Old Mill at Fowler Park

 

What a treat it is to paint in the pioneer village by Fowler Park! Mills and covered bridges are absolute favs to paint, and this is the first time that I've been able to paint in the pioneer village.  Surrounded by log cabins and other structures, it took me a second to choose this place.  The trees are already blushing with fall color here, so, of course, I pushed that a little.  Using my Artistic License is fun, indeed!  Painting number 5167 in 5167 days. 

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 on the Green

 

After the morning quick paint at the Carmel Farmer's Market, I stayed to paint one more before leaving this majestic place.  I feel like I'm in Europe as I paint this place, as the market winds down. One by one the vendors pack up, as I quickly paint their spaces while I can.  As I finish, wedding parties arrive for ceremonies and pictures, and a classic cat parks in front of me for a quick photo.  The lawn is quiet as Mom rests on a bench and Teddy packs up her gear. It's fun to immerse myself in this place for a little while. Painting number 5163 in 5163 days. 

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. 

Bridgeton Mill and Covered Bridge

 

This is my absolute favorite mill and covered bridge to paint in the country, and we had a beautiful day for painting!  Teddy and Mom are on the covered outdoor terrace just right off the mill, where Teddy is painting a different vantage of the bridge.  I walked back and forth, finally deciding on my perch in the sand.  The slight angle of the sandy ground and dappled light fire shade made the painting a bit of a challenge.  But it was totally worth the effort to capture that curve in the water as it spilled from the falls. What fun to lunch here with Mom and Teddy, afterward, where they serve their sandwiches on homemade buns made with their fresh ground flour. Yum! Painting number 5161 in 5161 days. ! 

Irishman Covered Bridge

 

I LOVE painting the covered bridges in Indiana - especially in such gorgeous weather!  Joining me today is my Mom, and artist friend, Teddy Jackson.  She is responsible for twisting my arm into plein air painting, all those years ago!  We're heading to a favorite event, and will be painting a few lovely bridges on the way.  It's so nice to paint for the joy of painting, in places like this.  Painting number 5160 in 5160 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

Monan Blvd and Main Street

What a vibrant downtown arts district to paint!  Carmel, Indiana is an amazing place to visit and capture in ink and watercolor. 

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. 

Irishman Covered Bridge

I just can't drive close to a covered bridge without painting it, so I headed over when I got the chance! The Irishman covered bridge connects the pioneer village to Fowler Park, and is well maintained.  Many were enjoying this place, visiting, fishing, walking and camping - much more activity than during Covid.  Mom and I first visited here while dropping artwork off at galleries two years ago.  With only a little time, I painted small and then took a speed walk on the path through the cottage. I found several places that would make perfect paintings, but alas, I'm out of time. LOVE painting the covered bridges of Indiana!! 

630 2nd Ave NE

The small town of Carmel, Indiana has really grown in recent years, and many of these old houses are being replaced by "progress". Today I have taken ink and watercolor to handmade paper, to commemorate this place for a former owner.  This tiny painting will bring back childhood memories for the family as the years to by.  Love getting to paint something like this!  Painting number 3213 in 3213 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. 

Cox Ford Covered Bridge

What an amazing morning spent at Cox Ford Covered Bridge, standing on the bank of Sugar Creek with the gentle lapping of water along the shore.  The sand was wet as I hiked along waters edge for the best vantage, but I did not sink in. The wild sunflowers to my left were gorgeous - but too thick and tall to wade into, so I added just a glimpse of them from the side.  We met tourists from Minnesota and Illinois on that bank  - and saw others in kayaks that we met at another bridge yesterday!  It's a small world here among the covered bridges!  I'm having so much fun exploring these nostalgic icons in paint!  Painting number 3164 in 3164 days.