Festive Ornaments

 

Christmas is coming and it's time to start painting the magic!  We deck the halls right after Thanksgiving, but I light our outdoor Alberta spruce earlier, and pull out these shiny ornaments for that!  It's the perfect opportunity to start painting these shiny jewels, and it really gets me in the mood for the holidays!  Painting number 4705 in 4705 days. 

Sunset Over Brush Creek

 

The promise of a glorious sunset was popping. As the color brightened, I started laying in color, quickly.  Sometimes, at this point, I wait a little longer for the intensity to heighten. I thought that I would simply add the color as it appeared.  I really wanted to capture that almost green turquoise in that horizon, so I jumped right in. I'm so thankful that I did!   That color faded in ten minutes, and no additional color rose to the occasion. If I had waited, I would have missed the moment, and that moment held a beauty all it's own. Tonight's lesson?  Seize the moment! It was an honor to win a second placing among my peers in tonight's quick paint! Painting number 4639 in 4639 days. 

South Lake at Antioch Park

 

It's fun returning to Antioch Park, where I used to play as a child - to paint!  A budding artist before kindergarten, Childhood Me would LOVE that I'm painting the very steps across the lake to the island!  I remember the feeling of walking gingerly across them, careful to step in the very center of each one.  My brother and I would cross to the safety of hard ground - and be thankful for the feel of it!  Four generations of my family have gathered here. In fact, my daughter,  Tiffany, has joined today and is on the other side of the water sketching turtles. We met the Monday Morning Watercolorists here today, and hope to paint again with them next Monday.  Painting number 4633 in 4633 days. 

Shiny Ornaments

As I deck the halls, I find a bowl of old ornaments that I keep for painting! Where fancy and ornate adorn my trees, the shiny colored glass balls make great subject matter! Reflecting colors off of each other, they are happy, bold and bright! I use acrylic paint for these baubles - and can't wait to paint some more.  Perhaps this will be my Christmas card theme for the season?! Painting number 3975 in 3975 days. 

Golden Pond

 I love the golden hour light on our pond, especially on such a still evening with glassy reflections!  The autumn color all over our property is spectacular, and all I want to do is paint all day, afraid the colors will fade before I get them all painted.  This was a difficult day, saying goodbye to a dear friend for the last time, remembering the good times with others.  Spending a little time at water's edge has been so very soothing.  I can always turn to nature with my paint for healing.  Painting number 3954 in 3954 days. 

Autumn Reflections on the Lake

I just couldn't resist painting this gorgeous fall color on Peaceful Valley Lake! I'm a bit in love with these first reds and golds, and I just can't get enough of them!  I saw this scene on my way out first thing this morning, and waited until the afternoon light was on them to paint. It is super fun to lay down strong color, and this rich scene surely called for them.  I hope I get many more days to paint the autumn leaves before they drop!  Painting number 3933 in 3933 days.  

Red Barn Reflections

 

It feels like stepping back in time to paint the vintage farms of rural Van Buren County, Iowa!  The barn and silo reflecting on that water was irresistible, and it was my first paint upon arriving at this place.  Battling the bugs to get it done - it was worth every minute of it!  Who knew it would only be the beginning of "bug week"?  Every day is a plein air adventure - and cougars and elk would be next up for wildlife sightings!  I love getting to paint these special places in the heartland! Thank you veterans, for the freedom to do so!  Happy Memorial Day!  Painting number 3793 in 3793 days. 

Lost Valley Lake Bridge

 

The warm autumn days are numbered, and today I'm thankful for another one!  Our temps are expected to drop as low as 20 by the weekend so I'm soaking in every minute before.  We've had such a lovely autumn, I want it to last forever.  So, I paint the beauty while it's still before me, and I'll embrace lovely winter when it comes.  Painting number 4388 in 4388 days. 

Lakeside Redbuds

 

What a lovely, warm day for kicking off the Augusta  Plein Air Festival in Augusta Shores!  This balmy day was such a joy to paint in - and those redbud trees were showing peak color down by the water.  After driving in this morning and arriving a little late, we took longer to find our location, too.  Deciding on this lovely scene, I quickly painted in the masses, marking the color to preserve it.  It was wonderful to see so many artist friends and of course, my host family - it truly is like a family reunion!  Painting number 3396 in 3396 days. 

