Suburban Lawn and Garden

I couldn't resist these tables full of blooms, tropicals and succulents!!  Garden centers are wonderful places full of plants, pots and structure - an ideal place for an artist to compose and paint - and this place is one of my favorites!  Suburban Lawn and Garden is a gracious host - offering sustenance as we sketch.  What a treat to spend the morning inside among the flowers on a cold, winter day!  This painting is number 2602 in 2602 days!

Pin oak

Today I am playing with pen and ink on wet handmade cotton rag paper.  By brushing the paper wet with a brushpen, I allow the glisten to dry off before putting pen to paper.  There is still quite a bit of spread - which lends itself well to the branches of the tree.  I am using a favorite TWSBI fountain pen loaded with Colorverse Black Hole.  This ink is very dark, almost black.  The violet tones really come out with the addition of water in a brushpen.  Painting number 2601 in 2601 days.

Orchid!

Suburban Lawn and Garden is a warm, inviting place to paint during the cold winter days in Missouri.  The Art Mob meets here to paint about once a year - and out host is generous indeed!  With cookies, a veggie tray and pizza they welcomed us to their nursery for a morning well spent!  What could be better than sketching with artist friends in such a wonderful environment?  Painting number 2600 in 2600 days.

Blevin Trail

What a joy it is to hike a new trail in the Arizona mountains!  The mountains make a fabulous backdrop to the desert landscape - and the gardener in me LOVES exploring the local cacti in the wild!  The Blevin trail is an beautiful hike through the desert, crossing a couple of washes in this rocky terrain.  There were several horses and riders on these trails - it was fun to see them!  It felt just like stepping into a western movie!  Painting number 2599 in 2599 days.

Superstition Mountain

Superstition Mountain is a stand out in the Arizona landscape - especially in this light!  Taking some time to see the Goldfield ghost town with the family, these mountains are the backdrop for the town.  The weather is perfect - and almost always sunny - which is certainly a welcome treat this time of year!  I think I will be returning to snow and cold - but this February day, I bask in the sun!!  Painting number 2598 in 2598 days.

Grapefruit Tree

The branches of this grapefruit tree are heavy with fruit!  Love how the air is fragrant with fruit!  With gentle winds, this is a pleasant day spent outside, soaking up the sun.  Too soon I will be returning to snow, and I will remember these days as I shiver in the pasture!  Painting number 2597 in 2697 days.

Cactus Clump

The very best thing about spending some time in Arizona in February is the warm weather!  Flowers are in bloom, there's not a cloud in the sky, and 70 degrees is pretty awesome.  I do love painting in the snow - but oh how comfortable it is right here!  This beautiful cactus is at least four feet tall, with spreading arms reaching to the sky. I am missing a favorite India ink pen, and am using a ball point pen in a few places to make do!  Haha!  I am forever pulling out pens and forgetting to get them back in my bags!  Painting number 2594 in 2594 days.

Oranges!

Oh I was so excited when I saw the boxes of oranges lined up by the road in front of one of the houses!  Local residents put their overflow fruit out by the road for others to pick up.  Our oranges are nearly gone from our tree - so I headed by to the house to get a bag.  Only a half mile away, I decided to just grab this box to share with our families.  Far heavier than I realized, I did get it back before my arms gave out.  Ready for a shower after my 2 mile run, I left mom and Evelyn peeling juicy oranges to eat.  When I got out of the shower the looks on their faces were no longer glowing - and I found a plate of very white slices from inside of these "oranges" - and they are tart as grapefruit!  What a disappointment!  So, of course I had to paint them.  Just another plein air/running adventure.  I will taste test the next batch in the field before ever bringing them back!  Painting number 2593 in 2593 days.

Citrus and Palm

As I sit on the tile in my bare feet, sipping hot tea with lemon fresh from the tree, I begin to sketch.  A few slices from the orange just picked, and I begin to add color.  The delightful sunny day is sweet reward for standing in the cold snow just a few days ago.  The light is so strong, the air so dry, I am definitely not in Missouri anymore!  What a joy to greet the morning like this.  All I need is a run and I am ready for the BIG GAME!!!!  GO CHIEFS!!!  Painting number 2592 in 2592 days.

Mesa Palm

Oh how I love the warm, sunny FEBRUARY days of Arizona!  This gorgeous palm sits out back, basking in that strong sunlight.  What a joy to shed boots and coats for this warmer clime!  As the quail dot in and out of the oleander shade, I watch and sketch.  It takes a little observation to shift my color palette from snowy winter to sunny desert - so on this first painting I get acclimated!  Painting number 2591 in 2591 days.

Osage Orange

I'm using a fountain pen that has been hiding in one of my little used bags, and this pen was loaded with a mix of Cocoa Brown and Raven Black - both by Levenger.  I had forgotten I had done this in my quest for the perfect brown black ink!  Haha!  Well, it has a lovely color to it when wet, perfect for this winter landscape.  This is a miniature painting at only 3 inches square - and a perfect way to capture this old hedge apple tree down by the pond.  Painting number 2590 in 2590 days.

