Overland Park Water Tower

What a fabulous and warm February day for painting!  With record breaking temps in the upper 70s, it was sheer joy to paint slices of my childhood today. This is my old stomping grounds, and I have a fondness for this historic water tower, while so many new apartments pop up around it.  Michaela and her family met me at Thompsons Park, where the little ones had a blast playing at the playground.  What a lovely way to spend the day!  Painting number 4064 in 4064 days. 

Afternoon in Rosebud

 

It was super fun painting in Rosebud today!  I LOVE that charming town, and this scene was calling my name!  This lovely building in the foreground is Rachel's Room Boutique, and it is FULL of amazing things!  It was a joy to meet the owners, too!  This painting will be available at White Mule Winery for tomorrow's sale from noon to 3:00. Painting number 3934 in 3934 days. 

H&R Block View

 

What a unique opportunity to sketch fabulous Kansas City views from the H&R Block building this morning with Urban Sketchers KC! There is literally a painting at every window, and beautiful artwork on every wall - making for a very inspiring morning!  All the complexities of this architectural view grabbed me instantly!  Old and new existing in the same space, shiny and vibrant, full of history.  I didn't know what I was walking into this morning, and what a treat it was!  I love getting to sketch in a place like this!  Painting number 3862 in 3862 days. 

Ist and Van Buren

I love the vintage charm of historic Keosauqua, Iowa.  There are so many lovely old buildings, I hardly know where to paint!  Choosing to look down 1st street, I sketched in ink and then filled in with watercolor.  The weather has been absolutely perfect - making the whole experience wonderful.  Come see all my work today at Hotel Manning in Keosauqua, from 1:00 to 3:00 for the wet paint sale.  Painting number 3791 in 3791 days. 

Looking North on 4th St

We had a hard freeze last night, so this morning's start was quite cold.  With my self heating fingerless gloves, socks and battery heated socks, I was toasty warm as I sat near my car to block the wind.  I don't think I've ever painted this side of town, so it was fun to explore this place in paint!  The Texaco on the corner is charming, and now a wonderful BBQ place called the Filling Station. With the north wind blowing, I could smell that BBQ from here!  Painting number 3385 in 3385 days. 

South Main Street

Starting this very detailed ink drawing late in the event, it took me longer than normal to get all that information down. Once my ink work was done, I started in with the watercolor, working all masses of like colors at the same time.  Short on time, this is a real time saver.  I went back in with the ink a couple times - when I realized I missed a sign or a window - no more than a tiny mark, but necessary to the whole story.  Watching my time closely, I pushed it to 7 minutes left, then quickly packed, got to the car, and framed with 1 minute to spare!  Then I went in for my tag to place in the back!  It reminds me a bit of the old days when it took me all day long to finish a painting, and I still couldn't seem to turn in until the very last minute!  Haha!  The difference now is that this was my fourth painting of the day, instead of my first!  There is something to be said about persistence!  Painting number 3155 in 3155 days. 

Looking down Safford

After turning in my week's artwork at the Heritage Museum, I had to get out and paint one more!  This street scene has been on my mind since I rolled into town Tuesday, and I finally got to it!  The vintage charm, colored awnings and palm trees in pots hooked me at first sight!  It's not everyday I get to paint a scene like this!  What a great place Tarpon Springs is to paint! Painting number 2610 in 2610 days.

Main Street Dubuque

purchase here

I am always so busy at the end of a plein air event, I sometimes leave final paintings and sketches in my boxes and bags - especially when I have run out of frames in particular sizes!  This ink and watercolor is just such a piece!  This sketch was in preparation for a longer format in the same location.  Painting number 2560 in 2560 days. 

Lee's Summit Depot in Metal

SOLDOld town Lee's Summit has so many wonderful things to paint!  This time, I am working metal to capture this historic train Depot!  I first sketch the scene out with a rounded metal tool, although I'm thinking of trying some wooden sculpting tools for this process. The metal works well for the copper side, but is a little too abrasive on the aluminum side, scratching a bit as it marks.  Even the seams on the plastic tools can leave additional marks.  I really want to explore more tools in this media before Christmas - I hope I get the time!  Painting number 2515 in 2515 days. 

Blue on Jackson

SOLD

I have been drawn to this building each year I've been in Dubuque, but this is the first time I've ever painted it!  Crazy and complicated, I had to start from one central point and work my way out, slowly and methodically, like working a puzzle!  SO challenging and so fun - this structure is so rewarding to paint!  I'm happy this painting has a new home! Painting number 2480 in 2480 days.

