Giant Pumpkins on the Farm

How could I possibly resist painting those giant pumpkins?!! I have not seen them this big in all the years I've been coming to this patch in Barnhill, Illinois.  It sprinkled a few times during the painting process, and I moved back under the cover of a concession stand, moving back out when it stopped.  Once I have oils on my whole panel, then it is fine to stand out in the rain.  But if the dry panel gets wet - it will resist that oil paint, stopping it from adhering to the panel.  The rainy day wad the perfect backdrop for those rich, saturated colors  It feels like fall now that I've  painted Shreve's Pumpkin Patch!  Painting number 5013 in 5013 days. 

Pumpkins Five

I'm trying a new mini watercolor palette by Sennelier for these watercolor batik pumpkins.  I LOVE tiny kits that fit right into a pocket!  So, I love the portability, but the feel of the brush against the paint drags a little, almost as if there is honey in the mix.  It is also a little resistant to the brush, not picking up as much paint in a stroke as I'm used to.  I think I'll need to play with it a bit more, and keep it in an extra sketch bag, but it will not supplant my current favs.  Painting number 4708 in 4708 days. 

Morning at the Pumpkin Patch

SOLD

 

It was so much fun to paint my first pumpkin patch of the season at Shreve's!  It's an annual autumn tradition, and it's never quite fall until I arrive here to paint!  The pumpkins and mums are glorious, the weather is perfect, and the time flies by as I work.  A pristine painting day is a gift to cherish!   I'm so happy this painting now resides with the family! Painting number 4699 in 4699 days. 

Pumpkins Four Batik

 

I love exploring these pumpkins in the layers of watercolor batik!  From the first ink lines to the ironing off of the wax, the painting unfolds organically. This rice paper is thicker than my usual, and even has a masa feel to it.  It's not as fragile, and therefore easier to work with.  What fun it is to try different papers with the same process!  Painting number 4694 in 4694 days. 

Antiques and Pumpkins

I wait all year to paint the gorgeous pumpkins of autumn - and today I'm using oils!  This is a treat after a full day of yard work, a perfect creative outlet.  The antique pot belonged to my great grandmother, and the old watering can is a lucky find at an antique shop long ago.  I love the way the colors reflect the pumpkins, too.  It turned out to be a beautiful day, even though we had a hard freeze last night.  Too bad the covers didn't protect my flowers, it's going to be another warm week ahead.  Painting number 4688 in 4688 days. 

Pumpkin Patch Chicks

 

It's fun to hang with the girls, sketching!  They've gotten used to my antics and let me paint after I reward them with treats and scratch!  These wild and flighty girls have settled into a routine as they've matured, and I can actually work around them now.  They are so much fun to spend time with, and to paint!  I'm looking forward to plenty of bonding time this winter!  Painting number 4687 in 4687 days. 

Goats in the Pumpkins

What's more fun than painting goats and pumpkins in October?!!  I love having animals on the farm - especially when they are as sweet as these young ones!  This painting is showing at Powell Gardens until November 11th, when I'll be installing new paintings for the holidays!  Painting number 4685 in 4685 days. 

Fairy House in the Pumpkin Patch

 I just can't resist painting beautiful pumpkin patches - and Shreve's is a yearly favorite!  The autumn mums and pumpkins adorn the lawn as the light dances over it all.  Children raced in and out of this little house, and I heard them call it the Fairy House.  This farm is the first place I paint when arriving in Fairfield, and the weather has been especially nice this year.  I couldn't get enough of this place - so I returned for two more paintings!  Painting number 4681 in 4681 days. 

Red Barn Farm

 

How could I not have known about this place all these years?  There are paintings in every direction at the Red Barn Farm in Weston!  The Monday Morning Watercolorists chose this location, and though it was an hour and 10 minutes away, Mom and I made the trip.  I could hardly peel myself away from this place to gather for lunch with the girls at the Green Dirt Farm Creamery!  This may have been my first trip here, but it crushing won't be my last!  You can see this one in person at the Weston Coffee Roastery!  Painting number 4678 in 4678 days. 

Afternoon at the Pumpkin Patch

SOLD

 

I've painted so much this fall that many paintings are yet unposted. Shreve's Pumpkin Patch is one of my all time favorite places to paint!  I had painted one here, getting the farmhouse into the view, but I couldn't quite squeeze in the events building.  So, I painted from this angle to include the back building and some of the side yard.  Honestly, the whole place is magical, and I really needed a long format panel to get it all in, but alas, I had none. It seems I am forever running out of panels and frames!  This painting is 4677 in 4677 days, and I'm so happy they purchased this painting, too! 

Goats in the Pumpkins

It's super fun to sketch these inquisitive young goats at play, as they clean up the brush in the old barn lot.  I just added the pumpkins today, hoping to add a few seasonal paintings to my upcoming Powell Gardens collection.  I think they like being so near our chickens, and the chickens definitely love their company, too!  I'm really embracing my family farm era these days - and can't wait to fill my papers up with chickens, cows and goats! Painting number 4635 in 4635 days. 

