Clouds Over the Red Barn

Mid day, the clouds started building with the heat, and I watched and waited.  As they grew thick and the winds kicked up, they were ripe for the painting!  I chose to paint towards the north today, where the color was rich.  To the south, they were far more washed out, with very little value difference, though they were rimmed in gold light - which was tempting!  When I approach a cloud painting, I squint down my eyes and start applying the masses that stand out, mindful of the values.  When the clouds are blowing, I do this quickly, hoping to put down all that information before they are out of view.  Once the panel is covered, I start checking edges.  Where are they soft?  Hard?  Always, I'm checking the sky, trying to capture it's likeness.  I REALLY do love painting a cloudscape.  Painting number 2066 in 2066 days.

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Clouds Over Farmland

I've been gazing at the clouds since I was very young.  I love the movement, the way their forms change in fluid fashion.  The colors are as countless as the clouds themselves, and such a challenge to capture with paint.  On this one, I begin with an acrylic under painting that loosely renders the gradating sky plane and the land plane.  When this is very dry, I use my oils with a dry brush method of applying the paint.  I am using 1 inch and 3 inch bristle brushes to softly form the clouds.  When the composition is in, and I'm happy with my shapes, I push and pull the paint, tweeking edges as necessary.  This is such an effective way to paint clouds, and a fun shift from the bold palette knife work of yesterday!  Painting number 1886 in 1886 days.

Morning Breaks

The skies are full of wonder this time of year!  Sunrise and sunset compete with each other with reckless abandon - and this artist is taking full advantage!  I've pulled out my 5x7 guerrilla painter thumb box for speed in painting, and I've used my acrylics for the dark underpainting.  Once dry (which is pretty fast) I begin with the colors in the sky.  Here, I start with the horizon color, and then jump to the darkest clouds shades. I finish with the orange hues, then blend a little here and there.  I leave the application  thick at the horizon, softening towards the edge.  Painting number 1755 in 1755 days.

Clouds Over Margaret's Pond

I rarely miss workouts, but this morning found Michaela and I painting early at the arboretum.  The morning light was amazing, and the clouds were an ever-changing show in the sky!  After watching them all the way there, I knew they would be my first subject of the day!  I must be quick when painting skies, all is in motion, and apt to move right out of sight. I get the masses in first, and then start laying in the shadows. It is push and pull with the color,  warmer near the sun and cooler away from the light.  Once I get the sky and reflections in,  I can then work on the landscape.  I had so much fun on this one that I turned around and painted another!  Painting number 1604 in 1604 days.

Oil on panel, 12x9
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November Sunrise

I walked down the stairs to let out the dogs, and the most glorious sunrise was pouring over the horizon!  Without any time to spare, I threw on clothes and grabbed my paints - determined not to let this moment slip by!  A sunrise painting develops very quickly.  There is no sketching or planning, only the laying down of the colors before me, as quickly as possible.  I never know when the color is at it's peak, until it turns that corner and begins to fade.  It is always a slap dash to the finish, and then I set those brushes down!   Painting number 1392 in 1392 days :)

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Sunset over the Creek

I find myself checking the sunrise and sunset times each day on my phone.  I have started concentrating on sunrises and sunsets lately, and have begun work in this series.  The blues of the sky begin very violet above my head, and warm to a turquoise as they near the horizon.  Clouds take on a variety of shades as they approach the light - and every sky is different!  From blue violet to Naples yellow pale, the clouds turn colors in minutes.  I never know when the peak color will be, until it starts to fade!  Some days, the peak comes early, and on others it intensifies right until it is gone!  I blend with my softer brushes, and even my finger at the end - for the best results.  I can't wait to see how a little focused study affects my work!   Painting number 1385 in 1385 days.

Sunset over the Creek
oil on panel, 6x6
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Clouds over the Meadow

I love this time of year!  The heat of the day brings on the most beautiful and dramatic cloud formations in the afternoon!   I picked up a couple more of the Princeton poly tip brushes,  as well as my favorite Connoisseurs at Creative Coldsnow's yesterday.  One, an angled tip, and the other a smaller filbert.  When painting the clouds, it was hard to keep the clean filbert tip from leaving those perfect little marks. I found myself picking up a well used bright to soften the marks.  I wonder how these brushes will wear.  I really like the black heads and ferrules, they will not reflect the bright sun while painting outside,  and sometimes, that reflection can be blinding!  I am looking forward to some intensive "in the field" painting with them.  That is my true test for any brush that makes it into my paintbox.  Painting number 1294 in a 1294 days :)

