Uncle Sam Nutcracker!

The real nutcracker was a gift in the secret Santa exchange last night, so it is now in the home of a friend.  I'm working on 6x6 gallery wrapped canvas, and using my acrylics.  I am so very specific about my substrates.  This particular one is just fine for the rather abstract technique I use on the Christmas balls, but a bit of a struggle for this nutcracker!  What I thought would just drop off the brush had to be coaxed along persistently.  I found myself longing for my gessoed masonite, with my cross hatched surface.  I do like wrapping the paint around the edges, though, it looks so dimensional.  This painting makes 1792 in 1792 days.......maybe...!

currently available at Belton Art Gallery

Flag Bearing Nutcrackers

What started as a pen and ink sketch at Thursday's Art Mob event, is now an acrylic painting.   I picked two of the three I had sketched, and out them down by negatively painting them with the background color on the panel.  During this phase, the shapes of the nutcrackers emerge.  When I use acrylics, I use them straight (with no water added) with an almost dry brush technique.  This allows me to layer the strokes, creating a depth with the rich pigment.  My favorite acrylic paint?  Well, right now it is Liquitex heavy body, but it was Golden for many years.  I have so much paint - I  wonder if I will ever be able to use up all the tubes of acrylic in my cabinet!  This painting is the 1403rd painting in 1403 days  :)

Acrylic on panel  5x7
Sold

Old Glory on Lower Street

Old Glory on Lower Street
Oil on panel, 10x8
sold

This morning, this dogwood caught my attention as we drove through Augusta.  The spring blooming trees are just lovely all up and down this street!  Waiting for the light to come in from the west, I returned in the afternoon (when most other artists had left this location).  I had to mark the light and shadow quickly, before it moved off of this fabulous dogwood - and then I started in on the middle tones.  This painting was a joy to create - and it already has a new home!  Painting number 1208 in 1208 days :)

Slugerrr Carrying Flag

Slugerrr Carrying Flag
Watercolor batik on masa, 8x6
purchase here

I am having so much fun painting in the "Royals" theme this week!! I can hardly wait until the game comes on - and I am scheduling everything around their game times (which is pretty hard, given my very full schedule!)  I did not realize until I got this blog ready that Sluggerrr is spelled with 3 r's! I had no idea, and I do have a thing for words being spelled correctly........!  Another day of playing in the watercolors and hot wax on masa paper.  I am beginning to like working with this thick masa paper, even though I resisted it at first!  Painting number 1033 in 1033 days!  Let's win another one boys!!!

McCleary Farm

McCleary Farm
Oil on masonite,  12x9

As we drove down Burnt Prairie Blocktop heading south, we saw this amazing farm and had to put on the brakes!  Pulling through the circle drive, I went up to the side door to ask permission to paint. Jimmy Joe McCleary graciously gave his permission, and visited with us all afternoon while we painted!  Sharing his hard pears right off the tree with us, it was a wonderful day spent on a truly fabulous historic 1872 farm!  I hope to make it back next year to capture their three story barn in oils!  This is painting number 1014 in 1014 days :)

First Impressions of Fairfield

First Impressions of Fairfield
Oil on panel, 9x12
Fairfield Fall Foliage Paint Out
purchase here

Quick Paint

On Location

This painting is from the Quick Paint at the Fairfield Fall Foliage Paint Out.  This charming town is full of historic buildings - and this was the very first one that caught my eye.  The morning was cold and windy - and I was so thankful to have brought my ski jacket!  Toasty in my layers, it was a fun 2 hour paint! This town was a delight to enjoy for four days this October - and I am looking forward to next year, too!  I don't think I am quite finished with this one - I see areas I would still like to work.  When I get the finishing touches on, I will post an updated photo.  This painting is number 668 in 668 days.  Today finds me in the hospital with my mom, who is here for a full knee replacement surgery.  I have some supplies with me, and will probably have time to start working on some small watercolor sketches tomorrow during her rest times.  I always feel better with a little something to keep my hands busy :)

Sunset at the Depot

Sunset at the Depot
Oil on panel, 14x11
purchase here

My second painting of this day in Parkville, the historic depot was my subject.  The weather has been so warm and balmy - especially for October, that it was a joy to set up my easel and paint.  I chose a spot in the shade of an old tree to start my painting.  Having to shift only once to stay in the shade, I saved the sky for last.  I wanted to capture the last color before it dropped below the horizon - and that light is so very fleeting!  And, yes - that fountain is true blue - is support of our Kansas City Royals going to the World Series!!  I think every fountain in town in blue, now!  So exciting!  After this painting, I went on to paint a nocturne on Main Street!  This is painting number 662 in as many days :)

