Into the Woods

What fun to embrace a new painting challenge - Nature on Nature - for the Steelville Plein Air event!  Choosing a sheet of birch bark from many other items, I took mine into the woods surrounding Wildwood Springs Lodge to paint.  The bark had several rough openings and a grain that ran throughout, so I tried to line up those trees to use those scars to best advantage.  It was so fun!  I gessoed the top with clear gesso before beginning, then painted with rather thick paint - because that bark was absorbent!  It did curl up on me in my hot car the next two days so I had to weigh it down with rocks in the sun back at my cottage!  Who knew this would be such an adventure?  I would do it again in a heartbeat!  I brought this one home from the gallery.  It's such a unique piece, I think I'll keep this one!  Painting number 3090 in 3090 days. 

Morning Light on the Falls

What fun I have had this summer as I explore the springs of Missouri!  Standing in that cold water at water's edge, in my rubber boots, is delightful on those very hot days!  The clear water offers me so much opportunity to describe the underwater surface in paint - a subject I've found very challenging through the years.  I find that an I really need to do is paint what I see from a squint - and all else falls into place.  I love delving into these large paintings and getting lost in the landscape.  What an amazing way to spend the day!  Painting number 3089 in 3089 days.  This one is showing at the Cathy Kline Art Gallery in Parkville for the MVIS Signature Show through the end of July.

Twilight Sunflowers

Whenever I come upon a field full of sunflowers, it absolutely takes my breath away.  Traveling the backroads of Missouri, these beauties were turning their heads toward the fading sun.  I had to paint it.  This is one that I did a small color study of on sight, to paint larger when I had the luxury of time. I rarely do this, but with so little light left I simply had no other option.  The result is a painting that sings of the twilight moments I spent on the roadside, capturing the fleeting beauty of sunflowers in bloom.  Painting number 3087 in 3087 days.  This one now showing at Music Art Love Gallery in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri. 

Falling Water in the Garden

I love to immerse myself in a beautiful place, and then paint it!  I'm SO lucky to get to do this EVERY SINGLE DAY!  When I'm in Sainte Genevieve, I stay at the amazing Main Street Inn B&B, and I am spoiled.  This time my husband and my mom joined me, and we have made it a long getaway weekend!  The garden at this place is inspiring, so today finds me back in the water garden, capturing the beauty in oils.  We spent the morning and early afternoon at the Honey Bee Festival, so when mom wanted to rest and recharge back in her room for a while, I seized the opportunity to paint!  What a lovely day it has been!  Love when I can blend family fun with painting time, and shop the unique shops all in the same day!  Painting number 3086 in 3086 days. 

Hereford Quartet

 

Red Rockers on the Porch

I love the nostalgia of rockers on a front porch, especially at a gorgeous historic inn like this one!  Main Street Inn has always been an inn, dating back to the early days of Sainte Genevieve.  What's even better is when someone brings an historic place back to life, restoring it and bringing it to glory.  Such a place must be painted!  Mom and I enjoyed our stay here last September, and we will all be enjoying many other stays here, as it is the very best B and B I've ever stayed in. Lovely place to spend some time. Painting number 3085 in 3085 days.  This painting opens tomorrow night at Music Art Love Gallery in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri.  Meet and Greet from 5:00 to 9:00 during the Fourth Friday Art Walk!

Lower Falls at Westover

The back roads of Missouri are full of wonderful creeks and falls to paint.  Down one such road south of Steelville, the treasure of Westover Farms awaits. The cool spring water tumbles over rocks as trout swim beneath the surface.  Though the day was hot, painting near the water was refreshing as the wind came across the water. I even waded into that cold water in my rubber boots to cool off my feet!  Delightful!  I could have painted this place for days, and still only capture a fraction of it's beauty! Painting number 3084 in 3084 days. 

Snowfall at the Creek

 I was getting this painting ready to take to the gallery, and I had not written on the back. I often skip this step in the winter, I just want to get packed up and out of the cold. So, I looked back on my blog to find my post, with the date and name I would have given it at the time.  I looked at each winter month, and nothing. I searched my blog for the location and key tags - also nothing.  I found the photo I took of the ink sketch and the place before I painted in oil, and then I found this photo in my phone, unshared.  This is one of my favorite winter paintings, and I didn't even post it.  I don't think I have ever forgotten to post such a large painting, this one is 24x18.  I am entering this painting along with several others into the MVIS Signature Show at the Cathy Kline Art Gallery in Parkville for July. Who knows what number this painting really was, but I'm giving it today's number - 3083 in 3083 days. 

