Chickadees Four!

These little chickadees have been gobbling up my birdseed as soon as I can fill the feeders!  So, I sketch them as they fly in and out, landing on the Rose of Sharon branches - also eating the seeds from the little pods!  I'm lucky to see this area from a rocking chair on the front porch, so I can hide as I work!  As soon as I stand for a photo - they all fly away!  This is another painting for the postcard challenge - so this will go out soon in the mail!  Painting number 2914 in 2914 days. 

Wren and Suet

These little wrens are so fun to watch, flitting from branch to branch, and landing very close as I paint!  They nest right on the front porch by the window - and even inside the back porch (as they sneak in the crack by the door)!  The new Christmas bell suet cake is a big hit with this guy and his many friends!  I think they will soon devour it and I'll have to find another!  My favorite Levenger's Raven Black ink is in my TWSBI Diamond mini fountain pen, on a Fabriano postcard for the Urban Sketchers KC postcard challenge.  This one will be going out in the mail tomorrow!  Painting number 2911 in 2911 days 

Wooded Path

 The warmth of this morning has flown, and blustery winds have moved in.  Even on the cold days, I get outside to walk with my trusty companion with ink and paper in my deep pockets. The sunset is singing as my pen sketches the trail before me.  In this peaceful place walked by my ancestors, I can almost feel them by my side. I am so at one with this place.  Life is made of the little things, each one matters. I now head back to start dinner and check in with the family.  Christmas is almost here. Painting number 2909 in 2909 days. 

Nutcracker Tree

It's not often that I put a full day's work into the yard in December, but that is just what I did.  Love the 60s, little wind, and ground soft enough to dig in - so I moved a couple of structures, digging them in.  Deciding against weaving fabric through the wire to create a wind break, I instead cut cedar boughs and tied them on.  I had two large cedars in need of some shaping, so this worked out perfectly! Working after dark, I stayed out to enjoy the Christmas Star (conjunction) on this clear night. How beautiful to see!  We're having a family "Outdoor Christmas" this Friday, so my tasks are many and time grows short.  My quick sketch tonight is of my Nutcracker tree, and the hall was just too dark to get a good photo.  This is another postcard painting that will be heading to someone special tomorrow!  Painting number 2907 in 2907 days. 

Young Cedar Path

What a joy it is to walk outside my door, stroll through the pastures, and find such natural beauty waiting for me to sketch it.  The color grew more lovely as I worked, and had me longing for my oils back at the house.  No matter, this sketch walk is dedicated to postcard paintings, and I am enjoying the process.  I find it ever more important to spend these moments in the landscape, just paper, pen and I.  Painting number 2906 in 2906 days. 

Cedar Walk

There is nothing like a walk among nature to restore the soul.  I've found peace and time for contemplation while walking the paths around our property.  This year, Mike cut a path around each pasture, to the ponds and into this remote area of cedars.  I love hiking through here, sometimes sketching, sometimes planting seeds and bulbs, sometimes trimming away brush.  Today I pruned back a whole briar of raspberries that was spilling into the path and snagging my pants.  I feel one with the earth out here, just another generation tending to the needs of this land.  I hope my grandparents would be proud.  This postcard painting is going out in the mail to someone special for the Urban Sketchers KC postcard challenge!  I'll be watching the mail for future arrivals!  Painting number 2902 in 2902 days. 

Cedar Path

This cedar path inspires me as I walk and sketch.  This southwest corner pasture was fenced off for many years when my grandmother sold the adjoining land before we could afford to buy more. As a result, cedars grew with reckless abandon to a very large size before we cut through the fence to tend it. It is beautiful!  Large cedars form curving paths full of birdsong and deer trails, and now we mow a waking path looping through from the west pasture. I think there is a volunteer cherry tree in there which I cleared around this summer.  What fun it would be to have a cherry tree on my wooded walk!  Ink and watercolor on a watercolor postcard, this one for the Urban Sketchers KC postcard challenge!  What fun it will be when little works of art return to me one day!  Painting number 2899 in 2899 days.

Western Fence Line

Oh how I love that golden light!  Heavily overcast all day, I was happy to see the clouds disappear and the sun shine brightly!  Today, I have taken my pen and ink to this postcard watercolor blank that I used yesterday with acrylic and ink.  Whenever I have papers I don't care for, I seem to always be able to use them with my inks!  I have an ink blend in this fountain pen, and in the sun I could see all the gold flecks shimmering from the boldest lines!  I must have a little of my J. Herbin Anniversary ink in this one, which I later added Cocoa Crown and Raven Black to.  The result is a rich, lovely black - that shimmers ever so slightly in gold!  How rewarding it is to walk through the pastures and wooded paths, and sketch a little along the way. Painting number 2898 in 2898 days. 

Christmas Balls

Tonight finds me painting on a watercolor postcard for the Urban Sketchers KC postcard challenge. Well, it has been a challenge!  I purchased postcards, not realizing that I don't like painting on 140 lb cold pressed paper, unlike most watercolorists.  The other day I was not happy with my watercolors on this paper. So tonight, I grabbed my acrylics instead.  Well, I prefer masonite for my acrylics.  So I then grabbed my closest fountain pen and was surprised to find purple ink in it!  Lol! It was actually perfect for the orange background, but ink and acrylic?  That's a new one!  Maybe tomorrow I'll go with straight ink for the challenge.  There has got to be a medium that I actually like this paper for!  Painting number 2996 in 2996 days.