Lakeside Pavilion

 

Sometimes, the feeling to paint a specific scene is very strong. Despite time restrictions, I set up on the spot and paint. I let intuition guide me through the process, no matter what my original intentions are.  I trust that still small voice that ever guides me. Though drawn in my sketch book, I think I'll paint this again in a larger square format.  I like the composition, and this one simply unfolded on it's own.  I love when that happens!  Painting number 4589 in 4589 days. 

Lakeside Plein Air and Wooden Boat Show

 It seems there is a special painting or two each year that gets a lot of attention. I intended to paint this in a small format, but when I set up my gear, I found myself pulling out a larger paper.  This composition absolutely epitomizes historic Lakeside. I will be painting two others, slightly different, so each one is unique.  This was the first painting to sold at the Wet Paint Sale, and is painting number 4587 in 4587 days. 

Welcome to Lakeside

 

It is so much fun to paint this charming path to the beach - complete with hotel and pavilion! Our room overlooks this road, and each day, I watch so many families walk through here on their way to summer fun! I just had to capture it in paint!   I'm so happy this painting has a new home!  Painting number 4584 in 4584 days. 

Lake Front Welcome

 

I love painting this iconic Lakeside Pavillion on Lake Erie!  There are SO MANY things I want to paint,  but time is growing short!  I will need to paint fast in the morning to capture two more scenes in paint!  Come see this painting and all of my work from the week at the Wet Paint Sale tomorrow at 1:30! Painting number 4583 in 4583 days. 

On Lakeside Beach

SOLD

What better way to end this day than with a final paint on the beach at Lakeside?  Music wafted on the air from the sunset service as a cool breeze blew in off Lake Erie.  One my one, people walked down the pier and took seats along water's edge, in a daily ritual to watch the sunset.  This place is special, full of simple pleasures, family values and true community spirit.  I love painting here as much as I love being here.  It was so much fun to find patrons waiting at my booth spot to buy my paintings before I unpacked them!  I'm happy so many paintings find new homes today - as well as this one, tonight!  Painting number 5102 in 5102 days.

Lakeside Waterfront - August Cup

SOLD

 I chose this lovely path along Lake Erie for my second paint today, and was rewarded with sailboats sailing into my scene!  I'm so happy to capture the August Cup race in progress! What amazing luck!  Painting number 5101 in 5101 days. 

Lakeside Pavilion

SOLD

 

I love returning to Lakeside, enjoying those cool breezes off Lake Erie.  The Pavillion here is spectacular, steeped in history.  Mom and I arrived early enough to get some ice cream and sit along the coastline, and it even got quite chilly!  I wish I had brought my jacket down to the water, and u went forget it again.  It's certainly much cooler than the 90s we left behind in Missouri.  This starts three days of painting inside Lakeside Chautauqua, with a wet paint sale on the beach Sunday, during the Wood Bottom Boat Show. Come enjoy this beautiful place and see all my work from 1:30 to 3:30 on Sunday!  Painting number 3839 in 3839 days. 

Lakeside Beach

Lake Erie was moody and stormy earlier, clearing off enough for me to set up and start painting by 8am.  Even though I started this painting from the pavillion early, I didn't get it finished until the art sale was over!  It was fun to visit with everyone passing by, sharing their memories of places I'd painted.  This small community is special, and I'm so happy I found it.  I hope to return for years to come to the Lakeside Plein Air Festival!  Painting number 4278 in 4278 days. 

Garden Path along the Lake

This stretch of walking trail along Lake Erie in Lakeside, Ohio is known as the "Most Beautiful Mile in Ohio".  After taking a sunset run through here last night - the lush gardens beckoned me to paint them!  I walked it to the end and back with my gear today, in search of a sheltered spot from the wind.  I couldn't find that spot, so set up in the strong, cool wind and painted fast!  Those hollyhocks held their own while the wind blew me to and fro!  After a long fought battle, I finished and packed up to seek a spot in the sun, out of the wind! Painting number 4273 in 4273 days.  

Lakeside Beach House

SOLD

I LOVE painting on the shores of Lake Erie, on the grounds of the historic Hotel Lakeside, where it is like stepping back in time.  Mom sat on a bench in the shade nearby, while I sketched and painted this vintage building on the beach.  Walking through the middle breezeway lands you on the beach, walking out toward the pier where benches and Lake Erie await.  It's been several years since we've been here, and it's bittersweet, as Dad was with us last time along this shore.  We're here for this weekend's plein air event with a sale off the easel Sunday, 1:30 to 3:30.  Looking forward to rest and restoration here in Lakeside. Painting number 4272 in 4272 days 

Marblehead Batik

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Surprise!  Watercolor Batik is on deck tonight!  I really love the depths of this difficult technique, but seldom let myself spend the time on it.  Requested to present this to Summit Art, I pull out my supplies to condense my half day workshop into 40 mintues!  So, I decided to demo each step of the process with an example to pass around.  Hopefully, the process will be more clear with examples lined up in order, one through eight.  I think it will be very helpful for the next workshop I teach as well.  And while I'm at it,  I jumped into the largest watercolor batik on delicate rice paper I've ever done - almost 16x20!  I do love a challenge!  Lol! Painting number 2258 in 2258 days.

