Meramec Adventure Ranch

 

What a great place the Meramec Adventure Ranch is - and the best part is the awesome way they help the youth in this region! There are SO many activities here from bluff propelling, horseback riding, to water sports,  it was hard to see all the painting options available along this Meramec River ranch! I painted this view first of the main lodge, then painted the cattle next on this working farm.  Such a special painting day!  This is painting number 4908 in 4908 days and is Now Showing at Gallery Zeke through the end of the month! 

Hidden Creek

 

I love painting these beautiful Missouri creeks - in every season!  I am drawn to the water, again and again. The every changing color and reflections hold a magic in them, relative to the weather conditions and the sun.  Often, the hues and values change right before my eyes, and I can only rest in the colors I have already marked, because one can not chase the light!  In my earlier days I have done just that, and ended up with a painting that did not make sense. With so much experience in the plein air field, I can nearly always tell if a painting was done en plein air or not, it rings of truth in the color and value.  If that is worked on later in the studio, that fresh truth is somehow denigrated, feeling less fresh, overworked.  Every painting is a lesson, and I like to let it speak to me. Painting number 3872 in 3972 days. 

Lavender Field

Oh, how I love the heady aroma of lavender - in full bloom!  So much of the lavender on Washington Island is at peak right now - and it is a sight to behold.  It has been 4 years since I've been here for the lavender bloom, and a few things have changed. Another farm that was just down the road is no longer in business, but the plants still grow in the fields, intended and vigorous.  They were so welcoming to me as an artist last time, opening their farm to us all.  The other farm has kicked it up a notch, bigger, with more offerings, and we joined them for a Tuesday Wine Night, which was lovely.  Again, I am inspired to plant my own lavender, just three rows that I could grow and harvest, and paint for all the years to come.  Painting number 3853 in 3853 days. 

Golden Meadow

 

This was the peaceful meadow finish before a purple fountain pen ink catastrophe.  Rushing to meet a friend who needed the frame in my car - I did not tighten the cap on "Festive Joy" - and THAT cleanup was neither festive or joyful, lol!  It took hours to clean that purple ink from all the other bottles and brushes.  Thank goodness I had them in an airtight container - or that mess would have traveled in my trunk!  As it turns out, this ink is completely water soluble, and every bit of it washed out of my supplies when soaked in water. The lesson I learned here is to be extra careful and methodical when closing up each bottle - especially when in the field!  Painting number 3777 in 3777 days. 

Barn in the Meadow

I love the feel of a fountain pen in my hand, as I pull it across the cotton rag paper. I can feel the nib catching on the fibers ever so gently, leaving raven black ink in it's wake.  With a little water I can soften those lines and dilute them to gray, sometimes even blotting with a paper towel to lift some of that ink.  If I go right back into wet areas, my lines are very black indeed.  I love this media, and the way it returns me to my roots, one mark at a time.  Painting number 2682 in 2682 days.

Anitas Wildflower Meadow

I love the reckless abandon of a wildflower garden!  So many textures, colors and values make this meadow a fabulous paint!  I begin with an ink drawing in early morning light.  The colors are vibrant and shadows deep.  I mark those masses early, which keeps me from straying too far from my intention.  As the sun rises in the sky, the colors change drastically and I must hurry to finish.  In two hours, this is already a different scene, and I can only hope to react honestly with my paint.  Today's paint was during Monarch Mania at the Anita Gorman Conservancy in Kansas City, for the Brush Creek Art Walk.  Painting number 2063 in 2063 days.

Wild Sunflowers

As I finish each morning's workout at the gym, I run a mile or two to center my thoughts and plan for the rest of my day.  In these beautiful days, I run outside - right by this glorious meadow!  The last few days I've watched as it is approaching peak bloom for the sunflowers, and today I jumped in with paint!   The flow and sweep of the wildflowers and tall grass are a perfect backdrop for these yellow blooms of sunshine!  There are several other views I would like to paint here - I hope I get the chance!  The next few days are scheduled pretty heavy and then I have family arriving in town.  These are the days we plein air painters love - beautiful light, warm days with gentle breezes, and a gorgeous landscape before me.  Who could ask for anything more?  Painting number 1703 in 1703 days.

