Art Party on Genessee

I love returning to the Historic West Bottoms for the 3rd annual Heritage Days Plein Air event - even in extreme wind! I started this day by teaching a three hour workshop on Sketching in the Urban Landscape. I love getting to share my skills with others en plein air.  Afterward, I participated in the first quick paint of the event. It was a fun evening of visiting even as the wind delivered a beating!  I'm looking forward to calmer days ahead!  Painting number in days. 

Chicken Talk

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I have had a whole chicken theme woven through my Augusta Plein Air work this season!  I painted several places with chickens - and I'm especially drawn to them since we got our own special chicks for Easter weekend!  So, as I learn about raising chickens, I am compelled to paint them everywhere I see them!  I'm so happy this one will live with my host family at Augusta Shores!  Painting number in days. When will I ever look that number up?  Who knows - I'm to busy painting! 

Stroll through the Garden

I had a perfect spot in the shade of an old crabapple, in the rock path herb garden from which to paint.  A cool breeze came across the lake, refreshing as the day warmed up.  Walkers along the path visited before moving on, and it was a joy to paint while surrounded with the sights and fragrance of the garden.  I do love painting here at the Overland Park Arboretum, and I wish I could paint here more.  This is a peaceful, thoughtful place to spend immersed in flowers and paint.  I plan to submit this one to the Rice Gallery, along with a couple more yet unpainted!  Painting number in days. 

Evening on Walnut

I didn't remember to take a photo of this until I got it framed in my trunk!  It was a lovely evening for Movie Night in Augusta, complete with wine and food trucks, as well as other vendors. Standing on the corner of Walnut and Ferry streets.  I wonder how the river front looked when the ferry arrived, before the wide Missouri shifted away from the town.  This historic street is magical at night, full of small town charm as many visit as I paint. Nocturnes are always fun - and a surprise when you see them in daylight!  Painting number in days and this one is now showing at Gallery Augusta. 

Chicken Parade

 

As a new chick Mama, I have gravitated towards chickens all week! They are the sweetest little creatures!  I love their cooing noises and the way they sit on my boots and cluster around my feet!  I've painted 3 chicken coops already, and  am looking forward to all the chicken paintings yet to come! Painting number in days. This one is now available at Gallery Augusta on Walnut in Augusta, Missouri.  

Montelle Sunset

Sometimes, all you need is 20 minutes and a challenge to paint from the committee. I arrived very late from the Mystery Paint, with only 30 minutes to turn in. When I walked into the room to see the work already turned in, I mentioned that I'd intended to paint, but now I don't think so. One of those girls - I think it was Vicki - said, "I challenge you to do that painting! "  Well, how could I possibly walk away from that? Walking to the car that was too far away, I pulled out my ink and watercolors - and painted that gorgeous sunset as fast as i could! With only enough time to frame and turn in, I rushed in my painting, tagged and hung it, and turned to the girls and said, "Challenge accepted!"  Another fun plein air memory for the book!  Now showing at Gallery Augusta.  Painting number in days. 

Inspired on Walnut

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This church on the corner of Walnut and Public is a local icon.  My Aunt Diana and children attended this church back in the 70s, with fond memories of candlelight services and special times.  Every year, I admire it's beautiful lines and welcoming spirit. After each final judging turn in, all artists are invited to share a pancake breakfast in the building on the far right. It's a wonderful time of fellowship before setting up for the wet paint sale immediately afterward. I don't remember painting this before, but I will be adding it to the line up in years to come.  It is a very special place.  Painting number in days - when will I get to my computer to check this - lol?!

Clydesdales

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It was so fun to sketch these clydesdales before the paintout, adding watercolor before heading back to town.  I have never gotten the chance to paint clydesdales before, and I know my young 12 year old self would be thrilled at such a thing! I loved finding their forms with ink, and then filling them in with watercolor.  This was rather loose and fresh with my limited time. This painting was snapped up before it ever got a chance to hang - and i love when that happens!  Painting number in days. 

Art Party at the Barn

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I love painting the coolest places, and I'm honored to have won the Broadview Valley Sponsor Award for this painting. Some paintings just fall off the brush, but not this one.  Three times the rain sent me ducking for cover under the eve of that barn.  I lost the cap of a favorite pen, only to find it on my third time back at my spot. I would have switched to oils when the rain started early in the paintout, but our car was a long way away. I walked that distance to get my rain gear (which I didn't think I'd need). I didn't feel like my painting was finished, but I was out of time.  I walked up to the car to frame and back down to turn in, barely making the deadline.  This one was a battle, in a beautiful, peaceful, very rainy place, and I still loved the process of it all. Our hosts were gracious and delightful, and I'm so happy they chose my painting for their award. Painting number in days.... my blogger app has changed, and I can no longer toggle between posts.  So, one day, I'll have to get in my computer and catch up on my numbers, lol. Silly technology, changing my apps to a lesser version of their former selves.....

