Clouds over the Landscape

Clouds over the Landscape
Oil on canvas, 7x5

What a beautiful day - warm and windy!  With the windows open and the fresh air in the house, it almost feels like spring has truly arrived after a long, cold winter!  I am painting small today, only 7x5, as once again my painting window is small.  As i work this one, I am again reminded how I dislike canvas.  I am almost out of small surfaces, and I must get all my other panels prepared for the upcoming plein air events on my schedule.  Painting every day ensures that I quickly run through supplies of all kinds!  This is painting number 455 in as many days :)

First Daffodil

First Daffodil
Oil on panel, 7x5

I though I should capture this first daffodil in oils, as it will certainly not last for long.  It has popped up very close to the walk, and our new little puppy has twice tried to bite at it in passing.  The bright yellow bloom bobbing in the wind is an enticing as a toy to him!  Wanting to paint this one small, as I have a full day ahead, I chose the 7x5 inch canvas which had not yet been primed.  Washing it with a little paint and oil for some color, I painted directly on the canvas until all areas were blocked in.  With a loose finish, this is the 454th painting in as many days.  I'm so thankful for the warmer days!

Lover's Leap Landslide

Landslide at Lover's Leap
Oil on panel, 6x12

Trying to get my work done with a new puppy is like having a baby around again!  Everything I do must be done in little spurts - with lots of interruptions.  Today, I am capturing another of Missouri's little known events in history - the Landslide at Lover's Leap in Hannibal, Missouri.  Wanting to show the height of this landmark, I am painting on a tall vertical panel for this scene.  Using an orange primed surface, I've allowed little pops of color to show through here and there for added energy.  Painting number 453 in 453 days.  Following - the story of the event.

Terrific Landslide near Hannibal, Mo

Jan 13, 1859

The Hannibal MO Messenger states that a great landslide took place a few days since at Lover’s Leap, near that city. From the top of the bluff, for some four hundred years, the entire mass of earth has slid some forty or fifty feet, carrying in its wake trees, stumps, and everything in fact that offered any impediment to its wild career. It must, indeed, have been a grand sight to witness this awful avalanche of upwards of 100,000 square yards, whirling down the steep descent with the speed of a hurricane, and a rumbling almost to that of thunder. From ten to twelve dirt cars were smashed to pieces, and many of their axles (four inches in diameter, and of solid iron) were snapped like so many reeds, others were bent completely double, and the bodies of the cars scattered hither and yon.

Millerites Await the Second Coming

Millerites Await the Second Coming
Oil on panel, 10x8

Another slice of Missouri's history, this painting depicts the October 22, 1844 event where the followers of William Miller came together on Lover's Leap in Hannibal, Missouri.  I had to do a little research for this painting, as I had never heard of Millerites before.  These people left their fields and crops, donned white robes and climbed to the top of Lover's Leap to look east across the Mississippi for the Second Coming of Christ.  They were disappointed.  It is a curious thing to look back in history and see the events that took place, and link them with specific locations.  It seems to breathe life into the history.  Painting number 452 in as many days.

Indian Maiden at Lover's Leap

Indian Maiden at Lover's Leap
Graphite on bristol, 11x14

Plague in Hannibal, Missouri

Today's work is a tribute to the legend of the star-crossed indian lovers at Lover's Leap in Hannibal, Missouri.  This one is drawn in graphite on bristol. When I was doing so much graphite work while my dad was in the hospital, I had chosen my very favorite tools - putting them all in a narrow little zip-up bag I could keep in a tote with my bristol pad.  Having my supplies with me, I could then work whenever the opportunity presented itself.  Well, I have since unloaded that tote, and I can not find my little bag of supplies!  While it is true, I have many supplies......I totally miss my favs!  One thing I must replace is a black inktense watersoluable pencil for those absolutely black details that simply can't be attained with only graphite.  And, there is nothing like well-worn tortillions already loaded with gaphite for that great shading.  I know they will turn up somewhere......I probably unpacked and repacked that tote for a school field trip, laying the bag aside in a remote place!  This piece makes 451 in as many days.....now on to the next with only a little time before the kids come home!