Marceline First Nat'l Bank

Marceline First Nat'l Bank
Oil on panel, 8x10
OPA Paint-Out - Purchase Information

This little bank building in the corner instantly grabbed my attention as I walked down Kansas Avenue.  After scouting all the way down to the park and back, I set up across the street in the shade.  With only 45 minutes until turn-in, I had this brush painted, but had to go in afterwards and do the knife work.  I started late, as I was participating in the Wine Stroll and visiting.  Everyone in this town is so friendly!  There was a wonderful reception afterwards for the artists - so appreciated after a full 8:00am to 7:00pm painting day!  When I later talked to my parents to tell them where I had been painting, my dad had a story for me about this very bank.  He and Grandma Slaughter had gone to the train station to sell a bunch of pigs when he was four years old.  Grandma was payed in silver dollars - and she couldn't carry all of them in her apron.  So, my dad had to carry his own load of silver dollars, holding up the bottom of his shirt to contain them!  He and Grandma walked all the way down Kansas Avenue to this little bank to deposit them!  Isn't this a marvelous story and isn't it something that I felt led to paint this very spot instead of all the other shops in town?  It was certainly fun to walk the streets where my grandparents, great-grandparents, and great aunts and uncles had so many years ago, and really rewarding to paint a few of the local icons.  This little town of 2400 people is also the birthplace of Walt Disney, and this street is called "Main Street, USA".  So nice when these little slices of Americana are preserved for future generations.  This painting makes 617 in as many days and Day 8 in the 30 Day Painting Challenge.

Old Glory in Fish Creek

Old Glory in Fish Creek
Oil on panel, 9x12
Fish Creek, Wisconsin - plein air

Late one afternoon, I started this painting at the Allen Home in Fish Creek, Wisconsin.  The garden was full and abundant, and their flag waved proudly from the porch.  It was such an inviting scene, like a step back into a simpler time.  With only an hour and a half to paint, I blocked in quickly - careful to mark the darkest darks and lightest lights.  I would soon be joining my artist friends for a fish boil - and I could not be late!  I knew I would probably have to set up again the next day at the same hour, but I could not count on having the same light, therefore it was very important to get all prominent colors and values in, however rough the edges.  I did have to return the next day, something I almost never do - but I needed to finish from life.  I had spent most of the day in the same location, painting the glorious flowers, until it was again 3:00 in the afternoon - time to resume this piece.  Working the edges, this time at my leisure, it was an easy task to bring this painting where I wanted it to go.  Just a little slice of vintage America and painting number 606 in as many days :)

Sunset at Kangaroo Lake

on location

What a fun finish to a very busy painting day!  While enjoying a blazing campfire, with s'mores ready for the making, I set up my easel and quickly painted the sun as it was setting on Kangaroo Lake.  This resort belongs to a friend of mine - and they are so welcoming to us artists across the road!  This boat was catching the orange glow as were the waves upon the water.  When the light is quickly fading, I first painted all of these highlights.  Next came the clouds, which were quickly blowing across the sky in the strong winds. It is very important to get these colors in fast - because once the sun is gone - I can no longer see.  By the time I was finished, all of my darks looked like straight black and only the light and dark values showed - so it was time to stop putting that paint down!  This painting makes 569 in 569 days.

Sunset at Kangaroo Lake
Oil on panel, 12x9
Sunset Shores Resort, Wisconsin

Old Glory over the Garden

Old Glory over the Garden
Oil on panel, 10x8

A little known family fact to celebrate the day - my ancestor, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, signed the Declaration of Independence back in 1776.  So, on this, the Fourth of July, I am painting our flag waving in the breeze out front.  My intention was just to paint a close up flag, but as I was scouting for the right composition, I was led to include more.  The flowers are just beginning their glory, roses, garden phlox, lilies, and yarrow.  Guess what - in my rush to finish and move on to preparations for the party - I forgot to fill in my hanging basket!  Ha!  I will have to do it tomorrow, then upload the corrected painting!  Painting number 550 in 550 days - wishing you all a safe and fun holiday!

April in Mount Pleasant

April in Mount Pleasant
Augusta, Missouri
Oil on panel, 12x9

For the last few years, the Augusta Plein Air Art Show and Sale has been held at the beautiful Mount Pleasant Winery on the Saturday at event's end.  Last year, they repainted all of their buildings to the charming yellow with lime green accents you see here.  After an absolutely wonderful event, I snapped a photo of this as I was packing up to leave.  I love the old buildings and the 1859 charm that abounds here.  I enjoyed a very special dinner the night before, and this painting brings back the fond memories of my Augusta family and artist friends.  I am experimenting with the palette knife on painting 62 (in 62 days :)