900 Hansen Ave

 

I love sketching the vintage places I stay in when painting out of town!  I added the sweetest little black chicken when she came around the corner right after this pic! The kitchen is much adorned with all things chicken - which I love!  So this has been a joyful place to land before painting! This is my very first painting in Brookfield, and only my second to visit.  Long ago, I came with my parents to visit Great Aunt Minnie Clark, my dad's mother's sister.  Painting number 4616 in 4616 days. 

913 Center Street

 I love getting to paint vintage homes full of character and history.  This beautiful place was built by a friend's grandfather, and she had so many childhood memories here. As I worked on this one along the street, a older man pulled up next to me to see if I needed help.  I showed him that I was drawing and everything was fine.  It is the second time this week that someone has asked if I needed assistance. Everyone is so friendly here!  I'm happy this painting earned the Willow Tree Purchase Award! Painting number 3921 in 3921 days. 

Yellow House Charm

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 I love the historic homes along Maple Street!  This is the cottage Mom and I stayed in while in lovely Lakeside.  Painting in oil, the birds were singing and the sun was shining.  These peaceful moments are my reward for the days I paint in the rain and snow.  I'll remember this day when I'm fighting a hard wind, and hanging onto my easel!  It was so fun to see my painting hanging in the wall of this house.  Painting number 3843 in 3843 days. 

315 Maple

 It has been so fun to paint another beautiful historic home on Maple street!  I have spent nearly all my painting time on this street and neighboring Walnut Street, painting these wonderful homes!  I did have plans to get down to the hotel to paint, too, but I got rained out  I hope to make this an annual event on my calendar.  I have LOVED making friends up and down this street, and am so happy this painting now resides with the owner!  Painting number 4280 in 4280 days. 

HS Clay House

I loved showing my mom Augusta for the very first time - and staying here at this Bed and Breakfast was a special treat!  She missed our original bridal party outing here, so I wanted her to get to experience it, too.  We had a lovely time here in this beautiful, historic place, visiting in this garden. Going out before breakfast, the early light was so appealing, I just had to paint.  Choosing ink and watercolor, the sketch came together quickly.  I was able to drop in a little color to suggest those floral masses, leaving the areas loose and lively.  I finished early, but not early enough to do another, so Mom and I went in to breakfast.  It was delicious, and it was fun to visit with our proprietor over common interests.  Who knew she was collector of plein air paintings?!  So happy this painting will remain at the HS Clay House, and happy to have made a new friend in Augusta! Painting number 4254 in 4254 days. 

The Victorian on Main

 As I arrived in town, I took a quick spin by my favorite places - and this was definitely on my list!  The afternoon light was perfect for painting - even though I had to stand in the hot sun to get this started!  Setting up in Vaughn's automotive parking lot, I started sketching in pen and ink.  I remember when these complicated beauties were difficult, now they are just fun!!  So happy to tick another one off my painting list!  Painting number 3177 in 3177 days! 

303 Main - Inked

I love sketching the charming houses on Main Street in Steelville.  Staying right down the drive, I had to slip out early for a quick sketch before the art show!  This place is now home to Heartland Arts - and showcases the work of local artists.  There is even space for artist housing inside!  What a wonderful way for this vintage place to thrive in the community!  Painting number 3078 in 3078 days.  This ink drawing is now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville, Missouri. 

Home in the Snow

I love these beautiful, snowy days in the country.  Everything is so clean and crisp with a fresh blanket of snow on.  Yesterday's lovely snow was already starting to melt early this morning, as is often the case here in Missouri.  I feel an urgency to get out there fast when I see the drops falling from the eves!  As I start painting with oils over an old canvas painting, I remember the days of building snow forts and snowmen.  My happy, laughing children covered with snow, making snow angels and throwing snowballs.  I would line up beach towels for all their wet clothing and boots, and start hot chocolate for us all.  Hot chocolate is always best after playing in the snow!  I love painting our 176 year old farmhouse, and I love being the third generation to live here.  My children and their children are now making memories here, too, making 6 generations who have done so in this place.  There is something very special about that.  Painting number 2929 in 2929 days. 

Vintage Charm

Every year I look forward to traveling to Fairfield, Illinois to paint for their plein air event. This year was different, like so many other plein air events, and I could not paint in person.  Choosing from special reference provided by the community, I painted a few favorites.  All paintings had to be kept secret until the unveiling, so I am only now posting some of these paintings. With ink I sketched in the lines and angles of this house, adding watercolor as I went along.  I often go back in with a little more ink.  Once finished, I framed this up and delivered them all in person.  Taking my Mom with me, we delivered art in 4 states and saw plenty of beautiful places along the way!  Painting number 2883 in 2883 days. 