oil on panel, 13x9
purchase here

Behind the Milk Barn

This day was a gift!  Who knew it would be 75 degrees on this beautiful February day?  Taking full advantage of the weather, I took painting class to the milk barn!  It is absolutely invigorating to paint in perfect conditions - especially when compared with a normal February day!  We set up in the dappled shade of a willow tree, trying to get panel and palette both shaded.  It is so much easier to judge the colors in the shade versus full sun.  Countless times I have had to paint in full sun, only to find my painting too dark when brought inside.  So, if I must paint in full sun, I now check my painting in the shade before calling it done!  Painting number 1494 in 1494 days :)

Rainy Day Sunflower Field

Inspiration in the Heavens

As we left the theater this evening, I was surrounded by beauty in the heavens.  In every direction, a glorious show bombarded my senses!  The view to the south showed the approaching storm, and the distant thunder confirmed it.  I started laying paint quickly, getting all lights and darks marked.  I talked to my parents on speaker phone during the entire painting - and then realized it was too dark to get a photo outside!  Darn.  It would have been dramatic.  Painting number 1336 in 1336 days.

Inspiration in the Haevens
Oil on panel, 10x8

Clouds over the Meadow

I love this time of year!  The heat of the day brings on the most beautiful and dramatic cloud formations in the afternoon!   I picked up a couple more of the Princeton poly tip brushes,  as well as my favorite Connoisseurs at Creative Coldsnow's yesterday.  One, an angled tip, and the other a smaller filbert.  When painting the clouds, it was hard to keep the clean filbert tip from leaving those perfect little marks. I found myself picking up a well used bright to soften the marks.  I wonder how these brushes will wear.  I really like the black heads and ferrules, they will not reflect the bright sun while painting outside,  and sometimes, that reflection can be blinding!  I am looking forward to some intensive "in the field" painting with them.  That is my true test for any brush that makes it into my paintbox.  Painting number 1294 in a 1294 days :)

Glory in the Sky

Some days the clouds move so fast, I could paint several sky paintings - if only I could keep up!  By the time I finished this one facing south, a marvelous scene unfolded in the sky to the north!   But alas, the light was already fading, and I knew there would not be enough time to capture it.  This painting is number 1284 in 1284 days :)

Fleeting Light

Fleeting Light
Oil on panel, 10x8
purchase here

Mondays are extremely busy,  and I had not yet given any thought towards my daily painting.   The house quieted down, the daily chores finished, and I jumped into the shower to unwind a bit.  Once done, I walked out to see the most amazing color in the sky!  With wet hair piled high, I grabbed my palette from the freezer and walked out barefoot on the balcony to capture this fleeting beauty!  Color like this only lasts for minutes, so I worked very quickly.  This photo was taken in very little light, and it was almost dark when I cleaned my brushes.   What a gift to have such a lovely cloudscape dropped in my lap!  Painting number 1252 in 1252 days :)

April Cloudplay

April Cloudplay
Oil on panel, 7x5

Some days, the most amazing show is playing out above our very heads!  On this day, as I sped down our road to meet the family for dinner, this glorious scene  greeted me on the left!  So, as I carefully drove with my left hand, my right hand was holding my phone up to the side window - snapping shots awkwardly!  Thank goodness for country roads with no traffic!  I pulled my oils out for this skyscape, and cleaned my palette a little.  Which means, I scraped the dry paint off, and reloaded my colors!  Using my brush for most of this painting, I did pull out my catalyst for the final shots of highlight at the end.  This painting makes 1202 in 1202 days.

Clouds Over the Meadow

Clouds Over the Meadow
Oil on masonite, 10x8

For this afternoon's painting class, Donna suggested that we set up outside - and take advantage of the fabulous day.  What a great idea!  So, we had a little "plein air workshop" where I demonstrated this painting, beginning to end. There is just something magical about painting outside, with a gentle breeze blowing, light dancing through the clouds, and the experience of the day unfolding in the paint.  I really love plein air painting.  Painting number 1001 in 1001 days, and Day 28 in the 30 day painting challenge :)

Sunflower Fields Forever

Sunflower Fields Forever
Oil on masonite, 14x11
purchase here

Tonight finds me getting ready for the Sunflower Festival.  It is so relaxing to immerse myself into this meadow painting after the bustle of town.  I love the rural midwest landscape, and capturing it with paint is sheer heaven. Right before leaving or Carmel, I topped off my walnut oil with safflower oil.  I didn't have time to clean out the can, so I ended up with a 50-50 mix.  The honeymoon with walnut oil was waning, as I did not like the stiff, sticky residue that was beginning to adhere to ferrel and bristle, as well as the way it was setting up on my palette.  The simple addition of safflower oil has made all the difference!  Oh, how I have missed the safflower oil!  It cleaned my brushes right up, even reversing the damage the walnut oil was doing, and my bristles are supple again.  After two months, the benefit of a tiny extra bit of gloss was not worth the cons of the walnut oil.  This is Day 21 of the 30 day painting challenge, and my 994th painting in 994 days :)

