Cook Station Stream

 

There is nothing like painting to the music of a stream! Cook Station was such a treat!  Teddy and I drove out to this location in the rain. The rain continued through my first painting, letting up just enough for me to get it framed.  As I waited for Teddy to finish, I found this spot, and couldn't resist it!  The rain had nearly stopped, so I painted as fast as I could, and wrapped it up in time to get back for judging.  I could have painted here for days!  Several people mentioned the outhouse with 4 seats in that painting!  It seems to be a local icon!  This one now hanging at Gallery Zeke in Steelville! Painting number 4540 in 4540 days. 

Babbling Brook

When I'm painting along a creek, time stands still. Birdsong and babbling water take me far, and there is no other moment than the one I am immersed in.  So concentrated is my focus, all melts away and the painting unfolds.  Stroke by stroke the scene comes to life on my panel until a little voice inside me sighs, and I feel that I am done.  It's a bit like waking from a dream when it is time to clean my brushes.  I'm so thankful to get to experience this place in such a way.  Painting number 3873 in 3873 days. 

January Stream

What a gorgeous January day for a little plein air with ink by the stream!  With temps in the 50s - this day was a gift not to waste!  I am using just 3 Diamine inks from the 2022 Inkvent Calendar - Yulelog, Bliss, and Three Kings, with a tiny bit of One More Sleep for that cool violet blue in the water.  After floating in water, I drop in the ink, allowing it move and blotting where I need it to stop.  As one mass is drying, I work in another, careful to hold my painting level - or all masses will run south! It sure is fun to play with these bold colors - perhaps I'll add a few to my plein air line up! Painting number 3676 in 3676 days and day 28 of the #stradaeasel challenge. 

Along the Courtois

 I LOVE painting from the edge of the Courtois Creek - my very first time to paint this beauty! The color of the rock shines through the very clear water, making that water tricky to paint!  I study those colors, and place them where I see them on my panel.  Careful observation reveals many colors that I could never see from a photograph of the same place.  It's just another reason I love working in plein air so much.  The landscape around me seeps into my painting as I paint, it's just another part of the magic of the field.  Painting number 4246 in 4246 days, and now showing at Gallery Zeke in Steelville! 

Snow Along the Creek

Today finds me painting a favorite creek from a different vantage - and LOVING the colors out in the landscape!  I love a clear January day with it's warm, pale turquoise sky, and the way the sunlight warms up those dry grasses popping out of the snow.  The warm and cool colors play together in perfect harmony not far from where my little ones all went to school.  Love this creek as it stretches out toward the lake.  I wonder how may people walk past this every day, and do not see the beauty.  Painting number 3306 in 3306 days, and day 20 of the #stradaeasel challenge.  

Lower Falls at Westover

The back roads of Missouri are full of wonderful creeks and falls to paint.  Down one such road south of Steelville, the treasure of Westover Farms awaits. The cool spring water tumbles over rocks as trout swim beneath the surface.  Though the day was hot, painting near the water was refreshing as the wind came across the water. I even waded into that cold water in my rubber boots to cool off my feet!  Delightful!  I could have painted this place for days, and still only capture a fraction of it's beauty! Painting number 3084 in 3084 days. 

Winter Creek

It is so relaxing to paint to the sound of trickling water.  This winding creek is always so inspiring, and I am painting small today. Choosing ink and watercolor, I sketch on 3x3 handmade paper.  Even though it is January, the green is coming up in the water.  I'm ignoring it - since this is the only month where I can paint dark water without the slight algae all year long!  The square composition is fun, too. I like the depth I can achieve with that twist of creek in the background.  This fountain pen is my TWSBI Eco in rose gold and white, and I use a medium nib for the handmade paper.  Love these pens so much!  Painting number 2939 in 2939 days and day 26 of the #stradaeasel challenge. 

Water through the Garden

I love spending time at the Overland Park Arboretum, especially with my paints!  This water garden is lovely with the steam leading from one waterfall to another.  I especially like this format for this scene, it captures all that I wanted in it's wide view.  Painting number 2728 in 2728 days.

Cleveland Trail Creek Winding

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What could be better than running and painting?  When I run first, I am toasty warm for the entire painting session. I normally don't even feel the winter chill until I am packing up. This is especially true when it is 50 degrees in January!  Lol. Ok, no suffering here - I love our January weather this year!  Painting number 2568 in 2568 days. 

Cleveland Trail

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Oh how I love these warm January days!!  Each one is a gift that I simply must take full advantage of!  So today, I set out for a run along a favorite winding creek hoping to find irresistible views!  Running first, I take mental notes along the trail of where I'll stop on my second lap around.  The blues are so rich in the landscape, I do wish I'd brought my watercolor.  Alas, I have only pen, paper and water brush pen in the deep pocket of my running jacket.  It does feel good to get back to the ink!  Painting number 2565 in 2565 days and Day 5 of the #stradaeasel challenge. 