Sharla and Lulu

Sharla and Lulu
Oil on panel, 10x8
sold

I had Alastair again today, and after classes this morning (Zumba and Intervals for me and Ready, Set, Grow for Alastair), we were home only shortly before going to the Play Place.  I have been gone all day!  Finally returning to my easel, much later than planned, I am looking over yesterday's work.  After a few added touches, I think this may just be finished.  Since the rain has now started and I am again painting in sub-standard light, I won't really be sure until tomorrow.  I really need to get some more daylight bulbs for painting at night. For portrait work - it really is a necessity!  Still painting number 450 - which means I now have to get busy on today's work :)

Sharla and Lulu - in progress

In progress..

More than halfway...

Today, I am working on this painting for a dear friend who has recently lost her beloved pet.  One of my closest high school friends, it is important for me to capture these two in a painting to cherish.  Pretty new to this oil portrait work, I seem to start differently on different pieces.  On this one, I started as I start every graphite portrait - with the eyes first.  Additionally, I work top left corner to bottom right - it is easier to keep off the paper when working in graphite, since the oil left from my hand will alter the way the paper takes the medium.  Now, I guess it has just become a habit.  I want to get all of the important parts right before adding in the surrounding landscape.  I chose to work on this primed background, since there will be a green landscape behind the figures and this underpainting will add energy to the paint.  The beautiful coat of little Lulu has so much variation in the color - it has been a little challenging to get it just right!  I actually think I am close to finished on this, but as it is now dark, I just could not get accurate color on my photo of it.  So, I will wait for daylight to post the finished painting.  It is always a good idea to wait for the fresh eyes of morning to look over a painting.  I may find something else to tweak before I get that second photo.  Painting number  450 in as many days.

Back in the Saddle

Back in the Saddle
Charcoal on pastel paper, 9x11

Drawing again from reference photos I took during our civil war reenactment, this is one of the soldiers (Chris Stockton) riding with Quantrill on their way to Lawrence.  This old charcoal medium lends itself well to these historic renderings.  I am using the powdered charcoal for most of the background work and the early shading on the horse.  For tight areas, I have used a charcoal pencil and small paper tortillions dipped in the charcoal for applying the powder exactly where needed.  I have always preferred graphite for these drawings, largely because of the very refined finish I can achieve with it.  But, as I work with this darker, messier medium, I find I like the earthy coarseness of it.  It somehow adds a rawness and deep dark shading that graphite could never reach.  I also used a color of pastel paper that has an aged look to it, almost a pinkish tan - and I like it.  I toyed with using a sepia tinted charcoal pencil, but decided against it as the powder would simply not match (and I am still playing with my new supplies!).  This drawing makes 449 pieces if art in 449 days.

A Smile While Sleeping

A Smile While Sleeping
Oil on panel, 6x6
not for sale

This little darling is the daughter of a friend who grew up in my son Tyler's class, and whose mother is a dear friend of mine.  She was born two months early, and today we celebrated her with a shower of gifts. Wanting to do something special, I searched through baby photos to find just the right one with such a sweet expression.  There is just somehing about babies that tugs at my heartstrings!  Baby Bryley's skin is so beautiful - and was a joy to capture in oils.  Wishing the whole family a lifetime of joy with this sweetheart!  Painting number 448 in as many days.

The Long Ride

The Long Ride
Charcoal on pastel paper, 8x10

Wanting to work on this image today, I chose the "vintage" medium of charcoal.  Having learned so much about drawing when a child using this medium, I have only done a sprinkling of these charcoals in recent years, and am exploring a bit with paper.  Passing over the bristol, I had these Strathmore pastel sheets in assorted colors - and picked a white one.  I don't think I've ever used them.  Right off the bat, I didn't like the texture - like tiny pockets all over the surface.  Since the tooth should aid the charcoal - I forged ahead.  I got an early birthday present from my middle son - powdered charcoal - and I tried it out on this piece!  The really cool thing about the powdered charcoal is that I can dip my finger in and spread it on for quick coverage of larger areas.  I even dipped a tortillion in and spread it directly on the surface of the paper.  Wonderful control of a messy medium!  I drew this with reference that I took the day of the civil war reenactment last August - this man acting as Quantrill.  This is artwork number 447 in 447 days. So fun to play with new supplies!

