Tangled Trees in Lamplight

As the day was winding down, and I begin to do those last chores of the day, this scene is what I see when I look out the window!   How can I simply turn my back on such beauty?  No matter how tired I was, you know what I did, right?  In a scene like this, I prefer to start with a dark panel.  I didn't have any primed, so I chose one in a dark pumpkin shade.  I start by laying in the darks of all shadow areas, and then define the light.  With the fog, the light spreads far into the landscape, and the deep, dark blue of the sky is not even visible.  There is only the warm light from our light pole throwing all the redbud trees into silhouette.  There is so much beauty around us every day, all we have to do is look!  This painting makes 1474 in 1474 days :)

Oil on panel, 10x8
purchase here

Pink Hydrangea by Lamplight

During our Door County workshop, one of the paint outs was a nocturne, or a night painting class.  We headed over to Fish Creek, as there is abundant nocturne subject matter.  The streets are well lit, with many light sources.  I like to set up where a light pole will illuminate my panel and palette from behind me, as I look out onto my nocturne scene.  So, scouting is key, and location is everything.  I started with a dark tinted panel, and I began by laying in the lights.  Next, it is the middle values followed by the darks.  It is important to always keep my palette layed out in the same manner, because it is very hard to judge color at night.  Values are easy, but it isn't until morning that I find out of my colors are true!  Painting number 1327 in 1327 days :)

sold

Pink Hydrangea by Lamplight

On the second day of the workshop, we had a very full day!  We began with a sunrise paint at the beautiful Gordon Lodge, just north of Bailey's Harbor.  Watching the artists capture the sunrise, each in their own way, is a wonderful experience.  Heading out to Moonlight Bay, where the temperature climbed and the students melted into the pavement, produced some amazing paintings!  Then, we came together to finish those steamy paintings in the comfort of the shade (after I had almost finished a painting across the street of laundry on the line).  After all this, I thought no one would be up for a nocturne, but lo and behold, several were!  So, we headed to Fish Creek, and I painted this, giving instruction as I went.  It was a perfect night for a nocturne!  So, this was a three painting day!  Painting number 1310 in 1310 days :)

Lamplight on Jefferson

Lamplight on Jefferson
Oil on panel, 10x8

With temperatures so balmy at night, how can one resist painting a nocturne?  I can not remember it being so warm at night for this event, and with a theme paint for the nocturne - we set up our easels and got to work!  I had already painted an early morning painting, and then a sunset from the rooftop in Washington, so this made three for the day!  I start with a panel primed with dark acrylic paint, which I did on scene.  I could place my colors with intention this way, which I can’t do when I prime ahead.  I start first with a quick sketch of how I want to map out the composition.  Next, I start laying in those lights, being mindful of the values.  I work under a street light, never using other light sources.  Sometimes, I can’t tell what colors I really have, since it is dark.  So, when I get it inside - it is like Christmas!  I never know what I have until I open it up in the light!  Painting number 1211 in 1211 days.

Night on Main Street

Night on Main Street
Oil on wood panel, 9x12

The nocturne paint out in Washington, Missouri was one to remember!  It had been a long day beginning with a 10:00 paint out at Montelle Winery which ended at 3:30.  Rain had started down in sheets shortly after noon, and had me ducking for cover with my easel.  The next paint out on the schedule was the sunset paint in Washington.  I have been wanting to work on my street scenes and buildings, so I chose to stay in town instead of going down to the river.  It was only lightly raining, but I set up under an awning on Main Street, where only the blowing wind would carry the rain to me.  I believe the turn in time was 8:00.  Then, right back to the street to choose a wonderful nocturne scene.  By this time, those wet winds had turned cold.  Several of us packed in tightly under the cover of a wide doorway, and started our paintings.  It was fun to capture the light before me by the lamplight streaming from the shop windows behind me.  Half way through, my main light source switched off - leaving me to guess as to the hues I was applying.  Painting on the streets of an historic district at night is like an erie step back in time.  This was the latest turn in time ever - midnight!  I wish I would have remembered to take location shots for this one and the sunset paint, but I did not.  I think I finally got to bed by 1:45.  Thank goodness we didn't have to show up to the next paint out until 11:00 the next day!  Painting number 893 in 893 days.  Just another crazy day in the life of an artist :)

