Noble Fir

This lovely green ink is day 3 of the Diamine Inkvent Calendar. Working on a wet sky mass, I dropped the ink loosely into tree shapes.  As that dried, I added more ink for the foreground trees and water.  Leaving the bank white to represent snow, I love the contrast between them.  I did think of trying out bleach on this one, but forgot all about it.  Perhaps I'll try another to see what the reaction is.  I love these little presents to open each day in December!  Painting number in days. 

Summer at Kauffman Garden

It is delightful to paint the summer blooms as the fountains bubble around me!!  Meeting artist friends here this morning, I arrived a little later than intended.  Loading 7 large paintings in the car for delivery to PGAV Architects, took a little longer than anticipated.  I'm working large today, because I am ever in need of Kansas City paintings for gallery spaces.  This one will frame at 20x16.  I don't think I've painted here this time of year before, not this selection of blooms.  Nor have I painted from this direction, catching the architecture in the background.  I like the soft garden edges against the hard lines of the buildings, grounds the painting.  Though hot, there was a lovely breeze and I tucked myself into a shady spot, painting until I finished.  The girls had gone on to lunch, but it feels good to have one ready to frame, and now it's off to my art drop-off next!  Painting number 4293 in 4293 days. 

Reflections at Crestview

 

It is always a good day when I'm painting near the water.  This secluded pond a pasture away from the house and barns at Crestview Dairy, is a peaceful spot to immerse myself in the process.  In a place like this, I become one with my surroundings, and revel in the paint.  All feeling, no thought, I let this painting unfold organically, letting my brush do the work.  Ending the day on such a note is a delight, indeed.  Painting number 3388 in 3388 days. 

Morning by the Creek

 The water called to me as I scouted the area.  Looking for a remote spot, I found a flat rock crossing of the creek that I could set my easel on. Standing on another rock, I painted the scene, unable to step back - as that would land me in the water!  It was a very pleasant morning spent with frogs, turtles and bees to keep me company!  Crowded in with marsh, I'm just happy no snakes joined this painting party!  So fun to join my artist friends at such a location, the Anita Gorman Conservation Center is a gem in Kansas City!  Painting number 3101 in 3101 days. 

Sailboats Abstracted

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Sometimes, I simply must stretch my artistic legs in another direction!  Like visiting far off lands, I am completely out of my box on this one!  I don't think I've fired on any of these cylinders before - and it feels like total exploration.  I'm using some of my vast supplies of acrylics (which I hardly touch anymore) and canvases for this abstract style.  Mixing in mediums, layering color, dropping into place and cutting in paint with a knife - oh what fun it is to just play in the paint!  I felt rather lost in the process, and wonder if I've lost my mind!  Maybe!  Who knows what I'll do next?  Painting number 2735 in 2735 days. 

Water through the Garden

I love spending time at the Overland Park Arboretum, especially with my paints!  This water garden is lovely with the steam leading from one waterfall to another.  I especially like this format for this scene, it captures all that I wanted in it's wide view.  Painting number 2728 in 2728 days.

Creekside Afternoon

Peaceful and tranquil, I am drawn to the motion of water.  I love the twists and turns of this local creek, and I try to come by often for a run and a paint.  This day was so gorgeous, I had to come!  Spring is in the air!  Hints of green are appearing at water's edge, and the frog song was so loud it almost drowned out the bird song!  This calm day led to glassy surfaces on the water, which is a joy to capture with my oils.  This place has many moods and colors, changing so much with the seasons and days.  This is the way to seize the day!  Painting number 2628 in 2628 days.

Clouds Over Brush Creek

With every intention of painting the Benton Boulevard Bridge, I could not ignore the cloud show in the sky.  I switched out my ink supplies for my oils, and started laying in that color.  The cloud lingered for the 45 mintues it took me to capture the scene.  It seems like my recent cloud study is really helping me to understand their forms and colors.  I had so much fun, I did another before leaving for the night!  Painting number 2064 in 2064 days.

sold

Winding Inlets

The warm day really cooled off as those clouds rolled in.  A few sprinkles in that increasing wind gave me the nudge I needed to start packing up.  This location is rather far from the car, and I've been caught in the rain here twice now!  Rather than doing a pre sketch in ink before this painting, I did a small ATC size gouache pre-painting. It was fun!!  And I really like having the mini painting as a guide through my process.  Will I keep it up?  Who knows?  I just started with gouache yesterday - and this is definitely the honeymoon phase!  Painting number 1890 in 1890 days.

Sunset Strokes

I've been teaching some different techniques for using palette knives in painting class, and this seascape is our theme du jour.  I like to under paint my whole composition thinly, then come over the top of it with thick, juicy strokes using a knife.  For large areas like the sky, I like the long, flat, rounded end knife.  I can sweep the knife across the surface like icing a cake.  I use a smaller, pie shaped knife for cutting in the rocks. SO fun to play in the paint!  Painting number 1881 in 1881 days.  

