Goodness Gracious

Goodness Gracious Kitchen and Cupboard is a lovely place to paint AND dine!  The food was amazing and the staff was SO gracious - even before we entered to dine!  After getting a tour of the lovely interior, Teddy and I set up to paint out front.  Our host brought us water, and offered more, checking on our progress periodically.  Mom joined us for a late dinner, where I had the best mushroom soup I've ever had!  We all had a lovely dinner here after a full day of painting!  We'll be back whenever we're in town!  Painting number 5166 in 5166 days. 

Indians Design Center

 

What a cool building to sketch in ink and watercolor - and I'm loving my newest Qor palette!  The reviews I read are true, the colors are more intense with a fluidity that is unique.  I'm looking forward to more days of exploring what these paints can do!  Painting number 5165 in 5165 days. 

Farmer's Market Morning

I just can't miss painting this farmer's market when in Carmel, and today the weather was amazing!  The Carmel Farmer's Market is the quick paint venue for Carmel on Canvas, and one only has an hour and a half to start, finish, frame and torn in the painting created on site. THAT is the quickest quick paint I ever participate in.  Time is of the essence, so it is all about painting in the masses, then fine tune as the clock runs down. With 6 minutes left, I pop it in a frame and head to the art tent with an easel. After placing it on display, I can then go back to clean my brushes and put up my gear.  It's all just like running a race!  The bonus today is that this painting won the race!  Yay! I'm so thankful for all the people that voted for mine!  Painting number 5164 in 5164 days, and Carmel Farmer's Market Quick Paint Winner 2024! That's two years in a row for me! ♥️

Monon and Main

 

It's so much fun to paint downtown Carmel again!  The intersection of Main Street and Monon is such a local icon, with many walkers and bikers hitting the trail.  I get to visit with so many wonderful people as they walk by, and even talked to a lady who's daughter was coming in today from Overland, Kansas  - my hometown!  What a smash world it is!  Come see this one in person in Midtown tomorrow at 6:30, and this is the 5162 in 5162 days. 

Carmel Farmer's Market

 

So THIS is the 8:00 version of the quick paint at the farmer's market. I thought the event started at 8, and it really started at 9:00!  Already in my groove, i kept working, and finished this one up just in time to start the next one - lol!  The light was amazing and I had the whole hour free, so why not?  This painting is now showing at All Things Carmel on Main Street 🤩🎨 day 21 of the #stradaeasel challenge and painting number 3905 in 3905 days. 

Bub's Burgers

 

While Mom and I were waiting for our food to arrive , I painted the classic local icon Bub's Burgers!  It's a great place to get a burger or ice cream in Carmel! I love the charming, vintage building still standing as it was so many years ago.  Progress approaches from all sides, but Bub's remains the same!  This painting is now showing at All Things Carmel on Main Street!  Stop by to see this in person!  Painting number 3904 in 3904 days. 

Indiana Design Center

 

So excited this painting won the Indiana Design Center Purchase Award!  It was the very last thing I painted for this event, finishing just before turn in time.  After walking all sides of this building with the bold lines, I decided on this entry. The front side was definitely more glorious, but the strong lines and changing light on this side pulled me in.  Rain threatened as the skies darkened enough for the interior lights to shine a glow from within.  Working fast, I painted that light even as I finished my sketch in pen and ink.  I love when a painting simply falls into place.  Thanks to the Indiana Design Center for choosing my painting and the organizers of Carmel on Canvas for hosting such a fun plein air event!  ♥️🎨 day 19 #stradaeasel challenge

Morning at the Farmer's Market

 I'm so honored this painting won the Quick Paint this morning at the Farmer's Market by popular vote!  The Carmel Farmer's Market is the nicest one I've ever been to - upscale in every way, and very paintable!  I thought the quick paint started at 8am, so started a different painting similar to this one - and finished it before beginning this one shortly after 9am! This one then had to be framed and turned in by 10:30, where the public voted for the winners.  Then tonight, this painting was honored with a Merit Award and sold to a lovely couple, too! Painting number 3901 in 3901 days. 

Downtown Carmel on Main

 

We're having so much fun painting on the street in downtown Carmel, Indiana!  This place has grown so much since I first started painting here, and the whole arts district is vibrant with life.  As people walked and shopped, we'd visit and paint the special details of this place.  It was a bit chilly this morning, but I finally warmed up after leaving this shady spot! Painting number 3900 in 3900 days. 

Bub's Burgers and Ice Cream

Right after check in, I headed out to scout the streets of Carmel.  With the golden morning light on this place - I simply could not resist it!  I set up on the patio off the Monon Trail, and started to paint. When light is fleeting, I mark those passages first with paint.  I want to capture those true colors before they fade into mid-day.  I was standing in a small patch of shade under a small tree, so I had to keep shifting to my right just to keep panel and palette shaded.  It was a lovely morning spent painting this local icon.  This painting won a Merit Award at Carmel on Canvas, and now has a new home with the owners! I love painting Carmel, Indiana!  Painting number 3168 in 3168 days. 

Life Cycle at the Carmel Depot

Once again - I forgot to get a photo of my painting on site, but at least I did get one before it goes to a new home!  This beautiful sculpture depicting the life cycle of a butterfly is on display at the old Carmel Depot, surrounded by a butterfly garden.  With the depot as the backdrop, I knew I would paint it with ink and watercolor.  In the hot mid-day sun, I chose to get very close my subject, sitting on a camp stool for a lower view looking up.  The unique vantage allowed me to capture the real essence of this sculpture tucked into a flurry of flowers.  I was on the very edge of the shade cast from the roofline, and it was very comfortable with a little breeze.  I was so honored to receive the Life Cycle Purchase Award for this painting, and love that it will be enjoyed by the family of the sculpture artist.  Painting number 3167 in 3167 days. 