Walt Disney's "Happy Place"

Walt Disney's "Happy Place"
Oil on masonite, 12x9
Marceline OPA Paint-Out - purchase here

Out of bed at 4:00 am, out of the house by 5:00, the three hour drive to Marceline, Missouri was a long one for a one day event.  Once we leave I-70, it is winding highways all the way, and beautiful rolling hills and farmland.  Once we arrived, we headed to the Disney Barn and Dream Tree, which I had never seen before.  The barn is nostalgic, and a short walk from the small gravel parking area by the road.  Walt used to come to this barn when he was a child, and referred to it as his "happy place". The Dream Tree was struck by lightening three years ago, and fell in this last year.  Very large, the trunk remains and a new tree has been planted in it's honor.  The wildflowers were bursting with blooms, and a trail was mowed all around the barn, allowing for a great view from every angle.  I could have painted there all day - in this magical place, if only I had more time!  This is painting number 973 in 973 days :)

on location

Path in Poppy Fields

Path in Poppy Fields
Oil on canvas, 6x9
purchase here

Some days, I actually have paintings playing out in my mind while I go about my daily duties.  Driving to the gym, license bureau, to weights and robotics, with scenes unfolding before my eyes.  It is SO hard to keep my mind on my tasks!  It is as if I have been on "auto pilot", and keep coming back to reality with a snap!  I could hardly decide where to begin once I did get to my easel - there are three landscapes uppermost in my mind this day!  Deciding on this one first, I sure hope I can get to at least one more later.  I am working up a small piece with plans to enlarge to 24x36.  I would have just painted large to begin with, but I don't yet have the wood cut....and time is limited today.  I brushed in the whole underpainting, and have added the thick, juicy paint with a couple of palette knives.  I may need to pull a few more cool tones down into the poppy fields, but for now I am letting it rest.  This painting makes 926 in 926 days.

Misty Queen Anne's Lace

Misty Queen Anne's Lace
Watercolor on paper, 6x9

On this watercolor painting, I wanted to create the atmospheric depth that existed in the scene.  Using loose, watery strokes and wet paper, I drop in a cool, misty background for the back hill and tree line.  I really like the heavy 300lb paper.  The paints move and spread in a way that they do not on the 140lb paper.  Using more color as I progress forward, I finish with the brighter hues after rubbing off the drawing gum.  I just bought a wonderful tool for this - a rubber cement remover, but it has mysteriously disappeared.  It is a small, rubbery square that would be fun to chew on by a puppy..........and it was last seen near his kennel.  I'm afraid it dropped in and was devoured!  So, instead of using this wonderful tool, I am rubbing the skin from my fingertips in the removal process!  Oh well, I need to order more gum, so I will get another tool at the same time.  This Queen Anne's Lace is at the outskirts of the yard, and the pasture is in the background.  I did add a new color to today's palette - indigo.  I like the cool darks that it adds to the shadow areas.  With so many new colors to try, perhaps I can slip in a new one each day.  This painting makes 555 in 555 days :)

WIldflower Whimsey

Wildflower Whimsey
Watercolor on paper, 7x10.5

Another very busy day, completely filled up with family fun and preparations for my parents to arrive tomorrow!  Once again, coming to my easel late, I am playing in the watercolors.  I have recently been longing for their clear, bright colors - and the speed of drying can't be beat, which is important on a day with a very small painting window.  I love the energy I feel when using this medium, it is so different than what I feel when using the oils.  With oils, I feel nostalgic, timeless, reveling in their buttery creaminess.  But when using watercolors, I feel light, bright, and energetic - like I'm throwing caution to the wind.  Acrylics bring out an even different side, like a trail blazer armed with molding paste and knives, and I will bend that medium to my will - and layer those colors on until the painting emerges.  I will soon be plein air painting in Door County, and I am wondering if I can possibly get all three mediums in my french easel.  I am a tight packer, and I refuse to take anything that won't fit in that or my small side bag.  I need to scale down to small, limited palettes for the acrylics and watercolors, to get them on board.  I just don't know what I will feel like using each day, and I want to have the freedom to choose which medium.  I wonder if I can make this work.....painting number 553 in as many days :)