides of the clouds first, moving to the lights next.  As I moved to the midtones, I pushed the colors a little to capture their beauty.  It was fun to visit with all the patrons as they walked through the gardens, I think I may just go into withdrawal when I'm not painting here every day!  Painting number 1607 in 1607 days.

Clouds Over Margaret's Pond

I rarely miss workouts, but this morning found Michaela and I painting early at the arboretum.  The morning light was amazing, and the clouds were an ever-changing show in the sky!  After watching them all the way there, I knew they would be my first subject of the day!  I must be quick when painting skies, all is in motion, and apt to move right out of sight. I get the masses in first, and then start laying in the shadows. It is push and pull with the color,  warmer near the sun and cooler away from the light.  Once I get the sky and reflections in,  I can then work on the landscape.  I had so much fun on this one that I turned around and painted another!  Painting number 1604 in 1604 days.

Oil on panel, 12x9
purchase here

Prairie Romance

After a morning of pen and ink in old town Overland Park, I took Michaela back home and got dinner started in the crockpot.  The clouds were absolutely breathtaking the whole way home.  I dashed right out to set up on the prairie, on the southeast side of the arboretum.  The gate was not open and there were no other painters!  Grabbing my gear,  I shimmied through the gates and started setting up.  With this grand landscape, I wanted to paint large!  I pulled out a 24x18, but I didn't have my large easel.  Always the girl scout,  I grabbed my extra tripod which has mounts for a large panel - and out worked great! I didn't even need to anchor it with weight.  Next dilemma, my large brushes were in my large box - so I had to make due with what I had, mediums at best.  I sketched first, then started slinging paint!  I painted faster as I felt raindrops and heard distant thunder!  Something happens to me when I paint large....I get loose and free with that brushwork,  and the process is exhilarating!  There is nothing like an approaching storm to quicken one's pace in the field!  This large painting is the 1596th in 1596 days :)

Prairie Romance
Oil on panel, 24x18
purchase here

January Sky

The late afternoon sky was beautiful and begged to be painted.  In this painting, I have tried a new color - Sevris Blue by Williamsburg.  The color is rich and the pigment is strong, much like their Indian Yellow.  It bends towards the turquois, and is the middle sky color in this painting.  The Williamsburg paints are creamy and richly pigmented.  I have nine of them, and have yet to try two of them.  On the landscape I painted a few days ago, I used them exclusively. It is so fun trying out new supplies!  This painting makes 1454 in 1454 days  :)

Oil on panel, 7x5
purchase here

November Sunrise

I walked down the stairs to let out the dogs, and the most glorious sunrise was pouring over the horizon!  Without any time to spare, I threw on clothes and grabbed my paints - determined not to let this moment slip by!  A sunrise painting develops very quickly.  There is no sketching or planning, only the laying down of the colors before me, as quickly as possible.  I never know when the color is at it's peak, until it turns that corner and begins to fade.  It is always a slap dash to the finish, and then I set those brushes down!   Painting number 1392 in 1392 days :)

Add caption

Clouds of Change

I sprained my ankle 2 1/2 weeks ago, and today was my first day back to one of my weight classes.  I could only tolerate pilates and free weights up until today, so this was a challenge.  I hung in there as well as possible, and now I'm drained and my ankle is a little sore.  So, I got in a quick sky painting before the rain moves in.  The color changes are more subtle here, and the shift in the weather is reflected in the clouds.  I think I'm due a little down time now, so I can get up and do it again in the morning.   Painting number 1386 in 1386 days :)  

Oil on panel, 7x5
purchase here

Sunset over the Creek

I find myself checking the sunrise and sunset times each day on my phone.  I have started concentrating on sunrises and sunsets lately, and have begun work in this series.  The blues of the sky begin very violet above my head, and warm to a turquoise as they near the horizon.  Clouds take on a variety of shades as they approach the light - and every sky is different!  From blue violet to Naples yellow pale, the clouds turn colors in minutes.  I never know when the peak color will be, until it starts to fade!  Some days, the peak comes early, and on others it intensifies right until it is gone!  I blend with my softer brushes, and even my finger at the end - for the best results.  I can't wait to see how a little focused study affects my work!   Painting number 1385 in 1385 days.

Sunset over the Creek
oil on panel, 6x6
purchase here