Old Brick Church Rd

I don't think I've ever been on Old Brick Church Rd before now, and it's beautiful as it winds through the Gasconade County countryside between A and P.  It's very dry here, so painting right on the gravel road was quite dusty.  This road was irresistible, and the painting unfolded almost by itself in this beautiful light.  It was a joy to paint near the Wennwood Farms Winery, I only wish it had been open at the time.  Painting number 5164 in 5164 days. 

Old Cabin Road Inked

What a joy to find such a cool road while out on a run!  I had to get here first thing this morning to capture it in ink!   Today, I'm using my pilot varsity fountain pen on handmade paper for that vintage feel.  Love these old country roads!  Painting number 1730 in 1730 days.

ink on paper, 4x6
purchase here

Potted Blooms

The rain was really coming down as we reached Frisella's Nursery.  I pulled together a few favorite flowers and started to sketch.  As I worked in the masses,  I tried to keep the visual pathway of darks flowing through the painting.  One of my friends came to visit me as I worked, and the time passed quickly.  Before I knew it,  my painting was finished and it was time to dash off to the next location!  Painting number 1570 in 1570 days :)

Red Barn in Carthage

For my third paint of the day,  I chose this wonderful barn across the street from Red Oak II.  I love the architecture of it,  and the showy red paint!  How could I possibly resist it's call?  I never draw things out with pencil first,  I jump right into ink.  I like the loose,  sketchy lines that I tweak as I go.  Once the ink rendering was complete,  I started filling in with watercolor.  I use my water brushpen with my tiny pan sets (watercolor confections - classic and decadent pies) by Prima.  I can take them anywhere!   This probably took me 40 minutes to finish - and it will live forever in my special handmade journal. 
This workshop weekend has been super fun!  I can't wait for the next one!  Painting number 1553 in 1553 days :)

Morning at Home

Mondays are always so busy that I try to get my painting in before the day begins!  With morning light on the east side of the house, this is where I paint this foggy morning.  I was limited to 30 minutes of painting time before class, so I worked quickly.  I was so into the process that I didn't even hear the "mulch guys" drive up my lane in their big truck!   I'm sure they wondered what on earth I was doing out there so early, in direct line of where they needed to drive, to drop off my truck load of mulch!   Just another plein air adventure!   Painting number 15010 in 15010 days :)

Back Side of the Barn

Another foggy, moody morning, another chance to capture that feeling in oils!  I teach two classes on Mondays, so I quickly prepped for the first one and grabbed my pocket box and headed for the barn.  The fog had only thickened since sunrise - and I had less than 45 minutes before class!  Again, I started quickly, sketching the composition lightly with my brush. I love the ragged twist of hedge apple branches - and there are two of these trees on the back side.  Once sketched, I painted in the dark shadow areas followed by the foggy grays.  There were no warm tones in this morning's light, only cool, frosty ones.  It was cold enough that the fog was frosting all surfaces.  Will I ever grow tired of painting this barn?  I don't think so.  Painting number in 1475 in 1475 days.

oil on panel, 7x5
purchase here

Cows on the Ridge

Cows on the Ridge
Oil on canvas, 6x4

I have SO many amazing cow photos that I have taken on my travels - and I am just starting to dip into them.  My grandparents had a dairy farm, as did my great-uncle and aunt, and I have always had a fondness for them.  They are excellent mothers - always watching all the young, whether their own or not.  They have such sweet, docile natures - and there is something so soothing about there presence in the meadow.  Perhaps, I'll paint some of those fabulous faces one day soon!  This is Day 10 in the 30 day painting challenge, and my 983rd painting in as many days :)

Ice Skaters at Sunset

Ice Skaters at Sunset
Oil on panel, 5x5

The freezing rain and icy roads this morning inspired me to paint these little ice skaters on the pond!  I love these days when I can't get out - because it means I can dig in and really get some painting done!  Or, so I thought.  I had a competition to enter, deciding what to enter, getting images and doing the paperwork took me the same time I could actually paint a whole painting in.  And then, there were the Christmas cards calling my name........so I wrote and wrote until I had a good stack finished.  After numerous other chores, I am finally posting today's painting....the only one I was able to get to today - although two others are sketched out and waiting for me.  It is going to be a very busy weekend!  Painting number 341 in 341 days :)

Under the Hedge Tree

Under the Hedge Tree
Oil on panel, 10x8
GOT Art Gallery Holiday Trunk Show

While my parents were still here on Christmas holiday last year, we had  a beautiful snow.  We jumped in their van, and started driving the country roads, looking for great shots.  They both love photography, and I am always looking for new painting reference!  This farm is not far, and I love these big old hedgeapple trees!  Many were planted all through Missouri as windbreaks after the dust bowl years, and our farm is full of them along the north boundary.  I should be painting simple landscapes at this point, as my schedule is getting very crowded.....but I find I'm painting more complicated and difficult subject matter every day - painting number 323 in as many days.

Tending the Flowers

Tending the Flowers
Oil on panel, 12x16
Old Missouri Town

I have wanted to paint this scene ever since I took the photo on a school field trip to Old Missouri Town.  This lovely woman was gently tending her flowers while the children ran from one building to the next.  This place is full of many vintage landscapes to paint.  I love the 1855 feel of the town, it is like stepping back in time for just a little while.  The morning light cast a warming glow as it burned through a bit of haze - a perfect light for this subject in her garden.  I meant to under paint this one in acrylics, but I only remembered once the panel was already half covered!  This was one of those days of starts and stops.  Three different times I had to leave this painting, only to return hours later.  Finally finishing up, this is my 179th painting in as many days.  It just gets harder and harder to get a painting done each day in the summer!  The kids are home, we have so many family and sports activities, and I am constantly searching for that tiny painting window - normally in tiny segments!  Oh how I hope this gets easier soon!