Pin Oak Acorns

 

This is today's INKTOBER post and I am sketching our acorns before they all drop off.  As i worked, those acorns were falling from the tree.  I even though a squirrel might be tossing them down, but there was not one in sight  I am getting to know this paper better each day. It is a handmade and dyed paper that is thin.  At first, it is resistant to the water, but then saturates and wells up a little until it dries.  The ink spreads at will when wet, and dries lighter than it first appears. So, layers are necessary to get the full effect. I love how these drawings look so vintage, as if drawn a century ago.  Painting number 5154 in 5154 days. 

Vintage Pumpkins

It's INKTOBER - and this is my first ink drawing of the month!  Not one for prompts, I am delving into vintage Halloween this month.  Using a dyed handmade cotton paper, i draw my pumpkins with a TWSBI fountain pen filled with Raven black ink by Levenger.  I use a little water to move the ink, then go back in with a little more pen work.  This paper is perfect for the vintage vibe I am going for.  I can't wait to try it again tomorrow!  Painting number 5179 in 5179 days. 

Bee and Rose of Sharon

 

After working with my daughter for a couple of hours on my website, I had a lovely stack of handmade paper waiting for me when I arrived home!  It is a heavy weight, rough textured, deckle edged handmade paper by artisan Bhoori at Leather Village!  It is so nice of them to send me paper to try that I switched my plans for painting small, and instead tried out this new 10x7 paper. It accepts ink very well, and I found several layers of watercolor were required to get the intensity I wanted.  I can't help but think this paper would be extra nice for ink alone, and I must try that on the next piece.  I love the weight of heavy papers like this one - I can hardly wait to use it again!  Painting number 3866 in 3866 days. 

Trees!

Time spent with pen and ink in the woods is time well spent!  Sketching may have been my first real love among my mediums. I still remember the feel of a ballpoint ink pen as it slid along the surface of rough paper. I was very young, sitting at a tiny child's desk in front of a north window in my grandmother's kitchen.  I didn't get to use ink pens yet at home, but here I had an old check box filled with pens, pencils - even a red one and a white one, and an old dark metal pair of small scissors, which were very heavy in my small hand.  I was not yet in kindergarten, and yet these memories are so vivid.  I even remember the cedar smell of those pencils, and the rich, waxy smell of a small collection of crayons.  The paper at Grandma's house was a yellowed Big Chief tablet, with a deep red cover picturing the profile of a Chief and headdress.  I thought that was very cool, studying the lines of that image, unlike anything I had seen before.  I remember those lines in black, like an ink drawing, without additional color.  Abs the paper smelled like the antique desk it was kept in!  It's funny what one remembers from those early years. Painting number 3833 in 3833 days. 

Pepper Party

I am tending my pepper plant today, so naturally I am painting it, too!  In my absence, pollination did not occur, and a few peppers are way past their prime.  With a little attention, this pepper will be blooming and setting on again real soon.  Painting number 3306 in 3306 days. 

Old Wind River Lodge

I loved sketching the old Wind River Lodge for my Sketching in Ink class this week!  I really enjoy sharing my techniques with students of all ages - and it is so rewarding to see them explore a medium that I love!  This Artist Residency has been so much fun - I'm sad this is the last day.  I will carry all I've learned here during my residency back to Missouri, to share with others. It would be fun to hang my remaining Colorado work at a local gallery, and talk about my experience here in Estes Park.  Day 24 of the #stradaeasel challenge, and painting number 4344 in 4344 days. 

