Augusta Bluffs

I just keep finding paintings I forgot to post!  This is my favorite bluff in Augusta Shores, in Diamine fountain pen inks. I just love the way those inks mingle!  I left my wash brush at home (while paring down supplies)  and had to use a house painting brush instead!  It worked just fine, in fact, I may just look for one to keep with my ink.  The wash brush is softer, but they both lay in a lot of water.  Some of this ink has gold in it, and in the sunlight - it really shimmers!  Would look great with a dedicated light on the wall.  This is painting number 3783 in 3783 days, and I'm happy this painting has a new home, too! 

Barnes and Noble on the Plaza

I find I'm wanting to draw constantly!  Michaela is home for spring break,  and we picked up some sweet drawing supplies!  I LOVE drawing journals from India!  The quality is superior in all materials.  I can't wait to start them!!!  But for these study works,  I am using my original sketchbooks (which I once bought because they were so cool).  Just like every other media,  once I really dive into what I'm doing, I zero in on the tools I really love.  This smooth paper is well suited for this kind of drawing.  I'm using a medium sepia Pitt pen, only because the fine and superfine are running low on ink!  It actually works well as long as I use a light touch.  These cars are still a little forced,  but the lines are getting a little easier.  I love how this challenge makes child's play out of hurdles!  Drawing number 1537 in 1537 days :)

Rush Hour Sunset

Today,  I am experimenting!   I want to achieve that "staring into the sunset" feel for this painting,  and I'm using a rather unusual subject for me - a street scene from town!  When I'm in Belton for a sunset,  the best open sky view is from the Kohl's parking lot.  I first underpaint the sky with a cad yellow ball (sun) that gradates out to a cool sienna/alizarin shade at the edges.  I place my sun off center for best composition.  I do all of this in acrylic.  When dry,  I start negatively painting everything by placing in the actual sky color in oil.  In this case I have a Naples yellow/ochre mix.  I scrape back to the wires,  but all else is shaped by the sky color.  I want to add "100 cars" to my monthly goal, so I start here with 4!  I add taillights to the cars,  and - voila - I think it is finished!   I might just go out and paint the windmill in the same way! Painting number 1524 in 1524 days :)

oil on panel, 6x6
purchase here

A Day at Park Place

Today was my first plein air outing with the local Art Mob group.  I heard about them from an artist friend, got on the email list, and showed up at Park Place with my daughter and another artist to share in the fun.  Once a month, on fourth Thursdays, they meet at a different location, paint for two hours, then have lunch and show their paintings.  We left ours in the trunk, since they were oils and we had to park in the parking garage,  but next time I'll be prepared.  I have a Panel Pak that will be perfect for toting wet paintings, even in a purse.  It sure was fun to meet some new art friends and paint a cityscape!   That sure is something I need to do more of!  Painting number 1268 in a 1268 days.

A Day at Park Place
Oil on panel, 8x10
purchase here

French Street in Batik

French Street in Batik
Watercolor batik on thin rice paper, 6x8.5
purchase here

It has been quite a while since I have painting using this technique!  It is exhilarating to delve into something different, exploring new ways to bend the media!  This technique leaves the painting with such a vintage feel - I love it!  I am using very thin rice paper - this one came in a roll, instead of the pad I used yesterday.  I must handle the paper very carefully, when painting, the paper is so saturated that it feels like the soft brush will tear the delicate surface!  I put a piece of waxed paper under each piece of rice paper before I paint on it.  This allows the paint to fully saturate, getting very strong pigment where desired.  I leave it on this paper as it dries, so there is no tearing while it is wet.  I still keep it under the painting as I paint the hot wax onto the surface, this will keep the painting from sticking to the foam core (which I have underneath the wax paper as I paint).  The white surface of the foam core is perfect for helping me to see how the painting is progressing.  The paper is so thin, it becomes translucent with paint - and needs a white surface below it to see where you are at in the painting.  I remove it from the wax paper only when it is full dry and ready to put between the layers of newspaper for the final ironing. This painting makes 1023 in 1023 days :)

