On Vacation

 

When I travel, it's great to paint the scenes I don't find at home.  I have not painted here before, but found this place while returning from another painting location.  With just enough time to paint before a meeting, I set up on the shade of an airplane hangar, and got to work.  The owner of the building stopped by to say hi, too.  Everyone is so friendly here!  Fairfield is FULL of painting opportunities, and I'm happy this painting has a home there, too!  Painting number 4711 in 4711 days. 

Carnaby Square

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 It's so fun to paint AND shop the coolest places on Main Street!  Carnaby Square is a favorite boutique to visit when I'm in Fairfield, and I simply HAD to paint the street view!  Kristi,  the proprietor, is such a sweetheart, and a big part of the community here. I'm happy she liked this painting, and has added it to her vast collection.  Painting number 4693 in 4693 days. 

Main Street

 

I love the timeless feel of a fountain pen gliding across handmade paper! TWSBIs are my absolute favorite fountain pens, piston loaded with inks of my choice, the ink flows smoothly - no matter how long it's been since I've used them.  I have many pens, and these are the only ones that don't fail me in the field.  Painting number 4691 in 4691 days.

Sunset Over Fairfield

 

Sunset turns to nightfall in a moment!  Intending to paint a nocturne, I arrived early to set up my easel.  When this glorious sky was before me, I just could not wait to begin!  So, I painted as fast as I could to capture all that color, before I really got the street scene in.  As soon as color faded from the sky, I made quick work of those lines.  They, too, faded as the dark settled in.  It was fun to talk to a few visitors on the street as I painted. I love that this painting of historic Fairfield will hang in the bank on this street.  Painting number 4690 in 4690 days. 

Fairy House in the Pumpkin Patch

 I just can't resist painting beautiful pumpkin patches - and Shreve's is a yearly favorite!  The autumn mums and pumpkins adorn the lawn as the light dances over it all.  Children raced in and out of this little house, and I heard them call it the Fairy House.  This farm is the first place I paint when arriving in Fairfield, and the weather has been especially nice this year.  I couldn't get enough of this place - so I returned for two more paintings!  Painting number 4681 in 4681 days. 

Night at the Victorian

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This was my first time to paint this beautiful Victorian at night, and in the rain.  As I drove by, coming home from another paint, I simply could not resist the glow of this beauty in the rain!  Choosing watercolor for a nocturne made this painting so much more challenging! As the rain increased, I was forced to finish in my car, where it was really too dark to see my paints.  I learned a few lessons with this one, and the result was worth the extra work.  I'm so happy the painting hangs within it's walls.  Painting number 4680 in 4680 days. 

Afternoon at the Pumpkin Patch

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I've painted so much this fall that many paintings are yet unposted. Shreve's Pumpkin Patch is one of my all time favorite places to paint!  I had painted one here, getting the farmhouse into the view, but I couldn't quite squeeze in the events building.  So, I painted from this angle to include the back building and some of the side yard.  Honestly, the whole place is magical, and I really needed a long format panel to get it all in, but alas, I had none. It seems I am forever running out of panels and frames!  This painting is 4677 in 4677 days, and I'm so happy they purchased this painting, too! 

Night Falls at the Courthouse

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I love painting nocturnes so much - and love it even more when my paintings find a home!  Balmy, autumn nights are the absolute best for painting, so I set up on Main Street, even though my friends were too tired to join me.  Thankfully, the rain held off until I was finished with capturing the magic! Thanks to Farley Lewis, for the honorable mention and kind words!  Painting number 4671 in 4671 days. 

Sunset Over Main Street

 

I LOVE painting on Main Street in Fairfield - especially at night!  Intending to paint a nocturne, the gorgeous sunset drew me right in!  I very quickly sketched the lines, then jumped right to the sunset ablazeI.  The light is so fleeting that I lay in those colors fast and loose, adding more detail as I go.  When all the color faded, i began the buildings, with only a few color notes to guide me.  Before long, I could no longer see the shapes of the buildings, so I called it.  The painting is actually bluer than the yellow street lights portray.  I love the quiet of painting at night - even in town. I'm happy this painting has a new home in the bank on the left, with a couple of mine from previous years!  Painting number 4652 in 4652 days. 

Morning at Cider Barn Farm

 

What a beautiful place for an early morning quick paint!  An hour and a half was hardly enough time to capture it all!  From the little deer playing in their pen to the white swans sailing across the lake, I just had to paint it all.  There were other animals, too, but they were out of my view.  Our gracious hosts welcomed us with a delicious breakfast after we turned in our paintings.  This was a wonderful way to start my day!  Painting number 4650 in 4650 days. 