Windmill at Willow Creek

This windmill caught my attention as I scouted the property.  Lured back here by a wonderful old truck against the tree line, my eyes soon found many wonderful painting subjects!  I had one small paper and one small frame left from my 4 plein air events - so I used them for this!  Choosing pen and ink, I sketched most of the lines before I started on the blades.  The wind was blowing, making it very hard to see them!  I focused on one blade at a time, following it with my eyes as I sketched. It made me a little motion sick to concentrate on a spinning object! It was worth the effort - I do love windmills and this drawing found a new home, too!  Painting number 3180 in 3180 days 

Captian Rons

 

It is so fun to paint Captain Ron's with those colorful Adirondack chairs in ink and watercolor!  Those vibrant reflections pulled me right into this scene as I arrived just after sunrise.  Peaceful and quiet in the morning, this place sits on the Lake of the Ozarks, promising entertainment later in the day.  These places that dot the edge of the lake are certainly fun, and a great place to visit on a hot summer night!  Now showing at Lake Fine Art Galleria in Osage Beach!! Painting number 3139 in 3139 days. 

Bear Paw Ranch

 What a lovely spot to sketch in pen and ink!  From the vintage home to the wonderful barns, I knew I wanted to capture the full scene on my paper.  When I start a drawing like this, I make little tick marks that represent each building - just to make sure they all fit into the space.  It is very helpful to make sure that far right barn made it into the scene.  The house and that barn were my favorite buildings so both were important.  Painting number 3108 in 3108 days. 

Sunfinity!

 This is my first year planting Sunfinity sunflowers, and I was so excited to watch them grow and bloom "all season long" - as the brand says.  So, imagine my disappointment when deer munched all the blooms off as well as most of the plant!  In the last few days, it is coming back to life and loaded with blooms!  It is still pretty short, but I hope it will continue to grow and become the showstopper I know it can be!  To celebrate it's return to bloom, I am painting this one in ink and watercolor.  I hope to paint many more sunflowers throughout the season!  Painting number 3107 in 3107 days. 

Spring at Crestview Dairy

On such a beautiful day, at such a gorgeous place, how could I resist creating one more painting?  With my silver TWSBI Mini with extra fine nib, loaded with De Atramentis Archive Ink, I sketch the outbuildings and farmhouse before me.  Using my white and rose gold TWSBI with a broad nib for the heavier lines, it is loaded with Levenger's Raven Black ink.  This ink is velvety black and moves with the application of water.  I'm using a handmade paper from Shizen, and the surface feels a little resistant to my watercolor.  The sizing is always different from one sheet to the next on these handmade papers, so I adjust my watercolor use.  I could not get a good photo with the sunlight over my shoulder, so the image is a little washed out. I'll try to get another to add to this post.  This day just about wiped me out!  I wonder how long it is going to take me to recover from that first Pfizer vaccine?  I'm going on 3 weeks now.  Painting number 3016 in 3016 days. 
 

Oaks at Creek

It's been ages since I've been to the city, and this is what I paint on arrival!  Lol!  I met artist friends (the Monday Morning Watercolorists) at Suburban Lawn and Garden this afternoon, and I walked around back to scout out that lovely creek before going in.  How could I possibly leave this spot unpainted?!!  Pulling out a 3x3 inch paper, I did a quick sketch followed with watercolor.  I tried 3 different water brush pens before settling on one.  I need to throw out the worn out ones and mark one that is super loose with the water!  It is good to use for a wet area, but really not good on those branches and leaves!  Thank goodness I had what I needed, because I just grabbed that bag on my way out.  I have been known to raid supplies from another sketch bag - leaving myself wanting at another time!  Oh the life of the artist!  Painting number 2967 in 2967 days. 

Blue Jays

Today finds me sketching our blue jays as the snow starts falling.  Their brilliant blue feathers shine on this overcast day, begging to be painted.  With ink and watercolor, I capture their forms on miniature handmade paper.  On these small squares, I am zooming in a bit, breaking the edges with the forms.  It seems to happen naturally as I work, and I like it.  We have quite of few of these birds, some coming to the feeders, but most seen on lawn and field.  I can always hear their distinct call, and they play well with the others.  My Mom used to complain about how aggressive her blue jays were, but I don't see that here.  As the temperature drops, I paint faster, but not before those fingertips get cold!  Should have had my handwarmers!  Painting number 2951 in 2951 days. 

