Rainy Day Sunflower Field

Shaded Creekbank

Some time ago, I had scouted out this spot and had several painting ideas in mind.  After hiking a bit in talk grass  (with my bare legs and sandals!) I arrived on scene to see almost all edges of the creek so overgrown that I could not even see the water!  If I hadn't hiked so far into the cutting grass, I would have gone back to the car to seek out a different spot entirely.  But, I couldn't stand to leave without a painting, so I persevered.   After walking further, I found an opening in the tall brush with a clear shot of the water!   I would have to stand in the full sun to paint this, but it was overcast so I jumped right in.  Well, the sun came out and was hot as "blue blazes" on my back.  With the sun, came a few biting black flies - which I have never encountered outside of Wisconsin!  I finally finished, thinking that I had gotten the painting too light (painting with my panel and palette in the full sun), only to bring it in and find it was as moody as the darkest shade along the creekbank.  Wow - I had to fight for this painting today!  Painting number 1343 in 1343 days :)

September Sunflowers

This was a windy painting day!  With gusts blowing those sunflowers hither and yon - it was a challenge to see them well enough to paint them!  I love these blooms, and each year at this time, I long to study them again.  We are expecting heavy rain on Thursday night, so I am "making hay while the sun shines" and not losing these painting opportunities.  Many may be hanging their heads come Friday, and then I might resort to buying some stems for study.  I did not want to take the time to reload my yellows, but I will have to before the next sunflower painting.  I have completely used up my cad yellow light - which is totally necessary for these beautiful blooms!  Painting number 1342 in 1342 days :)

Sunflower Impressions

It was so nice to have Michaela home from college for the weekend!  We started the day with a family shopping trip to the mall, followed by lunch.  Once she was on her way back, and Mike went to run errands, I grabbed my paints.  Without much time, I stuck close to home, choosing the wild sunflowers for my subject du jour! My intention for the month of September is to paint every painting en plein air.  I always try to paint outside when I can, but I know that I can fall back in studio work.  But not this month!  I will not use that as a crutch.  Why take this stand for this?  Well, this is another 30 in 30 challenge, and this will be my focus.  I truly believe that one improves most who paints from life.  This painting is 1341 in 1341 days.

Twilight off the Cleveland Trail

After having family over all day, this evening, we decided to go up to Cleveland Trail and Lake.  Mike and the kids tried out the new disc golf - and I took my paints!  I want to golf, too - but I hadn't yet painted today, so, first things first.  I really love the natural beauty of this place.  Just a few years ago, it was just another farm field, and now we can all enjoy it.  There were plenty of people strolling through the park tonight.  The visiting made the time fly, and I was finished in no time.  This painting makes 1340 in 1340 days.

Creekside on Cleveland Trail

The Cleveland Trail and Lake is such a wonderful place to surround yourself with nature!  With an asphalt walking trail, you can get close to the water in multiple locations, without even getting into the tall grass.  A real plus for me, since today I came directly from a gallery meeting in my "good" clothes complete with heals I would not normally paint in!  I picked up the boys from school first, and told them that I just needed to get a small painting done before we could go to the cookie shop!  They had fun - finding an ant hill, having sword fights with long blades of grass, and picking clover blooms and putting them in my paint box!  They had plenty of space to run, which is just what they needed after a day at school!  I will be coming back here often to paint.  I love the very natural setting of this park, more natural than manicured by far.  This painting is the 1339th painting in 1339 days.

Flowing into East Creek

Oh!  What a busy day!  This morning's classes at the gym were grueling - but always totally worth it.  I followed that with four hours of hard labor in the yard (with a few plantings :).  After Mike and Michael left for a little shopping, I grabbed my paints and headed to the closest creek!  I checked two before deciding this light would last the longest.  It was late enough, there was little traffic.  One small dirt bike came by three times - to check my progress!  One little boy was exclaiming to his dad as they drove by, "She is painting!  She is!"  The weather could not have been nicer for painting - and the bugs just weren't out!  Unexpected so close to the creek.  The hoot owls were calling to each other, and lulling me right into the zone with their conversation.  I love being totally enveloped by the beautiful place I am painting.  Its just a little mini vacation, minutes from home.  Painting number 1338 in 1338 days.....I think.....!

Winding in the Mist

With the rain moving in and out again, we've had several soakings in the last few days.  I love the misty, moody atmosphere for painting!  Colors appear more vibrant, and ask is fresh and clean from the rain.  I have the tiniest painting window this afternoon, so I am choosing my panel accordingly - 5x7.  No time for a sketch, just some fast, quick strokes to get the job done, before I go pick up Tiffany's glasses and then the boys!  This is 1337 paintings in 1337 days :)

Winding in the Mist
Oil on panel, 5x7

Inspiration in the Heavens

As we left the theater this evening, I was surrounded by beauty in the heavens.  In every direction, a glorious show bombarded my senses!  The view to the south showed the approaching storm, and the distant thunder confirmed it.  I started laying paint quickly, getting all lights and darks marked.  I talked to my parents on speaker phone during the entire painting - and then realized it was too dark to get a photo outside!  Darn.  It would have been dramatic.  Painting number 1336 in 1336 days.