Down at the Pond

Once the sun came out, it was very pleasant down by the water.  Two of our grandsons were over for the day - so we went exploring (with my easel, of course)!  Climbing trees, finding secret hideouts, squishing in mud and tossing sticks were the order of the day, and I painted right in the middle of it.   As I took a quick video, I looked over just in time to see Alastair sinking in mud in his brand new shoes!   Almost recorded it!   Never a dull moment around here!  Painting number 1854 in 1854 days. 

January Pond

Few places are as peaceful as a pond for painting.  Still waters, birds flying from tree to bank, and the gentle ripple of the surface keep me company as I work.  The wildlife notices me not, so still I am as I capture the landscape. It is restorative to spend time alone, immersed in nature, one with the landscape as I lay down each brushstroke.  Though my painting window is short, it is surely a little slice of heaven in the midst of a busy day.  Painting number 1834 in 1834 days.

Garden of the Stars-Fountain Dreams

The last two days I've been painting in paradise!  This location called to me yesterday, but I could only stretch here.  Waiting for the light to be perfect, I jumped in quickly with paint, following yesterday's sketch for my composition.  I love the geometry of this scene!  All those curves and columns with their hard edges accentuate the very fluid moving water!  Yum!  This is going to be one of those places I paint again and again!  I think I'll paint a large one for my house!  Painting number 1708 in 1708 days.

oil on panel, 12x9
on display at Starlight Theatre
purchase here

Sailboats in Sister Bay

The sailboats along the coast of Door County call me in like a siren call.  I'm drawn to them, and can hardly pass by without painting them.  Living in the Midwest, I don't have the opportunity to paint these beauties, so I must seize the moments when I can!  I'm playing with the color a bit, injecting a little blue in a sunset where there was very little.  This is larger at 20x16, so it is important to step back often for the full view.  I think I'll let this one rest for now, and look with fresh eyes in the morning!  Painting number 1685 in 1685 days.

oil on panel, 16x20
purchase here

Mountain Pond

Hiking trails can be found everywhere in Colorado.  Simply start walking in the direction of the mountains, and before I know it, the trail becomes rather remote!  A couple of times I found myself backtracking, a little wary of running into bears on my own.  If you are ever in Colorado Springs, you must drive up to Pike's Peak!  The views are breathtaking all the way up the mountain, and once you're at the top there is a gift shop and cafe to enjoy - and get you out of the snow and 50mph winds!  It's amazing how dramatically different the weather is from the bottom to the top!  There just isn't enough time to paint my fill in this place.  Painting number 1617 in 1617 days.

Winter Pond

After getting a start on my spring cleaning, I headed to the pond for my reward!  The wind is cold today, so I got climbed down the bank, to seek shelter from the wind.  The water was relatively calm on the southeasr side, so I faced that direction and started painting.  I love these subtle color shifts odd the winter landscape.  Snow would be lovely to paint, but who can complain on a warm winter day?  I needed a Gamblin gray on my palette today, I'll have to remember to load it before I go out next time!  Painting number 1495 in 1495 :)

Mother-in-Law's House

What a wonderful way to kick off our Red Oak II painting workshop!   This was the first demo of the day, and a fabulous little house full of character!  I have wanted to paint this scene since the first time I saw it years ago!   The early morning light was beautiful, and the perfect light for this landscape.  After a quick block in, I brought the painting to completion - then started making the rounds to help the students.  The weather could not have been nicer - and the place is simply charming!   I am looking forward to holding future workshops here, too!   Painting number 1390 in 1390 days :)

oil on panel, 12x9
purchase here

Last Light on the Pond

It is so frustrating to have connectivity issues where I live.   I tried posting this earlier, and just happened to see that it was still publishing, but it could not be found anywhere.   So, once again, I post from my phone and hope this one goes through.   I am using new brushes this week, thanks to the recommendations of two artists in Door County  - and I love them!   The Silver Bristlon brushes make great workhorses, while the Silver Silverwhite synthetic soft flats are fabulous for finish work, or where I want to lay down strokes on top of wet paint, without disturbing the layer beneath.  I think these are going to be mainstays in my arsenal of tools!   Painting number 1358 in 1358 days.

Pond off Church Street

Sunday was the last day of the Harvest Festival, and the sale was at the Legion Hall on Church Street.  While the morning was still overcast, I set up on the hill to paint this beautiful scene.  I was not in the shade, so I needed to paint fast before the sun came out to roast me!  This is the painting that unfolded.   I have wanted to paint here for years, so glad I finally had the chance.   Painting number 1355 in 1355 days.

Sailing from Ephraim

This sailboat was picturesque as it sailed from the Ephraim harbor.  With the marina visible in the distance, this scene was a little slice of everyday life along this shore.  This place is one of my favorite towns along the coast in Door County.  It is full of nostalgic buildings dotting the coastline like jewels in a crown.  What a beautiful place to paint!  This painting makes 1308 in 1308 days :)