Old Hackberry

This grand old hackberry tree is a giant in this pasture.  Not far from it, old rusted farm equipment is parked right where my grandfather left it many years ago.  Mike and the kids started to build a tree house here, and I hope they finish it one day.  How lovely it would be to lay on a blanket up there, staring up at those glorious branches, sketching of course! With a bird's eye view, there are a great many wonderful things I could paint up there!  Ink in my favorite TWSBI Diamond mini fountain pen and watercolor fill out this miniature 3x3 inch painting on handmade paper.  Love my time spent sketching this old beauty. Painting number 2947 in 2947 days. 

Berkley Riverfront Park

SOLD

My first time here at Berkeley Riverfront Park has been so fun to capture in ink and watercolor!  Hosted by the Kansas City Parks and Rec, today's Walktober event started at 9:00.  After stamping for the quick paint, I checked both bridge views before walking along this path to get my gear.  How could I resist these glorious fall colors?  With leaves raining down in the wind, I sketched this scene with the ASB Railroad Bridge in the background.  Adding watercolor, I had to blow out debris from my palette a couple times.  Additionally, the wind dropped bugs, twigs and spiders on me - good thing I don't mind them!  The Heritage Trail runs along the Missouri River for 13 miles, reaching Kaw Point to the west. This painting was among the top 5 today - and I LOVED painting the emerging fall color!  I hope to get plenty more opportunities before leaf fall!!  Painting number 2834 in 2834 days. 

Pansy Joy

It seems that when I'm worn out - I abandon the direct watercolor challenge, and when I'm fresh and rested, I pick up the challis again.  In a more playful and contemporary way, I am painting these cheerful pansies who continue to flourish despite the heat!  Simply painting with my brush, wet on wet, my quick impressions of these lovelies!  Now we're off to welcome Michaela, Cooper and baby Casper home from the hospital!  Happy days ahead!  Painting number 2711 in 2711 days.

Gesa at the Fence

What a treat to paint such a gorgeous horse in her natural surroundings!  As I composed this scene I knew I wanted to go for a square format.  With two choices, I chose the new 8x8 Shizen paper that I had just picked up at a new favorite local shop (Artists and Craftsman Supplies).  This paper was the hot pressed one, which is different than my normal paper.  Oh my!  Was it ever different!  I had to work and work to get the paint to move like I wanted it to!  This paper was fine for my inks, but oh how different it was for the watercolors!  The very best thing about a challenge is how it drives me to power through until I succeed!  Haha - I guess that is my secret competitive nature shining through!  I ended up very happy with this piece after the struggle - but I will save this paper for ink only in the future!  Painting number 2623 in 2623 days.

Oak Study

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Feeling the need for more tree study, I set my sight on this old pin oak looming large on the lawn.  I tried something different on this small ATC sized study.  Instead of looking at my paper as I drew, I did not take my eyes from the tree, moving the pen where I could see the branches extending.  The result was a much truer reflection of the tree!  The process helped my bypass my brain's idea of a tree, instead just letting the pen jut out from the trunk.  I am certainly going to do this again!  Perhaps I just uncovered a secret for tree painting!  Lol!  Painting number 2580 in 2580 days.

Winter Redbud

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Some days are just full of plenty of things I'd rather not do.  So, I slipped out to the balcony to soak in a little sun.  Facing south, it is often warm and cozy, even in winter.  As the mintues ebbed away, I felt renewed and basked in the rural setting of my landscape.  My eyes rested on the trees again and again.  Well, why not sketch the trees as I enjoy this gorgeous day?  Grabbing the small sketch bag I used yesterday, I drew the lines of this old, knobby redbud tree.  My grandmother planted this whole row of them more than 40 years ago, and they have gnarled a bit with time.  With a little water I get those midtones, and I am back to the chores of my day.  Nothing more refreshing than a little sanity time!  Painting number 2576 in 2576 days. 

Purple Tulips Miniature

Spring always has me checking the flowers to see which ones are emerging, looking for those delicate blooms to paint!  Only the crocus are busting forth, but the daffodils, tulips and paperwhites are not far behind.  A few beautiful days and they will be immortalized with paint!  Painting number 2270 in 2270 days.