Red Oakleaf Lettuce

 

It's super fun to grow fancy lettuce to paint AND eat!  Red Oakleaf lettuce is a beautiful heirloom variety to grow.  I like to pick up heirloom seeds whenever I find them, and then save the seed from year to year,  This aerogarden system has a seeding tray in it, so I can plant the seedlings directly in the ground - if it's warm enough.  I'm growing four kales, Swiss chard, breen lettuce, arugula and several herbs in this garden.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE gardening indoors while the snow flies outside this evening!  Painting number 4763 in 4763 days. 

Old Hackberry

 

This may be the oldest tree on the farm, a large, sprawling hackberry. I love sketching it in ink.  Painting number 4760 in 4760 days. 

Pinecones

Sometimes all I need is a glass dip pen and a bottle of ink to capture the simple beauty of nature. Another 64 degree day had me spending most of the day outside. I've been winter sowing three more seed varieties, spending time with our new kittens, new horse, and of course the chickens - all with Beau in tow, and a few more outdoor chores. I hope to be painting them soon, but can't seem to burn these beautiful days doing so.  So, it's pen and ink tonight of these beautiful pinecones.  I'm so lucky to be surrounded by natural beauty in all directions, there's always so much to paint!  Painting number 4759 in 4759 days. 

Daisies and Poppies

 

I'm planting and painting the newest seeds added to my garden, Shasta Daisies and Red Corn Poppies!  With two trips to the garden center this week, more additions are coming!!  I don't think I've ever been so garden crazy in JANUARY, but the balmy weather has me catching up on fall tasks and getting ahead on spring ones!  What fun it is to plan out the blooms to come!  When Tiffany first started kindergarten, I had a large bunch of Shasta Daisies in my front garden. One particularly cold winter did them in and I can't wait for these seeds to flourish!  I love poppies, too, but have only had them briefly thrive. I'm hoping the new spot I chose for them will be their forever home by the cellar! Painting number 4757 in 4757 days. 

Winter Cress

 

It's crazy to be harvesting winter cress for my salad in January - and painting it!  This wild mustard is a favorite to paint when the meadow comes alive with their yellow blooms in March!  I've transplanted a few to my garden to use through the season.  With this particular art journal, I have focused on all things nature. It is fun to chronicle little parts of my garden life along the way. Painting number 4756 in 4756 days. 

Ponderosa Pines Sketched

 

There is beauty to capture in ponderosa pines for this Day Camp demo!  It was another "red thunder" day, which means we had to paint from under the covered back porch of the building.  So, I looked to the pines for inspiration.  I talked the group through my process as I worked, sharing the pens I like to use.  There were so many wonderful young artists with fabulous nature sketches by the end of our class! It is so rewarding!  My favorite fun fact about ponderosa pines is that their bark smells low vanilla when you get close to them and inhale deeply!  This scent seems to travel in the air after a rain, as well!  Painting number 4574 in 4574 days. 

Ponderosa Pines Sketch

 

I LOVE using pen and ink to capture these ponderosa pines - especially in such a cool, vintage sketchbook!  I found this in an artisan flee market in Arizona several years ago.  I have dedicated the whole thing to pen and ink work exclusively.  These pines are iconic to this part of the Rocky Mountains, so I am immortalizing the ones outside my cabin to this page.  I love the sweet fragrance they emit as I sit on the front porch sketching!  Painting number 4553 in 4553 days. 

View from the YMCA of the Rockies

What a spectacular view there is from the YMCA of the Rockies ! I did this quick sketch painting to prepare for the oil painting i did in front of the admin building during my live paint demo. I'm looking forward to sharing another live paint demo session tomorrow at the same place from 1 to 4. Painting number 4552 in 4552 days. 

Butterflies Four

 

I just learned this painting has flown away to a new home! Yay! I was entering the newest show at the Buttonwood Art Space when I noticed all four of my paintings in the last show sold!  I was out of town at the time and happy I didn't need to make arrangements to get any unsold work, but I did not check any further.  What fun to learn that my whimsical garden paintings all flew to new homes!  I think I need to paint more of these happy scenes from my garden!  Painting number in days. 

Redbud Butterfly

 

Grandmother's old redbuds are blooming, and i just had to paint the butterflies drawn to their vivid pink blooms!  I have a special journal that I'm sketching much nature into, and I'm hoping to paint all is my perennial favorites. We're busy working outside before some of the family head over - and i better get back to work!  I'm transplanting lillies, phlox and dame's rocket today! Painting number 5150 in 5150 days. 

