Night at the Museum

SOLD

 

What fun it was to paint this special event, "Night at the Museum", for the Salina Arts Center!  After participating in the first Liberty Plein Air event with BOTH daughters, I left early to drive the three hours to Salina.  I had enough time to check in to my suite, freshen up, and get to the Arts Center to paint!  This whole area is full of art, and this renovated space is really beautiful.  Paintings fill the walls and a special exhibit is just across the room, through adjoining doors. The people were lovely, and excited to find themselves in the painting when it was finished.  It was a lovely evening, and I'll need to head out before dawn to get to the Walktober at Jerry Smith  Park in time!  Painting number 5152 in 5152 days. 

Night at Stiefel Theatre

 

This theater is a jewel at night, lit so beautifully as the sun goes down!  I was on the opposite street,  drawing this building in ink right before it got dark.  By the time I had taken a photo and packed my ink and watercolor great, the lights came on!  I knew at once that I would not be leaving this location - not with that beautiful illumination happening before me!  So, I started with my oils with good street lights to make the job easy.  Love getting to paint such cool, historic places!  Painting number 3327 in 3327 days. 

Watson Theatre Building

I love drawing this historic Watson Theatre Building (also known as Stiefel Theatre) in downtown Salina.  The architecture is so cool in this town - and there is an amazing arts culture here, too.  Across from this theater is the cinema that I posted yesterday.   Museums dot the streets as well as shops and eateries.  Just a couple of blocks away, art classes are held in the Art Center Wharehouse, with creative kids and adults engaging in art.  It's a wonderful place to paint and I'm so happy to have a small part in it all.  Painting number 3325 in 3325 days, and I'm happy this ink drawing sold at the Gala! 

Art Center Cinema

I never quite know what I've got until I look at a nocturne painting again in the morning, in daylight!  I paint where I can find a good street light to illuminate both palette and panel, preferably a white soda light.  Many are yellow or pinkish, and they do influence the painting. All artificial light adds it's own cast to the colors, so I'm not sure what I've got until I get it out of the car in the morning!  This one is a nice surprise!  I often lean to the bold, vibrant colors for nocturnes - probably because of the low light. I don't like the clip on lights, they are too distracting.  I like to immerse myself in the scene, as a part of the scene, while I paint.  I find the truest expression of the place this way.  This painting went to the highest bidder at the Salina Art Center Gala.  So happy I could commemorate 25 years of the Art Center Cinema with this humble painting.  Painting number 3324 in 3324 days. 

Stiefel Theatre Inked

What a treat to have an extra day to paint in Salina!  The architecture of this Watson Theatre Building is more complicated than I thought it would be at first glance.  Though it is a chilly, windy day, it feels warm in the sun as I sketch the lines of this building.  As I work on this busy downtown street, there is a constant stream of people filing into the Little Italy restaurant for dine in and take out.  The wonderful aroma coming from that kitchen drove me crazy!  I'm working on this as I wait for the sun to go down - I want to do a nocturne or two while I'm here on this street.  Painting number 3322 in 3322 days. This ink drawing is now showing at the Salina Art Center Gallery on Santa Fe, Salina, Kansas. 

Night at the Gala

What fun to paint the Salina Art Center Gala tonight!!  Everything and everyone glittered in their glam for this Academy Awards themed gala!  Show tunes played on the piano during cocktails as the crowd walked the red carpet.  I set up a little early to paint the event, so I would also have time to dine. Catered by Yaya's - the food was absolutely delicious!   I would come back to the table for a course,  then go paint before the next course arrived.  It worked out perfectly, with the painting finished at the end of the auction.  What a lovely event, people and venue!  I'm so lucky to live this artist's life!  And, this painting went home with the highest bidder!  Painting number 3321 in 3321 days. 

Salina Art Center

Pen and ink is one of my favorite mediums on the street - especially for architecture.  This fountain pen is my TWSBI mini in silver, with an extra fine nib.  I have De Atramentis Archive Ink loaded in this pen, for those fine sketchy lines I don't want to move.  After I complete my initial sketch with this pen I switch to a broad nib and a soluble ink, so I can move that ink with a little water to achieve my mid-tones.  I had to tuck myself in close to the bank building for shade and shelter from the wind, seemed like the wind never did let up!  Painting number 3043 in 3043 days. 

Looking Down S. Sante Fe

In town under an hour, and I found quickly my way to the Historic district just blocks from my housing.  I gravitate to wonderful places life this, steeped in history while embracing the arts!  I just had to sketch this lovely street scene in pen and ink!  Setting up against a bank building for shade and shelter from the strong wind, I began my line work with my extra fine nibbed fountain pen and water resistant ink.  Once I had my road map in, I started with my broad nibbed pen and soluble ink.  The broad nib delivers more ink per line, and I find I'm using ink more quickly.  The bonus is time saving, because I'm repeating lines less often, but I must be careful.  It is pretty easy to drop too much ink - and then I'm blotting up the excess before it can dry!  I love how ink lends a timeless quality to any subject, and it is especially well suited for architecture. Painting number 3041 in 3041 days. 

Blank Canvas Gala

 I have never been to Salina, Kansas before today - and boy was it a treat!  The historic downtown district is full of vintage buildings and small town charm, with artistic embellishments sprinkled about.  I first sketched 2 pen and ink paintings of Sante Fe and the front of the Art Center, before deciding to work in oil.  I started blocking in the space when the band arrived.  As they practiced, I painted them in.  Once the patrons arrived, all dressed in white for the Blank Canvas Gala, I started painting them in as well.  As the light shifted to evening, I made a few adjustments as needed.  All three pieces were auctioned off, with intermission for 70 mph winds and hail.  Three tornado warnings later and the worst hail storm I've ever seen, I am now getting this posted.  I sure met a lot of nice people here today.  I'm looking first to visiting again when I have more time. Painting number 3040 in 3040 days.