Church Street Barns

I love painting the old barns on Church Street in Augusta!  Though pretty messy in the field, I am again playing with my collection of fountain pen ink!  As I pared down my supplies, I forgot a crucial element to this process - my wash brush!  Laying in down with brush or dropper, I lay a very wet stroke along that ink with that brush!  I just couldn't make it work with my largest round brush.  So, upon mentioning this to my host family, Saundra pulled out a selection of house painting brushes.  The one inch brush was perfect!  Not quite as soft as a wash brush, it still held a lot of water, allowing me to achieve the stroke i needed to get these chromatic inks to mingle.  Unpredictable and vibrant, the whole process is fun - unless I have a little ink accident!  Yes, that happened with the first ink painting - and it took me over an hour to clean that mess up!  Come see this fountain pen ink painting in person at Gallery Augusta on Walnut Street!  Painting number  3768 in 3768 days. 

Iconic Barns of Augusta

I just dropped off the largest ink and watercolor paintings I've ever done at Gallery Augusta!  I LOVE painting the local iconic barns, and these have been long time favorites of mine.  Ordering large pieces of this handmade paper, the whole process from sketch to finish took so much longer than I thought it would. Unwieldy at 36x24, I had a little trouble maneuvering the paper.  And at the onset, I knew my favorite travel paints were far too small for the thick, juicy brushes.  So, after years of neglect, I again turned to a few of my old favorite Daniel Smith watercolors, my old large palette, and an easel that could shift easily from upright to flat, depending on the need.  The project seemed laborious in process, but I was elated at the finish.  These historic buildings are so worth the extra effort, and am I actually looking forward to starting another large project?  Maybe!  This one now showing at Gallery Augusta, and is painting number 4255 in 4255 days. 

Garden at the Barns

 

Not every day en plein air is sunshine and roses.  I started this oil painting in the rain, careful to keep my panel tilted downward to avoid the water.  Sketching in paint my composition, I quickly blocked in the masses with a large brush. It is important to get paint on the panel before it gets wet, even if loosely.  Once covered, I could then face it up a little to polish my edges and values.  Often times those are a little off when facing down in the rain, lol! I always knock in that light when I start, trying not to chase the light as it changes - especially in the rain. As the sky began to clear, the scene began to change, and it was a good thing I had already captured that magic, because it evaporated with the rain!  So happy this humble painting won the "Barns" theme paint at the Tonganoxie plein air event - and it has a new home, too!  Painting number 3420 in 3420 days. 

Old Truck at Balducci's

 

Every year there is a sunset paint at Balducci Vineyards, and this year the light was perfect and the winds were howling! With a glass of Vidal Blanc (yummy) in one hand, as I gripped my easel, I painted with the other quick and heavy - trying to get a much paint on there as quickly as possible.  Battling wind gusts while painting is tricky business!  I had to switch my brimmed hat for my ball cap multiple times, in an effort to keep my hair out of my eyes!  Once turned in, it was great to sit down with friends and enjoy a wonderful piece of pizza. This was a super fun paint, despite the wind! Painting number 3400 in 3400 days - wowza!

Winter Milk Barn

With warmer temperatures expected, I had to get out early to capture the snow.  The ground is already warm and soft, so the snow doesn't have a chance!  I am studying the colors of the winter landscape, trying to see the subtle changes in hue and value, and pushing them a little.  I read a wonderful quote the other day that struck a chord, "A color without it's complement is dead."  So as I look at the masses, I'm looking for the complements, too.  Those little bits of opposing color add drama, sparkle and life to the scene. I can still smell the crisp air as I look at this.  Painting number 3357 in 3357 days. 

South Side of Milk Barn

Today finds me painting the south side of the old milk barn, and loving every minute of it.  This place is full of family memories, and just standing in this spot ties me to those who have gone before me.  There is something so comforting in that, even as the memories cloud my vision.  It is my honor and privilege to bring life to this winter landscape with my paints.  I love this place.  Painting number 2918 in 2918 days.