Crestview Dairy Sunset

 

It's so fun to paint the whole scene at Crestview Dairy!  This may be the first time I've used this long piece of handmade paper, it frames to 27x7.  This is the perfect format for a long, rambling scene.  It was a little challenging because my support was not quite wide enough, but I made it work.  Now, I'll have to get the right size cut - just for times like this!  This was such a joy to paint, in perfect weather, with perfect light spreading over the scene.  I'm happy this sunset painting will stay right here in the farm!  Painting number 3818 in 3818 days 

Old Red Waiting

Old tractors always remind me of my Grandpa Frank, though many times I saw my grandma on the old John Deer 1010. She even showed me how to drive it when we were buying her farm.  We still have that tractor, but our Kubota is the work horse now. So, when I see these old tractors dotting farms, I wonder about the stories they could tell, and I feel compelled to paint them. Painting number 3816 in 3816 days. 

Cottage Garden

 

I love these beautiful summer days for painting in a garden!  Flanked by gorgeous hydrangeas, the view towards the "Bride House" was irresistible.  With ink and watercolor I painted the garden beauty, coming back in with a bit more ink at the end.  I love when the watercolor mingles in the wet masses of the trees!  So fun to push that paint - even while I'm mindful is the thinner paper on the easel.  Every paper is handmade, so each is a new exploration in paint!  Painting number 3815 in 3815 days. 

Dollhouse Hydrangea

 How could I possibly resist such a cute playhouse, surrounded by amazing hydrangea?  Well, of course, I couldn't!  The lush garden was heavenly to paint by as birds serenaded from the trees.  I'm giving more attention to the colors I see in the landscape, ever working on my skills.  I love this kind of place, and fully enjoy the process of capturing it in paint. Painting number 3814 in 3814 days. 

Morning at Crestview Dairy

 Is there anything better than greeting the morning with a quick paint?  Warm, golden light streaming into the dairy farm, making it irresistible to this artist!  Painting at Crestview Dairy, I found the back side of the barns for my subject matter.  I paint the light first, quickly followed by the shadow colors, because light is fleeting at this time of day.  I'm thankful to have reloaded ultramarine blue on my palette, because I needed it for those shadow blues!  I ran out of it in Iowa, and had forgotten it until the last day of this event!  That color is definitely one of my must have primaries, going back to my years of using a limited palette.  I still heavily rely on my favorite three, even with all those worms of paint!  Painting number 3813 in 3813 days. 

Parked in the Shade

 

I just HAD to paint this sweet little school bus - even when it meant standing in the sun to do it!  After checking this bus from each direction, this really was the best composition for painting.  So, I sketched in the full sun, moving to the shade for the color work.  I could still see my scene, and only had to shift back and forth a few times.  Crestview Dairy has been a wonderful place to paint!  Painting number 3810 in 3810 days. 

Dualing Pianos

 

Well, this isn't something I do everyday!  Asked to abstractly capture the entertainment tonight, I pulled the smallest panels out of my car. What fun it was to quick paint dual paintings of dualing pianos playing at Crestview Dairy tonight!  I'm always up for a plein air challenge, and this was a wonderful exercise in capturing the moment.  Both were finished in just over an hour, and a fun momento of the evening.  Painting number 3809 in 3809 days. 

Night at Crestview Dairy

What a gorgeous night for a nocturne paint!  After finishing a sunset painting on the street side of this property, the gentle glow from the barn light led me here.  It gets dark so late this time of year, that it seemed the light would never fade!  I tried a new nocturne light tonight, a Braun slim rechargeable, magnetic one, but I found it to be too bright.  It sheds a bluish light, so I'm guessing this painting has warmer tones that will be revealed in daylight.  I tried painting with very little light on my panel, so tomorrow morning will truly be a surprise when I open my trunk!  I was nearly the last artist on site, and I'm so glad I stayed to capture the night magic! This painting will be hanging at the Crestview Dairy in the wet paint sale until Saturday evening - of it doesn't sell before that! Painting number 3808 in 3808 days 

Leading to Crestview

 I had time for just one more painting, so I hiked away from the barns until I reached a pole barn for a windbreak, to set up my gear.  I sketched with India ink the scene before me, switching to the fountain pen inks, a dropper and a wash brush to float in the water.  I did add a small round brush for tiny areas, dropping in plenty of water as I added ink.  It is crazy to take this media into the field during a plein air event, but I just can't help myself!  It's so fun to watch the painting unfold, and I learn more about this media with every painting.  I'm so happy this painting went home with someone who likes my particular brand of crazy!  Painting number 3391 in 3391 days. 

Spring Comes to Crestview

It seems that every season I paint is my favorite season, when I'm in front of my easel!  Spring colors are unfolding today as the sun shines warm upon us, and the birds are happily singing their songs.  After the morning's Quick Paint, I settle into this lovely farmhouse scene, and relish the sheer joy of painting on such a lovely day.  Visiting all the while, I soon finished up and headed out for a quiet paint along the water of the pond.  I love these days spent painting, I am so at home in the landscape with paints.  Painting number 3390 in 3390 days. 

