Today's Cart!

 

Who shops and sketches in an open greenhouse on a 100 degree day?  Me!  Just getting home from Augusta last night, I wasn't sure I'd meet the Monday Morning Watercolorists at Suburban Lawn and Garden this morning.  With the car only half unpacked, I decided not to miss the opportunity!  I was rewarded with more lovely flowers to come home with me, and sketched my shopping cart, too!  Coming home today - large periwinkle basket, rosemary topiary, globe amaranth, young stevia plants and a large begonia for the front porch. I just can't resist a beautiful bloom!  Painting number 4955 in 4955 days. 

In the Greenhouse

 

There is nothing like a rainy day for painting in a greenhouse!  Chased inside by the lightning and thunder overhead, the heavy downpour was delightful as it hit the nursery roof.  One by one, my artist friends left, and I was the last one on site as I finished this second painting.  Mom and I chose some gorgeous, very wet, snapdragons to take home afterwards.  I do love the floral beauty at Rosehill Gardens, and will certainly come back again!  Painting number 3747 in 3747 days. 

Rosehill Gardens

With thunder, lightning and a downpour at my back - I rushed through a quick paint at Rosehill Gardens today!  Though I've driven by here many times, this is my first time on site to paint.  The Monday Morning Watercolorists met here for our weekly paint out, and as the thunder increased, the artists started to seek shelter. Not wanting to vacate my spot before I had what i needed - I stayed long enough to get rained on!  I love the thrill of racing the weather to capture the moment!  And the storm didn't prevent me from taking home some beautiful old fashioned snapdragons for my beds! What a gorgeous place!  Painting number 3746 in 3746 days. 

Morning in the Greenhouse

This was our day to explore Farmington, and this sweet greenhouse was my first stop in town after taking a quick spin through the historic district. I am forever drawn to a greenhouse full of blooms, so when I was offered a spot inside to paint - I jumped on it! The flats full of geraniums sealed the deal!  It was a chilly morning, but I was cozy inside as I painted the morning light.  Thoroughly enjoying my time, the painting unfolded naturally, surrounded by such beauty.  The family running this place is so friendly and welcoming, it really was a joy to paint here.  The icing on the cake is that this painting now has a home here!  Painting number 4233 in 4233 days. 

Mums!

I got these fabulous chrysanthemums from Suburban Lawn and Garden nearly a month ago - and they are still spectacular!  The very large flowers are bold and bright - lighting up my kitchen table!  I'm painting in miniature tonight, because once again I have worked myself into the late hours.  I had just boxed my last commission up when I sold another painting and got another commission!  I hadn't even made it to the UPS store - lol!  It's a good problem to have and I do like to keep on top of things.  So, that leaves only a little painting window, and I'm using ink and watercolor on handmade paper, and trying to capture those vivid hues.  I hope these sunny blooms last long into winter - and I can try them in oils!  Painting number 3230 in 3230 days. 

Pumpkins

The Monday Morning Watercolorists met at Suburban Lawn and Garden on this rainy day - so of course I am painting the pumpkins!  With so many seasonal items throughout the nursery - it was hard to focus on just a few!  With ink and watercolor I sketched these on a 3.5x2.5 cotton paper.  After adding watercolor, I added a little more ink.  I took the little guys home for my Thanksgiving decor as well!  Painting number 3209 in 3209 days. 

Second Creek Pumpkins

Last year was my first time in Rosebud, and this place caught my eye when I didn't have enough time to paint it!  I was so happy to see this place when I drove into Rosebud for today's competition, because NOW was my chance at it!  I arrived early to hopefully finish before the rain moved in.  Well, that didn't happen, but at least I had shelter nearby to duck under.  I have lately been taking more time to really study what I see, before laying paint.  Stepping back,  squinting and looking, I often see values and colors that I don't see at first glance. I love when a painting comes together, even in a cold rain - and it won an award, too!  Painting number 3200 in 3200 days. 