Downey Woodpecker

 

I've seen so many woodpeckers since the blizzard - and I'm happy to get to paint this Downey woodpecker today!  I've noticed them all over the trees, moving up and down in search of lunch.  The snow is a gift that shows them off to their best advantage, and I can't wait to do it again.  Painting number 5066 in 5066 days. 

January Cedar

 

To add watercolor, or not, it's my afternoon quandary.  My inclination was to leave it at pen and ink, but there is a little voice nudging me to add the color.  I'm beginning a brand new sketchbook and taking advantage of the warmest day in the foreseeable future (after helping Micheal touch up a few spots in the apartment he's moving out of and finishing a few errands). A big snow, 8 to 12 inches, is expected Sunday!  The leather journal accepts the ink well on it's butter soft paper, and I'm beginning with a few thoughts and wants for the new year.  With this sketch I'm ticking off a couple of boxes - spend more time in the woods and journal more.  I'm looking forward to watching these new pages emerge through the coming months!  Painting number 5056 in 5056 days. 

House Finch and Pine

This sweet house finch frequents my feeders and my front porch, perching on my string of Edison lights.  He kept me company as I tended my flowers, preparing to winter some over indoors.  As I sketched him, he popped in and out, hanging with the other birds who love the depth of my bridal white spirea at the porch's edge.  I'm using new ink in this new TWSBI Diamond fountain pen, a blue black from Robert Oster. Of course, I love it. I love all of his signature inks that I have tried.  I'm thinking of using a bird theme for this year's Christmas cards, I do live my time spent in nature.  Painting number 5187 in 5187 days. 

Monarchs Four

 

I'm playing with a new Diamine violet ink (All the Best) in this glow in the dark purple fountain pen by TWSBI, and I LOVE THEM BOTH!  I just loaded a dozen new pens with new inks, and I thought I was picking up  Robert Oster's Black Violet, but alas I got my purple pens mixed up, lol! This ink is a deep, velvety purple, and is actually perfect for deepening the blacks of the butterflies and shadow shades of the phlox. I will definitely be reaching for this pen often in the future, and exploring this ink in detail!  Painting number 5181 in 5181 days 

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. 

Cinnabun Bird

This sweet sparrow and many other birds frequent our feeders daily!  Choosing him for my muse was easy when I found Cinnabun ink behind the door in my Inkvent Calendar!  It is a warm ochre brown without sheen or shimmer, and is lovely for use in nature.  The glass dip pen I chose today (largely because it went well with my ink color) has a larger nib than most, leaving me wanting a finer nib for feather work and signing - especially on a miniature! Painting number 4002 in 4002 days. 

Pine Cones

Today finds me painting a couple of pinecones adorning one of the front porch trees, ones that wet brought back from Estes Park.  Another of my Christmas card paintings, the calm and airy slice of nature soothes my soul as I paint.  My brother's family is in town and we've been playing cards and board games, and this is the perfect break between visits!  Painting number 3995 in 3995 days.  I'm happy to find blogger working tonight, I'll have to go in and edit the previous two nights to add info to them.

Winter Cardinal

And Christmas card crunch time continues as I paint this one in my kitchen!  With ink and watercolor I sketch a little slice of my world, to send out to family with a holiday greeting.  I am simplifying my subject matter this Christmas, longing to settle down and enjoy the little things.  All of life is about the little things, and I want to make them count.  Painting number 3991 in 3991 days. 

Cardinal Wreath

As I finish this season's paintings, shipments and deliveries, I now turn to my Christmas card painting.  I choose a different theme each year, and this year I drifted between multiple themes, unable to choose!  With the early snow, I painted several in oil for my cards.  Then I painted those bold and bright ornaments - what a cheerful card those would make, and I painted several!  Santas in pen and ink?  Acrylic Union Station paintings?  As my workload started to wind down, I was drawn to a simpler, more peaceful reflection of the season.  I began to paint little slices of home in ink and watercolor.  This vintage wreath in one I found in Sedalia while antique shopping with my mom - and I loved the light and airy feel of it, almost like it is icy and glistening.  I love the process of capturing this, so therapeutic is the act during a busy season.  It brings the simple pleasures back into focus, and the anticipation of making new memories here with the family through the holidays.  I am truly blessed beyond measure. Painting number 3990 in 3990 days. 

Pine Cones

I have always loved pine cones.  I can remember finding them on the ground as I walked to school, little treasures packed up tight.  To my amazement, they slowly opened up, revealing the seeds inside.  These cones came from a tree outside our cabin when staying in Estes Park, making them a perfect painting subject.  With ink I sketch the little cones, adding in some foliage for balance, then add in the watercolor.  I've so many cards to paint for Christmas, I hope I get them all done in time! Painting number 3988 in 3988 days.