Union Station KC MO

 

I posted yesterday's Union Station painting in the evening, and this morning it sold before i could leave the house!  So, in a mad dash to come up with another that would match my inventory for Powell Gardens,  I put this one in it's place.  Union Station is a favorite place to paint this time of year, and I hope to get there a few more times while the halls are decked!  This painting and 7 other are now showing at Powell Gardens. Be there first to get your choice!  Painting number 4697 in 4697 days. 

Union Station KC

SOLD

 

This is one of 8 paintings going into the Powell Gardens gallery for the holidays!  I have a special collection of winter and holiday paintings to install tomorrow,  and this is the only Union Station one.  I love painting here during the holidays, when the Station is decked out with it's iconic tree, companion trees and garland. This place holds a special place in my heart!  Painting number 4696 in 4696 days.  Come early to get first pick! 

Christmas at IUnion Station

This has been another wonderful Christmas spent with family - with the special treat of Bill and Evelyn in attendance! They are normally in Arizona by this time, but we are lucky to have them home for the holidays!  For the first time ever we broke with tradition, and has a Mexican burrito bowl feast for dinner!  This might be the first Christmas without a large turkey, and I don't think it was missed!  Mom enjoyed visiting with Mike's parents, and the kids had a blast inside and out!  The Chiefs win was icing on the cake although I didn't see much of it with all the cooking!  Union Station is an all time favorite painting place, especially in the evening!  The place absolutely glows! Wishing you all the merriest of Christmases, and a new year full of family and friends!  Painting number 5049 in 5049 days.

Christmas at Union Station

 

Union Station is absolutely MAGICAL to paint during the holidays!  What a jewel we have here in Kansas City!  I love capturing the beauty of this place with many mediums, but oils are an absolute favorite.  The reflections slide right through with each brushstroke, and the light drops in so smoothly.  I have so many memories here, as have 5 generations of my family.  This is a special place indeed.  Painting number 5039 in 5039 days. 

Harvey's at Union Station

 It was such a fun morning sketching at Union Station with my oldest daughter and artist friends, Jean.  We ordered hot drinks and visited as we worked.  It is the first time Tiffany had joined in Monday morning paint outs - and she did such a great job!  I'm so excited for her newly found art journey!  With all the boys in school, she can join me more often!  Since she didn't need to be home until 2 - we sketched for an extra hour in the upper balcony!  This is the first painting in my new sketchbook - I can't wait to see what unfolds!  Painting number 5146 in 5146 days. 

Night at Union Station

Union Station takes on a magical presence when visited at night.  As the crowds slacken,the very large tree dominates in this space, and it's reflection on the floor is stunning.  What a treat to get to capture this in oil on panel, and already I long to paint it large for my own wall.  This majestic place is steeped in history, and the history of so many families who come here each Christmas to make memories.  Painting number 3989 in 3989 days. 

Union Station Christmas

It is not really Christmas until I've painted at Union Station!  I love this tradition of capturing this grand place each year in oils, ink, watercolor and acrylic, at various times of day and night.  This place lights up on a sunny day like today, or glows like a thousand candles after nightfall, each creating a special mood all it's own.  I was set up by the front entrance doors for this one, and I LOVED the countless children who walked into this room and gasped!  Wonder, amazement and wide eyes stopped them in their tracks, as parents urged them forward.  One young child exclaimed, "I've been here before!" ...as if remembering a dream.  I am filled with wonder and reverence each time I paint here, and get to experience Union Station anew. Painting number 3987 in 3987 days. 

Union Station Wreath

What a lovely afternoon to spend painting at Union Station!  I love those grand arched windows in their holiday attire - festive with the large wreath and red bow.  I've met artist friends here to paint, and finished two before heading out.  The restaurants were full and many families came to experience the Christmas magic here as I worked.  I'm so very thankful this place stands proudly as it did so many years ago.  We were so close to losing her when she was in disrepair.  My holiday is not complete until I paint Union Station!  Painting number 3986 in 3986 days. 

Christmas at Union Station

 Wow!  What a magical place Union Station is at Christmas time! With holiday music in the air, and families coming to enjoy the tree, all is merry and bright!  I feel nostalgic in this place, with a feeling of reverence as I remember the six generations of my family that have walked these halls, that I now paint.  Could any of them have imagined I would?  As I do so often - and hardly anyone knows - I have painted my family members into the crowd, and I am all the way to the right - painting the scene at my easel. Just a little something extra for those who really look!  Painting number   3969 in 3969 days. 

Chiefs Color at Union Station

 

Wet streets and Chief's color rock the Union Station after dark!  Today, I'm using Diamine inks and TWSBI fountain pens for this nocturne ink painting, Three Kings, Solar Storm, Cardinal, Spruce, and Yule Log.  All are from the Inkvent Calendar 2022.  I sketched the scene out with an India ink pen first then added the inkinto wet masses, allowing it to mingle.  That Solar Storm sure makes a wonderful night sky!  Hope to get one more done before the big game this weekend!  Painting number 3674 in 3674 days and day 26 of the #stradaeasel challenge.

Union Station KC

 

I LOVED sketching Union Station from the Link with Artist Friends today! The glass walkway between the Westin Crown Center and Union Station is a great place to paint views of the city.  I rarely get the chance to paint this building from the outside, so this was my first focus.  Also on my list is another street scene over Grand, and the Liberty Memorial World War 1 Museum.  I used ink and watercolor, adding fountain pen ink with a few special pens.  It was a great day for sketching and visiting in the community, with many families coming by on this holiday!   Painting number 3665 in 3665 days and day 17 of the #stradaeasel challenge. 