Reflections at Crestview

 

It is always a good day when I'm painting near the water.  This secluded pond a pasture away from the house and barns at Crestview Dairy, is a peaceful spot to immerse myself in the process.  In a place like this, I become one with my surroundings, and revel in the paint.  All feeling, no thought, I let this painting unfold organically, letting my brush do the work.  Ending the day on such a note is a delight, indeed.  Painting number 3388 in 3388 days. 

Good Morning Crestview

This scene caught my eye immediately, but I continued to scout the whole property before returning to set up.  That early golden light was irresistible!  I had two hours to complete this, frame and turn in for the Summit Art Plein Air Festival Quick Paint.  It felt good to be out painting with friends again, and I enjoyed visiting as I worked.  Setting my alarm in case I talked right through to the cutoff, it was a fun paint day!  To top that off - this painting win the Quick Paint Award!  Painting number 3384 in 3384 days. 

Spring Rain at Crestview

When the day started cloudy and gray - I knew I wanted to take my fountain pen inks!  Making dramatic shifts between masses, I dropped in ink with a dropper, then floated in water with a wash brush. I took a small glass dip pen and 3 other fountain pens with different colors of inks loaded. I was sheltered from the gusting wind, so those wet inky puddles could dry without being blown right off the paper!  So unpredictable, it was exciting to watch the ink do it's magic as I worked on the next mass.  I'm known for keeping everything clean, but tonight I'm sporting a little garland ink on my fingers from the dropper spurting erratically!  I may have to wear it off, or maybe try bleach next!  I know it's crazy for an event, but some days you just have to jump in boldly and embrace what drives you!  Painting number 3383 in 3383 days. 

Crestview Dairy Inked

It was a cold, windy kick off for the Summit Art Plein Air at Crestview Dairy, with winds gusting to 40 mph. As I was sketching, sleet began to bounce off my drawing - creating a little pile in my lap!  It even melted a little on my paper, saturating the ink a little!  Despite the adverse conditions, I was toasty warm with my infrared fingerless gloves, socks, and battery heated outer socks.  Plein air is delightful in all weather - when I'm warm!  I didn't have enough light to get a clear photo tonight, so I'll take another in daylight before heading out in the morning!  Painting number 3382 in 3382 days. 

Crestview Pond

Early morning by the pond was so peaceful, my only companions the frogs singing to each other across the water.  It was damp and cold until the sun cut across the pasture, and I stepped into the sunlight for warmth.  Another artist arrived as I was finishing, and it was great to visit a little before I moved to the next spot.  I sure do love painting in the field with artist friends again!  Painting number 3020 in 3020 days. 

Old Gate at Crestview

The rain was not letting up, so I went in search of a view with cover.  I loved the old gate and the story of days on the farm that it recalled.  A horse trailer was open with the ramp out, so I backed myself in with my gear.  The wind blew the rain in from 3 sides, but at least it wasn't raining down from above!  I try to get my panel covered quickly when it is raining. If any water hits my surface before the oils, they will not stick.  The rain didn't stop until I was ready to leave - but that's just another day en plein air!  Painting number 3017 in 3017 days. 

Spring at Crestview Dairy

On such a beautiful day, at such a gorgeous place, how could I resist creating one more painting?  With my silver TWSBI Mini with extra fine nib, loaded with De Atramentis Archive Ink, I sketch the outbuildings and farmhouse before me.  Using my white and rose gold TWSBI with a broad nib for the heavier lines, it is loaded with Levenger's Raven Black ink.  This ink is velvety black and moves with the application of water.  I'm using a handmade paper from Shizen, and the surface feels a little resistant to my watercolor.  The sizing is always different from one sheet to the next on these handmade papers, so I adjust my watercolor use.  I could not get a good photo with the sunlight over my shoulder, so the image is a little washed out. I'll try to get another to add to this post.  This day just about wiped me out!  I wonder how long it is going to take me to recover from that first Pfizer vaccine?  I'm going on 3 weeks now.  Painting number 3016 in 3016 days. 
 

Crestview Redbuds

What a perfect day for painting at the Crestview Dairy!  Day 2 of the Summit Art Plein Air event has it all - soft breezes, warm temps in the 70s, sunshine and the Lee's Summit Symphony playing by the lake!  The spring redbuds blooming pulled me right to this spot - and this is my first from this location.  I'm still recovering from my covid shot over two weeks ago, so I'm slower than usual.  I was able to paint three paintings today before throwing in the towel! Painting number 3014 in 3014 days. 

Spring at the Dairy Barn

The first day of the Summit Art Plein Air event was a rainy one, and first thing this morning was the quick paint. I helped check in artists until it was time to jump in myself, and headed out to find my spot.  Looking for shelter, I found a small shed with a rolling door, partially open, so I set up with my view of the farm.  Crestview Dairy is the venue of this first event with it's 31 acres of lush views.  It was fun to paint in an event with artist friends again, even in a cold, driving rain!  Painting number 3013 in 3013 days.