Church in the Snow

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I have wanted to paint this beautiful creek for years!  Gorgeous in both directions, I cross it to get to my mom's new house.  Each time, I have to force myself to keep driving right past this beauty!  Today I sketch with pen and ink, only my favorite water soluble ink, so I can move it around with a water brush pen.  I'm not quite sure what that distant building is, but I cleared some of the trees out from in front of it - to show more of the building.  Time stands still in a place like this, and everything is quiet in the snow.  Painting number 2547 in 2547 days. 

Creek Along the Trail

There is something almost magical when painting near the water.  Birdsong and the gentle sound of water over rocks are my music as I work, and are as soothing as the act of painting.  My painting window is always a slice of art therapy, always leaving me renewed.  Most especially in the midst of a crazy, busy week! Painting number 2354 in 2354 days.

Waterfall in the Garden Inked

I like to sketch my compositions in ink before committing the scene in paint. I use an India ink pen to sketch out the scene, and then switch to a more water soluble ink that will move with a little water.  My favorite is Levenger Raven Black. It is rich and velvety black, it simply makes a drawing sing.  Can't wait to paint the prairie tomorrow!  Painting number 2335 in 2335 days.

Rambling Water in the Garden

The water gardens have really held my attention this last week!  I've never painted this upper stream that feeds the double waterfalls before, but this year they really called out to me.  The upper waterfall in the distance grabbed me, and that winding trail of water had to be painted. It was fun to talk to visitors in the garden - the children showed me the tadpoles at my feet, and I had no idea they were there!  Painting number 2334 in 2334 days.

Creek Along Katy Trail

Arriving before an early morning broadcast at Good News Brewing Co for Great Day St Louis, this scene pulled me immediately in.  I really enjoy painting during these broadcasts!  Visitors to the show come by to see the progress, as a camera man zooms in around each of the artists, sometimes right over my shoulder.  Time flies and the painting takes on a life of it's own. Cold and damp, I was shivering by the time the broadcast ended, but had this painting to show for my effort. It was the first one to sell on show day.  Painting number 2327 in 2327 days.

Stream in the Quarry

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Now Showing at Whitlock Company

Oh how I love the beauty of this place!  The expanse of green space flanked with those majestic bluffs pulls me right in!  To top it off, high water has filled the dry creek bed winding through the scene!  I did not care about the many mosquitoes nor the light rain, until it got to heavy - and then I stood under an overhang until I finished!  I was a bit cold by the time I framed it, but SO happy to have spent the morning in such surroundings!  This has truly been good for my soul!  Painting number 2304 in 2304 days.

Snow Along Cleveland Trail

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In my TWSBI Eco T fountain pen, I have a self mixed blend of Levenger Raven Black and Cocoa Brown ink.  After sketching the scene, I take a wet brush to bring out some mid tones.  The addition of water separates the ink, pushing towards blue and sepia randomly.  I love the way this ink has a mind of it's own.  What I don't like, is that I am nearly out of ink, and my reserves are hundreds of miles away!  Painting number 2211 in 2211 days.

Turning Creek

A creek turning and twisting always has my attention.  I love the way it moves through the landscape, calling me to it's edge.  This time, I lay my darks in first.  Working in the golden hour means quickly changing light, so I hold off on the sky until it shows the color I know is coming.  I wish I'd replaced the Off clip on I lost in another creek, because the bugs are coming out!  A few of my paints are getting sticky, I'll have to reload in the morning.  Whatever ultramarine blue I loaded last time, I'm not crazy about it.  It seems a little thinner than my Windsor Newton, and it is not as strong in the mix.  For a color I use a lot, it needs to be very pigmented.  I think I'm finished, but I'll check tomorrow in full daylight to be sure. Painting number 2039 in 2039 days.

Wooded Stream

There is so much moisture in the air today - my ink spreads a little as I draw.  This cosmic black also seems to get a little darker a little faster, with the drizzly day.  Rather cold, I make a quick pass along the trail, stopping only for a quick sketch.  I choose ink only today in my TWSBI mini, matching the dark mood of the weather, and a water brushpen to get those mid-tones.  This 100% cotton rag paper is wonderful for this ink work, the thick weight holding up well in the light rain.  I shield it as much as possible to prevent my ink lines from bleeding out in all directions!  I have learned this lesson the hard way!  Painting number 1895 in 1895 days.

Stream from the Woods

It  was growing late in the afternoon before I had a chance to go paint.  Another day at 60 degrees could not be wasted, so I grabbed my smallest Guerrilla box - my 5x7 thumb box, and hit the road.  It was heavily overcast with a light drizzle, but still warm as I reached my destination.  I love all the angles here - and especially how rich and dark green the water is in back.  Dramatic.  So, I started by painting my darks, and next with lights.  The light is fleeting here in the woods this late, and I've found that if I don't get that color marked, it's gone with the sun in the blink of an eye!  This was a quick paint, the clouds growing heavier as I worked.  As I packed up and hiked to the car, the drizzle increased.  Looks like I timed it just right.  Painting number 1867 in 1867 days.