Pumpkin Batik

 

The pumpkins have been gorgeous this season, and I'm painting this one with ink, watercolor and hot wax on super thin rice paper!  With tissue thin paper, I must work this paper very lightly.  The slightest bit of pressure when wet can cause it to tear, and brushing the paint in can brush right through the paper!  So carefully I work until the image emerges, and I lift the hot wax away.  Painting number 

Morning at the Pumpkin Patch

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It was so much fun to paint my first pumpkin patch of the season at Shreve's!  It's an annual autumn tradition, and it's never quite fall until I arrive here to paint!  The pumpkins and mums are glorious, the weather is perfect, and the time flies by as I work.  A pristine painting day is a gift to cherish!   I'm so happy this painting now resides with the family! Painting number 4699 in 4699 days. 

Fairy House in the Pumpkin Patch

 I just can't resist painting beautiful pumpkin patches - and Shreve's is a yearly favorite!  The autumn mums and pumpkins adorn the lawn as the light dances over it all.  Children raced in and out of this little house, and I heard them call it the Fairy House.  This farm is the first place I paint when arriving in Fairfield, and the weather has been especially nice this year.  I couldn't get enough of this place - so I returned for two more paintings!  Painting number 4681 in 4681 days. 

Red Barn Farm

 

How could I not have known about this place all these years?  There are paintings in every direction at the Red Barn Farm in Weston!  The Monday Morning Watercolorists chose this location, and though it was an hour and 10 minutes away, Mom and I made the trip.  I could hardly peel myself away from this place to gather for lunch with the girls at the Green Dirt Farm Creamery!  This may have been my first trip here, but it crushing won't be my last!  You can see this one in person at the Weston Coffee Roastery!  Painting number 4678 in 4678 days. 

Afternoon at the Pumpkin Patch

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I've painted so much this fall that many paintings are yet unposted. Shreve's Pumpkin Patch is one of my all time favorite places to paint!  I had painted one here, getting the farmhouse into the view, but I couldn't quite squeeze in the events building.  So, I painted from this angle to include the back building and some of the side yard.  Honestly, the whole place is magical, and I really needed a long format panel to get it all in, but alas, I had none. It seems I am forever running out of panels and frames!  This painting is 4677 in 4677 days, and I'm so happy they purchased this painting, too! 

Good Year for Pumpkins

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Shreve's Pumpkin Patch is one of my very favorite places to paint when in Fairfield!  It's just not autumn until I paint here.  With a dramatic sky for a backdrop, these pumpkins nearly glowed in their rows leading to the barn.  I had not painted from this side, so I jumped right in.  Families and children came by a I worked, so interested in what I was creating.  It was a lovely day - and the rain held off until after I was finished  I'm so thankful Shreves chose my painting for their Purchase Award!  Painting number 5176 in 5176 days. 

Morning in the Pumpkin Patch

 It's always a beautiful day when I'm painting at Shreves Pumpkin Patch - even when I'm caught out in the rain!  I had paint on my panel surface when it really started raining, so I just kept on painting until I was done!  It was warm and I had my raincoat on and a palm leaf hat, so I was perfectly comfortable!  I poured the water out of my palette when I finished and prepared to do another.  So happy this painting has a new home with this family, too!  I look forward to this place all year long!  Painting number 3915 in 3915 days. 

In the Pumpkin Patch

 

I know autumn is here when I'm painting pumpkins in Fairfield!  I LOVE painting in this pumpkin patch, and try to get here soon after arrival.  I waited until the early morning rain let up, but still the sprinkling hit half way there.  I set up with my panel tilted slightly down, so I could get the paint on it before the surface could get wet.  At one point it really rained hard, but I had my rain gear on and kept painting.  When I finished, I dumped the water out of me easel and prepared to paint another!  Painting number 3912 in 3912 days, and day 28 #stradaeasel challenge.

Morning at the Pumpkin Patch

My first painting stop when I land at the Fairfield Paint Out is Shreves Pumpkin Patch!  There is literally a painting everywhere I look, and there is not enough time to paint them all!  The pumpkins are a local icon, and I simply love painting the season.  So many families come for the fun, and it is fun to paint to the sound of children laughing and playing.  This place is a slice of Americana, and I'm so lucky to paint it!  Day 30 of the #stradaeasel painting challenge! Hooray! Now I hope I win a strada easel! Painting number 4350 in 4350 days. 

Snow on the Pumpkins

Today finds me in the pumpkin patch - finally painting snow on my pumpkins!  My first chance of this unseasonably warm season, I am enjoying the interplay between warm light and cool shadows that push violet and blue.  The snow is melting right before my eyes, the sun shining down upon it!  Today I am starting an "extreme plein air event", shared to me from an artist in Russia who follows my work.  For the next week I will be sharing my outdoor pursuit of the perfect winter painting, tagging it with #win_winter2022.  Who  doesn't want to WIN winter 2022?!!  There are several art suppliers involved - and chances to win something everyday.  They are probably looking for creative videos on the experience, which are beyond what I currently share in process.  Maybe I'll try to add some of that to my daily work.  Truly, today was not extreme at all.  I actually got too warm in my thick wool scarf and outdoor gear, shed it all to cool off on the porch when I got back to the house!  Lol!  Pretty sure this time of year IS pretty extreme in Russia!  Painting number 3288 in 3288 days, and day 3 of the current #stradaeasel challenge. Wondering about that number?  I'm going to start correcting that each January, because I seem to lose track during the year, and even find that posts have disappeared for no apparent reason!  Oh technology, why can't you work perfectly all the time? 

Pumpkin Impressions

Oh what a busy day it has been!  Almost all the family was out for dinner, and we had so much food!  Mike was baking while I cooked the turkey with all the trimmings and several salads, too.  By dinner time, I am always too tired to eat - I'd rather sit down and catch my breath, and visit!  It's always fun to catch up with each other.  Now that family has left, the kitchen is clean (finally), it is time for the last pumpkin painting of the season.  I love celebrating every season, for it will be another 10 months before I see pumpkins to paint again.  Painting number 3234 in 3234 days. 

Pumpkins Nocturne Batik

Another gorgeous day spent working outdoors in the gardens - which means I am painting in the dark again!  I've only got a couple of days to paint pumpkins, and then it will be onward to all things Christmas.  I love the watercolor batik process, it adds so much depth to simple subjects.  I'm looking forward to exploring this technique more in the coming months - when I'm not called outside to the creeks, meadows and woods!  Painting number 3231 in 3231 days. 

Pumpkin!

As I spent the early afternoon hours in the garden, pruning, weeding and tending, I found this beauty turning orange!  I like to toss out seeds, and watch the volunteers emerge.  What I thought were watermelon have now taken on pumpkin shapes, complete with the transforming green into orange!  So pleased to have my own little pumpkin patch - this HAD to be my subject du jour!  With India ink, I sketched the lines loosely, filling in with watercolor and additional water soluble ink.  I found at least another seven of these beauties and can't wait to paint them in various mediums!  Painting number 2457 in 2457 days.