Bridge at English Landing Park

This painting was a race with the clock, as turn in was in only 30 minutes!  I just love a challenge, even when I know there's not enough time, and I'll have to quit painting before I want to!  What better way to keep things fresh?  Painting number 4669 in 4669 days, and this one is now showing at the Parkville Art House. 

Bridge to the Rocky Mountain National Park

This is my favorite bridge entry into the Rocky Mountain National Park from the YMCA property.  The wooden log bridge is iconic, as is the rushing water of Glacier Creek.  We've hiked the trail multiple times, normally between the two water crossings.  But now I'm wondering if I can reach the waterfall that I can see from Bible Point, by following this trail to the west. Maybe I'll check out that trail in the morning!  Painting number 4556 in 4556 days.  This one is now showing at the Library in the YMCA of the Rockies! 

Bridge at Glacier Creek

We started this day with a hike to the top of Emerald Mountain trail.  The guys headed out to play disc golf and I headed to the creek. I painted near here three years ago, but the landscape has changed a little.  The water is twice as high, and a second boulder is somehow missing?  Maybe it is underwater now, but Mike had rested on it when we were surrounded by an entire herd of elk.  The rushing water is mesmerizing as I paint, and i find myself looking toward the bank to be sure no wild animals are near.  How very fortunate I am to paint the beauty of a place like this.  Painting number 4553 in 4553 days, and will be showing at the Library at the YMCA of the Rockies fire the next 2 weeks. 

Spring at Defiance Ridge

SOLD

I love dining AND painting at Defiance Ridge!  I do not remember this bridge and waterway, and I'm here each year to paint!  So, of course, I have to paint it!  The sound of the water babbling as visitors chatted and shared wine was so relaxing as I worked.  Before I knew it, it was time to turn in, and on I went to the next adventure.  I'm happy this painting found a new home, too. Painting number in days.

Spring Bridge

 

Maremec Spring Park is one of my favorite places to paint, and it was fun to spend time here with local high school students during their plein air weekend!  All of the students and mentors were treated admission to the Folksy Fish Festival, and we sketched among the bands dotting through the park.  It was a great day spent teaching and having fun in a beautiful setting along the spring. Painting number 5076 in 5076 days. 

Kansas City is full of beautiful bridges, and this one crosses Brush Creek on Benton Boulevard. I've drawn this from a smaller piece I did en plein air during one of the Brush Creek Art Walks.  I show this piece in the Now Showing program with other large pieces in Kansas City.  Love getting to paint these great places! We're celebrating the marriage of our middle son tonight to a wonderful young woman who is now our newest daughter!  Can't wait to share the fun with the whole family tomorrow!  Painting number 3927 in 3927 days. 

Garden Bridge

I will never tire of painting this place!  The Overland Park Arboretum is one of my favorite places to paint, and I LOVE sneaking away for a couple hours to soak in the beauty!  This garden is ever changing, with blooms in transition from one blush to another.  Oils are my medium today, and the rich buttery texture is perfect to describe the flora and water.  It is so very peaceful to paint in a garden, and I'm so happy to come here when I can. Painting number 3883 in 3883 days. 

Bridge Over the Portage

 

I used to run the North Coast Inland trail over that distant bridge almost every day when I stayed in Elmore, Ohio.  There were many fun family trips here, all through the years.  When my father had health issues, I found myself running that trail on my short windows away from the hospital.  Many times that trail helped me gather strength, run from pain, and center my soul when I needed it most. It's hard to return here, and yet I want to run again, almost like returning to an old friend who helped me through the bad times.  Painting it again brings back so many memories.  Painting number 3867 in 3867 days. 

Bridge at Antioch Park

I love painting the bridges along the walking trail at Antioch Park!  The trails around the lake are especially peaceful, and a great place to relax and recharge for the day ahead.  With ink and watercolor, I paint the scene before me as I relax on a bench.  I used to come here as a child, then later with my children, and now with their children, too.  It feels good to paint in a place where 4 generations of my family have walked. Painting number 3820 in 3820 days. 

Bridge over Maramec Spring

Oh how I love painting the water of Maramec Spring!  Arriving a little early, I immediately set my easel up right here.  The morning light was beginning to spread across the water and bridge, so I quickly marked those passages with paint. It's so important to do so in fleeting light, before the moment is lost. The sound of that water is mesmerizing, and loud enough to drown out most voices.  It was like painting alone, though I was surrounded be several other artists.  What ac perfect way to start this day!  This painting is now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville through the end of the month. Painting number 3807 in 3807 days. 

Lost Valley Lake Bridge

 

The warm autumn days are numbered, and today I'm thankful for another one!  Our temps are expected to drop as low as 20 by the weekend so I'm soaking in every minute before.  We've had such a lovely autumn, I want it to last forever.  So, I paint the beauty while it's still before me, and I'll embrace lovely winter when it comes.  Painting number 4388 in 4388 days. 

