Milk Barn Forsythia

 

I love painting the bright blooms of forsythia in front of the old milk barn, and moody days make the best backdrop!  I planted this forsythia at the corner of this corral with the intention of painting in one day.  Here, it has grown to full glory and literally makes this composition magical.  I'm already thinking of new places to move it to, with future paintings in mind.  Painting number 5161 in 5161 days. 

Stone Hill Sunset

 

What a treat to find such a gorgeous barn to paint, high on a hill on Hermann! Wandering down the streets in search of autumn color brought me here, and little did i know what I would find.  From this spot were multiple paintings in all directions!  Stone Hill Winery is absolutely stunning, and i week definitely be back!  This painting is now available at Art Works On Main in Owensville!  I sure do love painting this part of Missouri! Painting number 5168 in 5168 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. 

Old Barn in Ink

 Today, I taught a pen and ink workshop for Summit Art Plein Air at Missouri Town 1855.  This place is full of lovely buildings and living history, and it is a treat to get to sketch here.  I taught the traditional methods first, adding my own techniques as we progressed through the drawings.  This was my second of the day, and I might just try this in oil on thirsty Thursday..... painting number 5055 in 5055 days. 

Red Roof Barn in Winter

These amazing Midwest barns grow older every day, and I can see their decline each time I revisit one from year to year. I feel like I need to capture them with paint while they still stand, because one day they may not.  Painting number 4033 in 4033 days. 

Nightfall

What a lovely, peaceful evening to squeeze in a tiny painting in ink! We had a full day of family fun and board games, and it was a bit of a trick to get this accomplished! This is Diamine's 5th ink of their advent calendar, Nightfall, and is a rich deep blue that washes out towards turquoise. Additionally, it reaches a very dark value with heavy application. This blue could be lovely in a stormy skyscape!  I can hardly wait to see what comes next - and alas, I have so little extra time!  Painting number 3984 in 3984 days. 

First Snow at Yellow Barn

Painting on a snowy morning is one of the most peaceful experiences.  All is still and the air is crisp, snow crunches underfoot.  The sun warms my back as I work, and I turn to face it every so often.  There's almost no wind this morning, and the paint time is delightful.  This early snow makes Christmas feel near, and the beauty around me is invigorating!  I hope there is more snow coming soon, I can hear the dripping as this one melts!  Painting number 3973 in 3973 days. 

Morning on the Farm

I'm so happy for the invitation to paint this lovely farm in Rosebud!  I met the owner, Bob, at my host home last night where he entertained us at the piano after our quick sunset paint along the lake.  What a lovely evening!  He has even inspired me to get back to the piano, too.  The morning light here was glorious, and I've wanted to paint that very unique roofed silo for years! Yay for getting that done and I love that this painting has a new home, too! Painting number 3939 in 3939 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. 

Crossbuck Barn

 I love finding a great barn to paint up a winding road!  Returning from the Meramec River, this beautiful place emerged from the woods as I drove the winding path!  What a treat to get to paint it before I headed back to town!  The whole Steelville area is a full of painting subjects for this artist!  Will I ever be able to paint all the paintings already in my head?  Come see this and others at today's wet paint sale at the Steelville Community Center from 10 to 3. Painting number 3804 in 3804 days! 

Evening Barn on the Water

This morning's 'nocturne surprise' was a good one!  One never knows what will come out of the trunk after painting in the dark!  I just couldn't resist those reflections on the water!  I had hardly set up on the back side of the pond when bugs invaded my space!  Gnats were everywhere to welcome me - so I grabbed my pochade quickly and jumped in my car.  I had to get out twice to get the gear I needed, each time letting in bugs.  With my pochade on my lap, I painted as fast as I could before my light was gone, using only one easel light on low.  With the scene so dark, I couldn't have the car on, and didn't want to draw even more bugs, lol. Another buggy plein air adventure, but I'd do it again for a scene like this!  Painting number 3790 in 3790 days. 

