Hydrandea and Daffodils

Painting in the midst of blooms and tropicals, is a little slice of heaven in January.  Suburban Lawn and Garden hosted us today for our monthly Art Mob event - and graciously supplied us with pizza, popcorn and cookies!  I arrived a little early to get a jump on painting, and finished two journal pages and three ATCs before lunch. What a joy to paint spring blooms!  After painting, I did a little shopping, bringing home more hyacinth bulbs, a miniature cyclamen, and the most unusual air plant I've ever seen!  A day well spent!  Painting number 1831 in 1831 days.

Hydrangeas by the Wooded Path

Do you ever feel guilty for painting?   I do.  Sometimes,  I even sneak away to paint a landscape en plein air,  without telling anyone.  I always feel like I must have all chores done....housework, laundry, dishes clean, before I can lift a brush, which is why I am sometimes painting in the wee hours.  Do my male counterparts feel this way?  I doubt it.  Even when I've completed all this work, I still feel like painting is my guilty pleasure. Well, this secret rendezvous with my easel took place at the Overland Park arboretum for the Sketch Crawl, and is my 1267th painting in 1267 days.

Hydrangeas by the Wooded Path
Oil on panel, 10x8
purchase here

Fish Creek Hydrangea

Fish Creek Hydrangeas
Oil on wood panel, 12x9
Fish Creek, Wisconsin - purchase here

Each year when I return to Door County, Wisconsin - the hydrangeas are simply amazing! Unable to restrain myself, I MUST paint them!  These white beauties are my first painting in the area - and finished up right before the fish boil started!  An artist must eat eventually!!  Painting number 934 in 934 days.

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 :)

Hydrangeas and Lazy Susans

Hydrangeas and Lazy Susans
Watercolor on paper, 10.5x7

This was my second painting on Friday - spent in Helen's yard on Spruce street.  These beautiful hydrangeas were flanked by lazy susans, catching the morning light like jewels.  This is the first time I have taken watercolors to the field - and I was minimally prepared.  I did not take my easel out of the car, so I had my palette and water cup on the ground.  Each stroke, I had to bend down to dip my brush first into water and then into the paint.  There was a lot of up and down motion involved in getting this painting done!  I'll have to involve my easel next time!  Painting number 573 in 573 days.

Dripping Hydrangeas

Dripping Hydrangeas
Watercolor on paper, 7x5

Today, I have played a bit with dripping the paint down the page, simply by lifting it up, and blowing the drips down - when some didn't follow gravity.  I let a couple drips fall over the very wet surface - and they spread, while the others were over a drier surface.  I'm not sure what I think about leaving the bottom of the page white to accent these drips.  After rubbing down the fingerprints on my right hand, I went in search of anything that would make the removal of the drawing gum easier - and I found it!  Certain wine bottles have a plastic/rubber like cork, instead of real cork - and as I sometimes save these, I found five that do a much better job at the removal than my fingers!  I simply hold them horizontally along the surface, and rub until the gum comes off.  They are not quite as good as the rubber cement remover, but a really good "next best"!  Thank goodness!  My fingertips were still a bit tender from last night's work, so this was a life saver.  I am wondering about experimenting more with this drippy technique - I really like the way the wet paper drips spread out.  How could I best use this technique for the landscape?  Upside down hollyhocks come to mind, but that is just crazy!  This painting makes 558 in as many days.  Now, I am going to organize my watercolors by hue while my parents are napping :)

Blue Hydrangeas

Blue Hydrangeas
Watercolor on paper, 10.5x7

I have come to my easel late in this day - and thank goodness I had already underpainted this on another day!  After two challenging workouts this morning, and a house full of family for the rest of the day - I would have been hard pressed to find something inspiring to paint.  Oh, the busy days of summer!  I absolutely love hydrangeas - and they have started blooming all over town.  The deep blue of their petals is almost unnatural - and so fun to capture in paint!  This is my first attempt of these beauties in watercolor - and though I think I need some practice - I like the effect.  Painting number 543 in as many days - now time for some relaxation :)