Evening at Stone Canyon Pizza

Evening at Stone Canyon Pizza
Oil on panel, 12x9
Parkville in Art Plein Air,  Missouri

Meeting a few artist friends for a nocturne paint on Main Street in Parkville, this was my third painting of the day.  It was a beautiful day - warm and hardly a breeze for October.  Not knowing how the night lighting would be, I had to wait until full darkness before choosing a location.  The lights illuminated the awnings and building so well on the corner - I had to paint it.  Setting up across the street under another lamp post, I had plenty of light to work with.  I do not like using clip on lights - their blue color change the colors from what I see to what goes on my painting.  It is always a surprise when I take a night painting into the light - just like Christmas!  Painting number 657 in 657 days.

Night in Fairfield

Night in Fairfield
Watercolor, ink, hot wax on rice paper
purchase here

I had finished my nocturne painting - the first painting of the Fairfield Fall Foliage Paint Out, and had put my gear away early.  Visiting with the other artists who were still out painting, I walked up the street to "Hucks" - a small town gas and convenience store.  I passed this beautiful building, illuminated by the glow of lamplight.  Snapping a photo with my phone, I am painting from that reference today.  This is my first attempt at painting a nocturne - and a street scene - in this new watercolor batik style.  Not at all sure of the results, I forged ahead! I've never even tried to do a night scene in watercolor, and it is SO much different in application to oils on my panel!  The tricky part is determining where I want that "glow" to be - and making sure I save those areas in the light!  Using indigo for my darkness, I dropped it in wet, after waxing off the buildings already blocked in with their color.  Wadding this up and unwrapping it three different times, I then floated the brownish tones into the cracks if the wax.  After ironing as much of this wax out as I could between brown paper, I used the side of my round brush to barely paint along the tops of the creases for added dimension.  I have noticed that my india ink fades a little through this whole process, and I can not go back over my painting when done - there is just too much wax embedded in the rice paper at this point.  So, I will need to be sure and darken those lines a bit, if I want them to remain.  Painting number 652 in 652 days :)

Nightfall at Kate's Coffee

Nightfall at Kate's Coffee
Oil on panel, 12x9
Nocturne Paint-Out
Augusta Plein Air Festival

This cute little coffee shop in old town Augusta was the place to go for great drinks and food!  The nocturne paint-out was a new addition to this year's event - and it was super fun!  It was a quick paint - under 2 hours to pick your spot and get that panel covered!  I loved how the light spread out from the windows and lamplights at the door.  I had a pretty cushy spot, sheltered from the wind by an outbuilding - and the light just over my shoulder from the same building was enough to paint by.  This was a complicated drawing for a quick paint - but once again - I threw caution to the wind and painted where my heart lead me!  Painting number 490 in 490 days - only 10 more days to 500 in a row!

Halcyon Glow

Halcyon Glow
Oil on panel, 9x12
Halcyon Spa
Augusta Plein Air Festival
sold - print available here

On location

I just love painting nocturnes!  As we left the nocturne paint of the other night, I saw this scene outside of the Halcyon Spa.  This is a special place for a little pampering, and I always try to get a massage while in town!  Returning the first chance available, I set my easel up quickly.  I like to paint fast for nocturnes - especially because it was rather cold and windy.  I backed up close to the lower level of the building, right under a porch light.  This gave me all of the light I needed to see my palette and panel.  Of course, the darker it gets, the harder it is to determine hues - so it is like opening a present when you bring it inside!  You never know what you find!  This one was a happy surprise!  This painting makes 488 in as many days :)

Midnight at Mount Pleasant

Midnight at Mount Pleasant Winery
Oil on panel, 9x12
Augusta Plein Air Festival 2014