Union Station Ornament

 

Wishing you all a Happy New Year full of family and friends on this last day of 2022!  This year has been full of blessings, and I'm thankful for each and every one.  We've been celebrating Christmas for days with my brother and his boys in town, with all our other family.  I'm looking forward to 2023 and all it's trimmings, and finding new ways to explore the world around me in paint!  Painting number 4139 in 4139 days. 

O Christmas Tree

The morning light was stunning on the Union Station Christmas tree - golden and warm as it streamed in through the massive windows.  I sketched this one first with India ink, then laid down watercolors as usual.  Today, I brought 4 additional fountain pens with me, loaded with the primaries and a green.  I next added little bits of ink work, followed by my water brush pen, then a little more fountain pen work.  I like the depth this achieves, and there is so much more to explore!  Painting number 4114 in 4114 days. 

Union Station ATC

This is my Day 2 ink of my Diamine Inkvent Calendar - Yule Log!  A rich, warm brown ink that lightens to a reddish tone with water.  I have a little water brush pen that I've filled with bleach, and when pulling it through this ink - it bleaches to a pale turquoise!  Today is our monthly Urban Sketchers KC meet up, and we're gathering at Crown Center.  So, I arrived early to walk the link over to Union Station, and try out this beautiful brown ink here!  Painting number 4112 in 4112 days. #diamineinkventcalendar 

Union Station Magic

 

There is nothing like painting Union Station during the holidays.  Families visit for photos by the giant tree, as travelers arrive and leave by train, pausing to gaze at it's beauty.  Many breakfast and lunch here - us included - then attend the various exhibits or Science City.  While sipping hot tea, I visit with Mom and artist friends as I paint, and my painting unfolds effortlessly.  A girl from my pilates class stops by to say "hi", and we go about our day.  These little moments spent here in this grand place, are what life is made of.  I'm so lucky to get to do this every single day.  Painting number 4409 in 4409 days. 

Union Station Christmas

 

I LOVED painting the holiday magic at Union Station Kansas City today!  It is so fun to share this special place with my mom and artist friends, capturing the nostalgic decor.  Working on my Christmas cards designs, this giant tree is regal is this rich setting. With ink and watercolor, I sketch and paint, until the scene emerges.  It's fun to enjoy this place with a hot cup of tea and friends, visiting as we paint. It's a wonderful way to ring in the holidays, sharing lunch at the Harvey House afterwards.  I'm so thankful for artist friends to paint with and my Mom to shop and spend the day with!  Painting number 4407 in 4407 days. 

Mid-day at Union Station

When I heard it was time for #oneweek100people again, I was not going to participate.  I had so much to do, with several "Kansas City" themed paintings yet to complete for delivery to a local gallery.  But then I thought, where better to paint so many people at once than Union Station?  I had to be in the city anyway, so why not pop in and knock this out all at once?  It's fun inking these little people, and washing them with a wet brush.  Some are left defined, and some are only the illusions left behind after the washed ink was blotted up.  Even though I've met my weekly quota, I might just try this again in watercolor.  After all, I have a Plaza theme coming up......!  Painting number 3353 in 3353 days. 

Christmas Magic at Union Station

I have longed to paint this large for my own wall all month long.  The first two oil paintings were painted in the daylight hours - and both sold.  As we came back from dinner at Crown Center, we walked through this majestic hall at night.  WOW, was this place breath-taking!  In all these years, I've never been down there after dark, and I did not know what I was missing!  So, for this large substrate, I had to capture that nocturne beauty.  I have chosen a different vantage, one that I looked at the very first time I painted here, and started with all the line work.  I see a few adjustments needed, and a bit of work left to do, but I ran out of time and wanted it on the wall for today's Christmas celebration!  After a day fun of family, food and fun, I will let this painting rest until tomorrow, and probably add more paint while it hangs on the wall - lol.  I may just leave this one up long after the holidays are over.  This place brings back happy family memories, and time spent with my dad on a bench, enjoying the beauty of this place.  Painting number 3263 in 3263 days. 

Union Station Magic

 I love to use ink and watercolor for pre-sketching my composition.  In fact, ink alone is my "go to", but I often take it further, adding color.  I have a hard time deciding which media to use here, so I end up bringing ink, watercolor and oils!  It's silly, because it is a long haul to the car, so I carry it all in a heavy bag over my shoulder!  But what's an artist to do?  Once I had finished with the ink and watercolor, I did not go on to paint an oil here.  Happy with this painting, there was no need to express it again.  So, I walked to the adjacent corner for the quick paint using oil.  I again used the portrait format with tree and window, only with a different vantage.  I do like that I could see the historic clock here.  Five generations of my family have walked these halls, and surely checked the time on that clock.  I love that I'm now painting here, in this timeless place.  Painting number 3252 in 3252 days. 

Christmas at Union Station

I've got that Christmas feeling as I paint at Union Station in ink and watercolor!  I love sketching all the lines and arches of this beautiful old train station.  With so much detail, it can be challenging to keep track of where I am in my drawing.  I will make a few tack marks at doorway edges and corners, just to keep me lined up as I work.  Once I've got the basics in, I start with the watercolor, remembering to squint to see the values.  My eyes can get lost in the magic of it all!  When I see people in postures that I like - I sketch them in quickly, before they move on.  I love to see all the families coming to see this tree, and take photos.  It's a wonderful Kansas City tradition! Love this nostalgic place!  Painting number 3250 in 3250 days.