Morning at Longview Beach

 

It was super fun to paint Longview Beach during Walktober!  It's such a beautiful place and the trail is wonderful, too!  It has been years since I've been to this beach, and now I wonder why.  The trails are gorgeous and the lake is peaceful.  Mike watches the boys play as both Michaela and Tiffany paint, walking the trail and exploring the beach.  The weather couldn't be more perfect!  I'm happy this painting got a shout out from the judge - it was a joyful paint!  Painting number 4670 in 4670 days. 

Along the Riverfront

What fun it was to return to Berkley Riverfront Park to paint for the Walktober Quick Paint, and with the Urban Sketchers KC group!  Wow - this place has grown since I last painted here!  I love how this area is turning into such a destination!  One can walk that trail all the way to the Kaw - where I've got another plein air in November! This painting and some of my process were shown on the Channel 9 News on Sunday!  It's been a big weekend for personal TV coverage, lol! Painting number 4661 in 4661 days. 

Golden Hour at the Saddle Club

My first ever Quick Paint at a Saddle Club - and it was SUPER FUN!  I could paint here every day and never tire of this!  Tonight we were scheduled at the Wayne County Saddle Club, and cowpokes and their horses were on hand for painting during the 2 hour paint.  The grounds are lovely, the light was perfect, and it was an amazing night for painting! I had so much fun, and finished early to boot!  I've been thinking of painting western art lately - and this confirms that direction! Painting number 3913 in 3913 days, and day 29 of the #stradaeasel challenge. 

Carmel Farmer's Market

 

So THIS is the 8:00 version of the quick paint at the farmer's market. I thought the event started at 8, and it really started at 9:00!  Already in my groove, i kept working, and finished this one up just in time to start the next one - lol!  The light was amazing and I had the whole hour free, so why not?  This painting is now showing at All Things Carmel on Main Street 🤩🎨 day 21 of the #stradaeasel challenge and painting number 3905 in 3905 days. 

Morning at the Farmer's Market

 I'm so honored this painting won the Quick Paint this morning at the Farmer's Market by popular vote!  The Carmel Farmer's Market is the nicest one I've ever been to - upscale in every way, and very paintable!  I thought the quick paint started at 8am, so started a different painting similar to this one - and finished it before beginning this one shortly after 9am! This one then had to be framed and turned in by 10:30, where the public voted for the winners.  Then tonight, this painting was honored with a Merit Award and sold to a lovely couple, too! Painting number 3901 in 3901 days. 

Morning at Crestview Dairy

 Is there anything better than greeting the morning with a quick paint?  Warm, golden light streaming into the dairy farm, making it irresistible to this artist!  Painting at Crestview Dairy, I found the back side of the barns for my subject matter.  I paint the light first, quickly followed by the shadow colors, because light is fleeting at this time of day.  I'm thankful to have reloaded ultramarine blue on my palette, because I needed it for those shadow blues!  I ran out of it in Iowa, and had forgotten it until the last day of this event!  That color is definitely one of my must have primaries, going back to my years of using a limited palette.  I still heavily rely on my favorite three, even with all those worms of paint!  Painting number 3813 in 3813 days. 

Looking Over the West Bottoms

What an amazing vantage I had from the rooftop of the Faultless Building in the West Bottoms!  Now an event space, this beautiful building was the perfect place to paint so much of this historic skyline!  This long format was exactly what I needed for this painting - and I'm so happy I had one sheet with me!  Trains came and went, walkers, runners and bikes bustled by below, and the occasional pigeon popped in to join me - before rushing off when I moved! This was such a peaceful place to paint, and once again I worked right up until the last minute, to rush back, frame, and turn in for the morning quick paint!  Quite a bit to bite off for my 2 hour 15 minute window, lol!  Painting number 3785 in 3785 days. 

13th and Hickory

I've never been down these streets of Kansas City before tonight.  Arriving a little late to the quick paint - after a day full of family fun time - I walked up and down these streets.  After seeing a few compositions I would like to try, I walked back to get my gear and chose this view instead!  My first time to use this square format paper, it was a learning process.  Each handmade paper is different, and this one was a bit resistant to my paint.  So, I coaxed my paint into position on this paper, allowing it to dry in place - which took longer than normal.  So complex was my drawing,  I was still putting paint on those buildings to the last minute!  I'm so honored to win this first Historic West Bottoms Quick Paint, and I'm happy this painting found a new home, too!  I can't wait to paint here again tomorrow!  Painting number 3783 in 3783 days. 

Magic at Union Station

 

I couldn't resist painting this iconic scene for the Holiday Reflections Quick Paint last night!  Union Station is one of my favorite places to paint during the holidays, and it is a joy to bring my oils for this. The nocturne lighting is rich in here, and the reflections of the floor are magnificent.  Love that generations of my family have walked this grand hall, and so happy to get to paint it again and again.  I am so honored this painting was chosen from so many beautiful pieces as the winner, and I can't wait to paint here again.  It is truly Christmas when one spends time down here!  Painting number 4122 in 4122 days. 

Old Blue on the Farm

 

I'm so happy my effort on this Quick Paint was awarded tonight at the White Mule Winery!  Loving this whole scene from behind the barn, I backed up until I could see the entire space in front of my easel.  Farm equipment drove past me - kicking up dust, as did a gorgeous team of horses with a shiny red wagon!  The horses were off to give wine country rides, so I couldn't include them, too!  The best advice on a quick paint is to narrow your field and simplify, of which I did neither!  It was a bit of a struggle as I realized I had many masses to paint - and the minutes were ticking by!  I almost bit off more than I could chew on this two hour painting - and still, it was super fun!  In fact, it was exhilarating!  There is something about a real painting challenge that revs me up and gets my blood pumping.  I do so love plein air painting in all it's forms!  Painting number 4371 in 4371 days. 