As Teddy and I were walking out of the "Uncorked 100K" social, we stopped dead in our tracks and said. "Wow - wouldn't that make an amazing nocturne painting?"  From behind us, Kathy Kessler replies, "Do you want me to make that happen?"  Of course we did!  Next thing we know, we are going to retrieve my easel and paints, and to quickly prime our panels.  Back in a flash, and set up quickly, the light was fast fading from the sky.  We had the place to ourselves on this clear, warm night in the 70's, with nothing but the amazing light and view before us.  This is pure painting heaven.  The paint just rolled off the brush and onto the panel with a mind of it's own.  The darker it gets, the less you can read the colors, and the values are key.  I really love painting at night - it is so peaceful and quiet.  All of the busy noises of the day are gone, and night descends like a warm blanket.  A few of us gathered again tonight for a quick night paint in downtown Augusta.  I'll have to post that one another time.  At the rate I've been painting, I am going to be way ahead on my paintings for awhile!  What a way to kick off the plein air season!  This one makes painting number 483 in 483 days.  Oh, life is sweet :)

Lamplight in the Park

Lamplight in the Park
Oil on panel, 8x6
GOT Art Gallery Holiday Trunk Show
sold

After spending hours on finishing up Jury Committee business, I finally found a window to start painting.  It is very hard to finish what I should, before jumping into what I want to do!  With this painting, I am working with my nocturne colors and the snow, pushing one color while pulling another.  I also used my palette knife throughout - even though the small size of the panel made this a bit challenging.  I barely had time to finish this before I have to run another errand, bake some cookies and head off to the Holiday Show Reception at GOTart Gallery on 3rd St. in Lee's Summit.  Painting number 320 in 320 days :)

Lamplight on the Snow

Lamplight on the Snow
Oil on panel, 6x6
GOT Art Gallery Holiday Trunk Show

It has been a long time since I have painted a nocturne - I forgot how much I love it!  The sky was not yet completely dark, with still a twilight glow at the horizon.  This scene drew me in with the yellow lamplight shining over the snow.  The cool shadows darted in and out, reflecting off the snow.  For this painting, I have used prussian blue, instead of my  usual ultramarine.  I have only started to use this color, and it is so fun to experiment!  This will be another painting at GOT Art at the show on December 5th.  I will be working non-stop to get as many winter scenes done before that date - so wish me luck!  Painting number 316 in as many days :)

Sister's Sweets

Sister's Sweets
Fish Creek, Wisconsin
Door County
oil on panel, 9x12

The town of Fish Creek is such an amazing place!  Picturesque with it's antique buildings and wonderful architecture.  This little sweet shop has the best chocolate in town - so say all the locals!  I will find out tomorrow, as I have been told they have peanut butter cups to die for!  When I started this painting, I actually wanted to do a floral, but the light was too far gone, and the shadows were overtaking my scene.  So, heading towards the shops with the best light show, I picked this beauty out - and began sketching.  This was a fun paint - and I so love the nocturnes!  I was pleasantly surprised the next morning - you never know just what you have until you bring a night paint into the light!  This is painting number 205 in as many days.  Looking forward to another glorious painting day tomorrow!

Nightfall at Traditions

Nightfall at Traditions
Oil on panel, 9x12
Old Town Overland Park

Tonight, three of us went out to old town Overland Park to paint a nocturne.  This spot was one of three we had narrowed down.  There is something magical about painting a nocturne.  When I started, there was still light in the sky.  I like to pick a spot where I can paint under a street light, and a white light is better than the yellow ones.  There was only one street light in line with the view I wanted, and this one was yellow.  It is a very windy night, so I had to secure my panel well to the easel.  By the time I had finished the painting, I could no longer tell the hue of my darks, only that they were dark.  Neither could I tell the true color of my lights, only that they were light.  I love the whole process of painting a nocturne - it is like a mystery!  I do not know what I have really painted until I bring it into the light!  This painting is a happy surprise!  I can hardly wait to go and paint another nocturne!  This painting makes 146 in 146 days.