Morning on Main Street

Morning on Main Street
Oil on masonite, 10x8
sold

Packing at a leisurely pace, finishing my workout AND a second cup of tea, I was relaxed about getting to the two hour paint a wee bit late...  For this morning's quick paint, I planned to choose something easy.....zoom in on a subject, have fun with it........and then I walked out onto the street! The early morning sun washed over building and street with dancing color - and I HAD to paint the whole shabang!!  This was a lot of information to get onto a panel in an hour and a half - which lends itself well to fresh color and loose strokes!  It was fast and fun - and I sure could have used that extra thirty minutes at the end! Painting number 1015 in 1015 days :)

on location

Night at Classic Pizza

Night at Classic Pizza
Oil on masonite, 9x12

After painting at the park in the morning, way out on a country dirt road in the afternoon, I still wanted to capture another painting after dinner - as it was getting dark.  With temps near 70 degrees, and a calm, still night - I couldn't resist the urge to return to Classic Pizza - for the painting I envisioned the first night I got here!  When I set up, there was a lull in the traffic and I was able to get a good sketch in.  Cars would come, I'd work on another part, and when they left - I'd go right back to the street level.  The car pictured is a delivery vehicle that darted out, back in for less than 60 seconds - and back out again!  It was such a challenge to paint him seconds at a time!  I really studied the colors radiating from the various lights, and dropped them in accordingly.  This little shop has the most amazing cheese stuffed breadsticks!  The townspeople are so sweet, one even brought me a "pumpkindoodle" for working so late into the night!  The last few days have been so wonderful, and such a joy to put my memories down in paint! Painting number 1011 in 1011 days....I know, it sounds crazy to me too :)

From Main Street to Delaware

From Main Street to Delaware
Oil on masonite, 9x12
purchase here

on location

Arriving this afternoon, we settled into our swanky digs and did a bit of scouting. After narrowing my choices down to about three, I kept returning to this alley.  I have never painted an alley before, not in daylight or night, so this was my chance!  It was fun to drop in color with loose and impressionistic strokes - and those overhead wires!  The way they caught the light was awesome!  What a fabuous first day this was in Fairfield - and we are up early tomorrow to get at it again.  We couldn't have more beautiful weather for this!  Painting number 1008 in 1008 days :)

Sitting About Town

Sitting About Town
Oil on masonite, 11x14
purchase here

Carmel on Canvas finishes their event with an hour and a half quick paint.  I have only been to two different hour an a half quick paints - and both were in Indiana........I wonder if this is just the custom in this state?  When I started for Carmel in the morning, I thought to myself, "I'm going to choose something easy and fun for this quick paint - no complicated buildings!"  I first set my easel up at the large fountain in the pavillion, but the street kept calling me....specifically this figure on the bench on Main Street!  Who cares of there is only an hour and a half?  Who cares that I am again set up in full sun with that full sun on my panel?  When a scene calls, I must answer!  This was fun, despite the complicated scene, and I feel like I really learned some things about painting cityscapes.  I am trying to detail less, and let the painterly strokes flow - which can be a tall order when it comes to buildings!  This painting makes 996 in 996 days and is Day 23 of the 30 day painting challenge.  I must do MORE of these fabulous street scenes!  By the way, this figure is a statue - there are several "townspeople" set up all over the Carmel Arts District!

Bazbeaux in Carmel

Bazbeaux in Carmel
Oil on masonite, 12x9
Carmel on Canvas, Indiana

on location

What fun I am having in Carmel! This morning, I had three paintings in my head to paint.  The rain had pretty much stopped, but with a mist persisting.  Therefore, I looked for shelter and started the most complicated composition first.  I loved how shapes took form, and the panel came alive before me.  Passersby stopped to chat and watch, as the strokes fell off the brush.  This was a joy to paint and an honor to win the Bazbeaux purchase award for this street scene.  Day 20 of the 30 day painting challenge and my 993rd painting in 993 days!

