Path to the Vineyard

You know I couldn't resist painting a vineyard path! I've painted on the strip very late tonight, attending a Hot Summer Nights car show.  Although it was fun, it was packed beyond reason! I am now so tired I am falling asleep while posting on my phone - so I will sign off for now and hopefully fill this out more later.  Painting number 4301 in 4301 days. 

 

Albonee Vineyard

My very linear roots love the perspective of receding rows of grapevines!  With all rows leading to the vanishing point, I'm drawn right into the vineyard.  Sitting on my three legged stool, I set my watercolor half pan set on the ground as I ink.  Sometimes, I stand for this, but today I want a lower vantage.  I only have time for ink and watercolor, but I long for my oils in such a scene. My water brush pen is almost empty, but I'm close to a pond, if I need to refill it.  I've used fountains, ponds, creeks and even puddles when I had to! It seems I'm always running out of water!  I do keep an extra water bottle in the trunk, just in case.  But who wants to hike back to the car?  Painting number 2458 in 2458 days.

View from the Vineyard

SOLD

I was pleasantly surprised by the rolling hills and vista as I approached the Albonee Country Inn and Winery.  Invited to speak to the Blue Springs Art League this morning, I was already composing paintings in my head!  After discussing plein air, daily painting and favorite tools with a lovely group of women, I popped outside for a quick paint during the business portion of the meeting. Stepping in as they wrapped up, with cake and visiting we said our goodbyes, and this painting went home with Judy!  Painting number 2455 in 2455 days.

Evening in the Vineyard

I could not have fit another painting into this day, no matter what!  This evening quick paint in the vineyard is my fifth painting of the day and I feel like I've run a marathon!  The light has been absolutely gorgeous, and rain is expected.  So how could I waste a minute of quality painting light?  Time spent painting in a vineyard is always time well spent!  Painting number 2305 in 2305 days.

Prairie Fire Winery

One of the best parts of plein air painting is having the opportunity to paint in places I may not otherwise see.  To set up in the landscape and paint allows me to REALLY see a place, immerse myself in the surroundings and become one as the painting unfolds.  Long from now, I'll be able to see this painting and recall the day with such clarity.  I will feel the heat of the afternoon, the icy freshness of the sangria, the sting of a bee on my ankle as I visited, and hear the meadow larks serenading while tiny ants crawled on my sketch bag.  All this and more goes into every painting.  Truly a slice of life.  Painting number 1781 in 1781 days.

Stone Pillar Vineyard Inked

This glass fountain pen has 5 interchangeable nibs, from super fine to broad.  Drawing with dip pens may look intimidating, but once you know a couple tricks, it really is easy.  The most important thing is to dip the nib into the ink to the top of the well (or hole) in the nib.  As you pull the pen out of the ink, simply draw it lightly against the lip of the ink well.  You will be surprised at how much you can draw with a single dip!  When finished, disassemble the pen parts and rinse in water.  Now, go explore those inks! Painting number 1817 in 1817 days. 

Looking down the Rows

I couldn't ask for more beautiful weather to paint in!  The grapevines are so full and lush, so different from my vineyard views in April!  I don't think I've been in a vineyard since Augusta plein air!  I really enjoy painting the rows in a vineyard, there is just something so therapeutic about it! Fall is such a wonderful plein air time - I'm going to totally immerse myself in the great outdoors!  Painting number 1706 in 1706 days.

Stone Pillar Vineyard Inked

This glass pen is a work of art!  I chose this one because it holds the stainless nibs, and the set comes with 7 ranging from super fine to very broad. Using the ark 14 nib here, I love how smooth the flow is, even on my rough cotton rag paper.  I like the feel of the glass pen in my hand, though it is heavier than my others.  I actually dropped it when trying to set it to the side!  Yikes!  Fountain pens are delicate - and that is definitely a big no-no!!  All is well, and this pen draws like a dream!  Thanks to Daveliou for producing such a fabulous fountain pen set!!  I really love the indigo ink, too!  Painting number 1704 in 1704 days.

Noboleis Winery in Ink

sold

Today's paper is a deckled edge watercolor card by Strathmore, that I have drawn in fountain pen.  Once my vineyard landscape is as I want it, I come into some of those areas with a little water on a brush, to soften edges and get some of those gray tones.  I like having a card, ready for me to paint, but I miss the yummy texture and response of my favorite khadi papers.  It is always good to mix things up and explore untried supplies.  Who knows - the next thing I try may be the thing I can't live without!  Painting number 1684 in 1684. Yes, I've gotten my count mixed up, and will have to go back and edit the numbers.  How can one be expected to keep that straight with all I have on my plate?

Vineyard at Noboleis

This morning started with a wonderful group of artists, each relatively new to painting en plein air.  Noboleis Winery was gracious to allow me to hold my workshop in their vineyard!  Could there be a more gorgeous setting than this vineyard for class?  After going over some tried and true plein air tips, everyone set up their easels and I started to sketch the composition.  I took my demo to the block in stage, then circulated as they all progressed towards the same.  Checking at each stage to make sure all were on track, I finished my demo.  I love seeing how each artist progresses through a painting.   It is as individual as handwriting!   Each walked away with a beautiful vineyard landscape and a new tool to help them find their composition in the field.  Helping other artists further their skills is SO rewarding!   This painting was my first of three on Saturday!   Painting number 1354.on 1354 days :)

Moody Balducci

Moody Balducci
Oil on panel, 14x11
Balducci Vineyard - showing at Gallery in Defiance

Little did I know when this sunset paint began, I would soon be on a roller coaster of emotion.  My fourth scheduled event of the day, I had shared a glass of wine with artist friends before picking a location to paint from.  Looking out the window to the vineyard spreading out to the east, I immediately wanted to paint it.  Once sketched and applying color to the masses, I started getting multiple texts - my oldest son’s first baby was on the way back in Kansas City!  He was 13 days early!  I had hoped to get home from this event before his arrival - but who can schedule around a birth?  Tears of happiness made it increasingly difficult to paint!  Family chiming in with happy words on the group text soon turned to silence from the father to be.  Something was wrong and the baby was being taken to the NICU.  I hardly thought of anything but Baby Nolan, as I finished painting on auto pilot.  So much worry, so much love, and so little I could do from afar.  Thank God for all the support and love I drew on from my artist friends and “family” in Augusta.  Little Nolan improves a bit each day, and we are all looking forward to the day he can come home from Children’s Mercy.  Painting number 1222 in 1222 days.

