George Cetto House

 This morning began with an adventure into the history of this painting!  A new patron who just purchased this painting in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri (in the future - May of 2025), asked for the time it was created.  I nearly always date my paintings, but I had not.  I nearly always post my paintings eventually, even when I'm so busy that multiple paintings are created, and I only post one per day. But, I had not.  I couldn't find it by name, and next tried going to my photos for all stamped Sainte Genevieve.  There I found it, and the reason it was not posted.  I had taken a quick photo on the street as I finished, dashing in for a delightful breakfast at the Main Street Inn.  We left town right afterward, and I did not realize until later that my image was blurred.  I love painting in Sainte Genevieve, and have shared many happy times with family here.  We are always looking forward to our next stay - which doesn't come often enough!  This painting was actually 4297 in 4297 days.  I'm pre-dating this post to keep the artwork in the era it was created.  I know there are other paintings out there that have slipped through the cracks in my artistic journey, and I welcome the opportunity to get them back in line!

12 6th Street

The weather couldn't be nicer for painting en plein air!  It is such a treat after the heat indexes of 106 last week!  I arrived looking at a different format in my paper, but soon decided to go with a more sweeping view of the scene, capturing house,  garden, and street.  With the dramatic perch on the hill, I took more time sketching out the angles and lines with a water resistant ink, to come back in with a water soluble one.  I then took a water brush pen to the areas I wanted to wash a little, finding the balance.  I do love working with the ink, so therapeutic as I capture a scene. Painting number 3119 in 3119 days. 

Road to Catala

 

I just realized that I did not post this painting before delivering it!  So happy that I did get a photo, though!  Many is the time I have sold a painting off my easel without a photo to record it.  In fact, I just did that Saturday when in a hurry to wrap up and get to my third event of the day.  This composition pulled me in with the dramatic turn of the road leading to this historic house, with the charming town of New Melle beyond it.  I love painting these places that dot the map! There are so many paintings out there, just waiting to be discovered!  Painting number 3116 in 3116 days. 

Home on the Hill

purchase here

What a treat to find my newest watercolor paints on the front porch when I arrived home!  This Woodlands collection from Prima Watercolor Confections is well suited for the winter landscape.  After unwrapping each pan of watercolor and popping them into the metal palette, I am ready to paint!  With a strong wind on this January day in the 50s, I settle into a rather protected area at the edge of the pasture. Using a completely new palette is always a challenge.  My go to colors are not there, I must mix and play and I find the shades I want to lay down.  A couple of stand outs here - #87 Cavern and #91 Bear. #95 Redwood is pretty nice, too.  Can't wait to try the 5 other ones yet to unwrap! Painting number 2569 in 2569 days.

Evans House

While at the show for the Steelville Plein Air event, a man came up to this drawing, looking very closely at it.  After a minute or two, he told me this was his grandparent's house.  His grandparents were married here, and his grandmother's sister died here, it was full of family history.  After asking me to write "Evan's House", he took this drawing home.  I'm so glad this drawing found it's perfect home!  Painting number 2351 in 2351 days.

January Snow at Home

purchase here

Each day this week, I have explored the subtle color shifts of snow.  With so many overcast days, the pink grays, blue grays and brown grays have covered most of each panel.  This winter wonderland sky color started with Richeson's ice blue, pushed lighter at the horizon and deeper at the edges.  These Richeson paints are really serving me well, especially as I'm only using their palette now.  With each painting, I gain the knowledge of exactly how their paints combine, to express my personal experience in the field.  Love when the results match my experience!  Painting number 2208 in 2208 days.

Home through the Snow

Another day of exploring the shades of snow - and finding how quickly the color cools off with the sunset.  What pushed towards warm at midday, turns cool blue gray in the evening!  I need so much more practice painting snow!  Perhaps I'll get to perfect it with another snowfall coming Friday!  Painting number 2203 in 2203 days.

purchase here

301 East Avenue

This is one of the ink drawings done on site, and tucked in my bag to add color to at a later date.  These little works gave me focus during a difficult time, allowing me a little relief before returning to the real world.  The tiny palettes of the Watercolor Confections pack anywhere, a pocket or a bag, so I am never without paint.  I've grown so used to them, they are now like old friends.  Painting number 2117 in 2117 days.

Main Street Inn

After choosing the perfect vantage of this wonderful inn, I set my easel up, and heard engines starting up behind me.  Within seconds, a lawn crew set up with weed eater, leaf blower, and mower, stirring up debris from all sides!  I stepped into the street wth my easel, in front of a parked car.  With one loaded brush, and the lid back on my palette, I started the composition, trying to shield the painting with my body.  I was then asked to step away from the curb for the blower, and they were gone in a flash!  As I really got into the painting, I kept hearing acorns drop all around me.  Looking up, I realized I was under a huge pin oak, and one bopped me on the shoulder!  Although I had sprayed for bugs, the mosquitos were out!  I had to point my Off clip on right at me, to keep them at bay.  After all of this, I finally finished before some other obstacle got in the way!  Painting number 2074 in 2074 days.

Main Street Inn Purchase Award Winner
sold

1129 N 4th Street

With a hot cup of tea and a cool spot in the shade of our B&B's front porch, this charming brick house called to me.  With some quick line work, I started in with my watercolors.  When I first used these little pan sets, I wiped the mixing areas clean after every use, keeping them shiny and new.  Now, I find it's much faster for me to leave those dried mixes on the tray! With a bit of water from my water brushpen, the color reactivates, and I've skipped a mixing step. Often I can just pick up a bit of another color, drop it right into the old mix, and voila, I'm already painting.  I'm all about time saving measures, and this works well with my limited mixing style.  I never would have believed how much is enjoy ink and watercolor painting, just two short years ago. ALWAYS keep learning, the forward progress can be invigorating!  Painting number 2029 in 2029 days.

7840 Conser

I had this one already framed and packed in the car before I remembered I hadn't taken a photo!  There are several through the years that left my easel for other homes before I got an image, so I try to be mindful of it.  This historic stone house is in old town Overland Park, and now home toi the Kevin Cowan Architects.  On the other side of the street are the new InterUrban Lofts, old and new threads in the fabric of this area.  It has been fun painting and drawing here, so close to where I grew up.  The whole area has so many fond memories, it only adds to the work I do here!  Painting number 1974 in 1974 days.

ink on paper, 9x12
purchase here

Home Before Sunset

I could see the light starting to change as I ticked off chores on my "to do" list.  Always an eye to the sky, I just could wait no longer.  I put dinner prep on hold, and headed outside with my 5x7 thumb box.  This is the perfect size for those quick paint windows!  I simply hold it with one hand as I paint with the other.  My palette for this box of an Altoid tin!  No kidding!  I started with only the Zorn palette colors on this, but transferred many other colors to it when the glass broke in another palette.  Not willing to waste that paint - I dropped them into this tiny one!   As a result, my paints are NOT laid out in the same manner as every other palette I have.  It does not hinder me in the least.  When those little puddles are used up, I will not replace them.  Only my core paints will remain in the end!  Painting number 1853 in 1853 days.

Andress House Inked

I love the feel of a fountain pen gliding over handmade paper. I prefer a rougher texture, unlike many of my artist friends, for this delicate, detailed work. I draw like I paint, with sketchy lines in a freestyle hand.  Like handwriting, no two artists draw the same.  I let the pen find the angles until the whole composition comes together, and then come in with a little water on a brush.  Tonight I am using a new Koi water brush pen, and am enjoying the ready flow at the brush tip.  I think I will be turning this into a painting,  but will try one other composition first.  Painting number 1747 in 1747days.

ink on paper, 6x4
sold