Spring Along the Avenue

Spring Along the Avenue
Oil on unstretched canvas, 6x4
4/100, The {100} Artists - auction bid here

My first chance to get to my easel was late today.  Teaching two classes, boxing and shipping out two paintings, and the regular daily housework tied me up all day.  So, the easiest option would have been to choose a really comfortable subject, and let the paint flow naturally.......Nope!  Instead, I went with another painting in The {100} Artists theme, with substrate I am going to make myself like, a size so small as to make any building scene difficult, and of course a subject I want to push myself to excel in!  Crazy!  I rarely take the easy road when I could learn something instead.  Go figure. Painting number 821 in 821 days.

Red Shutters

Red Shutters
Oil on unstretched canvas, 6x4
2/100 - The {100} Artists
auction - bid here

This is my 2nd of 100 paintings in the "buildings" theme for "The {100} Artists.  Working very small, I was careful today to paint on the gessoed side of the canvas.  I did not do that yesterday - and that canvas soaked up my paint like a sponge, making every stroke much harder than it should be!  It is very challenging using my large knife on such a tiny substrate, I must see if I can get smaller knives for this work.  I will let this one rest for today, and look with fresh eyes in the morning - I think it is calling for some cooler tones in the upper left corner.....painting number 817 in 817 days.

A Walk in Belfort

A Walk in Belfort
Oil on panel, 8x10
purchase here

I've just arrived home from a very frustrating basketball at William Chrisman High School for the 9th grade team that Michael plays for.  I can not remember being SO mad at a game in a VERY long time!  Anyone who knows me will know that I don't get mad about anything - ever, but tonight did it.  The refs were unbelievably biased, and it has left me too mad to finish this painting tonight.  I simply did not leave myself enough time earlier to finish this painting, and I don't know what I'll get if I paint angry!   I tried to get it in before leaving for a basketball game - but alas, I just had to go.  I know I'll see it tomorrow with different eyes, and then I'll make adjustments.  This street scene is located in Belfort, France and is a wonderful medieval village.  I have used the palette knife throughout, but still have some work  to do.  I hadn't decided whether to add foliage or not, but I think I will, and a few people walking the streets too.  If I did it now, they would be angry, fighting people :)  This is painting number 760 in 760 days, Day 29 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge.  Now, I think it is time for a nice, large glass of wine!

Autumn on the River Road

Autumn in the River Road
Watercolor batik on masa, 8x5
Elmore, Ohio - purchase here

As I walked out to get the mail at my parent's house, this beautiful scene lay before me.  Slipping the mail into the car and grabbing my phone, I stepped back into the street to get the photo for reference.  The golds were stunning in the backdrop of greens.  I have been wanting to work on street scenes - so this is my chance!  I am going to sketch and paint these every day while I am in Ohio - where I can get many different paintings from my parent's lawn!  I have sketched this one in india ink, painted in watercolor on masa, & brushed hot wax over the surface.  Crumbling up, this surface was more resistant to the wax coming off.  I don't know why, perhaps the wax was thinner than on my previous paintings.  As a result, the batik effect is lighter here.  The actual painting of the scene was fun!  I think I am going to like painting the street scenes!  Painting number 672 in 672 days :)

Rue du Le Barroux

Rue du Le Barroux
Oil on panel, 12x9
Purchase Information

Thank goodness, one of my Tri-County friends sent me a text reminder about today's workshop!  One of my dear friends was giving a demo - and brought many of her reference shots from her recent painting trip to France!  I did not want to miss this, but alas, I almost did!  Arriving late, I got there just in time to start painting.  Picking out a couple of my favorite shots, I started in on this lovely street scene in Le Barroux.  I painted most of this with my brushes, but did finish off the masses with my palette knife.  New on the palette today - Gamblin's caucasian skin, cad chartreuse, and nickel titanate yellow.  You can see these paints used all over this painting, in the foliage, on the stone buildings and the street.  I think this may only be my second or third cityscape ever, so I still think I need a lot more practice!  Perhaps I will start painting some of the Google Earth street views, as so many other artists do......or maybe I should just get to travel more!  Painting number 591 in 591 days :)

