Allium Batik

Sometimes, it is super fun to switch up mediums completely.  After so many days of ink and watercolor, I find myself playing with ink, hot wax, and watercolor on rice paper!  Always fun and unpredictable, each watercolor batik is unique. Paint, hot wax and ink flow and resist almost at random, and the translucent paint is full of energy. Perhaps, I'll explore more of my garden blooms with this reckless abandon!  Painting number 5087 in 5087 days. 

Rainy Day Allium

Oh the beauty of a misty day - and allium!  I just got back to town, and the arboretum is alight with these beauties!  I've a few blooms opening of my own (which I almost stayed home to paint), so I was rewarded with this when I arrived on site.  I did not walk further!  Painting two paintings while in Monet's Garden, I didn't scout the rest of the place until finishing!  I wait all year to paint the alluring allium!  Painting number 3035 in 3035 days. 

Purple Allium

Each May, I look forward to painting the gorgeous alliums at the Overland Park Arboretum.  Unable to paint there now, I am painting the allium in my own garden.  This variety is already starting to fade, and is getting funny little green ends on the ball shaped blooms.  This kind is new this year for me - so we'll see how they develop.  The dark, drizzly morning is brightening up - changing the scene in a heartbeat!  Time to pack up and get back to garden work!  Painting number 2686 in 2686 days.

Waterfall in the Garden

Finally - a dry day for painting in the Overland Park Arboretum!  The water garden is stunning this year with purple allium and yellow blooms to set off the waterfall.  Though I try to find a shaded place from which to paint, it isn't always possible.  So, I stood out in the sun (which turned overcast) to get this view.  Only in the 70's, it was a perfect day for painting.  The gardens are bursting with blooms - many late flowers mixing with those who are on time.  I'm going to have fun capturing these gorgeous gardens at the arboretum!  Painting number 2327 in 2327 days.

Sunset at Erikson Garden

Tonight was the kick off for the Stems Plein Air event at the Overland Park Arboretum.  After wining and dining us artists, we headed into the garden for a two hour quick paint!  After scouting the grounds, I landed in this spot - the waterfall, reflections, allium and sculpture all struck a chord for me.  I first did this in pen and ink, but as the color deepened in the golden hour, I knew I'd have to hike back to the car for my oils!  So, after that first hour, I framed and turned in my ink, then returned to paint it in oil.  I adjusted my composition slightly as the peachy light was growing in the sky.  With only 45 minutes to paint, I painted like a crazy woman, knocking in those masses and getting those lights and darks marked.  The light is fleeting at this hour, so speed is a must.  I finished at the sounding of the horn and turned it in on time!  Two hours well spent indeed!  Painting number 1941 in 1941 days.

oil on panel, 8x10
purchase here

Allium Batik

Teaching last week's Watercolor Batik workshop has me experimenting in the paints this week!  I like to keep a few small sheets of rice paper in my sketch bag, so I can ink my drawings in the field and batik them at home with the hot wax.  This is one from the Overland Park Arboretum (when the allium were amazing) on Kozo rice paper.  This paper is quite thin and fragile, so I must be careful when it is wet with watercolor.  I carry my pan sets in my bag - and they are opaque, unlike the transparent color I have always used. Guess what?  I love them!  The pigment is so rich, and the way the sediment is migrates is so cool!  I left an edge which I filled in with the batik color....which is new.  The opaque brown that I used in the batiking process actually sits on top of the wax, and stays on the painting after ironing.  Interesting!  I think I can use this to advantage!  I'm having so much fun, how will I ever sleep?  Painting number 1622 in 1622 days.

Allium in the Garden

The morning was cool and rain threatened.  With a few free hours for painting,  Michaela and I headed to the arboretum. This is the scene I picked out for the quick paint, and today I painted it! These blooms are among my favorites,  and I love capturing them in oils!  In fact,  I'm thinking of getting experimental with them later in the week!  Perhaps some acrylics with a little molding paste!  Before I had gotten the surface covered wth paint - the clouds broke open!  I picked my easel up and walked to the front porch of a shed for cover.  Once I got that paint down,  I could return to my spot with no worries.  The rain had let up,  and I was able to finish and head to my painting class.  Michaela finished a beautiful pen and ink climbing rose and filled it in with watercolor.  So nice to share my painting adventure with my daughter!  Painting number 1594 in 1594 days.

Allium in the Garden
oil on panel, 14x11
purchase here

Swallowtail on the Allium

Things have been so hectic around here, I'm simply overwhelmed.  I have not even had time to try and remember all that needs to be done around.  I am dropping balls right and left, and still the demands increase.  I really need a few hours to myself to unwind and actually breathe.  Squeezing in a drawing amidst the squealing boys chasing the dogs and trying to clean up after them!  Chaos reigns at my house these days.......drawing number 1276.

