Goats in the Pumpkins

It's super fun to sketch these inquisitive young goats at play, as they clean up the brush in the old barn lot.  I just added the pumpkins today, hoping to add a few seasonal paintings to my upcoming Powell Gardens collection.  I think they like being so near our chickens, and the chickens definitely love their company, too!  I'm really embracing my family farm era these days - and can't wait to fill my papers up with chickens, cows and goats! Painting number 4635 in 4635 days. 

Village of Elmore Clock

This place is full of memories, and this gorgeous clock has hung from the bank building for decades. As Mom and I sat at Christie's Café waiting for quiche, I sketched this town icon.  This clock is a real showpiece here, and I've never seen another one like it.  It's funny how sketching these places full of memories take me back in time.  Painting number 4594 in 4594 days. 

Baby Goat Pair

 

Baby goats are so much fun to paint - and they pose constantly at the Deanna Rose Farmstead.  I've been painting a few farm animals for a special show, and this will be in the collection along with 8 others.  I sure love baby animals, and if I spend too much time with them - they might have to come home with me!  This one is also heading to Gallery Zeke in Steelville!  Painting number 4593 in 4593 days. 

Wild Turkeys

Every morning these wild turkeys would walk down the mountain in a row to the stables below. They spent time with the horses most of the day, sometimes clustering together just over the road to rest. Each evening, they began their march up the mountain in a row, filing right by our cabin every time.  Sometimes they were close enough to touch!  They grew used to us, and hardly paused when we happened to be on the porch. What fun it is to enjoy the gentle rhythm of the wildlife up here. Painting number 4572 in 4572 days. 

Hyde Chapel

As I started the larger "Welcome to the YMCA" painting, rain sent me running for cover.  I was only in the sketch process of the composition, and did not have enough information down to proceed without the scene before me.  So, I started this smaller version in a different format to continue my painting demo on the porch of the Admin building. The Hyde Chapel is a lovely place in a lovely space, surrounded by flowers. What else could I look for in a subject?  Painting number 4565 in 4565 days. 

Bridge to the Rocky Mountain National Park

This is my favorite bridge entry into the Rocky Mountain National Park from the YMCA property.  The wooden log bridge is iconic, as is the rushing water of Glacier Creek.  We've hiked the trail multiple times, normally between the two water crossings.  But now I'm wondering if I can reach the waterfall that I can see from Bible Point, by following this trail to the west. Maybe I'll check out that trail in the morning!  Painting number 4556 in 4556 days.  This one is now showing at the Library in the YMCA of the Rockies! 

Pine Cones!

 

What better place than this to study pine cones?  The ponderosa pines around the cabin are gorgeous, and offer up plenty of prime cones for painting.  So, I gathered a few choice ones with the boys and set to painting them.  It's all about the line work and values here, and I chose a blue shadow to vibrate against the green.  I love having the time to really study my subject matter.  We had a fun Fireside Chat at the library tonight, where I shared my Journaling process and progress through the years. It was so fun to visit by the fire, and share my passion for painting.  Painting number 4550 in 4550 days. I will drop this one by the gallery space in the library tomorrow, so come check this out! 

Downey Woodpecker

 

I've seen so many woodpeckers since the blizzard - and I'm happy to get to paint this Downey woodpecker today!  I've noticed them all over the trees, moving up and down in search of lunch.  The snow is a gift that shows them off to their best advantage, and I can't wait to do it again.  Painting number 5066 in 5066 days. 

Gingerbread House

I loved meeting artist friends with Tiffany at the Urban Sketchers KC event at Family Tree Nursery this morning!  Though the winter storm was fast on our heels, we had time to sketch in the greenhouse and enjoy the light and foliage!  This gingerbread house is new in the Cafe seating at the Shawnee nursery. So of course, I had to sketch it!  I'm using ink and watercolor in a new leather sketch bag I picked up in Branson.  The ATC miniature sketch I left as a thank you for allowing us in to sketch today. I think this is the first time I've been here in January!  It was the perfect way to spend our last morning out before becoming ice abs snow bound!  And now, I'm looking forward to painting snow!! Painting number 5058 in 5058 days. 
 

Jingle Titmouse

 

It was such a beautiful December day for sketching in the garden!  The birds are not too sure about the new red bells. They jingle slightly with movement, and I hope they get used to them, and even play with them.  They are not far from their feeders, so we'll see.  We spent the whole day outside with Casper and Kirby, taking care of many chores as we played.  It is nice to get in a quick painting, too.  Painting number 5032 in 5032 days. 

World War 1 Museum

 

It was fun gathering with Urban Sketchers KC on Pearl Harbor Day to remember our heroes, and sketch the National World War I Museum.  This is my second sketch of the morning, a quick one, and I forgot to get a photo of the first one on site! This place was very busy today, with many visiting on this special day.  It was fun to capture it all in ink and watercolor. Painting number 5031 in 5031 days. 