Lakeside Impressions

Today found me along the bank of the lake at Shawnee Mission Park.  Drawn to the rounded masses of marsh grass, I began my composition looking towards the morning sun.  Marking my lights and darks, I worked toward the midtones as I described the scene with my paint.  The rocks under water in the foreground offered a place to pull the eye into the painting. I've painted rocks under water several times in the last couple weeks, with the warm summer gold of water this time of year.  I will have to return here to paint, there is so much more I could say with my brush!  Painting number 3082 in 3082 days. 

At Home on the Farm

I drove all over this place before coming back to this spot to paint.  My second painting of the day, i started with my oils in the morning.  The morning light was so strong, I had to work in oils first!  The light had softened as I started the ink drawing, and I also shifted my position to gain a better composition.  I found a pocket of shade on this very hot day, and sketched my scene from there.  The family came by a couple times as I worked close to the road, and I'd lift it up for them to see as they passed!  It's so fun to be out among others creating art again!  I really missed that last year!  Painting number 3081 in 3081 days. 

Sunflower Medley

I just had to post this photo of my trusty companion rounding the flower bed between my easel and subject!  I had just lowered the painting for a better shot, when here he comes again - not minding that I'm in his way at all!  He kept circling this bed like there was something in it!  He often makes big circles around me while I'm outside painting, checking back in often.  I just never know what kind of antics he'll engage in.  Just two weeks ago he brought a live fawn to the yard to play with!  I had a very hard time getting him away from that fawn, so it could run back to it's waiting mother!  Country life is never dull!  Painting number 3080 in 3080 days.  This one will be dropped off in a gallery next week, I just haven't decided which one, yet. 

Bridge Garden

I've never painted this remote garden in the arboretum, but the wonderful drift of yellow blooms called me in.  The small bridge with trickling water was very pleasant to paint by, and made for an interesting composition.  This was Tri-County day at the arboretum, and it was fun to meet my artist friends there to paint!  I hoped to paint the waterfall after this, but the water was not running from the lake.  Maybe next time!  Painting number 3079 in 3079 days. 

303 Main - Inked

I love sketching the charming houses on Main Street in Steelville.  Staying right down the drive, I had to slip out early for a quick sketch before the art show!  This place is now home to Heartland Arts - and showcases the work of local artists.  There is even space for artist housing inside!  What a wonderful way for this vintage place to thrive in the community!  Painting number 3078 in 3078 days.  This ink drawing is now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville, Missouri. 

Maramec Spring

The turquoise water of Maramec Spring is hypnotic, and calls to me like a siren song!  This park is one place I MUST paint whenever I am close, and I made a little time for it while in Steelville.  Painting by the cold spring water is very comfortable this time of year, and the very saturated color of the water is a joy to paint. I just happen to still have Prussian blue in my palette (from a November portrait study) and it is the perfect blue to mix for this water!  The eagles weren't fishing here today, I've seen one each time I've painted here before.  Time flies when I'm painting, and I spent a little longer here than I anticipated.  Wish I had time to paint the other two large panels I brought with me!  I guess they'll have to wait until next time.  Painting number 3077 in 3077 days.  Not sure why some recent posts did not actually post.  Possibly a connecting issue, and I'll have to go back and fix it when I've got the time.  This painting now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville. 

Mother's Lilies

In late November, I plucked these bulbs from my mother's garden, as we prepared to move her back to Missouri.  They flourish now in my garden growing and multiplying each year as I move them to other spaces.  As I paint, the memories of the move and all that surrounded it come back to me.  Though I am painting, my mind races on, reliving past days in vivid memory.  I'm so thankful to have Mom living close to me now, and happy to make so many new memories together with the family.  But each year as these bloom, I step back in time for a little while.  Painting number 3075 in 3075 days. 

Westover Farms

Westover Farms is such an amazing place to paint!  A gorgeous trout farm and resort, fishermen dot the landscape casting and moving along the water.  Here, I am looking over the lake as the spring runs along my right side.  It is so peaceful and quiet, it is a joy to sketch this place, even in the heat.  I intended to also go down to paint the spring as it ran under the stone bridge, but I ran out of time.  There never seems to be enough time for painting.  Painting number 3074 in 3074 days. This painting now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville, Missouri. 

Bird's Nest Bridge

I just had to sketch this iconic Bird's Nest Bridge before heading out of Steelville!  

Morning at Wurdack Farm

What joy it was to arrive at our private paint out on this amazing Wurdack Farm!  Driving down two roads on this property, I decided on painting young cows in their corral at a different white barn.  I turned around, grabbed my gear, and they had disappeared into the woods behind the barn!   Loving this scene as I scouted the place, I returned to paint it.  I love the dramatic way the farm sits just behind that ridge!  It was so fun to visit with the family that lives here, as they drove all over the countryside to find us artists scattered to the wind! I enjoyed this so much, I moved down to the fence to draw this scene from a slightly different vantage in ink.  If only I worked faster, I could have made it to the spring to paint, too!  Painting number 3072 in 3072 days. 

