Kansas City Scout

The Scout draws visitors far and wide, and is truly a Kansas City icon.  When I arrive on location, I like to check out all the angles, looking for the best composition.  After sketching from this side, I hiked down the hill a little for another striking view.  I drew three different ink drawings before I finally got into the paint!  Painting number 1938 in 1938 days.

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Ink Study of David

I have been studying master works, and this ink rendering is from Michaelangelo's David.  This statue has a striking resemblance to my youngest son - right down to the curly locks!  My youngest daughter even asked me if it was Michael!  I'm using a medium black Pitt pen in my natural tan earthbound sketch journal for this one.  I think the dark paper is well suited for this work, and I plan to continue in the same thread for this one.  This drawing is the 1488th in 1488 days.

Into the Sunken Garden

Into the Sunken Garden
Oil on panel, 16x12
Stems Plein Air Event

As soon as I walked into this back yard, the sunken garden was calling me.  I first did a detailed sketch with my pastel sticks.  With so much in the garden that I wanted to include, I needed to have it mapped out correctly before laying in the paint.  The peonies were down to their last few petals on sight, so I brought back the full bloom while I painted.  The columns, statue and birdbath added so much to this intimate garden space.  There are two beautiful iron chairs back towards the picket fence, and a little footbridge behind the peonies on the left.  It is truly a wonderful space to spend a warm afternoon - and the fresh, cold lemonade was icing on the cake!  Painting number 515 in 515 days.  I have a sunrise paint tomorrow at the Deanna Rose Farm - so I had better get to bed!

On the Lawn of the Frontier Mother

On the Lawn of the Frontier Mother
Oil on panel, 14x11
Penn Valley Plein Air Fest
Buttonwood Art Space, KC, MO

One of the best things about being involved in so many plein air events is that I get to see new places!  This wonderful statue is one such thing!  This quick paint was my third painting of that day - and we were just glad to miss the big rain that was headed our way!  I just realized today that I had not posted this one, so I am doing so now.  I am ahead so many paintings, that it has become a little hard to keep track of them!  This afternoon was spent at Art in the Vines out in Louisburg, KS at the Sommerset Vineyard and Winery.  What a wonderful place, so picturesque and with a guitarist playing for the crowd - who could ask for more?  Painting number 509 in 509 days :)

Firefighter's Memorial in May

Firefighter's Memorial in May
Oil on panel, 14x11
Penn Valley Firefighter's Memorial Quick Paint

Wow - what a beautiful day to paint!  Me second paint of the day was the quick paint scheduled for this fountain.  I had scoped out my spot early, but then went on to paint a tree study.  When I finished, I turned to find that three other artists had set up in my chosen location!  So, as I carried my easel to the fountain area, the dappled light of the sun through the trees captured my attention.  This composition was so much more "me" than the first I had selected!  I set up - in the sun, which I had to be to soak in all of the scene, and got to work when the whistle blew.  This is a two hour timed event, and I finished a little early.  My first fountain painting of the season and 493 in as many days :)

Plaza Mermaid Fountain

Plaza Mermaid Fountain
Oil on panel, 9x12

Today I paint one of the two white marble mermaids at the fountain in front of Eddie Bauer's on the Country Club Plaza.  These beautiful mermaids date back 300 years and were originally placed here in 1930.  They were restyled in 1968.  Each one shoots a single water spray into the large basin between them.  Fountain day was this week, which is when all of our wonderful Kansas City fountains are turned on for the season.  I would love to paint each and every one!  I am finishing this one late tonight, as we celebrated our second son's birthday going out to a late dinner.  I am SO glad he made it home from Guam to spend these 2 weeks with us!  I have used a limited palette here - only sienna and turquoise to tint the grays with just a touch of cad yellow medium for that sunlit glow on the mermaid.  This painting makes 97 in 97 days :)