Mabel/Able

 

Our beautiful Starlight Green Egger hen, Mabel, is actually a rooster - so we changed his name to ABLE.  He's a beauty to sketch in my special chicken sketchbook!  This paper is in my Mr. Ellie Pooh sketchbook, which is made from actual elephant dung, in an effort to save these elephants in Sri Lanka. With this sketch, and the one before it, I used more water on the surface with the gouache than previously.  The result is a splattered, sparkly appearance on the reverse side, which mimics a spray of shiny kamar varnish, on sprinkles!  Though the paper does not work very well for watercolor, I am finding other mediums that will! I love exploring the possibilities!  Painting number 4939 in 4939 days.  

Cardinal

 

I love to paint my feathered friends in ink and watercolor - especially on such a beautiful January day!  The feeders need filling but I'm getting in a quick sketch before I go watch sweet Quinn and Layne this afternoon.  I'm getting used to the paper in this new journal and I've actually used a little gouache on this painting with the ink and watercolor.  It's fun to keep honing my skills, and I sure don't have a shortage of models around here!  Painting number 5082 in 5082 days. 

Parsley Seeds

 

I was just sharing seeds with Rebekah when I only found one flat leafed parsley seed in my collection. The very next day I found this parsley plant growing in my garden!  It's been so warm and misty that many plants think spring is here! I brought it inside, hoping it will grow in my hydroponic system!  It's a little wilty now, but I sketched the leaves before the droop.  

In the new year I want to plant more, paint more, and fill out some of my sketchbooks, among other things.  So, here I am on day 1, ticking three of my boxes and pursuing a desire to sketch my own seed packets, too!  Yay for starting the year off right and having some family time with Tiffany and Gus, Tyler, Nolan, Quinn and Layne.  It's always a great day when those darlings come to play!  Painting number 5055 in 5055 days. 

I love squeezing a miniature painting into a full day of gardening - especially early in March!  What beautiful weather to be outside all day!  It was nearly 80 degrees today in the KC area - so much for March coming in like a lion.  I took full advantage of this day, tending to beds and transplanting some lilies and peonies that I accidently disturbed while removing a small tree. These daffodils are only the first of many more to come, and I can hardly wait to paint them all!  Painting number 4970 in 4970 days. 

Lantana

 It is a joy to paint what I plant - and this lantana was a clipping from seed that self sowed in one of my hanging baskets.  I pushed it into the net cup and now it is beginning to bloom in my Gardyn. I hope it trails all over the place!  Painting number  4069 in 4069 days. 

Overland Park Clock Tower

I love meeting artist friends in my hometown to paint the historic area.  This clock tower is an icon of downtown Overland Park, and this time in painting it from down the street.  My daughter and her family came to Thompson Park for some play time on this gorgeous day, so I painted from the edge of the park while waiting for her to arrive.  It's so fun to sketch down memory lane!  Painting number 4068 in 4068 days.  It looks like some of my postings have not actually posted - I guess I'll have to go back and fill in when I've got plenty of extra time.  Silly technology. 

New Woollam

 I found this scene on my way to paint another, and I just HAD to paint this before going to the next spot.  I've never been to New Woollam, Missouri, before, so of course I had to capture it in paint!  I used ink, watercolor and gouache on this one before adding more ink at the finish.  It's so fun to mix up the mediums when the scene calls for it! I'm honored this painting was awarded a blue ribbon at the final awards, and it has a new home, too.  The owners tell me this foreground house will not stand much longer. I'm so happy to immortalize it in paint.  Painting number 3938 in 3938 days. 

Bequette-Ribault House

It is so fun to paint the historic Bequette-Ribault House in historic Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, and I'm doing it from the back side - looking out onto that lovely open land approaching the Mississippi River.  The early French construction make this house unique in America with three of the remaining five (if memory serves me) in the United States right here in Sainte Genevieve.  Standing back here, one can imagine we are far back in time, as all this seems unchanged.  Love to see these special places saved for future generations!  This painting is now available at the Antique Mall Ste Genevieve!  Painting number 4384 in 4384 days. 

Autumn in Rosebud

I love painting the charming town of Rosebud, and for this painting I set upon 5th Street, right on 50 hwy.  I had a great vantage of Loeb's Mill and the whole row of historic buildings up the street.   The Rusty Gate had a beautiful fall display, and I couldn't resist the wholesome Americana oozing from this place!  So, I inked my composition, then added color using watercolor and gouache.  It felt like summer out there today - what a joy to paint! Come see this painting tomorrow and a dozen others painted since Wednesday in Gasconade County at the park by Rosebud Legion Hall, 11:00 to 3:00!  Painting number 4372 in 4372 days. 

Autumn at Lost Valley Lake

It is SO FUN to explore a new place with paint!  The fall colors are really coming out now, and I just couldn't seem to paint fast enough!  After the ink sketch of the Lodge and boathouse on Lost Valley Lake, I decided to use my gouache paints for the color.  I love how they have a color punch that hits the mark sooner than watercolor - and lately I've been struggling a bit with getting strong color in the field.  I haven't painted any paintings with gouache, but I sure do like what they can do for me!  Painting number 4370 in 4370 days. 

Willie G on the T&T Farm

My first time painting in Wayne City brought me to this place to paint the flag barn.  Little did I know there would be several outbuildings and a famous pig modeling on the lawn!  This 300 pound beauty is a family pet who has his own following on social media and even does interviews! It was a lovely afternoon to paint - and I'm so happy my painting has a new home here as well!  Painting number 4357 in 4357 days. 

