Milk Barn Forsythia

 

I love painting the bright blooms of forsythia in front of the old milk barn, and moody days make the best backdrop!  I planted this forsythia at the corner of this corral with the intention of painting in one day.  Here, it has grown to full glory and literally makes this composition magical.  I'm already thinking of new places to move it to, with future paintings in mind.  Painting number 5161 in 5161 days. 

Spring Bridge

 

Maremec Spring Park is one of my favorite places to paint, and it was fun to spend time here with local high school students during their plein air weekend!  All of the students and mentors were treated admission to the Folksy Fish Festival, and we sketched among the bands dotting through the park.  It was a great day spent teaching and having fun in a beautiful setting along the spring. Painting number 5076 in 5076 days. 

Mini Daffs

I LOVE sketching daffodils to the music of birdsong!  It has been such a mild March, all the birds are singing their spring songs and building nests in all the houses!  It's such a beautiful time of year for gardening and painting in between duties. Painting number 4979 in 4979 days. 

Spring Waters

Meramec Spring is one of my favorite places to paint, and is beautiful in every season.  The blue water steals the show as it quickly passes through, and my oils are the perfect medium to describe the motion.  I could paint for days on end here - if only I had the time. Painting number 4060 in 4060 days.

Dock at Powell Gardens

 

I loved painting this special dock across the lake at Powell Gardens - a May wedding memory for a lovely couple today.  It has been so many years since I've been in this garden - I hardly recognized the place.  I don't remember this dock at all, but i hear it is spectacular when the daylilies are blooming.  I'm happy the flag iris were beginning to bloom along the bank for this one! Beautiful plein air day for Summit Art!  Painting number 3778 in 3778 days.

Old Barn on the Bottoms

I've driven by this old barn on the bottom land between Augusta and Defiance many times through the years, always with a longing to paint it.  Today, I noticed the west end of the barn has dropped off, and I know it won't be standing much longer.  So, I turned around, and went back out to paint it before my next event.  The light was glorious as it popped out from behind clouds, and the whole landscape sings with spring!  This painting is now hanging at the pop-up gallery at Harmonie Verein in Augusta,. Missouri. Painting number 3756 in 3756 days. 

Ice Castle Daffodils

 

Today I am taking a break from my vast to do list, to celebrate spring!  I've been very busy getting ready for next week's gallery show and workshops, and obsessed with spring cleaning at the same time!  So, naturally I needed my fresh air and sunshine to refresh my brain!  It really feels like spring when I'm painting my daffodils, and my oils feel like an old friend!  Painting number 3722 in 3722 days 

Spring Comes to Sunflower Hill

Arriving for the Premiere Artist's Paintout, I found my location before I even checked in.  Normally I would use my oils for this paint-out of award winners during the last 5 years, but this place called for ink and watercolor.  I sketched out the very detailed drawing before adding any color, visiting with the public as they floated from artist to artist. I loved the spring colors singing on that hill, and it was a joy to paint this on such a lovely day.  So happy my painting will stay with this place, and add to other work I have on these walls.  Painting number 3416 in 3416 days. 

Morning at Defiance Ridge

Arriving early for the live broadcast of Great Day St Louis, on KMOV 4, I was directed to stand in this location for their cameras.  Scouting all I could see from this spot, I knew I must paint the wonderful farmhouse with all those pink umbrellas!  Many were attending the broadcast, enjoying coffee and breakfast delights.  As the broadcast started, Lynn shared the details of Augusta Plein Air Art Festival, and the cameras caught the live painting process. It is fun to see a painting develop during that short time.  As a Facebook Live interview started after the TV broadcast, this painting sold off the easel, and they discussed just how to do that in the field.  I loved painting here this morning, and so happy this painting will hang in the owner's lake house!  Painting number 3397 in 3397 days. 

Milk Barn Forsythia

 I planted this gorgeous forsythia many years ago, moving starts from the patent plant all over the property.  Now it is full and glorious, and perfect for painting each spring!  I will soon be painting Augusta, so I just had to get this painted before leaving town - those sunny yellow blooms will not be there when I return.  Painting number 3395 in 3395 days. 

Spring Comes to Crestview

It seems that every season I paint is my favorite season, when I'm in front of my easel!  Spring colors are unfolding today as the sun shines warm upon us, and the birds are happily singing their songs.  After the morning's Quick Paint, I settle into this lovely farmhouse scene, and relish the sheer joy of painting on such a lovely day.  Visiting all the while, I soon finished up and headed out for a quiet paint along the water of the pond.  I love these days spent painting, I am so at home in the landscape with paints.  Painting number 3390 in 3390 days. 

Ha Ha Tonka Spring

Before today, I have only seen this spring from high up on the cliff, from the ruins of the Ha Ha Tonka Castle. It was years ago, and a tiny spot of lime green in the woods, but I wished instantly to find it and paint it! Alas, we were vacationing with family and time was short, so I tucked that memory away for another day, today, and set out to paint the beauty!  It was very hot here on this 100 degree day, with no wind moving to cool me off.  I was in the shade, Thank goodness, but heat did seem to radiate off the water and rock faces. I worked fast, trying to minimize my afternoon painting time.  Starting with the dark masses, then painting in the light values, I used them for my painting map. Color changes quickly in the water, as the sun starts to move across it's surface, so it is important to mark those colors so that I can stay true to that original vision, and not chase the light.  This place was so peaceful, and it was fun visiting with all the walkers on the trail.  Even in the sweltering heat, this was an amazing place to paint!  Painting number 3133 in 3133 days. 