Glory in the Sky

Some days the clouds move so fast, I could paint several sky paintings - if only I could keep up!  By the time I finished this one facing south, a marvelous scene unfolded in the sky to the north!   But alas, the light was already fading, and I knew there would not be enough time to capture it.  This painting is number 1284 in 1284 days :)

Clouds of May

Clouds of May
Oil on panel, 6x6
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Whenever there is a cloud show in the sky - I can hardly wait to get to my easel!  The formations are ever changing and irresistible!  I am focusing on the subtle color changes, and applying the paint with only a couple of brushes.  The definition of the distant hedgerow and the meadow are loose, and with soft edges.  The dogs look up at me on the balcony - and don’t know what I’m doing!  So far, the cats have not found me.  That little Wesson just jumped on the lid of my open palette two days ago - and lucky for him, he didn’t pick up any of the paint!  He is notorious for jumping onto easels, and I must be on my guard!  This painting makes the 1232nd in 1232 days :)

Skies of May

Skies of May
Oil on panel, 7x5

With rain moving in and out of the area, the sky has been a constant display of racing clouds.  Taking a little time to get those colors down, I am making the effort to really concentrate on the heavens for the next month or so!  I want to pop out at sunrise, sunset, and everything in between, to capture the skies in all their varied glory!  I find sunrise and sunset particularly challenging, so hopefully I can get to my paints during those times.  I am painting small, which I haven’t done for weeks!  At only 7x5, the colors and values are king, with little room for details.  Who was it that recently told me simple was best?  A wonderful exercise - and I have got the hill top view in all directions, so I am going to master these skies in no time!  Painting number 1225 in 1225 days.

Moody Balducci

Moody Balducci
Oil on panel, 14x11
Balducci Vineyard - showing at Gallery in Defiance

Little did I know when this sunset paint began, I would soon be on a roller coaster of emotion.  My fourth scheduled event of the day, I had shared a glass of wine with artist friends before picking a location to paint from.  Looking out the window to the vineyard spreading out to the east, I immediately wanted to paint it.  Once sketched and applying color to the masses, I started getting multiple texts - my oldest son’s first baby was on the way back in Kansas City!  He was 13 days early!  I had hoped to get home from this event before his arrival - but who can schedule around a birth?  Tears of happiness made it increasingly difficult to paint!  Family chiming in with happy words on the group text soon turned to silence from the father to be.  Something was wrong and the baby was being taken to the NICU.  I hardly thought of anything but Baby Nolan, as I finished painting on auto pilot.  So much worry, so much love, and so little I could do from afar.  Thank God for all the support and love I drew on from my artist friends and “family” in Augusta.  Little Nolan improves a bit each day, and we are all looking forward to the day he can come home from Children’s Mercy.  Painting number 1222 in 1222 days.

From the Vineyard

From the Vineyard
Oil on panel, 14x11
Sugar Creek Vineyard

What a crazy painting day!  I got out to Sugar Creek Winery early, before the clouds rolled in.  I was able to get most of my painting finished before the light changed drastically.  As I started to hear rumbles in the distance, I put on the final touches, and packed up.  More rumbles of thunder, I framed my painting on the ground by the car.  Turned in my painting, and people are checking radar on their phones, but plenty of artists still in the field.  I sit down, have a little snack, and decide not to paint another, as the sky is turning very dark.  As judging is about to begin, everyone is asked to grab their paintings and head for shelter - just in the nick of time!  Driving rain, hail and hard winds blew tables and chairs all over the hill, not to mention all the downed trees in the area!  Wine and snacks are served, and judging resumes inside.  Just another plein air adventure!!  This is painting number 1211 in 1211 days.

on location

Light in the Vineyard

Light in the Vineyard
Oil on panel, 14x11
sold

The day could not be more perfect for plein air painting!  The  sky was a constant show of rolling clouds - changing almost too quickly to capture in paint!  After a quick stroll around Nobeleis Winery and it’s vineyards, I picked the  first three rows Chambourcin vines stretching across the lawn for my composition.  The light was turning golden, illuminating grass and the greenery of the grapevines - I couldn’t resist it!  With racing clouds, it was important to get those forms and colors in first.  Next, I only marked the masses with a spot of color - to be sure I kept the light I saw before me.  So often, clouds will move in and completely change the mood of tone of the landscape.  In plein air, if you don’t get those marked before that happens, it is an uphill battle to paint what you remember versus what is now before you.  This was a joy to paint from beginning to end!  Perfect weather, wonderful people stopping by to chat and live music drifting down from the tent.  Just a little slice of heaven here in the vineyard.  This painting was awarded 3rd place tonight, and has already found a new home!  Painting number 1207 in 1207 days.

on location - just after sunset

April Cloudplay

April Cloudplay
Oil on panel, 7x5

Some days, the most amazing show is playing out above our very heads!  On this day, as I sped down our road to meet the family for dinner, this glorious scene  greeted me on the left!  So, as I carefully drove with my left hand, my right hand was holding my phone up to the side window - snapping shots awkwardly!  Thank goodness for country roads with no traffic!  I pulled my oils out for this skyscape, and cleaned my palette a little.  Which means, I scraped the dry paint off, and reloaded my colors!  Using my brush for most of this painting, I did pull out my catalyst for the final shots of highlight at the end.  This painting makes 1202 in 1202 days.