Longview Impressions

After a little scouting upon completion of my first painting, i found this lovely view of one of the homes just south of the south barn.  I remember walking through it to go into that barn, loving the detail on the house.  What fun to paint these historic buildings on the Longview Farm, after so many years.  Ink and watercolor was the perfect medium for this place, allowing the water to flow over the tall grasses and wildflowers.  I hope to see these restored one day, and to paint them again in all their glory!  This painting has found a new home, and it was fun to talk to the new owners.    I'm always happy to get a mention from the judge, and love when multiple patrons want a single, humble painting.  Painting number 4251 in 4251 days. 

Clear Skies Coming

 I feel like I've been running a race for days now - so I had the tiniest of painting windows.  Using that time for a quick oil study of the skies, I squint down to see the masses and hues, then start adding the color.  When I'm in a hurry, I don't even sketch out with paint - just a fast application of the media.  I want to focus more on cliudscapes this year, so the more practice, the better. Painting number 3372 in 3372 days. 

Union Station Tradition

 I'm so happy the Kansas City Parks have joined with Union Station to organize these holiday quick paints!  There is nothing as iconic as the giant Christmas Tree inside of Union Station, and what a joy to paint it!  The place was very crowded with families taking photos by the tree, and so many wonderful people stopped by to chat while I worked.  One young girl was especially interested in what I was doing, and came back as I was framing this one up for entry.  She loved it so much, her parents bought it for her, and she will always remember this night.  Maybe this experience will inspire her to take up a brush and paint herself, and capture the beauty she sees in the world.  Painting number 3249 in 3249 days. 

Looking Down 4th Street

 Today's quick paint location in Fairfield, Illinois - drawn from a hat at our opening meeting!  More later! 

Missouri Bicentennial Celebration

Kansas City Parks hosted a quick paint today to celebrate Missouri's Bicentennial in a park along the Chouteau Trfy.  Unveiling two new statues, the mayor and senator addressed the crowd.  French fiddle and Native American dance music played as I worked, as well as other entertainment.  Food trucks were and horse drawn wagon rides were enjoyed by many.  I stood in the shade of the horse trailer to complete my painting on this very hot morning.  Thank goodness for a little shade!!  Painting number 3112 in 3112 days. 

Afternoon at Noboleis

 I headed out to scout with oils on board, and when I found this spot I realized I would HAVE to use my pen and ink!   So, hauling all is my gear back to the car, I switched gears and gathered up my ink gear. Hiking down to the vineyard, I looked up at the buildings on the hill and started to sketch. With pen and ink I drew in each one, coming back in with my favorite TWSBI Diamond mini fountain pen loaded with Levenger's Raven Black ink.  With a little water I was able to achieve the mid tones I wanted, and headed back to the car to frame up.  This was the quick paint, only two hours of paint time, but it didn't take me that long.  I really love my pen and ink, and it is always a good day when I'm sketching!  This painting sold right away, and it will hang in the office of Nobeleis Vineyard.  Painting number 3028 in 3028 days. 

Sunset Over Brush Creek

The weather could not have been nicer for tonight's quick paint on Brush Creek!  Choosing a bird's eye view on the ridge, I had a wonderful view of the creek.  Ten minutes before arriving, I realized I did not have my oil palette - it was still in the freezer!  Well, I had my in and watercolor, so I would make that work.  After a quick look around, I decided on a long format, but already used that frame!  So, I used what I had and made it work.  Thank goodness I had so many backups! I've only done a couple of watercolor sunsets, so this was definitely good study!  I think I'll need to do a few more before I feel comfortable with the process.....oils would have been so easy....!  Painting number 2813 in 2813 days. 

August Bounty

SOLD

 The artists drew numbers out of a bowl to determine which location we would go for the quick paint on Main Street.  At each place on the map, a still life was set up outside of the business.  I was pleasantly surprised to find a table full of fresh produce straight from the garden, at the front corner of this insurance office, with beautiful awnings and flag in view.  How could I not paint it all?  As I painted, the temperature rose, especially as I stood on the cement parking lot - in the full sun!  Not my usual choice of set ups - but the only choice for this view.  It was a very hot paint, but I finally finished and got this framed and turned in a little early.  I was SO surprised when this was chosen for the day's Main Street Still Life Purchase Award!  It sure made the suffering for my art with the price!  Lol!  Painting number 2770 in 2770 days. 

Wheel Fun Rentals

This has been a fabulous day for painting, full of sun, sand and warm gulf coast breezes!  This cheerful place has called my name since I first stepped foot on the island - and today I am answering that call!!  It's fun to visit with the locals as they walk these white sand beaches!  Everyone is so friendly.  How could you not be in a place like this?  I find I am losing track of time as I work - who cares what time it is?  Life's too short for watching the clock!  Painting number 2613 in 2613 days.

Morning at Howard Park

Oh my, what a day!  A deeply overcast morning gave way to this bright and beautiful afternoon - and the perfect beach scene for this quick paint!  Painting large at 10x20,  I really wanted this format for this scene.  So many wonderful people visited while I worked, and I had a fabulous time capturing the scene.  I had to pack up a little early to make it back to check in on time, but the extra distance was really worth the work. I just had to paint this beach!  So honored to win an award for this!  Painting number 2609 in 2609 days.