Monarchs Four

 

I'm playing with a new Diamine violet ink (All the Best) in this glow in the dark purple fountain pen by TWSBI, and I LOVE THEM BOTH!  I just loaded a dozen new pens with new inks, and I thought I was picking up  Robert Oster's Black Violet, but alas I got my purple pens mixed up, lol! This ink is a deep, velvety purple, and is actually perfect for deepening the blacks of the butterflies and shadow shades of the phlox. I will definitely be reaching for this pen often in the future, and exploring this ink in detail!  Painting number 5181 in 5181 days 

Phlox!

I can't resist painting the garden phlox when it is in it's prime!  These blooms smell heavenly, sweet like lilac.  With ink I sketch the lines loosely, then float in color as I see it.  This is a small sketch to match my small painting window, an ATC size.  I hope they remain for weeks to come!  Painting number 5099 in 5099 days. 

Phlox and Swallowtail

 

There's always time for a quick sketch in my garden - especially when the phlox are in their glory!  All of our recent rain has pumped up the vibrancy on these lovelies.  My very first start was from Grandma Bessie's house on Olive, many years ago.  I've planted them all over the property through the years, and now, their heavenly fragrance fills the air, and brings back memories.  Those are the very best flowers to surround oneself with. This one is headed to Powell Gardens for the Butterfly Festival and is painting number 5093 in 5093 days. 

Garden Phlox

 

What a gorgeous evening for painting in the garden!  It's been a very busy day of housework, yard work and chores, so getting to enjoy a little beauty with my paints is a treat.  These tall garden phlox have bloomed into November before (in a wet year), and I hope to nurture them through the heat and drought through October.  They could be lovely for our son's wedding here, with plenty of coaxing!  Since they have rallied through the worst of it, I have high hopes for them!  Now,  I'm off to finally clean and reload my oil palette - it is WAY past time, lol! Painting number 3893 in 3893 days. 

Phlox

 What a wonderful morning to spend in the garden, after a solid workout at the gym.  Filling my water, I got right out to start weeding the kitchen bed, and worked my way into two other beds before calling it quits.  All the while, I admired the blooms that flourished despite the string of 100 degree days and little rain.  It feels good to nurture these plants, and even better to paint them when I'm finished!  I found another large snakeskin along the foundation, and many bees and hummingbirds buzzing in the flowers!  Painting number 4288 in 4288 days. 

Phlox and Swallowtail

After spending time on a difficult commission, I am unwinding in the garden with these gorgeous phlox!  My reward for relaxing patiently with pen and paper?  A beautiful swallowtail joined the party, lighting on several blooms before moving to the next bed.  Thankful she tarried long enough to be sketched!  I have uncapped a favorite TWSBI Diamond fountain pen, to show the nib.  LOVE this pen for all my art needs!  Painting number 2744 in 2744 days.

Butterflies in the Phlox

Butterflies in the Phlox
Pen and Ink on paper, 5x6
purchase here

Today finds me playing in the pen and ink.  It feels SO good to get back to drawing!  Getting back to my roots grounds and calms me like no other medium!  This is a quick one to capture the beauty of the phlox before they fade away. Their fragrance is intoxicating, much like lilac, and they last SO long!  They have lasted into November in a really wet season, but this is not that season! Drawing number 1328 in 1328 days.

Summer Phlox

The gardens were perfect a month ago. Then, I  had family in town for two weeks, followed by a fabulous plein air trip to Door County, Wisconsin. Throw in the countless things I had to catch up on, and today my focus is back to the garden.  Some heavy rain produced a new crop of weeds right at the hottest temps of the summer, and so today I spent almost the whole day regaining control of my flowers!  The phlox are holding on, though not as lovely as in early July.  It was only fitting that I paint them this evening, since I have been up closer and personal with them all day long.  Painting number 1317 in 1317 days.  Tomorrow will me in Parkville, for the Plein Air Invitational this week - where I am one of the featured artists :)

Summer Phlox
Oil on panel, 5x7
purchase here

Abundant Phlox

The light from the west is just too irresistible as it spreads across the lawn.   Grabbing my paints, I get this one down before that wonderful golden light fades behind the trees.  This has been a day full of family, friends, a wedding and a reception at the President's Hotel in Kansas City - how could life be any sweeter?  Painting number 1297 in 1297 days.....I think!