Vintage Pumpkins

It's INKTOBER - and this is my first ink drawing of the month!  Not one for prompts, I am delving into vintage Halloween this month.  Using a dyed handmade cotton paper, i draw my pumpkins with a TWSBI fountain pen filled with Raven black ink by Levenger.  I use a little water to move the ink, then go back in with a little more pen work.  This paper is perfect for the vintage vibe I am going for.  I can't wait to try it again tomorrow!  Painting number 5179 in 5179 days. 

Good Year for Pumpkins

SOLD

 

Shreve's Pumpkin Patch is one of my very favorite places to paint when in Fairfield!  It's just not autumn until I paint here.  With a dramatic sky for a backdrop, these pumpkins nearly glowed in their rows leading to the barn.  I had not painted from this side, so I jumped right in.  Families and children came by a I worked, so interested in what I was creating.  It was a lovely day - and the rain held off until after I was finished  I'm so thankful Shreves chose my painting for their Purchase Award!  Painting number 5176 in 5176 days. 

Pumpkins Batik

Tis the season for watercolor batik pumpkins!!  I love the layers of this magical process!!  I begin with a thin piece of rice paper and I sketch my pumpkins with in India ink pen.  These lines will almost fade away entirely with all the layers.  If I want them to show, I need to use a heavier line. After the watercolor goes on, I add hot wax to any areas I want to resist further paint.  And so I proceed through as many layers as it takes before I wax it all, wad it into a ball, then lay flat to wash on more watercolor.  After ironing to remove the wax, I am left with the above painting, ready to frame and hang for the autumn season!  Painting number 5169 in 5169 days. 

 

Bullard's Farm Market

I look forward to painting this picture perfect place each fall when I'm in Fairfield!  That red barn and all those pumpkins make for a great autumn painting! Arriving shortly before closing time, this was a quick paint before I had to check in to another event.  It's always fun to paint with such rich colors - and the results make a splash this time of year!  This painting now hangs at the Fairfield National Bank on Main Street - yay! Painting number 3922 in 3922 days. 

In the Pumpkin Patch

 

I know autumn is here when I'm painting pumpkins in Fairfield!  I LOVE painting in this pumpkin patch, and try to get here soon after arrival.  I waited until the early morning rain let up, but still the sprinkling hit half way there.  I set up with my panel tilted slightly down, so I could get the paint on it before the surface could get wet.  At one point it really rained hard, but I had my rain gear on and kept painting.  When I finished, I dumped the water out of me easel and prepared to paint another!  Painting number 3912 in 3912 days, and day 28 #stradaeasel challenge.

Pumpkins in Fountain Pen Ink

Now that I'm home from so much plein air painting in the road - that creative bug keeps biting me!  There are many mediums I enjoy, though I mainly use a few on the road.  So, this is my chance to play and explore!  I've done a few of these in the field, but I feel like I need a lot more time to see what they can do.  This one is 5x7, but I think I'll do a bunch in a smaller size, focusing more on the mingling of color and controlling the values. I love dropping more ink into the wet areas - they move and spread at will. I hope to get a lot of painting time in this fall!  Painting number 4397 in 4397 days. 

Pumpkins ATC

Today, I am thankful for the pumpkins of fall - and the chance to get to paint them in between weekend family activities!  I am painting small at 3.5x2.5, ATC sized, with ink and watercolor on cotton handmade paper.  These quick sketches are perfect for a very busy day with no real painting window!  Painting number 4392 in 4392 days. 

Pumpkin and Gourds Batik

Watercolor Batik is such a rich and complex medium to work with.  Many layers, beginning with an initial ink drawing and watercolor in the field, grows into a painting that takes on a life of it's own.  With tender care and selection on the layers, something special emerges.  I'm looking forward to a deep dive here this winter.  Painting number 4389 in 4389 days. 

Snow on the Pumpkins

Today finds me in the pumpkin patch - finally painting snow on my pumpkins!  My first chance of this unseasonably warm season, I am enjoying the interplay between warm light and cool shadows that push violet and blue.  The snow is melting right before my eyes, the sun shining down upon it!  Today I am starting an "extreme plein air event", shared to me from an artist in Russia who follows my work.  For the next week I will be sharing my outdoor pursuit of the perfect winter painting, tagging it with #win_winter2022.  Who  doesn't want to WIN winter 2022?!!  There are several art suppliers involved - and chances to win something everyday.  They are probably looking for creative videos on the experience, which are beyond what I currently share in process.  Maybe I'll try to add some of that to my daily work.  Truly, today was not extreme at all.  I actually got too warm in my thick wool scarf and outdoor gear, shed it all to cool off on the porch when I got back to the house!  Lol!  Pretty sure this time of year IS pretty extreme in Russia!  Painting number 3288 in 3288 days, and day 3 of the current #stradaeasel challenge. Wondering about that number?  I'm going to start correcting that each January, because I seem to lose track during the year, and even find that posts have disappeared for no apparent reason!  Oh technology, why can't you work perfectly all the time?