Red Oak Valley Bridge

Today, I'm thankful for the wonderful iron bridges I find, begging me to paint!  Exploring a new place is such an adventure for this artist! Around each bend is a new delight, something I've never laid eyes on before, drawing me in for a closer look.  I'm never as observant as when I'm painting, seeing every color shift, light and shadow as it unfolds live before my easel.  We have a conversation, the landscape and I, she whispers with the breeze and trickling water, as I answer with my brush.  These moments are sacred, and I'm the only one here to capture the beauty. Too soon the painting is done, and I pack up and climb out of this creek bed, possibly never to return.  I'm thankful for this day. Painting number 4387 in 4387 days. 

Antioch Park Path to the Island

 I love returning to childhood haunts to paint.  Those small stepping stones seemed so large to me as a child, but now they are 1/4 the size, lol!  The beautiful light on the water pulled me right in this morning, and the lush greens were a treat for late summer.  I'm using a couple of new brushes today, Connoisseur taklons, which I purchased up in Marceline over the weekend.  So far, so good.  They are a little soft for the preliminary work, but real nice for the finish strokes. I look forward to exploring these more through the months ahead. Painting number 4319 in 4319 days. 

Shawnee Mission Lake

With much work on my plate, the thought of a two hour "oil painting break" was too enticing to resist, so I headed out to Shawnee Mission Park as soon as I could get away to meet my watercolor friends.  In a place such as this, I always bring my oils, longing for the rich, buttery textures only they can provide.  I've never been in this part of the park, near Shelter #11, where the water was still and reflective.  A double kayak came by, as did a paddle boarder, as a couple fished from bridge and bank.  It was such a peaceful two hours, I left this place renewed, and ready to jump back into my gallery work! Painting number 4259 in 4259 days.  

Monet's Bridge Impressions

What a beautiful day for painting in Monet's Garden, at the Overland Park Arboretum!  It was planting day at the arboretum, and this garden was full of gardeners in the morning. So after painting the Erikson garden first, I returned to capture it's beauty.  It is a later spring this year, and the lily pads are only beginning to grow on the pond.  I've never seen the Dame's Rockets bloom here - so I had to stand near them, including them in my painting.  I only just added them to my own garden last year, a transplant from my youngest daughter's new house, and I love them.  I've seen them for years along roadsides and abandoned old farmhouses, a vintage bloom from years gone by.  I love the memories flowers evoke, and the timeless nature of every bloom.  Painting number 4226 in 4226 days. 

Wisteria at the Bridge

I could see this gorgeous wisteria blooming from the road I drive in on - and had to seek it out.  I had painted nearly this whole scene before a family stopped in the bridge, dropping bread crumbs into the water.  From near and far, red koi streamed in, shining in the sunlight!  I didn't know they were there until that moment!  Another visitor commented on what a lovely thing to paint - and I started doing in those forms like crazy!  Catching the couple as they gazed into the water, I brushed those strokes in quickly, and added highlights to the koi. They were little more than red orange dashes in the water, but oh were they beautiful!  What luck to get to paint such a sight - and to experience it!  Painting number 3417 in 3417 days. 

Benton Blvd Bridge

During the last Brush Creek Art Walk that I attended, I had sketched this out on location on the hill sloping down to Brush Creek. The arches are stunning, and though I have painted them before, I have not drawn them in ink in such dramatic fashion.  I used one of my favorite fountain pens loaded with Levenger's Raven Black ink, and a little water to move the ink around. I even dipped my round brush directly into the ink a couple of times for those really dark areas, then I blended them out with a little water.  I have no idea what paper this is - no doubt something special I purchased from a local art store - and probably 100% cotton. The paper is quite thick and firm, and really does work great for ink.  I'm trying to get a few more Kansas City themed paintings done for show entries before I head back into the city. Hope I can get a large drawing done of Union Station, too. Painting number 3349 in 3449 days.

Bridge Garden

I've never painted this remote garden in the arboretum, but the wonderful drift of yellow blooms called me in.  The small bridge with trickling water was very pleasant to paint by, and made for an interesting composition.  This was Tri-County day at the arboretum, and it was fun to meet my artist friends there to paint!  I hoped to paint the waterfall after this, but the water was not running from the lake.  Maybe next time!  Painting number 3079 in 3079 days. 

Bird's Nest Bridge

I just had to sketch this iconic Bird's Nest Bridge before heading out of Steelville!  

Antioch Bridge

I have fond childhood memories of this park!  Part of the sprawling lake, I am painting the bridge crossing the water.  With wind gusts greater than 50mph, this low spot near the water is pretty sheltered.  I'm using oils on masonite for this beautiful landscape, and working rather quickly.  I spent too long on my first painting of the day, leaving just 30 minutes for this one.  I checked my watch a little late and headed back over to meet with fellow artists.  So fun to gather in wonderful locations each Monday with artist friends!  There are SO MANY beautiful scenes to paint at Antioch Park!  Painting 3002 in 3002 days.