Phlox and Redbuds

Every morning as I head to the gym,  I see this amazing landscape and long to paint it.  I almost never have enough time for a painting before the gym, but today I did.  Once I start painting, it is SO easy to get lost in the process, and lose all track of time!   Especially alluring is the play between shadow and light, and I've used only a couple of brushes for the whole painting - except for a little finish work executed with my catalyst. This painting is the 1297th in 1297 days :)

Garden Phlox Illusion

The first downpour was just starting when I arrived home from the gym.  I couldn't go inside,  the rain beckoned to me.  Sitting in a rocker on our covered front porch, I soaked in the atmosphere.  "Paint me, paint me...", came it's siren call.  I had chores to do, children to feed, a shower to take (for crying out loud!), and yet the brushes called.  I could not walk away.  I set up on the porch, sheltered from the rain, and worked while the grandsons ran in and out of the rain, splashing all the way.  Just a little slice of sanity in a crazy,  busy day.  Painting number 1288 in 1288 days.

Garden Phlox Illusion
Oil on panel, 6x6
purchase here

Evening Phlox

Evening Phlox
Oil on canvas panel, 5x7
purchase here

This summer, the garden phlox have been more beautiful than ever!  Arriving home from vacation late last night, I find the heat is starting to affect them.  So, I am capturing them in oils while I still can - these are still wonderful on the north side of the house.  Even in the short period of painting time - you can see how the cool, north  light changed to warm as the golden hour washed over the blooms.  It warmed the lavender to a sunny pink!  But, my colors are put down right after the values - and it is important to never chase the light.  If you do, you will end up with a painting that is not true to life.  This painting makes 953 in 953 days.  So hard to believe that summer is coming to an end.....

Dreaming of Phlox

Dreaming of Phlox
Oil on panel, 7x5
bid here

I know, I know....it is my self proclaimed "figure" month, so...what are flowers doing here?  Well, I have broken free from my shackles and am painting them with reckless abandon!  The cold and snow of winter will be arriving again this weekend - and I am dreaming of spring and beds full of blooms!  Today was so very busy that I came to my easel late. After such a full day, the last thing I wanted to do was to actually concentrate on painting.  So, the very best solution is to work free and loose and just let those strokes guide themselves!  Painting number 776 in 776 days :)

Phlox in the Garden

Phlox in the Garden
Watercolor on paper, 7x5
Purchase Information

Using the tinted watercolor paper again today, and the shade is oatmeal.  There are three other shades that I will eventually get to - eggshell, cream, and grey.  The tints are all very light, just not white.  If we would just continue to receive a good amount of rain, these phlox would remain beautiful until frost!  It has only happened a couple of times in all these years.  So, I am "making hay while the sun shines" and capturing their beauty while I still can!  This painting is 608 in as many days.

Pink Phlox

Pink Phlox
Watercolor on paper, 5x7
Purchase Information

I am trying a new paper today.  Digging into my hidden trove of watercolor papers, this one is a Daler oatmeal tinted Bickingford 140lb paper.  I know, quite a mouth full!  The tint is subtle, yet lends a warm shade to all areas left unpainted.  I wish the paper were thicker, but that is my personal preference for the 300lb showing.  I like the texture, you can plainly see the tooth in the photo.  I have used four different violets in this, cobalt violet - which was rather opaque,  perm. violet, perm. violet bluish, and perm. violet reddish - which is an absolute favorite!  For highlighting colors, I went to an unknown pink shade - unknown because I didn't write it down, but it is lovely and clear.  I am longing for a variety in the greens, so I must soon see what I can find in my box of watercolor paints.  I don't really care for olive green, have used sap green quite a bit, and yellow green is nice, but I think there must be something wonderful out there that I just haven't tried yet.  The garden phlox is still going strong - even with this August heat!  Today is the birthday of two of my amazing children, one is 15 and the other 18.  We will soon be going out for their "Birthday Dinners"!  Yum!  Painting number 604 in 604 days :)