Missouri Barn and Silo

It was so fun painting the Missouri Barn and Silo at Powell Gardens!  I couldn't resist the challenge of all those geometric shapes, so I sketched them in ink and filled them with watercolor!  The closest beds were zinnias and Lantana, all freshly planted.  In a few short weeks this place will be in full bloom, and I hope to return to see the glory.  Painting number 3780 in 3780 days. 

To the Children's Garden

It was a perfect day to paint the entrance to the Children's Garden at Powell Gardens!  I loved talking art with the children walking by, and listening to their laughter while they played.  There was a piano in the other side of this entrance, and the notes wafted through the air.  I remember my own children play notes on our piano, one that has been in my family four generations.  Now, the grandbabies pick out notes, and I always love the sound of it.  This place was such a peaceful place to paint, and a place is wonder for all the children.  Painting number 3779 in 3779 days. 

Memory Lane

 

I love using Diamine's Memory Lane ink for this miniature painting out by the barn!  It's a lovely red violet that washes with water and turns turquoise with a little bleach!  I think this ink will be lovely in the spring when blooms are lighting up the landscape!  Painting number 3677 in 3677 days and day 29 #stradaeasel challenge 😍🎨

Three Kings Barn

 

Love how luminous this Diamine ink is!  Three Kings is a rich, warm brown that turns to gold with a little water!  I didn't think to take bleach to it, so I don't know what the reaction is.  This golden color is well suited for the winter grasses, and shimmers in the lighter areas.  Another beauty from the Inkvent Calendar - boy am I glad I didn't pass on this year's inks!  Pricey, but so worth it!  Painting number 3651 in 3651 days. 

Standing on Church St

 I've been wanting to paint this since I first laid eyes on it when we checked in.  After a full day of painting, I simply had to get back out in the golden hour for a quick ink and watercolor!  Always with an eye to the sky, I find my subjects when the light is rich and dreamy, bringing out their best on my paper.  It was quiet on Church Street this time of day, with another artist also working and a few birds singing their evening songs. What a lovely end to the day!  Painting number 4247 in 4247 days, and this one is now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville! 

Path to the Barn

It was so peaceful to paint along the dirt path to this Wesco barn.  Standing in the shade and painting to birdsong, the weather was perfect.  The painting seemed to unfold on it's own on this blissful summer day.  If only all painting days could be like this!  This is painting number 4243 in 4243 days, and is now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville, Missouri!  

Walnut Hill Farm

What an amazing day of painting at Walnut Hill Farm in Saint James!  Early morning thunderstorms cleared off in time to paint, and the weather was perfect! This farm has rolling hills dotted with cattle and walnut trees, and I view in every direction. I started this as soon as I arrived, loving the story it told of the farm, complete with a few timid visitors that I had to chase to sketch! So happy to paint the pastoral beauty and honored to win a red ribbon  for my effort!  Painting number 4240 in 4240 days. 

Living Water Farms

This was our second attempt to paint this place - and I'm so glad we found a good way in!  We attempted it from the south on Thursday, but the heavy rains caused rushing water over the road.  What a treat to drive in and find such a lovely place!  The dramatic angle of the architecture sweeping down the hill was irresistible!  Families played in the water, fished and picnicked all day on the grounds, visiting as they walked by.  I set up on this rather step hill, close to the lake, and loved every minute of my time here!  Painting number 4230 in 4230 days. 

Art Festival

The scheduled paint out during festival hours was the "People" theme paint, and what better place to paint than the crowd watching performers?  Using my ink fountain pen, I sketched out the scene, realizing I was running out of my favorite black ink again!  It seems that I need two pens full of ink when painting for an event.  I can really go through the black ink!  Once the sketch was complete, I started adding the watercolor.  I didn't have enough black to use as I normally would, so I switched to Robert Oster's Thunderstorm ink in another pen in my bag.  This color is a great shadow color, and I often use it for that purpose.  It pushes a little violet and turquoise when wet.  In fact, the signature inks in this series are really great.  Once complete, I framed it and turned it in, then spent the rest of the day with Mike and my mom.  They came out to enjoy the festival and all the live entertainment.  What a fun way to spend the day!  Icing on the cake was that I won the theme paint with this one!  Painting number 4225 in 4225 days.