Hay Bales in the Pasture

 

Oh I love this time of year, when the large round bales are in the pasture!  Just seeing them brings back childhood memories of family farms.  My children loved jumping from one to the other when they were lined up, and scrambling up the sides to be the king of the mountain!  They are never in the field long enough, so I am painting them while I can - this time in oil.  The oils just seem to lend depth and texture to the grasses, and represent the landscape well. I hope I get to paint them again before they move!  Painting number 3105 in 3105 days. 

Herefords Three

It feels like Christmas when a new fountain pen arrives in the mail!  This one is the TWSBI Diamond AL R in limited edition punch pink, and of course it writes like a dream!  The new ink is from Diamine Inkvent collection, Nutcracker. It is a rich red brown, but I couldn't get it dark enough in shadow areas, so had to use some Thunderstorm ink from Robert Oster to balance it.  I know this sounds crazy, but I might just expel half of that ink and add in black.  I'll try it out first with a dip pen. It really isn't recommended to mix inks, but sometimes I can't help myself!  The ink comes in this very lovely bottle, and perhaps I could get a deeper value with a brush?  I couldn't do that in the field, I don't carry any ink bottles with me.  That would be a disaster if the lid loosened up in a bag!  I've used my favorite Watercolor Confections palettes to wash in the color on that handmade paper.  Painting number 2949 in 2949 days. 

Christmas Eve Cows

This afternoon, I'm sneaking in a quick sketch before gathering with family over at Mom's house.  These cows have been calling my name all week - perhaps I'll get more time to paint after the holidays are over.  Happy Christmas Eve! Painting number 2910 in 2910 days. 

Western Fence Line

Oh how I love that golden light!  Heavily overcast all day, I was happy to see the clouds disappear and the sun shine brightly!  Today, I have taken my pen and ink to this postcard watercolor blank that I used yesterday with acrylic and ink.  Whenever I have papers I don't care for, I seem to always be able to use them with my inks!  I have an ink blend in this fountain pen, and in the sun I could see all the gold flecks shimmering from the boldest lines!  I must have a little of my J. Herbin Anniversary ink in this one, which I later added Cocoa Crown and Raven Black to.  The result is a rich, lovely black - that shimmers ever so slightly in gold!  How rewarding it is to walk through the pastures and wooded paths, and sketch a little along the way. Painting number 2898 in 2898 days. 

Bales and Rows

It's haying season and the bales are in the pasture!  Its always a busy time of year, but hopefully this year I'll be able to get a few paintings in before the bales are gone.  With a little light left, I paint with ink and watercolor, thinking of the oil paintings to come.  Beau is circulating the area, making sure all predators are at bay!  What a beautiful evening for immersing myself in the land, with paint.  Painting number 2733 in 2733 days. 

Path to the Pond

I was challenged by an artist friend to do the #30x30DirectWatercolor challenge, and I blindly accepted - looking up the details later!  With only the knowledge that there is no drawing, only direct painting, I jump in!  Choosing my path to the pond as my subject, I painted.  Oh how I long for my ink!  I only used ink to sign and edge, trying to make the watercolor do the rest.  With a few attempts I am beginning to remember how little I liked watercolor most of my life.  I only really got into it when I started batiks and later with ink!  I had forgotten that!  I wonder if 30 days can change my mind.....!  Painting number 2703 in 2703 days.

Blackberry Briar Path

Yesterday, my husband cut a slightly different around our property, which I love to run or walk. To my great surprise, I found a huge blackberry briar in a remote area not visible from the house or lane!  I have been wanting to plant blackberries - and here I have a briar that spans at least 40 feet!!  Loaded with blooms, we are going to have so many berries!  I can already smell the cobbler!!  Painting number 2689 in 2689 days.

Hereford Hello!

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I love a fresh, clean new palette!  Trying one of my newest additions - "essence" palette from Prima Watercolor Confections, it was a good choice for this day of wintery mix precipitation!  This momma cow was looking out for the babies as the others grazed nearby, so she came to the fence to check me out.  After sniffing my hand for treats, she wandered away, but remained close enough for me to get the information I needed.  I dropped in my ink before the color this time, and  like the way it mingled together with a little water.  It's fun to take ink and watercolor to the cattle - I normally do them in oil!  Painting number 2577 in 2577 days.

Cattle in the Pasture

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Today was "Baby Play Day", and the family with little ones gathered for lunch and play time. Rushing home from the gym, I had just enough time to get things ready.  After the kids went home, I was able to squeeze in this watercolor sketch before going to Alastair's karate belt ceremony. I used another new palette from Watercolor Confections - this one is "Essence".  Worked alright in the winter landscape, and I added just a hint of shimmering lights to some of the grasses.  I couldn't stop myself!  Painting number 2575 in 2575 days. 

Hereford Trio

I've been playing with my paints this week, tweaking the colors I want on my spring palette. Today I added Winsor Newton's light red, for that warm Hereford red hue.  I had red oxide on there, but it just wasn't what I wanted. This red is perfect for old barns and herefords!  Painting number 2297 in 2297 days. 