Green Street Hydrangea

This is the second painting started on Green Street during the Lee's Summit Garden Walk.  I had already completed two others on Saturday, and this one was sketched in, petals, foliage and stems applied with a knife and Liquitex light molding paste.  I keep a small jar in my french easel, so I can use this technique whenever the mood strikes me.  The Garden Walk was a collection of gardens scattered along three streets, all close enough to casually walk from one to the other.  This particular painting is of the left edge of a giant hydrangea that must have spread 10 feet across!  This is a close up of the same hydrangea that I painted two days ago - so if you look back, you can see what little part this was of the beautiful landscape.  My intention was to finish both on sight, but I was invited out to dinner before I was finished - and the chance for a relaxing meal that I didn't have to cook won!  This is still a bit loose, and I may well look at it tomorrow and decide to add just a few tight petal strokes in among the wild......maybe.  I am hoping my Pebeo drawing gum arrives tomorrow  - I am SO wanting to play some more with the watercolors!  This one makes painting number 532 in 532 days.

Hydrangeas by the Arbor

Hydrangeas by the Arbor
Oil on panel, 14x11
Lee's Summit Garden Walk - Plein Air

Oh my goodness, what a full day!  I started this morning as the guest speaker and painter with the Scarritt Renaissance Coffee Club in northeast Kansas City, and next headed for the Garden Walk in the historic downtown Lee's Summit district.  This is my third painting today, and such a lovely spot it was!  The giant hydrangea was begging me to paint it - and after scanning the other gardens on the street and visiting with fellow artists - I returned to my favorite.  As is sometimes the case, I had to tuck myself into a cubby hole of shade to get this exact view.  I wanted the abundant blooms spilling over the iron fence, with the path and arbor leading you right into the garden, so there was no other place to set up. The biggest drawback here is that I could not keep stepping back to check on progress as I worked.  I really could only step to the side along the hedge to get a different vantage.  Once finished, I pulled it out of the deep shade to check the hues, and found it was just what I was after.  The weather was beautiful, though a little windy, and the owners were so gracious and welcoming.  I always enjoy visiting with passersby as I work - and what is better than strolling through lush gardens on a perfect June day?  This painting makes 530 in 530 days, and I will post one of the others tomorrow :)

Blue Heaven Hydrangeas

Blue Heaven Hydrangeas
oil on panel, 6x6

I'm SO glad to have small panels to paint on again!  On these days that are so busy and full of activities, I can easily squeeze in a small painting - where a larger one might be impossible!  I am also pushing the "easy button" today by painting a loose, impressionistic floral.  These were given to me two years ago by my son Tyler for Mother's Day, and they grow outside my kitchen window.  These are one of my favorite flowers - and I really enjoy painting them!  It just makes me happy to think of the warm summer days and their fragrance wafting into the windows!  This makes painting number 430 in 430 days.  I like mixing up my subject matter from day to day - that special something about variety being the spice of life :)

Hydrangeas by the Porch

Hydrangeas by the Porch
Oil on panel, 11x14

This morning started with a breakfast cooked by one of the civil war men over the campfire.  Eggs, bacon, and ham cooked in an iron skillet - and various sides - so delicious!  After breakfast, it was time to start getting things cleaned up.  Next the organizers came to take down the large tent and the civil war tents were taken down, camp being cleared of all traces of 1863.  With a little more visiting and sharing farewells, it was time to prepare for our next event - a birthday lunch at my Aunt's house for my cousin Stephanie.  Starting to feel a little tired, we headed home for a little more family time on my parent's last day in town.  My oldest daughter came by with her little darlings.  I just got to witness little Alastair's first serious temper tantrum.  It gave me flashbacks of a little darling of my own - Travis, some 22 years ago.  After days of so much non-stop activity, I think it is time for some rest.  Maybe tomorrow.  I started this painting in Fish Creek, and I still want to tweak it a little.  Since time is almost up for the day - this is my 227th painting in as many days.