Three Boats Sailing

A day spent at lake's edge, painting sailboats, is a day well spent.  The quiet sounds of the lake are the perfect backdrop for a little painting.  This one is miniature at 4x4 inches, and done in acrylic for speed of drying.  I still prefer oils in the field, but acrylics do have their place. Painting number 2165 in 2165 days.

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Sea Gulls

It is especially refreshing to enjoy temps in the 70s when it nears 100 degrees back at home!  Watching the seagulls, and their antics is a great way to spend an afternoon.  They come very near as we stay still, but are quick to fly off if approached.  So I captured them in ink as watercolor while they stayed close, and shortly after a few dogs on the beach scared them away!  Painting number 1999 in 1999 days!

East Harbor ink and watercolor

Another relaxing evening at the beach, and ink and watercolor are my media du jour.  Both dry quickly, so the blowing sand does not stick to the substrate.  This is always a problem with oils, but I consider it a little organic matter!  I've been mixing in a little ink towards the finish, getting richer darks for a little pop.  I think I like the effect.  I didn't pull my journal out for this one,  wanting to keep my setup small and tight.  With my supplies taking no more room than a pocket, I can take them anywhere and paint whenever the mood strikes me.  Painting number 1998 in 1998 days.

East Harbor View

I really love the sound of crashing waves, they are mesmerizing as I sit on the large rocks at water's edge.  I pulled out my favorite journal and ink pens, filling in with watercolor. This paper is very rough, and the paint skips over that surface.  It was challenging to try to capture the movement of the water with lines, leaving those whites.  Watercolors are so much harder for waves than oils!  Sitting on the rocks, I juggled supplies, barely saving one brushpen from dropping into the water below!  I like the long format for this scene, it helps capture the time and place as I experience them!  Painting number 1997 in 1997 days.

East Harbor Water Lilies Inked

After spending the whole day at the beach, we were headed out when we came upon this scene.  The water was so still on this inlet, the reflections enhanced the shape of the lily pads floating on the surface.  We had to climb out onto a bench hovering over the water for the best view.  Taking care to not drop my pen or brush in the water, I slipped them in my pocket between steps.  I drew out the scene first with my fountain pen, and then washed in the values with my waterbrush pen.  The sun was fading fast, but oh how I would have loved to paint this place, too.  Painting number 1652 in 1652 days.

Lakeside Sailing

The light was simply amazing as I opened my paints, and it only improved from there.  Standing in a sliver of shade, I followed my drawing with paint.  Taking the time to sketch first solidifies the lines and values in a way that jumping into paint does not.  It makes the work easy since I've thought through the painting first.  I also like to observe my scene thoroughly before I pick up the pen.  Once the paint was flying, so many colors reflected off the surface of the water!  It was fun to keep up with them in paint!  I never tire of painting by the water.  Painting number 1651 in 1651 days.

Lakeside Cottage

What a gorgeous morning along the edge of Lake Erie!  This vintage cottage is surrounded by flowers spilling out onto the lawn. I spent the hours visiting with passers by as they strolled the path, and finished as my parents came by to visit!  Another perfect day in paradise!  Painting number 1648 in 1648 days.

Kenton Row

My very first day in Lakeside Chautauqua - and WOW - what a gem!  I have never been here but have driven by it many times!  This vintage place is a step back in town with turn of the century cottages, historic buildings and super friendly people!  With so much to paint - the narrowing down was unbelievably hard!  I chose this spot on Kenton Row because I love the sliver of Lake Erie behind the charming cottages!   After a drawing in ink, I made a couple of adjustments and forged ahead with paint.  I have talked all day long to people as I worked, and the time just flew by.  I don't know how I'm going to be able to leave this place on Sunday.  Too many paintings - too little time!!  Painting number 1647 in 1647 days.

Path to the Lake

Beach sketching has it's own set of challenges.  I don't like to lay my journal in the sand, as sand already blows into everything.  I need to keep my ink pen capped for the same reason.  If I'm nut careful, the water will splash onto the pages, all paintings of which would dissolve, if wet. On a day like today, the spotty sprinkles from the sky could leave their mark on my page. But, how's a girl to resist the beauty of such a place?   Painting number 1646 in 1647 days.