Moon Cacti

Love the vibrant "moons" sitting atop these tiny cacti!  I have three of these at home in yellow, red and red orange, so of course I needed the burgundy one to add to my collection!  This one is a miniature at only 3x3 inches square.  I have sketched quickly with an almost empty black ink fountain pen, watercolored, then added a little more ink from another pen - Robert Oster's Great Southern Ocean.  It is a really lovely ink pushing turquoise, and fun to add to colorful scenes such as outdoor floral work. I don't think I used it all winter, it just didn't match my surroundings.  As spring approaches, I'll be pulling it out more often!  Painting number 2974 in 2974 days. 

Paperwhites ATC

I had finished a little early and set my other paintings with the group montage, and realized I had 10 minutes more to paint before lunch.  Well, you KNOW I had to take advantage of that time!  I rushed to where these paperwhites stood, rising gloriously from exposed bulbs.  I could have used a taller paper, but I didn't have one with me.  So, I set those lines down, loose and sketchy and tried to wash that color in fast!  To my dismay, my water brushpens had gummed up with the sizing in my journal, so neither was feeding water.  I almost used spit.......and then thought better of it, digging into my bag for a tiny water bottle I keep for emergencies.  Problem solved, and I didn't have to paint with spit!  Painting number 1832 in 1832 days.

Poinsettias and Pines ATC

The Family Tree Nursery is a magical place to paint!  There are paintings at every turn - and the poinsettias were irresistible!  So many varieties and so little time to paint!  The format is very small at 2.5x3.5, and I am really enjoying working so tiny!  The days are full of family and fun, and so many Christmas activities!  This little ATC is heading to Mexico, where the days are warm and balmy!  Painting number 1800 in 1800 days!

Poinsettias and Pines

I was overwhelmed by all of the gorgeous things to paint on location at the Family Tree Nursery!  Here for our monthly gathering of the Urban Sketchers KC, it was my first time to walk through the doors. Wow!  I have a new favorite nursery and walked out with a box of fancy poinsettias, and perfect herb plants for my kitchen!  What a productive day - and that was only the beginning!  Painting number 1788 in 1788 days.

Flowers for Sale

The Art Mob met at Suburban Lawn and Garden this morning for painting, sketching, and fellowship.  This place is full of all things garden - blooms, pots, statuary and more!   I stopped at the first table that caught my eye - and started drawing in pen and ink.  I loved the market style table loaded with plants and pots!  Once sketched, I pulled out my watercolor pans with a water brushpen and filled in.  How fun to paint in such an environment!  To top off this lovely morning, the staff provided a pizza lunch complete with cookies!  Painting number 1506 in 1506 days :)

Birdbath at Sunrise

Birdbath at Sunrise
Oil on panel, 11x14
not available

So, this is day three of the Augusta Plein Air Festival, and I painted this one at the Sunrise Paint at Frisella's Nursery.  The morning was SO cold, and the wind was absolutely biting!  Frisella's was so gracious to allow us to paint in the greenhouse!  Surrounded by garden beauty and flowers, it was hard to narrow down a painting subject!  Two scenes from outdoors were also calling my name - but the wood stove and a warm place to paint won the contest!  This was my first painting of the day - and thoroughly enjoyable!  I could paint the gardens in all their glory all day long.  I love the color and movement, the breath of life that flows through the foliage and flowers.  We next did a little scouting for paint spots before heading to Balducci's for the Sunset Paint.  I will post that painting another day.  This is painting number 106 in as many days.  I'd better get to bed - I have another sunrise paint in the morning!

On location

Frisella Falls

I set up for this painting early one misty morning before sunrise.  Frisella Nursery is a wonderful place in Defiance, MO, full of garden scenes, statues, water features and foliage.  If you love gardening, this is the place for you.  It was hard to pick my spot with so many beautiful choices to paint!  The air was so crisp  - my fingers stiffened up around those brushes!  I had to take a break midway through just to go in and grab some hot tea and a wonderful yogurt parfait loaded with fresh fruit! Hands warm, back to work, and the paint just slid off the brush.  The early sun bathed the scene in a pink glow just long enough for me to get the color in.  Too soon the light was gone, and it was time to move on to another event.  I hope to return here someday and paint again.

Oil over acrylic on panel
sold