Deer and Pine

 

Seven deer met me on the lane when I returned a bit ago, so one is on my easel this evening.  The countryside is quiet when the air is cold and many leaves have already fallen from the trees.  Such a night inspires me to capture the wildlife, quite docile and unafraid of us.  They actually like my dog, and come close to the house to see him.  He likewise wags his tail and runs towards them when he sees them in the yard, or he ignores them completely as if they were just trees.  I'm looking forward to the quiet hours of winter with ink, watercolor and paper.  Painting number 5027 in 5027 days. 

November Hollyhocks

What a lovely, warm day to spend at the Kauffman Garden with artist friends and Tiffany! I couldn't believe when I found hollyhocks blooming so late in the year - so of course, I had to paint them!  This was a quick paint because I only had 20 minutes before leaving, so I sketched fast and dropped in color. I need to vary the blooms a bit to give them a freer form, and maybe I'll do that before putting it away.  I do love hollyhocks and plan to plant a few seeds from this one next year!  Painting number 5188 in 5188 days. 

Kauffman Garden Cleome

 For Daily Paintworks, I am trying to post a closer image for their viewers.  So often, I only get a photo in the field, without thought of getting a better shot until I am submitting it for a gallery show.  Let me know if you like this idea.  Today, the Monday morning watercolorists were at Kauffman Garden, and the cleome are still gorgeous - in mid November!  I still have hanging baskets on the porch and we were in the 60s again today.  It is a pleasure to still be painting outdoors so comfortably!  I didn't even need a jacket today!  I'm happy Tiffany was able to join us today, too!  Painting number 5185 in 5185 days. 

Chiefs Mouse

 

This little guy is cheering the Chiefs on towards that Threepeat!  GO CHIEFS!  I do love playing in the ink, and these little mice images just seem to march along in my mind!  So, when this one popped in today, I picked up a favorite fountain pen to get sketchy!  This handmade, dyed cotton paper is thin, soft and absorbent, which means I need to use a light touch on the nib, holding back in the water. To easily this paper can tear and pill, so careful is the key with this one. I love the vintage feel of black ink on this paper, even if my subject is quite contemporary!  Hoping for a win tonight as we cheer on our hometown boys! Painting number 5179 in 5179 days. 

Jack-o-lantern Mouse

 

It's fun to sketch this little trick-or-treater with a favorite TWSBI Diamond Mini fountain pen and ink!  In this small pen I keep De Atrementis archive ink, which does not move with water.  I use it for the initial sketch lines before I start to fill in with more ink and watercolor.  This pen has an extra fine nib, one of the few that do, and it in perfect for early sketch lines.  I do need to be careful not to tear this thin handmade paper with that extra fine nib. Every sketch is an exploration of both ink and paper!  Painting number 5174 in 5174 days. 

Cosmos!

 

Another beautiful day in the garden, and I'm painting cosmos that are taller than I am!  Oh, how the pollinators LOVE them!  Tiffany, Michaela, Casper and Kirby joined me for a little ink and watercolor time today, as we played with our new Summer Fun palettes from Chubby Mermaid.  Tiffany painted a whole field of sunflowers, Michaela a single sunflower, and Casper painted so MANY paintings, starting with the sunflowers first!  I pulled out my journals to see what I need to do to complete them, and added a couple of entries to a brand new one, too.  I've been wanting to get to these cosmos blooms for days, and I'm so happy to finally get to them!  What a great day!  Painting number 5141 in 5141 days. 

Zebra Plant

 

It is fun to sketch inside on this stormy day with a cup of hot tea and family.  I am working on a few butterfly paintings for Powell Gardens, so i added the little blue butterfly instead of the chicadees that were seeking shelter from the rain. After painting this beautiful zebra plant - I brought it home to enjoy in my own garden!  Painting number 5090 in 5090 days. 

Overland Park Clock Tower

I love meeting artist friends in my hometown to paint the historic area.  This clock tower is an icon of downtown Overland Park, and this time in painting it from down the street.  My daughter and her family came to Thompson Park for some play time on this gorgeous day, so I painted from the edge of the park while waiting for her to arrive.  It's so fun to sketch down memory lane!  Painting number 4068 in 4068 days.  It looks like some of my postings have not actually posted - I guess I'll have to go back and fill in when I've got plenty of extra time.  Silly technology. 

Play Ball

What a great opportunity to sketch at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum at historic 18th and Vine!  This was our destination for our monthly Urban Sketchers KC event - and we had a great turnout!  I love meeting artist friends for these two hour sketch-outs, and today I did more talking than sketching, lol.  The Jazz Museum here was also super cool and I must bring the family back to visit it, too.  Painting number 4063 in 4063 days.