Old Boettcher Farmstead

SOLD

This place is miles off the beaten path, down a narrow country road canopied with trees. One here, this scene unfolded before me, like a story wanting to be painted.  An old saltbox once stood proud on it's foundation before a fire brought it down.  Two swings still hang from the oak tree, reminders of children playing and lives lived through many, many years.  In ink and watercolor I painted the story, and enjoyed a gorgeous day as the autumn color blushed.  I'm so thankful this painting has a new home now and is number 5170 in 5170 days. 

 

Wennwood Farms Winery

 

I love sketching a country road winding through farms and wineries in rural Missouri!  This farm turned winery is on Old Brick Church Rd in Gasconade County, where cattle and sheep are just a pasture away.  Though I was tempted by the livestock, I opted for this turn in the road, capturing the very essence of this place as one drives by.  I intended to add color, but when the drawing was finished, it said all I wanted to say in vintage black and white.  Painting number 5169 in 5169 days. 

Old Brick Church Rd

I don't think I've ever been on Old Brick Church Rd before now, and it's beautiful as it winds through the Gasconade County countryside between A and P.  It's very dry here, so painting right on the gravel road was quite dusty.  This road was irresistible, and the painting unfolded almost by itself in this beautiful light.  It was a joy to paint near the Wennwood Farms Winery, I only wish it had been open at the time.  Painting number 5164 in 5164 days. 

Tiefenbrun Farm

SOLD

 

Tiefenbrun Farm was so much lovelier than expected!  I felt like i had walked into a French landscape, complete with outbuildings, lakes, and a creek winding through it!  The children of the family were so interested in what we artists were doing - and Alice even painted the pink flowers into the garden on my painting.  She's already has an eye for art, i hope she's inspired to explore all the possibilities!  I LOVED painting this incredible 1889 French inspired home and farm today- and I'm so honored this painting was awarded an Honorable Mention, too!  Painting number 5162 in 5162 days. 

Art and Eats on 1st St

 

Coming soon to the Artwork on Main Gallery in Owensville is this nocturne painted of the gallery and it's neighbor, 1st Street Eats. I stayed in those beautiful rooms above the shop a couple of times during the plein air event, and it was so convenient for a quick little nocturne.  This place is full of small town charm, and I'm looking forward to painting here again in October. Painting number 5020 in 5020 days. 

#artistlife #artworksonmain #galleryart #historicdistrict #sketchlife

Autumn at Peaceful Valley Lake

 I absolutely love painting the colors of autumn - especially when they are reflecting on water!  The reds are really popping around Peaceful Valley Lake - and I could hardly wait to get back here once I saw the beauty!  I marked all the highlights while the sun was shining, before the clouds moved back in. The calm water reflected those colors so well, in between bursts of wind.  It seems our autumn color fades so quickly in Missouri - I hope to get several more paintings finished before that happens!  Painting number 3941 in 3941 days. 

Sunset over Peaceful Valley Lake

 I should always seize the opportunity to paint a sunset - the beauty around me is my reward!  With only 30 minutes of light remaining, I grabbed a panel and started slinging paint quickly.  This view was from the lake side of our host home,  and Caroline and I both painted from water's edge! The clouds were illuminated with glorious color, so I marked those masses first, careful to keep them pure.  It's so easy to mix into areas when painting fast, so careful is key.  Once I had my colors marked, I married the edges, bringing it to a speedy completion just as the light was fading.  Sunset painting is always a race with the sun - an invigorating race, indeed! Painting number 3940 in 3940 days. 

Farm on Boettcher Rd

 What a gorgeous farm this was to paint!  With the many barns and outbuildings scattered across this property, this was the composition I landed on.  I could paint here for a week, and still not paint it all! Love that this painting will now live with the family that owns the property!  Painting number 3935 in 3935 days. 

Autumn Reflections on the Lake

I just couldn't resist painting this gorgeous fall color on Peaceful Valley Lake! I'm a bit in love with these first reds and golds, and I just can't get enough of them!  I saw this scene on my way out first thing this morning, and waited until the afternoon light was on them to paint. It is super fun to lay down strong color, and this rich scene surely called for them.  I hope I get many more days to paint the autumn leaves before they drop!  Painting number 3933 in 3933 days.  

Autumn in the Farm

 

I love painting the historic farms in Owensville, Missouri!  This private estate is part of the Gasconade County Plein Air event, and our venue for today.  After painting a panoramic view this morning, I stood in the full sun to paint the gorgeous color from this pasture.  This place could be painted for days, but alas, turn in is at 4. This painting now showing at Seaons of Faith Church in Owensville through Thursday, and will be at the White Mule Winery for the Saturday sale, if it lasts that long.  Painting number 3931 in 3931 days. 😍🎨

1st and Sears

 

I love sketching the historic downtown streets of Owensville, Missouri, in ink and watercolor for the Gasconade County Plein Air event!  This was "Owensville Day" so I spent all my time on 1st Street, and didn't get to a couple of other places that I really wanted to paint!  These historic buildings tell a story, and I'm glad they are still standing to be painted. I see so many ruins of buildings in other small towns that are not so fortunate. Painting number 4375 in 4375 days and I'm happy this painting has a new home, too!  