Girl Talk

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I LOVE hanging out with my peeps in Augusta - and this painting has a new home there, too! It seems I've gone a little chicken crazy during this plein air festival!  Our little chicks at home are now 3 weeks old - and I am migrating to all chickens and coops at our paint outs!  After my larger paintings at each coop scene, I've gotten a chance to sketch a small one, too.  I put this into the Golden Ticket event - and it sold that night. I guess I'm not the only one crazy for chickens!  Painting number in days. 

Just Us Chickens

As I painted these sweet chickens at the yellow chicken coop, several nestled beside my pink boots, chatting me up with their cooing sounds. I'd peep to them, and they'd peep back.  If I peeped twice, they'd peep twice - just like we were having a conversation!  I am drawn to these chickens now, and the Hoffman Farm is a wonderful place to paint them!

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Vineyard Walk

Briefly, the sky brightened to a peachy hue, and I captured it in paint before the downpour! Sugar Creek Winery is a lovely place to gather and paint!  This will be at my wet paint sale on Saturday from noon to 4 in the town center of Augusta, Missouri. Come see my paintings of the week!  Painting number 5170 in 5170 days. 

The Girls

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I was so excited to paint these sweet chickens that I forgot to take a photo on site.  When I walked out into the Harmonie Verein for the pop-up gallery, it was snapped up before I could even tag it. So, I had no record of it until I reached out to the buyer to send a photo of it my way.  I've done this three times this week - and one was in New Melle. I'm so happy everything is selling, but I seriously need to focus on getting those pics on site!  Painting number......?

After the Rain

I have painted this view many times through the years, perched on the hill at Sugar Creek Winery.  After painting another view, framing, and turning it in, I turned my easel towards the Missouri River Bottoms once more.  A downpour had washed the landscape clean, and the whole landscape glistened. It has been an amazing day for painting and i can't wait to do it again tomorrow!  Painting number 5166 in 5166 days. 

Falls by the Bluff

 

Wow!  What a glorious scene to paint!  I actually first saw this place last year during the Augusta Plein Air Art Festival, but didn't have time to paint it.  So, upon returning to this lovely community, it was the very first thing I wanted to paint.  It was worth every minute of painting in the wind and rain! Painting number 5166 in 5166 days. 

Perch on the Hill

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Today's event was a Mystery Paint, which means we sign up for a secret location Paint Out, and we're caravanned out to the location at paint time.  This farm was such a treat to paint, and the hosts were so gracious and welcoming.  I'm so lucky to get to see and paint such wonderful locations.   I'm  happy this painting was awarded an Honorable Mention  - and that it has a new home with the lovely owners!  What an amazing place to paint! Painting number 5165 in 5165 days  

Flag Flying at Noboleis

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Would you believe a tour bus arrived uninvited to block my view, and I had to walk up 50 feet to get this photo....... while that bus ran idling for hours... It was otherwise a lovely event with live music, a delicious breakfast and beauty to paint in every direction.  If only that bus hadn't been so silly!  Painting number 5164 in 5164 days. 

Spring on Augusta Village Pl

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I got drenched painting this one in the rain, as did my palette and pochade box.  I had to keep dumping the water out of both just to finish my painting!  When I know rain is getting close, I try to cover my panel as quickie as possible with paint, leaving no bare surface.  Whatever doesn't get oil paint on it absorbs the rain and humidity, and resists further oil application.  So, the tiny bits that i missed had to dry before I could add more paint.  Through the struggle of it all, I finished with a painting I am happy with!  Painting number 5163 in 5163 days. 

Augusta Homestead

 

What a lovely way to start the morning in Augusta!  With an hour and a half of spare time before heading to Sunflower Hill Farm, I couldn't resist painting this grand building with the vineyard rows leading toward it.  It feels so European here, just painting the scene transported me to another place and time.  It feels wonderful to be painting in Augusta again!  Painting number 5162 in 5162 days. 

Milk Barn Forsythia

 

I love painting the bright blooms of forsythia in front of the old milk barn, and moody days make the best backdrop!  I planted this forsythia at the corner of this corral with the intention of painting in one day.  Here, it has grown to full glory and literally makes this composition magical.  I'm already thinking of new places to move it to, with future paintings in mind.  Painting number 5161 in 5161 days.