The Girls

SOLD

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

SOLD

 

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

SOLD

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

SOLD

 

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. 

Golden Meadow Barn

 

I LOVE painting the drifts of wild mustard in the pasture before they fade away for another year. The seeds spring up in disturbed ground, sometimes in sweeping shades of yellow across the fiends.  I transplanted a few plants into my garden so I can harvest the greens for my salads. Their color is reaching peak and I think they'll fade before I return home from Augusta. This may be my last painting of them until next spring.  Painting number 5160 in 5160 days. 

Mustard Blooms

 

Who knew Green Mustard would have such beautiful blooms?!  I had been growing this hydroponically, and allowed the bolting plant to go to bloom to harvest the seed.  Wow!  What a show! The bloom stalks were so of of control that I snipped them off and set them in a vase to enjoy as cut flowers.  I can hardly wait to grow more of these delicious greens!  Painting number 5159 in 5159 days. 

Home Beyond the Daffodils

 

Happy Easter!  We had a few dry windows in this rainy Easter day celebration, and we took advantage of them!  The whole family was out for dinner, with Karen and Steve in from Australia.  We picked up chicks to surprise the kids and grandkids - and they were perfect indoor entertainment during the rainy spells.  We've just started to build a chicken coop, and I sure hope we get it done before they outgrow their brooder box.  It's been a great day of making memories with the family, and another blessed Easter celebration.  Painting number 5158 in 5158 days. 

Golden Bloom at the Milk Barn

This rainy, moody day is the perfect backdrop for painting the wild mustard shining in the pasture!  Each year, I look forward to the golden drifts, hoping they will line up with something beautiful in the background.  This is a lucky year and I've only got one shot at it.  They will have faded by the time I return home from Augusta.  Painting number 5157 in 5157 days. 

Tulip Tree Blooms

 

I love painting the delicate petals of our tulip tree as they lift upward on the branch - so lovely they are!  We are expecting heavy rains tonight through Sunday, so many of these blooms will fall.  This time of year is beautiful in the garden, and I can hardly wait to see what opens up next!  Painting number 5156 in 5156 days. 

Daffodils Mini

 

The last of my daffodils are blooming and I just had to get a quick sketch before they fade for another year!  This has been a truly glorious spring for them - I can't reminder a better one!  After another long day of gardening and housework, I am squeezing a tiny painting of these lovelies! Even the tiniest painting break rejuvenates me for the long list of chores ahead.  Thank heavens for these shiny moments!  Painting number 5155 in 5155 days. 

Lilac Wonder

 

In a day full of gardening chores - I just had to take a break for these beauties!   Grandma's lilacs are still blooming, and mellowing into a pinker shade!  As the lavender shades fade to pink, I bring my oils out for this one.  The bright blue sky is the perfect backdrop for these sunlit blooms, and I take advantage of every minute because I may not get another chance to paint them until next year.  Painting number 5154 in 5154 days. 

Pink Tulips

 

I LOVE squeezing in a quick painting of my pink tulips on this very busy day!  I wish they would last for months instead of days, but our strong winds are tossing them about!  I plant these fragrant beauties each year, but they don't multiply like my daffodils do.  In fact, they seem to sink into the ground and simply cease to flower after a couple of years.  I'm going to enjoy them while I can, and immortalize them in my paintings, because too soon they will fade away.  Painting number 5153 in 5153 days. 

Orange Pansies

 

I'm planting more pansies and painting them, too!  I can't wait to get all my newest blooms into the ground!  After a morning of planting, weeding and mulching, it seems the chores are longer than my available hours, and it is often a challenge to squeeze in a painting.  On days like this, I choose a small substrate to get my painting fix out quickly.  And just like that, I'm back to gardening, potting up some seedlings and starting a few new seeds, too.  Painting number 5152 in 5152 days. 

Purple Pansies

 

Pansies are the sweetest flowers to paint in my garden, and this is the time of year when they are just getting started.  I've started putting hours into the beds again, so my sweet reward is a little sketch after my day's work is done.  Spring is such a beautiful time is rebirth, and I'm going to try to sketch every new bloom to unfold...... until I get too busy, lol! Painting number 5151 in 5151 days. 

Redbud Butterfly

 

Grandmother's old redbuds are blooming, and i just had to paint the butterflies drawn to their vivid pink blooms!  I have a special journal that I'm sketching much nature into, and I'm hoping to paint all is my perennial favorites. We're busy working outside before some of the family head over - and i better get back to work!  I'm transplanting lillies, phlox and dame's rocket today! Painting number 5150 in 5150 days. 

Lilac and Butterfly

My lilacs are so late to bloom, I thought the freeze had nipped their blooms. But alas, they started showing color, and now are blooming!  The north side is a little bare, but the south is glorious and so very fragrant! These cloudless sulphur butterfly had just started visiting my flowers!  These lilacs were planted by my grandmother many years ago.  They were mature when I was just a child.  I can remember coming out with her to smell their heady fragrance when I was very small, pulling the blooms right to my nose to inhale deeply.  I think I get my love of growing all things from her.  I feel close to her in her garden, and hope she would love all that I've added though the years. Painting number 5148 in 5148 days.