Night at the Dragon Inn

Night at the Dragon Inn
Oil over acrylic on panel
Old Town Overland Park

I am posting late tonight, as it has been a very busy day - ending with a late baseball game.  This painting is from old town Overland Park, Kansas.  The reference photos were taken after I had finished up another nocturne, and the lights were still on here.  This is an Overland Park icon - and I have wanted to paint it for years!  This sky was very, very dark - rain was just starting.  The streetlights illuminated the buildings even more than usual against such a sky.  There was still the delicious aroma of late night dinners in the air, and I wish I had been able to set up and paint on the spot.  But, framing yet-to-do and a sunrise paint-out reigned me in.  I find that I really do enjoy painting these nocturnes.  There is something so still and quiet in the night, it makes painting so inviting.  This is the 154th painting in as many days and I'd better get to bed.  I am watching the grandbabies in the morning!

Nightfall at Traditions

Nightfall at Traditions
Oil on panel, 9x12
Old Town Overland Park

Tonight, three of us went out to old town Overland Park to paint a nocturne.  This spot was one of three we had narrowed down.  There is something magical about painting a nocturne.  When I started, there was still light in the sky.  I like to pick a spot where I can paint under a street light, and a white light is better than the yellow ones.  There was only one street light in line with the view I wanted, and this one was yellow.  It is a very windy night, so I had to secure my panel well to the easel.  By the time I had finished the painting, I could no longer tell the hue of my darks, only that they were dark.  Neither could I tell the true color of my lights, only that they were light.  I love the whole process of painting a nocturne - it is like a mystery!  I do not know what I have really painted until I bring it into the light!  This painting is a happy surprise!  I can hardly wait to go and paint another nocturne!  This painting makes 146 in 146 days.

First Flowering Crab

First Flowering Crab
Oil on panel, 8x10

I started painting this one in the middle of a good rain.  I had dropped off a painting for judging, and Teddy and I had an hour before we were to get back for the results.  So, we set up in a gazebo (for shelter from the rain), on a hill, to paint this glorious crabapple tree.  The rain steadily increased, building up to thunder, as we frantically painted to capture the beauty with our paints.  The wind was blowing the rain in, and my oil palette had water pooling on the surface.  I didn't want to stop.  The thunder didn't sound close.......in times like this, my logical self steps aside, letting my creative self take over.  An hour later, we had to pack up and get back for the social - which was fabulous!  It is never easy to leave a painting when I'm in the zone.  I returned to this today, to add the final touches.  This makes 113 paintings in 113 days.  Come see the show tomorrow at Mount Pleasant Winery - if you happen to be near Augusta, Missouri :)

Night Falls at Pisa

Night Falls at Pisa
Oil on panel, 14x11

The night falling and the pink sunlight illuminating these glorious buildings is what grabbed my attention.  With photo reference from a friend,  I mapped out the sketch of the main lines of the buildings.  Once the large areas of main color were down, I started to dot in with the many arches and windows.  I felt compelled to get the architecture right, although I started with "loose" in mind!  With most of the colors in place, I pulled down the reflections by lightly skimming the surface of the heavy dark paint below.  I would love to go paint this place on location!  This is 41 paintings in a row :)

Independence Square

Independence Square
Oil on panel, 14x11

MVIS Paint-Out

Yesterday was a beautiful day for plein air painting and this is my piece from yesterday's MVIS Paint-Out in Independence.  The wise approach here would have been one doorway, one building, or one window......as you can see, I painted every building on the street!  My first daytime street scene - and of course I bite off more than I can chew.  I see things that I want to "loosen" up a bit - but I am posting for now.  I will let this one rest a day or two - and then go in and reevaluate.  I think this one made day 32 on the daily paintings - and I am painting a member of the band we saw last night for today's painting.........