Main Street USA

 

I LOVE painting Main Street USA - where my paternal grandparents grew up 3 generations ago. Each of their families lived in this town, where siblings grew, married and started families.  As I stood in the park sketching this street scene, I wondered about those family members shopping in these beautiful buildings when they were new.  It is always lovely to return to a place with so many roots, even when those roots were tramsplanted many years ago. Wish I'd remembered to take the on site photo!  Day 5 #stradaeasel challenge, and painting number 4325 in 4325 days. 

Showboat Theatre

 

LOVE sketching the historic Show Boat Theatre in charming Hermann during the Art Walk!  This town is so very paintable!  As I was painting this theater, a woman talked to me about plein air events, and what it takes to put in a good one.  I offered many suggestions, the things I look for when putting them on my schedule, and she was very receptive. I think it would be wonderful to paint these historic streets, in oil and watercolor, saving the memories of this place for generations.  Painting number 4324 in 4324 days, and day 4 of the 30 day #stradaeasel challenge. 

Looking up 3rd Street

 It was so fun to visit while I sketched the view looking up  this historic street!  Locals offered suggestions to other great painting spots, and even asked questions about bringing plein air to Hermann.  In town for the First Friday Art Walk,  Mike joined me for this event.  Afterwards, we dined and enjoyed the live music at the 1837 Cellar Bar where we stayed at the Herman Crown Suites.  It is so nice to simply walk up to our room after a long, full day of fun. Thanks to all who stopped by and left with a painting!  Painting number 4323 in 4323 days. 

Hermann City Hall

Im happy to attend tomorrow's Art Walk in Hermann! I will be at up on front of the historic Hermann Museum from 3:00 to 7:00.  I hope to paint a couple new ones while I'm there, too.  This beautiful area is an artist's playland! Come see this and several new paintings in front of the historic Hermann Museum from 3:00-7:00. Painting number 4321 in 4321 days. 

St Paul Church in the Hill

This lovely church on the hill is visible as one crosses the Missouri River, approaching Hermann, Missouri.  Grand on the hill, I had to paint the sweeping scene on the bluff from this angle.  I've only been to Hermann a couple of times, and I'm glad to get another chance to visit and paint it!  It will be fun to see what the Art Walk is all about!  Come see this painting and others from Hermann in front of the historic Hermann Museum this Friday 3:00 to 7:00 for First Friday Art Walk! Painting number 4320 in 4320 days. 

Shawnee Indian Mission - East Building

Not far from where I grew up - I have never been to this Kansas State Historic site!  Timeless in the early morning light, this place feels like the 1800s - there is even a covered wagon in the background in preparation for the upcoming festival.  I am trying out a shiny, new Caran D'Ache Swiss gouache full pan travel set!!!  A few of the colors differ from my norms, but I can still get my colors by mixing.  I'm using a few soft brushes in more of a watercolor way, with plenty of water.  I really like the intensity I'm getting with gouache.  I LOVE using pans and half pans, because I can take them anywhere with a few water brush pens.  I actually took a like container for water, unsure if I could really mix well enough with the brush pens.  I'm at the beginning of this gouache journey - can't wait to see where it leads!  Painting number 4311 in 4311 days. 

Grandma's Country Kitchen

After a rather frustrating nocturne paint in watercolor - my very first attempt using watercolor at night - I pulled out my virgin travel gouache kit for some heavier paint application.  I sketched in ink as normal, and the gouache instantly gave me stronger color in those dark masses.  I left some of my lights, not knowing how gouache would behave in those areas - and it was a good thing!  It was hard to get strong highlights on top of other color.  My rough cotton paper was probably not ideal - but it was the only remaining piece I had stamped.  I meant to get a couple others stamped earlier, but was running late to the nocturne with the additional show set up.  There are things about this gouache that peak my interest, and I will definitely have to explore a little more.  I tried both soft and hard pastels, but only the oil pastels left good marks. Total experiment here, but it was rewarding on a chaotic car show night on Bagnell Dam!  Next time I'll be super early and prepared for gridlock and big crowds, lol! I ended up with two good paintings, but oh it was work tonight!  Painting number 4304 in 4304 days. 

Sketchbook Caladium

I've only used gouache a few times, and never on paper.  Somehow, I thought it was a great idea to fill the pages of this brown paper sketchbook with gouache paintings from my garden!  The idea of it appeals to me, but oh how I dislike that paper!  It is smooth and thin, and only the color is good.  The gouache seemed so chalky compared to ink, watercolor, and oils, but I have this really wonderful set that NEEDS to be used.  Am I up for the challenge?  Or is this little bit of insanity going to push me over the edge?  Well, only time will tell because I am not one to leave things undone.  Painting number 2390 in 2390 days.

Spring at the Milk Barn

I am exploring the gouache medium again today, and I'm adding some ink.  I begin with brown and black India ink for those lines.  This heavy paper is very absorbent, so the super fine nib skips a bit on those lines.  I add the gouache in a fluid manner.  I know you can get pretty thick with gouache, but I'm not there yet.  I finish with a fountain pen, brushing those lines gently with a little water to make them spread.  The light is simply beautiful as I finish, I should pull out my oils!  Painting number 1909 in 1909 days.