Goldenrod and Sunflowers Inked

A wonderful afternoon for a little plein air, I first begin this landscape with a drawing.  I look for the lines and flow of the masses, darks moving easily through the composition.  I've only just discovered the Anita Gorman conservation center, and what a jewel it is!  Wildflowers grow in reckless abandon, lining paths through the wooded grounds. This remarkable place is right in the middle of town, though you would never know it as you walk in the woods.  Peace as tranquility abound, and seeps right into every pen stroke.  What a wonderful life I live!  Painting number 1721 in 1721 days.

SW Market Street Inked

Some days my schedule is so full, there is hardly time to eat!  This has been such a day beginning with the gym, followed directly by a jury committee meeting that I chair, to this little window of sketch time before getting ready to judge the Raytown Invitational tonight.  My sketch kit in the car, it is the first time I've used this abbreviated set!  I found a handmade bag on Washington Island that just holds my 5x7 clipboard, 4x6 papers, one water brush pen and my favorite fountain pen!  Small and with a strap, I can carry it hands free, and it is there when the mood strikes me!  This vintage house on Market Street is charming with it's picket fence surrounding a zinnia bed!  So cute, I had to sketch it!  Painting number 1674 in 1674 days, now I'd better get ready for judging!!

ink on paper, 6x4
purchase here

Lavender Farm Inked

Walking to the outer edge of the lavender rows, I could not resist this view!  Setting up my easel, I went right to the task of drawing the scene before me.  What a pleasure to create in such a place as this!  All I had to do was narrow down my view for the perfect composition - and there were so many!  I could paint a thousand paintings right here on this farm, standing in the lavender!  So many paintings, always so little time!  Painting number 1676 in 1676 days.

ink on paper, 6x4
purchase here

Artists Painting the Plaza in ink

Painting cars in the landscape has always been a challenge.  I tend to avoid them,  or better yet,  ignore them completely.  So,  they are my self imposed challenge of the week.  100 cars in one week.  I begin by drawing them,  because the media is less forgiving than paint.  I need to be held to the line!   Even though this is focused study,  I want it to be strong compositionally, not just 100 cars lined up hood to bumper.  What better place than the Country Club Plaza for an amazing backdrop for all the mundane cars?  I look at the shapes that make up each car individually,  and draw just that shape.  I start with front of car,  then the angles of hood and wheel,  next the roof,  finally the back,  treating it like I would a figure.  All figures are angles,  get the angles right and the figure is right.  It's a struggle,  but I'm hoping it will be a breeze by 100!  Drawing number 1536 in 1536 days :)

Off Rue du Mitan

This was an absolutely gorgeous day!  After the gym and a run, I headed straight out to do yard with, taking full advantage of the beautiful weather!  I have daffodils and crocus blooming, and I've been cleaning out and mulching countless flower beds.  After an appointment and dinner in town with the family, my intentions were to go down and paint the pond.  An ominous cloud was moving in, and lightening had begun.  Well, darn.  It is too far from the house to set up in a storm, with shelter no closer than the house or barn.  So, instead, I have turned to my pen and ink and some work on architecture.  Such a beautiful place to get lost in for a while.  Drawing number 1511 in 1511 days.