Country Cabin

The autumn color this year all through the midwest was amazing!  While in Steelville for an Artist Residency, I was contacted about driving out to check out this country cabin for a commission. In this family for 4 generations, this place and land holds many special memories.  I love getting to paint a home that has meant so much for so many years.  I have the best job ever!  Painting number 2879 in 2879 days. 

Katy Trail B&B

I am staying in Rocheport for the first time for an artist weekend, and this Katy Trail B&B has been a wonderful place to land.  The charm of this sweet place is right down my alley- so of course I had to paint it!  After a day full of portrait work, it was great to get out in the fresh air.  I sketched this with ink on handmade cotton paper, then added watercolor from my travel half pans.  This town is so full of vintage scenes - I wish I had more plein air time!  I will definitely return for more plein air and biking, too!  Painting number 2873 in 2873 days. 

401 Main in Autumn

These misty days make the perfect backdrop for those autumn colors - and I am making the most of it!  Painting from the porch of the house next door, I was happy to have shelter when a sudden downpour swept in to wash the landscape before me!  I really enjoyed the luxury of time, no deadlines, just my paints, the scene, and focused study of how the colors relate to each other, stroke by stroke.  I can already imagine just what regular focused study could do for my work.  Painting number 2844 in 2844 days. 

Inn at Yadkin Creek

 This wonderful old Inn at Yadkin Creek was so fun to capture with pen and ink!  A very complicated composition, I began by marking my points and edges with a dot - a visual mark to help me be sure of my relative masses before dropping those hard lines.  Happy with my marks, I start drawing in earnest.  With so many different angles and planes, this was challenging architecture - AND OH SO FUN!  There is something about facing a challenge that inspires me - and is even more rewarding to accomplish.  I hope to stay here sometime with family for a special weekend!  Painting number 2790 in 2790 days. 

Home

I am forging ahead with this direct watercolor challenge of 30 paintings in 30 days.  A painting a day is a breeze, but it is considerably harder when I also have gallery work to finish and commissions in process!  I am trying a architecture today, and thought I'd really miss my pen. I marked a few lines with my brush and it made all the difference.  All this month I have started by laying in the masses in watercolor - and it has been a struggle!  Perhaps this is the way I can actually start enjoying direct watercolor!  Day 9 of 30, and painting number 2708 in 2708 days. 

Home through the Snow

Oh my, it felt great to pick my oils up again!!  With a fresh coat of snow on the ground overnight, I knew I would finally take out my oils today.  It was warmer than I anticipated and that snow was melting faster than I could paint it!  So, I worked small with my 5x7 thumb box easel and finished two while I was at it!  As for the color?  I felt like pushing blue today, and painting is all about expressing myself in my surroundings.  Perhaps tomorrow I'll be a little more true.....or not.  Painting number 2588 in 2588 days.

Garden Walk

I love a formal garden, especially one with a path like this, so I had to paint it as soon as I walked back there.  The lines of the historic house make a perfect backdrop for the curving path and abundant blooms. Sketching first with India ink, I then went in with watercolor, only to follow again with a different ink.  Love this media for such a scene as this.  Painting number 2454 in 2454 days.

Family Home in Metal

Oh boy, I LOVE experimenting with art!  And this media is completely out of my box!!  After reading an email about a metal workshop offered at my local art league - Tri County, I rearranged my schedule to attend this workshop.  I am so glad I did!  Exploring the sculpting of metal is invigorating - and I started with a sketch!  Simply taking a stylus and sketching out my house, I started pushing and pulling the metal with the basic sculpting tools until I got the image I wanted. Then, with a little shoe polish and black acrylic paint rubbed into the crevasses, this is the result!  Can't wait to do it again!  Painting number 2447 in 2447 days.

Vintage Charm

I love the character and charm of an historic old home.  This beautiful stone house was built in 1910, and the grandson of the original owner keeps this place pristine.  Flowers spill from the gardens, well loved by the lady of the house. It was a pleasure to paint a place so full of joy and life.  I'm so happy this painting won the Downing Purchase Award at Paint Parkville on Sunday.  Painting number 2389 in 2389 days.

H.S. Clay House Inked

What an amazing place to spend an evening!  After a day spent in Augusta wine country, and a fabulous private dinner at Kate's Coffee, this is where we have come to unwind and visit. A little soak in tre hot tub and I am good as new.  Looking forward to a few more memories before heading home tomorrow. Painting number 2357 in 2357 days.

Tom's House

This grand old house is part of a wonderful farm with multiple barns.  As I started the sketch for the farm painting, I captured a different view of the house, in order to include as many barns as possible.  Once finished, I HAD to get this view of the house, as one would approach the front door.  Even as I finish this one, I am thinking ahead to a long panel, to paint the entire place in oils.  The sweep of land rolling back from the buildings is exceptional!  Painting number 2239 in 2239 days.

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