Vintage Geraniums

Vintage Geraniums
Oil on canvas, 6x6
sold

Just a quick little paint tonight, as I have had a full and exhausting day!  Geraniums are one of my favorite flowers, and this one is painted with loose strokes.  I have given this one a vintage feel by changing the colors just a bit, as though looking back in time.  Today was warm and windy, but tomorrow should bring back a couple of days of cold weather - yuck!  I am ready for every day to be in the 70's and sunny!  This makes painting number 446 in as many days :)

Michaela

Michaela
oil on panel, 8x10

This was such a busy day!  Starting with switching out art this morning, right to Zumba and piyo classes, and then to a day of shopping for a prom dress at the mall!  By the time I finally returned home, I didn't know what to paint.  I missed a plein air paint in the Jazz District, and returned home too late to make figure drawing.   I looked through some reference material, and since I have been studying portrait and figure work - I thought I would try my hand on another painting of my daughter.  (I think she is getting a little tired of me using her for a model...)  My focus on this one is attention to the colors of the planes of the skin, softening and diffusing the farther from the face.  I'm trying to accurately portray the hues that I see, concentrating on REALLY looking at the skin tones.  There is so much to this portrait painting! There are so many nuances of skin, it is all painting the light and how it falls on each plane. I worked a little longer on this one than I normally do on a daily paint, but that study time is time well spent - each stroke a lesson learned. This painting makes 445 in as many days.

Morning Orange

Morning Orange
Oil on canvas, 7x5

Almost every morning of my adult life, I have an orange before starting my day.  I never peel it though, I prefer to slice it - not to eat the white membranes encasing each section.  Turns out that these little white bits are also a challenge to paint.  I had the best luck by loading up the palette knife and pulling the paint over the top of the orange, using the colors to show the translucency of the fruit.  Still life painting is not my forte, but it is fun to mix up the routine and challenge myself with something new!  Painting number 444 in 444 days - now on to play with the grandsons!

By the Window

By the Window
Oil on panel, 8x10
Tri County mini-workshop

My youngest daughter modeled for the Tri County Art League today for a mini-workshop. I was showing the group the basics on drawing the figure - measuring constantly by holding your paintbrush out at arm's length, matching equal measurements and translating that to the panel.  Once the sketch was drawn, it was time for darkest darks and lightest lights.  Michaela was positioned with north light from the large bank windows on her, with wall just behind her - giving her a dramatic lighting.  The members progressed quickly - and many had good likenesses before leaving the meeting!  Michaela was a great model, keeping her pose for long periods with just a small break in between.  Since this was part of a regular meeting day - we only had and hour and a half to get down the basics.  Painting from life is just so much better than painting from a photo, somehow - life is breathed into a painting just by having the subject sitting in front of me.  This one makes painting number 443 in 443 days.  What do you think of the loose brushwork?  I kind of like it....not sure if I should tighten it up or not.....

Orange Study

Orange Study
Oil on panel, 6x6
not for sale

Not quite finished, but its getting late, so this must be my daily post.  I am studying the work of Lisa Gloria today, and this is from one of her demos and the reference photo she supplied.  My focus here is on sensitive strokes.  I have never painted a peeled orange before, and this orange gave me fits!  The membrane on the orange is so challenging - and painting at night is also a disadvantage, as I don't have daylight to paint by.  Oh well, it is spring break this week, and everything is off schedule!  I think tomorrow I will soften some of it's hard edges, as it does not have the same feel as the bowl and loose surroundings.  I think I'll also add a little blue for energy.  This is painting number 442 in as many days.  Wishing I had plein air painted on this day instead!