Chandelier Light

Chandelier Light
Oil on panel, 9x12

Some nights, when I can not sleep, settings for interiors run through my head.  I almost always get up and set them up, taking photos for reference - to start the next day.  This is one of those scenes!  Some of my favorite things are in this one - one of Mom's china teacups from the set she gave us on our wedding day, four favorite books, an antique dresser from my parents, beautiful old magnifying glass I found while on a trip with friends, and perhaps my favorite lamp in the house.  This chandelier makes me happy just to see it aglow in the kitchen and it was given to me by one of my favorite people!  It casts the most beautiful, warm light - and I've tried to capture it here.  I'm working late this evening - after a day of family fun - sledding with the kids and grandkids, followed by dinner out.  No stress getting this done, though.  The huge amount of snow has cancelled all of our activities across the board - leaving me extra time for painting - and sledding!  This is the 51st painting in a row - and I'm really enjoying the paint time this evening :)

Shakespeare by Lamplight

Shakespeare by Lamplight
Oil on panel, 11x14

I started late in the day on this one, first with a detailed sketch.  I used photo reference for the lamp (thanks, Chris!), using my own Tiffany lamp for the lighting in the interior set up.  I have always been drawn to this kind of art - but I have only just started to try my hand at it.  After the sketch, I had to stop, to later start for 30 minutes - to stop again for a meeting at the high school.  I hated to put down the brush - I was so in the zone!  By the time I returned, there were chores to finish - and I didn't go back to it.  I tried to sleep - but could not.  For three hours I tried - and I kept thinking out my next strokes, the colors, the mood.  It was hopeless, so I got up and finished this painting!  Sometimes, there is just a painting inside me that wants out so badly - I am simply forced to submit to it's will.  It is so exciting to go down this road - just as if the paintings are painting themselves and I am just along for the ride.  This is day 23 of the 30 day painting challenge - and dare I say this challenge may have changed my life?

Lamplight on the Table

Lamplight on the Table
Oil on panel, 10x8

I was painting this one in my head all day - while at my son's  basketball game, lunch, shopping with my daughter, and countless other household things on my plate.  I didn't start laying paint until 9:30 at night!  I was so tired, but with the first strokes - the excitement started.  I went into it thinking, I'll just give this painting an hour tonight.........but I just couldn't stop until it was finished!  I am having SO much fun exploring this whole new painting world!  I have already chosen a couple of new subjects to try in the coming days!  This is day 19 out of 30 of the painting challenge - now I'm off to plein air paint at the zoo!

A Little Night Magic

A Little Night Magic
Oil on panel - 11x14
Original Sold
Print Available

This new nocturne painting is of the Kansas City Club (the 13th and Baltimore location from 1922-2002) to commemorate their 130th Anniversary.  This cityscape was submitted to the Buttonwood Gallery yesterday.  I have really been getting into these nocturne paints lately - thanks  to Jason Sacran and John Lassater and an October night paint on the square in Carthage, MO!  This is only my fourth one, ever, and the possibilities are just unfolding before me.  Cityscapes are also a change of venue - and I am finding that I love painting them.  It is so fun working from dark to light - just the opposite of my normal daylight process.  Learning new techniques and stretching the boundaries can be so exciting - and challenging at the same time!

Lamplight in the Garden

Lamplight in the Garden
12x9 oil on panel
Original Sold
Print Now Available

The night was cold and crisp as the signal was given for painters to start their pieces (for the Nocturne Paint at Big Cedar).  I was quickly grabbing my panel and heading to a spot that had just grabbed my attention.  I loved this garden scene, and how the lamplight illuminated the path.  The paints flowed freely and I finished before the two hour time limit.  Painting a nocturne outdoors is always a surprise.  You just don't know what you have until you are finished and bring it inside.  With this one - it was a pleasant surprise, indeed!  I love when that happens.