Quilt on the Line

After first sketching the a sweep of the land - house and all outbuildings in ink,  I turned my attention to the lovely backyard scene of chickens and a quilt on the line.  The chickens rounded the house three times for me, allowing me to get their likenesses painted.  They were quick when passing by, so I really had to paint fast before they popped out of view!  Such a peaceful spot, I lost myself in the process of painting.  I spent a little longer than usual on this, but this place had so much to say!  Love these glorious painting days!  Painting number 3070 in 3070 days. 

Looking Over the Huzzah

SOLD

It has been another perfect painting day, with not a drop of rain though it was expected.  Part of our private estate paint in Davisville, Missouri, this overlook of the Huzzah River was magnificent!  Starting right at noon is never my favorite painting time for light, but with the cloudy day the light did not shift much.  I blocked in before lunch, and came back to add all the magic.  Sometimes a cloudy day offers a chance to really study the colors, finding beauty in the subtle changes.  Such a contemplative place to spend an afternoon.  I could paint this view for days.  Painting number 3069 in 3069 days. 

Stony Bluff Path

Waking to a heavy rain at 5am, I thought I might just be looking for shelter at my painting site.  Clearing off quickly, I was able to get three finished, this path grabbing me as I walked down to the river.  Our gracious host served us a wonderful meal with live music after a fun day of painting!  It's so fun to be out in the real world again, I may never take that for granted again. Painting number 3068 in 3068 days. 

Day's End on the Water

I love painting by the water, and with the warmer temps this week - it really feels like summer!  The color is up in the water, with those gold greens just starting to show.  I've been painting en plein air so long, that I can tell the season by the color in creeks and lakes.  I've been painting larger, preparing for shows and galleries.  This one is 18x24, and I just dropped it off at Gallery Augusta today.  Such a great day for dropping off artwork across the state!  Painting number 3067 in 3067 days. 

Geranium Impressions

Today found me squeezing in a painting while watering my plants! These geraniums are irresistible, so they are on my easel!  Loose and fresh, this small 8x10 painting in oils is a study of geraniums.  It is fun to explore the petals, stems and leaves as they turn to and from the light.  So many flowers to paint, so little time!  Painting number 3066 in 3066 days. 

Shops on Main St

I love sketching the historic shops on Main St in Parkville, whenever I'm in town!  Today, I am showing the tools I use when I'm out in the field.  The silver TWSBI Mini fountain pen holds De Atramentis Archive Ink (water resistant), and the white and rose gold pen holds Levenger's Raven Black ink. I sketch out my scene and do all line work with these.  My watercolor half pans are compiled from several different Prisma Watercolorist Confections palettes, arranged to squeeze the most paints in my tins.  The water brush pen I use instead of carrying brushes and water.  If I need to refill, I've been known to pull that water from pond, fountain, or puddles!  My supplies are very compact and can fit in a pocket for easy access.  It's so easy to get out and paint when the set up is simple!  Painting number 3065 in 3065 days. Now showing at the Cathy Kline Art Gallery in Parkville. 

Teakettle Geraniums

I have been wanting to paint these geraniums for days - and I finally got the chance!  The reds are so vibrant - I find that I am cooling down the surrounding masses to try to capture their glow!  This old teakettle belonged to my great grandmother Ethie, and though no longer fit for tea, it is a perfect vessel for my plants!  With oils, I lay in darks and lights, brushing in the blossoms loosely, with light strokes from a soft brush.  I am using a softer synthetic flat that was given to me, and I like how it defines the petals with a swipe.  It was fun using those cad reds at full strength - I don't get to do that too often!  Painting number 3064 in 3064 days. 

Grand Mackay Hall

Whenever I am in Parkville, I like to sketch a local icon, or capture a quaint little spot in pen and ink.  This place is certainly a Parkville icon, making a grand statement at Park University.  Ink is the perfect medium for such cool architecture.  The silver TWSBI fountain pen is loaded with De Atramentis Archive Ink, and has an extra fine nib.  I use this for the lines I don't want to move with water.  The other TWSBI mini is loaded with Levenger's Raven Black and has a broad nib.  I've only recently tried this nib, and I'm enjoying the thick black line it leaves.  This is the one I move with a little water.  There are so many places I want to draw, and there never seems to be enough time!  Painting number 3063 in 3063 days.

Flag Iris

I love getting out in my gardens, coaxing forth blooms while discouraging weeds, and ever transplanting wayward plants.  Often as I work, I see compositions before me, paintings already forming in my head.  Soon, I return to these places to paint with minutes I steel from another task.  Other times, I don't make it back before the fleeting blooms fade, and my chance is lost for another year. Hope I get to all those paintings just floating around in my head. Painting number 3062 in 3062 days.