Spring Herefords

With the changing season, I have been switching between palettes, trying to decide just what to take out of town.  I used my Richeson palette all winter, having ordered them all in the fall.  It was great for winter, but could it move into spring?  I found almost everything I wanted in it today. I did add some of my favorite Gamblin radiants to it for that extra pop and highlight I find in the spring landscape.  I have hardly used them for months, but I don't want to leave town without them!  Perhaps this will be the perfect palette for my upcoming events!  Painting number 2297 in 2297 days.

Cattle by the Pond

Spring colors are sweeping over the landscape, and overnight the pasture is green.  I couldn't find these guys this morning, and had to call my neighbor to discover they'd moved to a back pasture.  This turned out to be a treat as the cattle were lined up behind that pond, just waiting to be painted!  With high wind gusts today, it was necessary to keep one hand on my easel at all times!  And perhaps I should have chosen a smaller panel, the 16x20 really caught the wind like a sail!  Oh, but it was worth it. Painting number 2295 in 2295 days.

Herefords on the Ridge

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Oh, spring is on the air and I simply must get outside!  Leaving a couple of large paintings unfinished and cabinets half cleaned out - I seize a little sanity time in the warm sun of the pasture!  The birdsong and gentle breezes are my company today, filling my soul as the paint flows of my brushes.  I will try to sneak away to a favorite creek tomorrow, as the time has already flown today!  Painting number 2266 in 2266 days.

Hereford Trio in the Snow

This light has been so amazing the last few days!  I have missed this gorgeous Missouri winter light!  These Herefords are so good to pose for me - I see so many different paintings during the process!  In fact, the one I liked the most happened as I was packing up shop!  There is always tomorrow, but that snow is melting in a hurry!  Painting number 2253 in 2253 days.

Shade in the Pasture

On these hot summer days, the best time to go paint is in the morning.  The winds kicked up early, so I sought protection beside the woods.  Beau joined me, jumping up and catching every flying insect that approached!   I need to add a scrubby brush to this pochade, it seems I left one out. I like to use a ratty, well used brush to soften those edges.  A new one leaves too much of a mark.  It is so nice to just walk outside and paint!  No rushing off to a far away place, no time restrictions.  Just me, the countryside, my paints and my dog.  Best office ever.  Painting number 2045 in 2045 days.

oil on panel, 8x10
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Old Hackberry Tree

The wind meant business today with those 40 mph gusts!  I waited for a lull in the winds, after the crazy snow and sun show in the sky, to get a quick painting in.  I sheltered among some trees in a lower lying spot in the pasture, and got this one painted.  It doesn't take long when I'm working small.  I know this is my "100 people week", but sometimes I just have to paint the great outdoors, one with nature for a little while.  Then, I can pick up my pen again!  Painting number 1873 in 1873 days.

Home from the Pasture

I scouted all over the property before finally deciding on this vantage.  Calm breezes, warm temps in the 60's and the fabulous light made this a perfect plein air day!  With about an hour before sunset, I set up my easel and got to work. I love the way that golden light streaked across the pasture, bouncing off the tufts of tall grass.  I paint the colors en masse, pulling the brushstrokes about to indicate grasses, rather than painting every blade.  The effect is much more natural, as the eye sees when looking at the whole landscape.  It is so restorative to be one with nature, doing what I was born to do. Painting number 1827 in 1827 days.

Winter Stand

The light blanket of snow on the landscape is irresistible - even at these temps!  Bundled up in my layers, with a wall to my back and standing in the sun, I made the best of a COLD situation.  Painting fast is key, as are hand and toe warmers. I found myself blocking in masses, and then really studying the colors in those masses, marking them with paint as I worked.  I used quite a bit of raw sienna, which I only seem to bring out this time of year.  My palette needs to be scraped and refreshed, but there's no time for that today.  A little at loose ends, my focus was off, so I just let my intuition take over, allowing the brush and knife to find their own way.  It was hard to tell what I really had until I brought it in, the bright white of the snow playing games with my eyes.  I hope to forge ahead tomorrow on another snowscape - and it is supposed to be warmer!  Yay!  Painting number 1823 in 1823 days.

Outbuildings ATC

Fabulous warm light in the pasture today, though the temps linger at 20 degrees!  It really feels much warmer compared with the 1 degree of this morning!  With such fabulous light, I want to paint some more - but a family dinner is closing in!  Maybe I can get one more in......... food is overrated!  Painting number 1810 in 1810 days.  Back to the light!

Northeast Pasture in Watercolor

Oh what a difference a new pen makes!  I've been trying to squeeze every tiny bit of ink out of my other pen. It took me forever to remember to get a new Pitt pen in my bag, so I HAD to use what should have been tossed days ago!  I use India ink when I want to continue with watercolor.  This ink stays put, unless I use it on wet paper.  Then, it spreads with a life of it's own! I have some beautiful yellows in my watercolor confections sets - the perfect ones for this autumn color!  When I'm finished, I embellish with a little more ink.  Painting number 1785 in 1785 days...... I think, I'm going to have to check that!