Yellow Daffodils

Yellow Daffodils
Watercolor on paper, 7x5

In the watercolors again today, I am painting loose and allowing the colors and water to work their magic.  Every painting is a lesson, and this one is a lesson on how to make 140lb paper work like 300lb.  It takes more work and planning when working with lighter weight paper, but I am trying to make the most of it.  I must work faster, because that paper absorbs and dries more quickly.  I must be careful not to overwork an area, because the lighter paper will not stand up to much brushwork.  This paper does have some texture, but I prefer more.  I have so little time for painting during spring break with al the kids home!  I find I am painting into the wee hours again!  This painting is the 1182nd in 1182 days. 

Yoga Santa

Yoga Santa
Acrylic on masonite, 4x6
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I am having a little fun today with Santa!  As I headed to pilates, I imagined Santa in class, trying to maintain the many difficult moves!  So, in honor of a healthier, mindful Santa, I am portraying him in a classic pose.  He is balancing in tree pose, to ready himself for the long month ahead!  What will I catch Santa doing next?  This painting makes 1066 in 1066 days.

Golden Reflections - Batik

Golden Reflections - Batik
Watercolor batik on rice paper, 8.5x6
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What a fun painting class we had this week!  Most worked in the watercolor batik technique - and my mission was to make this process more clear in their understanding, so they could take this process home and get the same great results.  The steps are always the same, in the same order, and the magic happens when the paint hits the rice paper, hot waxing and following paint application.  These things no one can control - and ironing off that wax to see what you have is like opening up a Christmas present!  In the case of this painting, the flooding of the batik color absorbed very little (same paper, process, and paints as yesterday, done at the very same time - yet very different results!), and even the wrinkling of the paper was reduced.  The difference?  I did not pop this one in the freezer before cracking.......hmmmm, very interesting.  For this painting, I really like the light batik effect, I think it adds interest without detracting from the wide open feel of the landscape.  Another day, another experiment!  Painting number 1035 in 1035 days :)

October Sky

October Sky
Oil on masonite, 10x8
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As I backed out of the drive and headed down the lane, the most amazing sky unfolded before me!!  Pilates or painting..........pilates or painting - oh, the decision was SO hard!!  This magnificent scene was not visible through the trees when I walked to the car - if it had been, I’m afraid that painting would have won, and pilates would have lost!  True to form, discipline won, and after taking some reference photos, I headed off to the gym, all the way there, staring at that sky.  With clear views of the sky in all directions, I will never run out of skies to paint.  Painting number 1025 in 1025 days :)

Old Dirt Road

Old Dirt Road
Oil on masonite, 9x12
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I love coming over the top of a hill to see this magnificent view spreading out before me!  And to think, we almost didn't drive down this because it was a dirt road!  Taking 200n east off of Burnt Prairie blacktop, we parked on the side of the road to unload our gear.  I set my easel up in the middle of this road, and was able to get my whole sketch and half a block in done before the first truck came barreling down the road!  I moved back out after he had passed, only to have to shift again.  By that time, I had enough done to finish a bit closer to the ditch, setting up our new bright orange cones - a gift from the planners of this event!  With so much depth in this painting, I was more careful in the application of paint, letting each layer build before moving to the next.  I have wanted to paint a road for a long time, but really didn't want to capture asphalt.....so this wonderful dirt road was the perfect solution!  What sheer joy it has been to paint in perfect weather, and to find such captivating subject matter!  And the icing on the cake?  I won a fabulous $150 gift certificate in the door prize drawing tonight!  COuld life be any sweeter?  This painting makes 1010 in 1010 days :)

Storm Clouds in July

Storm Clouds
Oil on wood panel, 6x4
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What should an artist do when tornado sirens are blaring, and others head for shelter?  Paint that beauty, of course!  Looking off towards Pleasant Hill, this was the glorious scramble of clouds in the sky.  Plenty of rotation overhead, but no funnels or even rain to speak of - makes a perfect stage for painting!  This is a quick one, painted with one brush and a palette knife - and winds from all directions!  This stormy painting makes 915 in 915 days :)