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 :)

Heavenly Hydrangea

Heavenly Hydrangea
Oil on panel, 9x12

Each day now is SO full of yard work in preparation for our annual 4th of July party.  In fine tuning every flower bed, I could see the need for just a few more annuals.  I need things that will be even more beautiful by August - when we have another event planned.  So, while on a trip to the local nursery today, I spotted these beautiful, white hydrangea.  They are very tall already, and in a very large pot.  My daughter and I  had our hands full of a few more annuals, three more perennials and several unusual herbs, so I didn't pick this one up.  After planting all the rest - and thinking of the one left behind, I came in and painted it!  I have a lot of flowers, and any time I come across a variety I do not already have - I pick it up!  I guess I am an avid collector of flowers and plants.  I am heading back up to that nursery in the morning to pick this baby up, too.  I am thinking of planting it somewhere near the pool.......This is my 172nd painting in 172 days.  What new adventure will tomorrow bring?

Hydrangea Impressions

Hydrangea Impressions
Oil on panel, 6x6

All over town, these beautiful blue hydrangeas are beginning to bloom. Right outside my kitchen window, my own little beauties are stretching towards the sky.  I love these flowers, they have always been one of my favorites.  I was tempted to paint these in a larger format, but with all I had on my plate today, my logical side won out.  So, painting small at 6x6, I first sketched this out with pastels.  Using a rather large brush, I blocked in all the masses, and started to define the petals in a light and loose fashion.  Originally, I intended to paint more of the glass vase, a view a little zoomed out.  But, as it progressed, I found that I wanted a closer vantage, a bit more drama.  So, here we have the 167th painting in 167 days.  I'm feeling a little restless for new subjects.....

Longview Mansion Hydrangeas

Longview Mansion Hydrangeas
Oil on panel, 12x9

One October evening, several years ago, Mike and I attended the Black & White Ball along with other Summit Artists and art supporters.  In partnership with David Gale, this event was hosted at the Longview Mansion in Lee's Summit, Missouri.  Steeped in history, this place is a magnificent step back in time.  I have been fortunate enough to paint on the property many times.  On this night, the most glorious hydrangeas adorned either side of the large mantle in the main room straight back from the front door.  It was a wonderful evening of great food and entertainment, celebrated with artist friends and family.  This makes painting 78 in 78 days :)

Bowl of Hydrangeas

Bowl of Hydrangeas
Oil on panel, 14x11

I am thinking of spring as another snow storm approaches.  Today I am painting loose and impressionistic hydrangeas in a bowl.  Grandma Bessie had these just outside her back door in the house on Olive.  I now have some outside of my kitchen bay window, where I hope to enjoy them for many years to come.  These little beauties are a challenging subject with their abundance of petals and light reflections from every angel.  I start first with the main masses, squinting down to truly see the colors.  Then, I let the brush do it's work with the flurry of petals.  This is the 52nd painting in a row! Now, its back to work on a commission!

Roses and Royal Albert

Roses and Royal Albert
Oil on panel, 11x14

I absolutely adore roses - in the garden, in a vase, or on my china.  So, this Valentine's Day - I am painting roses!  I found the antique pitcher and Royal Albert teacup and saucer while antiquing, and the book is one of an old set of my favorite poetry collections.  It just makes me feel good to paint these little treasures - like I am in my own world for just a bit (interruptions and all).  I have only done a handful of florals ever - so this time spent was serious study time.  I am finding that roses are complicated and hard to paint!  That certainly means that I need more practice, and since the roses are not blooming this time of year - I will be buying roses to paint!  I feel like I am learning so much - so fast - by completing a painting every day.  There are no limits to subject matter, I only need to keep my sizes down.  I do need to sprinkle in some larger pieces, as I don't think I've painted larger than 12x16 since this painting challenge began!  This makes the 42st painting in a row - Happy Valentine's Day :)

A Dream of Hydrangeas

Early one morning before a workshop, I set out to find just the right spot to paint at the Overland Park Arboretum (during the STEMS Plein Air Event).  As I approached the beautiful iris garden, these hydrangeas bloomed in profusion!  It has been such an early year for all the flowers, that these were out a month early.  It was misty and damp as I started blocking in the masses.  This time, I worked in acrylic, fully intending to top it off with oils.  The early morning sun cast a golden glow as it rose over the tree line.  I used a little soft gel medium to add texture to the petals, laying in the colors in a loose manner.  As I neared the finish, I stepped back, took a long look, and decided the oils just weren't needed.  The effect was misty and moody - and it was time to put the brushes down.  That is one of the hardest things to know - just when to stop.

A Dream of Hydrangeas
14x18 acrylic on panel
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