From the Vineyard

From the Vineyard
Oil on panel, 14x11
Sugar Creek Vineyard

What a crazy painting day!  I got out to Sugar Creek Winery early, before the clouds rolled in.  I was able to get most of my painting finished before the light changed drastically.  As I started to hear rumbles in the distance, I put on the final touches, and packed up.  More rumbles of thunder, I framed my painting on the ground by the car.  Turned in my painting, and people are checking radar on their phones, but plenty of artists still in the field.  I sit down, have a little snack, and decide not to paint another, as the sky is turning very dark.  As judging is about to begin, everyone is asked to grab their paintings and head for shelter - just in the nick of time!  Driving rain, hail and hard winds blew tables and chairs all over the hill, not to mention all the downed trees in the area!  Wine and snacks are served, and judging resumes inside.  Just another plein air adventure!!  This is painting number 1211 in 1211 days.

on location

Light in the Vineyard

Light in the Vineyard
Oil on panel, 14x11
sold

The day could not be more perfect for plein air painting!  The  sky was a constant show of rolling clouds - changing almost too quickly to capture in paint!  After a quick stroll around Nobeleis Winery and it’s vineyards, I picked the  first three rows Chambourcin vines stretching across the lawn for my composition.  The light was turning golden, illuminating grass and the greenery of the grapevines - I couldn’t resist it!  With racing clouds, it was important to get those forms and colors in first.  Next, I only marked the masses with a spot of color - to be sure I kept the light I saw before me.  So often, clouds will move in and completely change the mood of tone of the landscape.  In plein air, if you don’t get those marked before that happens, it is an uphill battle to paint what you remember versus what is now before you.  This was a joy to paint from beginning to end!  Perfect weather, wonderful people stopping by to chat and live music drifting down from the tent.  Just a little slice of heaven here in the vineyard.  This painting was awarded 3rd place tonight, and has already found a new home!  Painting number 1207 in 1207 days.

on location - just after sunset

Marceline Wine Stroll

Marceline Wine Stroll
Oil on masonite, 12x9
Marceline OPA Paint-Out - purchase here

By 3:00, the main street through old town Marceline was closed on either end.  Tables, chairs and tents were placed up and down it’s width.  Wine vendors started setting out bottles, and adorning their tables for eye appeal.  As I walked from one end to the other, scouting for a painting spot, several things caught my eye, but I kept returning to the St. James Winery table.  There was something about the light hitting the glass, with the grapevines and grapes resting around the ice container - so I set up my easel and did my sketch.  After first participating in the wine testing, I returned to my set up to find I could no longer get a good vantage on those bottles from the front

on location

corner, due to the crowd awaiting their wine!  Moving to the side, I started laying paint.  Bottles were constantly picked up, poured, and set down in different locations.  I liked the disarray of the bottles - it made for a more pleasing composition.  Focus was a little challenging as I was in the thick of the crowd, with all their conversation, wine sharing, and merriment surrounding me!  This was a fun paint in a charming town - who could ask for more?  This painting makes 972 in 972 days.

Sunset Glow at Nobeleis

Sunset Glow at Nobeleis
Oil on panel, 9x12
Sunset Paint at Nobeleis Winery
Augusta Plein Air Festival

Today, I spent all day painting at the Penn Valley Plein Air Fest.  I finished three paintings, the last of which was a quick paint at the Frontier Mother statue.  Getting home after dark, I will wait until tomorrow to take photos of my work.  So, I am posting this one from the Sunset Paint at Nobeleis Winery.  The vineyards spread out from the winery, and live music wafted on the air as we painted.  I loved this path along the tree line - especially as the shadows lengthened to the east!  A beautiful night for painting, the evening was unseasonably warm.  A little food, a little wine, a little music, and this amazing view of the vineyard......life is sweet indeed.  Every painting day should be perfect!  Today?  Well, By the second painting, I was seriously considering the name of "Fighting the Wind" for the title!  I have been battered by that wind all day - I even thought I would be blown right off the hill during the quick paint!  I guess it really makes me appreciate the perfect weather of the Nobeleis Sunset Paint!  Painting number 492 in as many days.  Tomorrow - another quick paint at the Penn Valley Park - this one is at the Firefighter's Memorial :)

Hydrangeas by the Shed

Hydrangeas by the Shed
Edgehill Orchard Gallery
Door County, WI
Oil on panel, 8x6

Several locals told me I must see this gallery, even if I don't see one other place on the peninsula.  It is amazing!  The grounds, gallery and lanscape was simply picturesque.  When I started this painting on location at the beautiful Edgehill Orchard Gallery, the rain had only started to fall.  It increased quickly to the point of flooding the area in which I was standing.  I moved my easel back a little, and a little more, and finally into a corner I could not get out of!  I had to take off my shoes and carry my easel through the water barefoot - to higher ground!  You just never know what the day will bring when painting on location.  Painting number 208 in 208 days :)