Maramec Spring

The turquoise water of Maramec Spring is hypnotic, and calls to me like a siren song!  This park is one place I MUST paint whenever I am close, and I made a little time for it while in Steelville.  Painting by the cold spring water is very comfortable this time of year, and the very saturated color of the water is a joy to paint. I just happen to still have Prussian blue in my palette (from a November portrait study) and it is the perfect blue to mix for this water!  The eagles weren't fishing here today, I've seen one each time I've painted here before.  Time flies when I'm painting, and I spent a little longer here than I anticipated.  Wish I had time to paint the other two large panels I brought with me!  I guess they'll have to wait until next time.  Painting number 3077 in 3077 days.  Not sure why some recent posts did not actually post.  Possibly a connecting issue, and I'll have to go back and fix it when I've got the time.  This painting now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville. 

Home through the Redbuds

The redbuds are simply glorious this year - and I HAD to paint them before tomorrow's expected rain.  With a lot on my plate today, I painted this one quickly with my oils over a previous vineyard painting, with had a previous lake painting underneath it!  As I recycle my surfaces, it is fun to think one could uncover two former paintings beneath this paint!  I don't keep any records on that, but I do take photos of the ones in painting over.  I'll adjust my blog later to reflect they are no longer available.  The covid year has certainly helped me organize all things, and helped me pare down what I will show currently.  I only want my best work out there, after all.  Painting number 3018 in 3018 days. 

Spring at Crestview Dairy

On such a beautiful day, at such a gorgeous place, how could I resist creating one more painting?  With my silver TWSBI Mini with extra fine nib, loaded with De Atramentis Archive Ink, I sketch the outbuildings and farmhouse before me.  Using my white and rose gold TWSBI with a broad nib for the heavier lines, it is loaded with Levenger's Raven Black ink.  This ink is velvety black and moves with the application of water.  I'm using a handmade paper from Shizen, and the surface feels a little resistant to my watercolor.  The sizing is always different from one sheet to the next on these handmade papers, so I adjust my watercolor use.  I could not get a good photo with the sunlight over my shoulder, so the image is a little washed out. I'll try to get another to add to this post.  This day just about wiped me out!  I wonder how long it is going to take me to recover from that first Pfizer vaccine?  I'm going on 3 weeks now.  Painting number 3016 in 3016 days. 
 

Spring at the Dairy Barn

The first day of the Summit Art Plein Air event was a rainy one, and first thing this morning was the quick paint. I helped check in artists until it was time to jump in myself, and headed out to find my spot.  Looking for shelter, I found a small shed with a rolling door, partially open, so I set up with my view of the farm.  Crestview Dairy is the venue of this first event with it's 31 acres of lush views.  It was fun to paint in an event with artist friends again, even in a cold, driving rain!  Painting number 3013 in 3013 days. 

Maramec Spring

I love taking pen, ink and watercolor to this special place! This place is simply stunning, and I love squeezing in a little paint time whenever I am close. Although oils are my preference here, with limited time, ink and watercolor are a quick way to capture the place.  I sketch first in ink, fill with watercolor, then  come back in with a little more ink for those places I want a sharper line.  These painting moments spent outdoors, surrounded by nature are truly a gift, one I treasure every single day.  Painting number 2995 in 2995 days.

Powerhouse at Maramec Springs

 The wonderful lines of the little green powerhouse grabbed me immediately!  So charming, it is storybook perfect along the winding Maramec Spring.  Misty when I started, I quickly got the masses down in oil to repel the coming rain.  The ground near the spring is very cold, and my toes were getting numb on this cold and rainy day.  Thank goodness I had half a yoga mat to fold up and stand on - it was much warmer for my feet!  By the time I finished, the rain was moving in and a large turtle joined to watch me paint!  Painting number 2852 in 2852 days. 

West Light on the Milk Barn

gifted

Oh my, how I love to paint this place!  I planted the forsythia years ago, looking forward to painting it one day.  I found another plant on the  opposite corner - but it was only emerging from the ground.  Could deer have totally mowed it down?  The light out here was amazing - golden hour, and it had to be painted!  I'm normally too busy this time of day, but made it happen.  Dinner is overrated anyway.  Painting number 2647 in 2647 days.

First Tulips

It seems so early, but my first tulips are up and shining brightly in the sunshine!  Even though this day has been completely full of hard yard work, I just had to take a few minutes to capture this!  The ink around the edge is my new Robert Oster ink - Great Southern Ocean - and wow!  What a cool color and spread it has when wet!  I actually thought I had another color in this pen, and didn't intend to use this, but I did not have time to run into the house, so I just used what I had.  I like the pleasant surprise!  Painting number 2645 in 2645 days.