Sunset Glory

 

I painted this one in my hand while dipping my brush into my palette, in my open trunk - there was no time to waste setting up my easel.  Though rather awkward, I painted as fast as I could, pulling the colors up from a dark palette nocturne style, but knowing where they are.  It was dark in my trunk before it was dark on my panel. This was crazy fun and so exhilarating!  There is nothing like a race with the sun! This was a spectacular sunset, and I'm SO HAPPY I didn't miss my chance to paint it!  Painting number 4649 in 4649 days. 

Wet Streets in West Salem

 

I'm so honored this painting was chosen for the Best of West Salem Award!  As I was scouting trug town, I could see two compositions of buildings with the water tower that I liked.  Then, I drove to find a place that I could park with exactly those buildings lined up, since it was already raining!  I needed to be close to my car in case it started pouring, which it did.  I had multiple mishaps with this painting, including dropping my phone in my palette while trying to get this photo, hitting a pothole full of water, and finding that suddenly my windshield wiper is coming loose in the heaviest rain - but all is well that ends well. My artistic journey does cross bumpy roads from time to time, and I only appreciate the perfect days more. This painting is number 4647 in 4647 days and I'm happy this painting has a new home tonight, too!  

Victorian Garden

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One of my favorite places to paint, the early light was beautiful for just a little while. Rain moved back in,  and became too heavy with my panel not yet completely covered with paint. So  I had to finish this painting inside my car, and even had to frame inside, too.  It was worth it all to capture the beauty of this place. I'm so happy this painting will dwell within those beautiful walls. Painting number 5178 in 5178 days. 

Tanks in the Field

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I love the structure of oil well servicing equipment in a rural setting.  I don't see much of this in Missouri, so when I come to Fairfield, Illinois, I like to paint them. The rain was constant on this day, which had me ducking for cover in the car, when necessary.  Ink and rain don't mix well! I'm using my new Qor palette, and I'm finding a few favorite colors in the mix.  One I never thought I'd love is Payne's gray. I haven't used it for maybe 20 years, and only then in acrylic.  But I'm finding their gray to be rich and bluish, really wonderful for a shadow base color.  This is a new size for me, framing at 6x12. I like the information I can get in this format, and I think I'll do a few more, too.  Painting number 5177 in 5177 days. 

Good Year for Pumpkins

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Shreve's Pumpkin Patch is one of my very favorite places to paint when in Fairfield!  It's just not autumn until I paint here.  With a dramatic sky for a backdrop, these pumpkins nearly glowed in their rows leading to the barn.  I had not painted from this side, so I jumped right in.  Families and children came by a I worked, so interested in what I was creating.  It was a lovely day - and the rain held off until after I was finished  I'm so thankful Shreves chose my painting for their Purchase Award!  Painting number 5176 in 5176 days. 

Alley Magic

What an amazing evening it was to paint such a beautiful alley!  This magical little place is just outside of Jovalou on Main Street in Fairfield, Illinois.  I started this before the twilight sky turned black, and the play between the colors was magical!  Getting lost the moment, I got a little crazy with my color  - as is often the case with nocturne painting.  It seems I stray farther from reality and more toward painting what I feel.  It's all about expression - and SO MUCH FUN! Painting number 5174 in 5174 days.  

Along Petroleum Boulevard

 I love finding and painting the places unique to an area! Here I am on Petroleum Boulevard, painting remnants of a forgotten age. To get this view, I had to stand in the sun, using my car for partial shade.  Since I'm on week two of a new palette, I still have my swatch test out for reference.  A couple of those colors are not recognizable by their dry half pan appearance. I think the bright sunlight on white paper pushed me to get pretty bold with my color.  What fun this was to paint!  Painting number 5174 in 5174 days. 

Night on 3rd and Main

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Another night, another nocturne! I was undecided about painting a fourth painting today, but with several of my friends going out after dinner, I just had to join in on the fun!  I love this corner of 3rd and Main, and have painted it several times through the years. This time, there was a brightly lit message board behind me, which cast it's various colors on my work. There's no telling what it looks like until i open my trunk in the morning! Not quite sure I'm finished, but the lightening and thunder told me I was! Painting number 5173 in 5173 days. 

West Salem Square

 

I am so honored this painting was awarded the Best of West Salem award at the Edwards County Paint Out!  This is a wonderful area to paint, full of good people! My host family took me on a 4 wheeler ride to their 40 acres and surrounding area, and it was so fun.  It's lovely to see the area as only the locals know how to see if, and a great way to start the day.  I'm so lucky to have stayed with them for 3 years running, now.  Painting number 5172 in 5172 days. 

West of the Courthouse

 

What fun it is to return to Albion to find a new view of the courthouse!  Of course, I had to paint it! I'm the space between here and the courthouse stood an old building last year, that was just beginning to be torn down.  When I came through this back alley, the view was striking.  So, in ink and watercolor i captured a view that had possibly never been available until now.  Come see  this and more tonight at the Arist Reception at the Main Event in Albion at 6.  Painting number 5171 in 5171 days.