Sugar Pies at the Farmer's Market Market

I LOVE plein air painting at a farmer's market, and Carmel's farmer market is extraordinary!  Live music, plenty of green space for families to gather, many wonderful vendors!  Immediately upon arrival this sweet little "My Sugar Pies" booth complete with pink tent and pink with green polka dot van caught my artistic eye!  This was only an hour and half quick paint - so I got busy knocking in those colors!  On a quick paint I do a quick sketch with my paintbrush on my panel, then I start dropping in those color marks that pop the most. I then move to my darks and start working the painting as a whole to completion.  I set a timer for the 30 minutes left bell - and then I work fast to get that information down!  There's no time for noodling in a quick paint!  It was so fun to paint this gorgeous market again - and the painting won an award, too!  Painting number 3166 in 3166 days. 

Suite 130

The charming Arts and Design District of Carmel is so very paintable!  This Main Street store front with the balcony made me think of Europe - and I chose my ink and watercolor for this subject.  I use an ink pen for my sketch, with little sketchy lines to get my composition.  This process took longer than usual with so many lines and angles!  Once complete, I started to wash in the color, getting a little free with my paints.  Sometimes it is more about how you feel than what you see!  Painting number 3165 in 3165 days. 

421 Main Street

Picking a spot in the shade, I had a comfortable start on this beautiful old house.  As I worked, the wind picked up from the south, blowing my hair steadily across my face.  Tucking and retucking my hair into my hat, it became apparent that I could not keep it contained. By the time I packed up, I felt like I'd done battle with the wind, and lost!  Oh why didn't I look for shelter first?  Painting number 2460 in 2460 days.

Bazbeaux in Metal

I've just started working metal in the plein air environment, and I have yet to find my favorite tools. I keep sticking them here and there while I'm working, and then can't find the one I need when I need it!  I can see I need a brush carrier just for these small tools.  I had quite a few people stopping to watch me work - especially on something so different from oils.  It was super fun even if it took me quite a while! Painting number 2453 in 2453 days.

Carmel Farmer's Market

sold

This may be the most beautiful farmer's market I've ever painted!!  The space is amazing and as I see this gorgeous flower stand - I know I am hooked.  Setting up a little early, I sketch this first in ink and watercolor.  Putting that one away as the start announcement ends, it was a fast hour and a half!  I didn't even get a photo on ther easel because I had to run and turn in!!  Painting number 2449 in 2449 days.

Sitting About Town

Sitting About Town
Oil on masonite, 11x14
purchase here

Carmel on Canvas finishes their event with an hour and a half quick paint.  I have only been to two different hour an a half quick paints - and both were in Indiana........I wonder if this is just the custom in this state?  When I started for Carmel in the morning, I thought to myself, "I'm going to choose something easy and fun for this quick paint - no complicated buildings!"  I first set my easel up at the large fountain in the pavillion, but the street kept calling me....specifically this figure on the bench on Main Street!  Who cares of there is only an hour and a half?  Who cares that I am again set up in full sun with that full sun on my panel?  When a scene calls, I must answer!  This was fun, despite the complicated scene, and I feel like I really learned some things about painting cityscapes.  I am trying to detail less, and let the painterly strokes flow - which can be a tall order when it comes to buildings!  This painting makes 996 in 996 days and is Day 23 of the 30 day painting challenge.  I must do MORE of these fabulous street scenes!  By the way, this figure is a statue - there are several "townspeople" set up all over the Carmel Arts District!

Ruby in Carmel

Ruby in Carmel
Oil on masonite, 8x10
Carmel on Canvas

After finishing the first painting of the woods, I went downtown for a snack break.  Planning to paint on the corner of Main at Bazbeaux's, I composed the painting in my head - already visualizing what it would look like.  As I walked back to get my gear and set up - this most adorable boxer puppy grabbed my attention.  Oh my gosh - he was adorable!  When her "mama" asked if I'd like to paint him - I jumped at the chance!  Still quite young at 9 weeks, she was a wonderful model and such a little sweetheart!  Such a joy to paint! There is a bit of a glare on the upper part of this painting - so I'll try to get one in better light later.  The light really reflects off of the darks when they are wet!  Day 22 of the 30 day painting challenge and my 995th painting in 995 days.

Bazbeaux in Carmel

Bazbeaux in Carmel
Oil on masonite, 12x9
Carmel on Canvas, Indiana

on location

What fun I am having in Carmel! This morning, I had three paintings in my head to paint.  The rain had pretty much stopped, but with a mist persisting.  Therefore, I looked for shelter and started the most complicated composition first.  I loved how shapes took form, and the panel came alive before me.  Passersby stopped to chat and watch, as the strokes fell off the brush.  This was a joy to paint and an honor to win the Bazbeaux purchase award for this street scene.  Day 20 of the 30 day painting challenge and my 993rd painting in 993 days!

Along the Monon

Along the Monon Trail
Oil on masonite, 14x11

We arrived after midnight last night and hit the floor running this morning at the Carmel on Canvas event in Carmel, Indiana.  We can paint anywhere inside of the "Carmel Arts District", which is marked by arches on three sides, and the high school on the other. Everyone is so friendly, and my first day spent painting in this totally new location was SO pleasant! There are several themes available for the artists to paint - and this one is "woodlands".  This is a whirlwind event with only today and tomorrow to paint - turning in one painting for judging at 4:00 tomorrow, with others on display, and theme paintings marked with a special sticker.  A reception follows, and then a quick paint takes place on Sunday.  Whew!  This painting is Day 18 in the 30 day painting challenge, and my 991st painting in as many days :)

Along the Monon Trail
oil on masonite, 14x11
purchase here