Inspiration in the Haevens
Oil on panel, 10x8

Bluebird Flying

I've been so heavy into the oils lately, I've decided to take a little break with my watercolors.  I have a new little plein air pan set, and I used them for the first time today.  The colors are pretty opaque, which I am totally not used to.  I use all transparent Daniel Smith colors, which mingle in a completely different way than opaques.  It will also be fun to see how will I can adapt to the 140 lb cold pressed, spiral watercolor journal.  That paper is a far cry from the rough, 300 lb paper block that I adore!  I used my new 300 lb block today, and oh!  How I love that paper!  I sure missed it when I ran out.  Painting number 1335 in 1335 days :)

Water Tower from Disney's Pond

What a wonderful day for painting!  Last night"s storms washed all the landscape clean.  We went out to Disney's "happy place" to catch that sparkling morning light.  My intention was to paint the barn, with the wildflowers surrounding it.  Once I came to this spot, I knew I had to paint it instead.  I braved the tall, wet grass to get this painting - and I stood in the shade of a tiny tree.  It's a good thing I'm small!  This painting won Best of Show tonight in the OPA paint out, and this painting has a new home with the owner of this pond!  Painting number 1334 in 1334 days!

Home Through the Wildflowers

For the second paint of the day, I found this view from Richie, looking east towards Santa Fe, just a couple blocks off Main St in Marceline, Missouri.  I set up on the green space beneath the deep shade of an old oak tree.  I had a large black and climb my leg, then stop at my knee - looking right up at me!  I brushed him off and painted on.  Within a minute, he had done it again!  I thought I must be near an ant hill, so I moved forward a couple feet.  It happened again, and I moved again. I went to load my brush and a large grandaddy long legs was waking along the edge palette!  Each painting is an adventure all on its own.  Painting number 1332 in 1332 days :)

Phlox in Ink

This little drawing is of the few garden phlox that retain their beauty.  I wish they lasted all year, but alas, they do not.  So, I must draw them while I can, before they fade away until next year,  Drawing number 1332 in 1332 days :)

Phlox in Ink
Pen and Ink on paper, 5x6

The Mill from the Alley

Fourth Fridays are always a lively event in old town Lee's Summit.  Tonight there was a quick paint plein air event sponsored by Got Art.  I walked down Third St, and back up again, looking for a way to frame the glorious clouds in the sky.  Each way, the scene down this alley caught my attention.  It is not my normal subject matter, but I could not resist it!  I started right in with paint, since I was beginning a bit late.  The stormy sky was the perfect backdrop for the old Mill, and all those lines just lead right to my focus.  This was fun, and a good warm up for tomorrow in Marceline.  I was awarded 2nd place for this painting, and it is my 1331st painting in 1331 days.

Atalanta and Meleager study

Today was Art Mob day at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art.  I LOVE that place!  It is so unbelievably inspiring to walk the halls, surrounded by masterpieces.  This very moving sculpture of Atalanta and Meleager grabbed me right at the start.  They have these little folding stools in every wing, which you can set up wherever you want.  This allowed me to get the best vantage, and I started sketching.  This is a wonderful way to study figures!  Only pencils are allowed in the museum, so this is my medium today.  I think I need to do this over in paint!  Drawing number 1330 in 1330 days, and then a delicious lunch was enjoyed by all in Rozelle Court :)

Sanctuary Steam

There is nothing more appealing than a winding steam.  When I first see winding water, I am already painting it in my head - yes, even if I'm driving.  I really should have a special sticker for my bumper, alerting other drivers to use caution.  Perhaps something like, Warning!  Plein air painter!  I stop on a dime for great landscapes!  On this particular scene, the way the distant blue sky reflected off the water was ethereal, and I knew I must capture it!  This may be a spot I return to again and again.  So glad I found it!  Painting number 1329 in 1329 days :)

Sanctuary Stream
Oil on panel, 8x10
purchase here

Butterflies in the Phlox

Butterflies in the Phlox
Pen and Ink on paper, 5x6
purchase here

Today finds me playing in the pen and ink.  It feels SO good to get back to drawing!  Getting back to my roots grounds and calms me like no other medium!  This is a quick one to capture the beauty of the phlox before they fade away. Their fragrance is intoxicating, much like lilac, and they last SO long!  They have lasted into November in a really wet season, but this is not that season! Drawing number 1328 in 1328 days.

Pink Hydrangea by Lamplight

During our Door County workshop, one of the paint outs was a nocturne, or a night painting class.  We headed over to Fish Creek, as there is abundant nocturne subject matter.  The streets are well lit, with many light sources.  I like to set up where a light pole will illuminate my panel and palette from behind me, as I look out onto my nocturne scene.  So, scouting is key, and location is everything.  I started with a dark tinted panel, and I began by laying in the lights.  Next, it is the middle values followed by the darks.  It is important to always keep my palette layed out in the same manner, because it is very hard to judge color at night.  Values are easy, but it isn't until morning that I find out of my colors are true!  Painting number 1327 in 1327 days :)

sold

Crazy for Ice Cream

Parkville Days are in full swing in the lovely park along the Missouri River, and it is a perfect day for painting!  The artwork from this week's plein air event hangs in the tent, and this scene is just a few feet away.  I love painting while visiting with onlookers (and fellow artists) - it completely takes my mind off of what I'm doing.  I switch into "auto pilot" and let the painting unfold.  In this case, a little bit of craziness is what has developed!  Looser than my usual work - and certainly a departure from my regular subject matter, this has been super fun!  The cool breezes and ice cold margaritas also added to a wonderful day in the field!  Painting number 1326 in 1326 days :)

Upon the Horse

Upon the Horse
Pen and Ink on paper, 6x7

I have recently had a longing to draw in the western theme, and my civil war reenactment photos were the perfect aid!  Using my favorite superfine black Pitt pen, I have drawn this completely.  I have so many of these pens, in so many colors, but I continue to return to my one favorite!  It is the same way I am with brushes.  I must have hundreds, and I end up using just a few. Different ones for different mediums, but just a few in each.  I have only started to draw people in ink, and the trick is to leave them loose.  I will probably have to do a great many of them before I am truly comfortable with the process!  Drawing number 1325 in 1325 days :)