The Banks of Kill Creek

The Banks of Kill Creek
Oil on panel, 12x6
MVIS Paint Out

This is my second painting of the MVIS paint out yesterday - the creek in the opposite direction from my first one.  The clouds were starting to move in, and the light had changed considerably from my first paint of the day.  I was again set up on the rocky creek bed, with minnows swimming the the shallow still water to my right - as the water rippled over the rocks to my left.  I could paint all day surrounded with such music and gentle distraction.  This time, I was looking away from the sun, instead of into the sun - which was a welcome relief to my eyes.  I wore my hat to block out the sun's direct light, but the whole landscape is illuminated in a different way when the sunlight is coming at you.  The colors were more readily visible for this paint, and although spring has not yet touched the plant life much, a little color is beginning in the water as well as a little glow to the atmosphere.  This was such a peaceful location, I could have stayed all day if only I'd had the time!  Painting number 440 in as many days :)

Around the Bend

Around the Bend
Oil on panel, 10x8

There just couldn't be a more beautiful day for plein air painting! Jo Cunningham graciously hosted the Missouri Valley Impressionist Society today at her home in Olathe.  The rolling acres of woods led down to this amazing view of Kill Creek - and I painted it in two different directions.  As I so often do, I picked the absolute farthest location from where the house was - down a rather steep hill through the woods, across a pasture, and onto the grounds of Kill Creek Park - to walk down the side of the metal bridge to the creek bed!  But - oh - the creek was so worth the long haul!   It felt SO good to be out in nature, soaking up every sight and sound channeling the experience into my painting.  The creek babbled over rocks to my right, as I was set up in the rocky creek bed.  The water level is low - so I was able to set up on the rocky beds in the middle of the creek, which is one of my favorite places to paint from!  I saw my first tiny frog of the season, and the water is just starting to show a little green - and that means spring is coming!!  This was truly a day well spent - painting number 439 in as many days :)

Licking her Chops

Licking her Chops
Oil on panel, 10x8

This is our new little addition.  The family picked her out last week and she is a red lab.  We brought her home last night.  The last day of finals for my daughter was today, and this little darling made so much noise all night - that I found my daughter sleeping downstairs -  having vacated her room!  Puppy is sweet as can be - yet unnamed, and at only 6 weeks old - she is gigantic!  Since I have been her babysitter most of the day - she is my painting subject tonight!  I'm back to my primed panels - and after laying in all the lights on her, I then went in with the darks (which were minimal).  I've got family coming by in minutes - so this makes painting number 438 in as many days :)

Magnolia in Bloom

Magnolia in Bloom
Oil on panel, 6x6

The sun is shining, the temperature is coming up, and it is a beautiful day to work in the garden.  I have had a full plate today, only able to find a small painting window before the afternoon picks up again - not to let up until bedtime!  After picking Michael up from track, we have closing ceremonies for basketball, followed by picking up our new puppy - with the grandkids coming over for some play time!  I'm SO glad it is warm out!  My tulip tree is not yet in bloom, but the buds are swollen with the promise of their giant flowers!  I tried several times before finally finding a tree that would survive the harsh winters here - and it is a glorious pink one!  Not sure if I'm done with this or not - I'll look with fresh eyes tomorrow! This is painting number 437 in as many days.  I wonder what our little cats will think of the new arrival....

Hanging in the Barn

Hanging in the Barn
Oil on canvas, 6x8

Exploring in the milk barn has been an adventure since my childhood days.  With my brother, or distant cousins, we would sneak over as soon as the cattle had cleared the field.  I never did want to be in the pasture with those very large animals!  So many cool old things could be found in the barn.  These items still hang on nails in the milk barn, left there by my grandmother many years ago.  I love the old nails poking out from the interior barn wall, with their small treasures just waiting to be pulled down and used.  I have painted this one on an unprimed canvas, only because it was the right size for the composition.  I really need to prime those new canvases - because I keep picking them up and using them as-is!  I did have to fight the weave a bit, I much prefer a light texture of my own application to paint on.  Getting into the rhythm once again of darkest darks and lightest lights, this one came together easily.  As white was the underlying color - I had to cover every speck with paint.  When I start with a tinted panel, there is no need to cover the whole thing, and I even like the unity of the tint popping through in random places.  Maybe I will finally prime those babies tomorrow!  Painting number 436 in as many days - hoping the warm weather returns tomorrow!