Flurry of Phlox

Flurry of Phlox
Watercolor on 300lb paper. 9x6

My parents arrived this afternoon, and we have spent the evening visiting.  My dad is doing SO well, it is awesome!  I bet I have had more conversation with him tonight than all of Christmas break - he is totally back to himself!  This was one of the paintings I worked on at the kitchen table while we talked almost until midnight.  I am using 300lb Arches watercolor paper - and I love the heavy texture and the way it soaks up the water and allows the paint to spread!  So much fun in the underpainting to just drop in the colors and watch them move!  While organizing some art supplies this morning - I found the motherload of watercolor paints - a whole plastic case filled with Daniel Smith watercolors!  I must have bought them at an estate sale - putting them away for "later".  Well, guess what time it is - later!  I am going to have so much fun trying them all - one color at a time!  This painting makes 554 in as many days :)

Fairies at Play

Fairies at Play
Oil on glass, 9x12
print available here

This is the final painting of six fairy scenes by special request.  I love the happy, playful energy of these little fairies - it makes me happy just to paint them.  Throughout these paintings I have sprinkled in a few single flowers of lily of the valley, and a few pink clover heads - one planted so many years ago by my grandmother, and the other popping up in the pastures every summer.  Each has their own distinctly sweet and heady fragrance, sending me back to childhood days rich with joy.  In this painting I have also added a dancing mouse!  Although a little morbid, this is a nod to the little creatures that feed my daughter's pet snake.  Perhaps one day, I'll paint her colorful corn snake.  Often has been the time where she doesn't eat them at all, but snuggles with them until they are both asleep.  Who knows why she sporadically spares their lives - but she does, so this one is dancing with his new found freedom!  Painting number 392 in 392 days and day 27 in the 30 day painting challenge :)

Fairy Party

Fairy Party
Oil on glass, 9x12
print available here

I feel like I am really getting into a groove with these fairy paintings.  Being so unfamiliar with the subject matter at first, it was hard to resist the urge to tighten up all my edges.  As I move from painting to painting, I am not concentrating on the illustration of it all, but rather I'm "feeling" with my brush and paint.  Naturally, my strokes loosen up - adding life and movement as they do.  The little figures are also getting easier and easier to lay down in the landscape.  I hope to loosen them up a little more as I progress through to the sixth.  I have had more fun with this one - in the zone until I had to turn out the lights!  Today was super busy - up at 3:15 for an early Saturday field trip with Michael at KU - the Future Cities Competition.  Then home with just enough time to change - and off to a wedding!  So, arriving home just a bit ago, I finished these little fairies in time to post before I drop.  Some days are just like that.  This is the 4th in the series of 6, my 390th painting in 390 days and day 25 in the 30 day painting challenge.  I'm hoping for a little down time tomorrow :)

Moon and Fairies

Moon and Fairies
Oil on glass, 9x12
print available here

Another day in fairy land - this time with the smiling crescent moon.  Fairies play amongst phlox and sunflower, while another rests upon the moon.  The subject is fanciful, and I found myself loosing track of time.  So immersed I was in my work, I almost forgot to pick up my youngest son from an after school project session!  I really need to set an alarm when painting, I can't tell you how many times this has happened!  Thankfully, there are leftovers for dinner, so I won't be pulled to that chore, and i am jumping right into the next scene - the one directly under this painting.  I've fully sketched it out already - and indeed it is half painted from the top down!  Once I have finished all six panes of this window, I will spray them all with a quick dry oil medium that speeds drying time.  The glass may just slow down the drying process considerably.  This third part of six paintings makes 389 in as many days, and day 24 in the 30 day painting challenge.  This latest challenge has flown by in the blink of an eye!

Vintage Phlox

Vintage Phlox
Oil on panel, 6x6
sold
prints available here

This will be yet another day spent in the hospital, so I was up early taking care of all the things I was too tired to tackle last night.  So, posting early - this is my quick little impressionistic painting for today.  I have tried to grow various kinds of garden phlox through the years.  My most vigorous variety is the tall, old fashioned purple kind, my very first starts coming from Grandma Bessie.  I have tried the pink, but it was never very strong, and a nice white variety which is steady , but does not spread and multiply as the purple.  This painting is done from photos of the pink, before the hard freezes claimed it.  This is painting number 369 in 369 days, and Day 4 of Leslie Saeta's 30 day painting challenge.