Douglas and 3rd Street

Any time I am in Lee's Summit, there are a couple of places I try to paint.  One is the historic downtown district, and there are endless paintings along these streets.  Care has been taken to keep the charm intact, from the architecture to the light poles, all is timeless.  I've used one of my favorite pens, the TWSBI Diamond Mini with Levenger Raven Black ink for the line work, and Watercolor Confections half pan set for the color.  I can paint anything with this small set, and it is always with me.  If the scene requires oils - they are in my trunk!  Once a girl scout, always a girl scout!  Painting number 2140 in 2140 days.

purchase here
now showing at Got Art Gallery on 3rd Street in Lee's Summit, MO

Across 3rd Street

Charming downtown Lee's Summit is the perfect spot for painting street scenes!  At every corner, several compositions jump port at me - and some I'll commit to oils.  I painted here one rainy night in April, and it is a different place in the light of day!  The architecture in so interesting down here - and I really love the old Texaco sign at the end of the street!  A little reminder of days gone by that adds to the charm of this street.  Without enough time to get out my oils, I'll have to return another sunny afternoon.  I can already see the painting in my mind!  This ink painting is now showing at Got Art Gallery on 3rd for the Invitational Plein Air Show, and is my 1979th painting in 1979 days.

Looking Down Main

What a beautiful collection of shops there is along this historic Main Street in Dubuque!  With the light turning golden in the sky - I knew I had to paint it!  This was a quick paint since I had to work fast to get it to completion before the artist picnic at Eagle Point.  Onlookers were good company as I painted, and the awnings came out just in time to be painted!  My oldest daughter called me two thirds through in crisis - and I finished the rest on auto pilot!  Thank God for miracles large and small.  Painting number 1743 in 1743 days.

sold

Steeple Square Inked

This church is one of the most beautiful buildings I have had the pleasure to draw!  The architecture is so complex and stunning - I can only hope to do it justice!  Composing with my painting in mind, I started this one on the sidewalk by White St.  As I worked, it was all lines and angles, and the relationships of all those masses.  These street scenes have really been appealing to me lately. As I moved forward in paint, I moved a little to the left, making the street less prominent.  So happy to capture this place in ink, I think it is only the first time of many!  Painting number 1741 in 1741 days.  I had a sprinkling of days where I couldn't get my post to load while out off town.  I'm going to have to play catch up to get things back in order!  And would you believe I'm almost out of panels again???

sold

Millwork Night Market

The wet as drizzly day turned into a beautiful evening to spend downtown.  After getting two paintings completed in the drizzle, I was ready for some hot food to recharge and do it again!  Tonight's venue was the Millwork Night Market on 8th add Jackson, where I could capture a graffiti artist at work!  As I walked up to the scene, I could already see the painting unfold.  Choosing a vantage I could capture the bikes, trailer, graffiti artists, night market AND urban buildings, I got to work quickly.  Starting with a dark panel, I am basically painting the light, one stroke at a time.  It was fun to see old friends from last year's event and paint such a unique place with fellow artists.  Nowhere but Dubuque offers up such an experience!!  Painting number 1738 in 1738 days.

sold

View from the President Hotel

While attending a wedding reception in the ballroom of the President Hotel in downtown Kansas City, this was the amazing view out of the many windows!  Why didn't I have my paints and why did we park so far away?!!  Taking plenty of reference photos, I painted this scene at my leisure a bit later. I blocked in the masses first with acrylics on a dark primed panel. The composition was rather complicated with buildings and streets, and looking down onto the scene created a unique "bird's eye view" perspective.  Nocturnes are so much fun to paint - I am really just marking the lights!  After the acrylics, I come in with my oils, and finish with a palette knife.  The energy of painting downtown is always invigorating, just as a gentle pastoral scene is always peaceful.  Painting number 1479 in 1479 days :)

Western Auto Skyline

Western Auto Skyline
Oil on panel, 20x16

I think I must be on a Kansas City icons theme!  First the fountains, now this skyline, what will I paint next?  I worked on this one around other family activities today.  I worked larger than I wanted to, because I am saving other frames for my plein air trip to Augusta.  My hand is a little cramped from trying to paint such a complex composition quickly.  I tense up when there is a time crunch - and we leave soon for dinner and a movie with the family!  This cityscape makes 95 paintings in 95 days - I am closing in on 100!  What should I do to celebrate?