Hackberry in the Snow

Painting in this snowy landscape in rural Missouri is surreal.  It is always very quiet, as if the snow absorbs what little sound there is.  The wildlife is still, aside from a few birds flitting in the trees.  I am often so still while painting that squirrels will come quite close.  The sun popped through a bit, but the warming temps are melting the snow far too fast.  If only it would last a little longer.  Oils were made for painting snow - I especially had fun with my palette knife.  I sure can't use that knife with my inks or watercolors!!  Painting number 2589 in 2589 days.

Home through the Snow

Oh my, it felt great to pick my oils up again!!  With a fresh coat of snow on the ground overnight, I knew I would finally take out my oils today.  It was warmer than I anticipated and that snow was melting faster than I could paint it!  So, I worked small with my 5x7 thumb box easel and finished two while I was at it!  As for the color?  I felt like pushing blue today, and painting is all about expressing myself in my surroundings.  Perhaps tomorrow I'll be a little more true.....or not.  Painting number 2588 in 2588 days.

Cedar by the Road

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It is so fun to experiment with new art supplies!!  Love the feel of a new fountain pen in my hand, especially one as smooth as this one!  Trying to match the ink to the pen, I have loaded it with Robert Oster's Thunderstorm ink.  It does magical things  when water is added, bleeding to violet and turquoise.  Considered a blue black, it is the first one of this shade that I have tried.  I really like it.  I am definitely going to take a closer look at the other inks offered by Robert Oster.  They are stunning for artwork.  Painting number 2587 in 2587 days.

Row of Trees

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I'm so excited to get new inks and fountain pens in!!  With just a little light left, I loaded my pens with ink and headed outside!  Here, I am trying Robert Oster's Schwarz Rose ink in a TWSBI Eco T.  Love the pen, of course - it is a TWSBI, and I've never met a TWSBI I didn't like - even the simplest, cheapest TWSBI Go!  The ink is delightful!  With a little water from my water brushpen, those lovely turquoise and rose hues appear!  AND, this ink has a wonderful sparkle dust that leaves the tiniest hint of glimmer in those marks.  I like the flow and spread of the ink, and the fact that it looks truly black until I add a little water.  It is very fluid when sweeping across with water while it is wet.  I imagine that once dry, it will not move so well if at all.  Can't wait to try the other Robert Oster ink that arrived!  Painting number 2586 in 2586 days.

Hedgerow

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This ink is one that I blended with Levenger's Cocoa brown and Raven black ink in one of my fountain pens.  It has a rich warm black color until I add a little water, when it then shows it's brown side.  When I first used it, I thought I would run it out, and then fill with another ink.  But, now I kind of like the way it behaves in water, showing a more chromatic look of it's color.  Love playing with these inks in the landscape!!  Although, I do wish I had enough time to take my oils out in this winter beauty!  I am missing them!!  I hope to get back to them soon!!  Painting number 2585 in 2585 days.

Grand Cedar

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Playing with pen and ink again in this glorious winter wonderland!  I am using Colorverse Black Hole ink on this small 3x3 handmade paper.  The texture is rather fine, but the 100% cotton rag offers a good surface for this ink.  It spreads freely with a little water - and nothing is drying on this day!  I couldn't even put it away to hike back - it was too wet!  Painting number 2584 in 2584 days.

Old Hackberry in the Snow

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Oh what a gorgeous morning!!  A winter wonderland had arrived overnight - and I simply had to spend time in this beauty!!  After hiking a couple miles first, scouting all that I wanted to paint in the process, I came to this fabulous old hackberry.  It has always caught my attention and has made it's way into multiple paintings.  For the first time I notice some damage on the old tree, and a possible split on the other side.  Situated in the southwest pasture, it is very natural here - which I love!  There is nothing more tranquil than being surrounded by such beauty, without even getting in my car!  No buildings in site, just the natural state of the land as it would have been centuries ago.  Painting number 2583 in 2583 days.

Orchid Table

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This morning was our monthly painting event with the Art Mob - and it was at one of my favorite places - Suburban Lawn and Garden!  How could I possibly resist this gorgeous orchid table?  Well, obviously I couldn't!!  Using ink and watercolor to sketch these beauties on handmade paper from India.  I have the most wonderful offices!  Painting number 2582 in 2582 days.

Cedars by the Pond

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Beauty is all around us, even in winter.  Today I find that beauty down by the pond, while the snow blows.  Trying something new, I have wet my paper and while wet, drawn on my lines in ink - which I have again drawn the branches without looking at my paper.  I am using Colorverse Black Hole ink in my fountain pen, and it spreads and separates on the wet paper.  So much pink and purple can be seen in this seemingly black ink.  I didn't like it at first, but I now think it is well suited for these dark winter days.  I will be playing more with this technique, to see just what the ink can do.  Painting number 2581 in 2581 days.