Swallowtail on the Allium
Pen and ink on paper, 6x7
purchase here

Illusions of Allium

I first came to this spot when I arrived.  Unsure about the composition, I walked all around the lake in search of perfect subject matter.  I found myself back in front of the allium.  This garden is known for these big, beautiful purple blooms, and they called me in.  Sketching first, I started laying in the blooms and the darks.  I rarely paint a garden scene from the distance.  Either I take in the whole view,  or I get up close and personal,  but not this "in between".  So, feeling rather unnatural,  I forged ahead with brush and paint and loose strokes.  Is it too loose?  Maybe....but I like the flow of it.  This painting makes 1240 in 1240 days.

Illusions of Allium
Oil on panel, 14x11
Overland Park Arboretum
sold

Allium Seedheads

Allium Seedheads
Watercolor on paper, 4x6

Another experiment in watercolor for today.  This has been such a crazy busy day - not even time to breathe on this one!  Once again, I have used the drawing gum with a plastic brush handle to "paint" on the places I wanted to remain white.  I washed over this dry gum with color, looking more at the shapes and the values of the background garden.  I like the loose, crazy flow of this watercolor, how one hue melds into another, creating their own shapes and flower heads in the distance.  I can hardly wait for my supplies to come in - I will have so much fun getting these paintings out of my head and onto the paper!  I am headed out to meet with high school friends for a little celebrating - so I have to make this short!  This painting makes 529 in 529 days - and tomorrow is going to be a full painting day beginning in Independence and ending in Lee's Summit :)

Pink Allium in Watercolor

Pink Allium in Watercolo
Watercolor on paper, 4x6

Here we go on a watercolor adventure!  On Tuesday's workshop, I completed five paintings and this is one of them.  The lighter parts were all masked out using Pebeo drawing gum.  I simply drew the lines with the plastic chisel handle of a brush, dipping it into the Pebeo.  I sure wish I had my own - because I have so many paintings running through my head, but alas, it is on order.  No art supply store in town carries it, but you can find it at Cheap Joe's online.  There are some tricks to this medium, NO shaking the jar, NO mixing with a brush, anything that adds air bubbles into the mix is bad!  If you choose to use a brush to apply, you will probably ruin that brush - hence, the plastic handle to apply.  Once the drawing gum is dry on your handle, you can easily rub it off, just like you can rub it off the paper - only the paper is more difficult to clean.  When the medium is completely dry, I then washed over it with my watercolors, most of which are transparent colors which allow the light of the paper to shine through.  Dropping in additional color with a loaded brush while the surface was still wet, allowed me to get the darkest values that would "move" around at will.  I used one round watercolor brush for this whole painting.  Though it is a full brush, the tip comes down to a tiny point, worthy of the most detailed work.  This painting makes 528 in as many days - and I am now thinking of carrying a travel set of pan watercolors with me in the car - for those spontaneous painting adventures I just can't pass up!  As quick as watercolor is for me to use, I can see some real advantages here!

Allium and Zinnias

Allium and Zinnias
Acrylic over molding paste on panel, 14x11
Overland Park Arboretum
Stems Plein Air Event - sold

After a morning of awards at school, I headed out Friday to get a couple of paintings in.  I wanted to paint over molding paste again, this time with more careful knife strokes - and adding detail to the background areas which I left flat on the earlier piece.  I am currently using Liquitex light molding paste, where I used Golden last time.  I find the Liquitex has a surface that more readily accepts the overpainting.  I found the Golden brand had a bit of resistance, causing my paint to be lighter when painting over the molded parts.  I had added acrylic paint to the Golden paste to add in the same color as my surface, hoping to improve how the paint adhered afterwards - but it did not.  So, for this technique, Liquitex wins - hard to believe, as I love all of the Golden acrylic products that I have tried, and I use Liquitex very little.  It was so warm, the paste was dry when I was ready to start with the acrylics.  By the time I had finished, I had backed up 30 feet to keep myself out of the sun which kept creeping my way!  I really like painting these florals in this way - I have already done 2 others, and may even try a whole landscape later in the week.  I know, just a little "crazy" in my normal, everyday routine......just to spice things up!  Painting number 518 in as many days - where does the time go?

Impressions of Allium

Impressions of Allium
Pastel, Molding paste, and Acrylic on panel, 14x11
Overland Park Arboretum, KS
Stems Plein Air - sold

I have been looking at this painting for a few days, unsure of whether to top it off with oils or leave it be.  Working experimentally, I sketched in pastel, molded the areas I wanted a sculpted feel to, and then painted in acrylic.  When I use acrylic, I start with a pale yellow underpainting.  Acrylics do not cover like oils, and the darker washes seem to work against me.  And, especially when trying something new, I don't want to fight my panel int he process!  It was so strange to use acrylics again after so long!  My youngest daughter insists that it is done - and forbids me to "mom it up".......but I am having trouble resisting the urge.  What shall I do?  Painting number 514 in as many days.........