Evening on 1st Street

 

I always love painting at night, abs it is even more fun with artist friends! We gathered together on 1st Street, and I chose a favorite venue to begin my painting.  I am staying at the Merchant Townhouse above 1st Street Eats. This little Cafe fills up as soon as they open, and the food is amazing!  The left door is the one we enter to walk up the stairs in this beautiful old bank building.  It's fun to paint places that I'm connected with!  This oil painting is now avaliable at Art Works On Main in Owensville, Missouri and is painting number 4373 in 4373 days. 

Autumn at Lost Valley Lake

It is SO FUN to explore a new place with paint!  The fall colors are really coming out now, and I just couldn't seem to paint fast enough!  After the ink sketch of the Lodge and boathouse on Lost Valley Lake, I decided to use my gouache paints for the color.  I love how they have a color punch that hits the mark sooner than watercolor - and lately I've been struggling a bit with getting strong color in the field.  I haven't painted any paintings with gouache, but I sure do like what they can do for me!  Painting number 4370 in 4370 days. 

Red Oak Valley

 

It was a gorgeous morning to paint at Red Oak Valley Farm for Gasconade Fall Plein Air! There is SO much here to paint, that I stayed right up until turn in time and painted two more!  I love this collection of buildings sprawling in the farm - and the cattle strolled right into my painting as I worked!  And thank goodness they did, because they strolled right on out 20 minutes later - after its painted them in!  It was pretty cold out early, but I had all my warm weather gear on - so I was fine!  Love how the leaves are starting to change here - and I can't wait to capture it! Painting number 4369 in 4369 days. 

1665 Lake Shore Drive

Peaceful Valley Lake was a wonderful place to paint for a day during the Gasconade County Paint Out!  Nestled in a shady pocket under a low tree, I perched up the hill a little to gain this perspective on this house.  Autumn color was just rising, and it was fun to let the watercolors mingle on the wet surface of the foliage masses.  I love exploring fall with ink and watercolor!  Painting number 3220 in 3220 days. 

Hilltop Home

 When I see a complicated house composition, I am drawn to pen and ink for my medium.  With an extra fine nib, I sketch in most of the line work, coming back with a medium nib and Levenger's Raven Black ink.  This ink moves a bit with water, allowing easy gradation of the masses.  With a little water and more archival ink, the drawing is complete.   I love getting to sketch this hilltop home - and happy it has a new home too! Painting number 3205 in 3205 days. 

Night on 1st Street

I had packed up my gear and framed this before I remembered to get a photo of it on location - hence the frame!  It took a little coaxing to get a couple of artist friends to join me, but nocturne painting is more fun with friends!  I loved this view on the previous night, so it was on my mind.  Checking a few different angles, I settled on this one, where the light flooded into the street in multiple places.  As I painted the dark night sky, I accidently dipped into a new color I'm trying out on my palette - a very dark olive green. It is very close to my ultramarine blue, and I did indeed mix it into my night sky.  You can't tell here in the night lighting, but that paint added a rich something special to my alizarin, blues and violets. I will be adding it to future paintings, too!   I love those happy accidents!  Painting number 3203 in 3203 days. 

Night on 1st Street

Getting a photo of a nocturne on location is so very hard!  The color is not true under the warm street lights, and I didn't even remember to get the photo until I framed, but here it is!  Full of energy when I started painting with two friends out on 1st Street, I was dragging a little by the end of the process!  Having dinner and a glass of wine first slowed me down a little.  Finishing after 11:00, I then had to take care of posting, blogging and showering before bed.  I had accidently dipped into a new olive green I'm trying out that is very, very dark, and it mingled into my night sky.  I actually thought of this mistake in the middle of the night, and wondered how my painting would be affected.  It was different from my norm, but I decided to leave it.  This painting won the 1st Place Award tonight for Owensville, so maybe I'll start mixing in that green to my nocturnes - lol! Painting number 3199 in 3199 days. 

Barns on the Hill

What a special treat it has been to paint such a special place!  Right down my alley, this lovely jersey cow farm is home to Cool Cow Cheese. The barns and manor home are situated artistically on the hill, and so very paintable!  After a walk through the property to scout around, I came back to this spot where I began.  I love the dramatic view, pitched on the hillside with the gentle cattle lining up for milking.  There are paintings in every direction here among the rolling hills, and oh how I wish I had more time here!  The lunch was amazing and I would love to return to paint again!  Painting number 3198 in 3198 days. 

Downtown Owensville

Upon arriving in Owensville to pick up my packet at the gallery, I was instantly charmed by this lovely 1st Street!  After taking a quick spin around town, I returned to this spot to ink and watercolor this street scene.  The complex drawing took much longer than usual, and it took me a while to get to the watercolor.  I love doing these wide angle views, I'm able to really capture the essence of the whole street, as one standing on the sidewalk looking down the street.  So much fun to do - especially in my first morning in town!  Painting number 2856 in 2856 days.