Reflections at Crestview

 

It is always a good day when I'm painting near the water.  This secluded pond a pasture away from the house and barns at Crestview Dairy, is a peaceful spot to immerse myself in the process.  In a place like this, I become one with my surroundings, and revel in the paint.  All feeling, no thought, I let this painting unfold organically, letting my brush do the work.  Ending the day on such a note is a delight, indeed.  Painting number 3388 in 3388 days. 

Golden Pond

I forget that the sun lifts out of here earlier than on the hill - and I didn't quite leave enough time to finish in the light.  I've been pruning trees near here this afternoon, and this place was calling my name.  Ready for a break - I grabbed my oils to get in a quick paint before planting more bulbs.  I love the vibrant yellows in that last light - I wish the leaves would stay golden for a month!  Painting number 3224 in 3224 days.  I wish every November could be in the 70's!!

Autumn Reflections at Peaceful Valley

What a lovely morning to be painting at Peaceful Valley Lake!  The autumn color is just beginning, and the reflections on the water just had to be painted!  I had scouted this new area for quite some time before returning here to paint, so I was starting later than expected.  The golden hour soon fades, and getting a good photo with strong back lighting is hard.  I walked out to this spot to paint the beach, but instead decided on this creek full of moody reflections. The weather was perfect, breezes light, and the day delightful, just another fabulous day at the office!  Painting number 3197 in 3197 days. 

Morning by the Creek

 The water called to me as I scouted the area.  Looking for a remote spot, I found a flat rock crossing of the creek that I could set my easel on. Standing on another rock, I painted the scene, unable to step back - as that would land me in the water!  It was a very pleasant morning spent with frogs, turtles and bees to keep me company!  Crowded in with marsh, I'm just happy no snakes joined this painting party!  So fun to join my artist friends at such a location, the Anita Gorman Conservation Center is a gem in Kansas City!  Painting number 3101 in 3101 days. 

Autumn Rain on Main Street

 

What is the perfect cold, rainy day activity?  Why, painting wet streets, of course!  These autumn colors sing against a backdrop of misty hues - and those reflections were irresistible!!  The charming Main Street of Steelville is so wonderful, I've already painted within this block three times since I arrived!  This painting will be displayed at Gallery Zeke this Thursday and Friday for a Two Day Only Show!  All remaining paintings from these last two weeks will be hanging.  I'm so happy to have hit the peak fall color for this trip!  Painting number 2849 in 2849 days. 

Frog Pond

SOLD

 The evening before, I arrived a little too late at this pond to capture the last golden light of the day.  So, on this day I was sure to get to my spot earlier.  I sketched quickly to the song of frogs, hoping the light would last as long as I needed it to.  My camp stool sat precariously on top of the wet soil at water's edge, so I was careful to keep it from sinking.  With my watercolor half pans on the ground, I dipped in and out as I washed in the colors of the landscape with a water brush pen. A few mosquitoes were coming to visit, and I was glad to have my bug jacket on!  I love the peaceful quiet near this pond.  So glad I had time for one more painting here!  Painting number 2771 in 2771 days. 

Peace at the Pond

We've been clearing some trees and brush around the pond in recent weeks, and I love the expanding view.  Each time I walk down here, I am rewarded by the local tenants!  This evening the bullfrogs jumped into the water with load peeps, a kingfisher dropped in for a little dinner, and our blue heron flew up to a favorite limb on a large tree before flying off.  He and Beau are not the best of friends!  The golden hour light was perfect as I started to paint, and the first glow of sunset spread gently through the scene.  I only used the palette knife sparingly, so gentle was the mood on the water.  It's like a tiny vacation in the middle of real life, I'm so thankful for this place.  Painting number 2675 in 2675 days.

River Willow on the Pond

We have been clearing away brush and trees around the pond the last couple of weekends.  My intention was to remove these old river willows, as they litter branches and limbs and are scrubby looking.  But as we cleared other brush away, I could see the beauty of these large old trees.  So, we are pruning them up and will enjoy them until they drop.  I especially like some of the long branches that lean way out over the water.  They are pretty cool after all.  Painting number 2663 in 2663 days.

Opening Clouds over the Creek

Painting along this creek offers many rewards.  The chatter of birds and singing of frogs is my accompaniment, and gentle breezes keep the new mosquitoes at bay.  Simply standing in this spot and REALLY observing the landscape, takes me out of myself.  There are no worries and the chores of the day drift out of my mind.  There is only this time, this space, and my very tactile oils.  Stroke by stroke the painting unfolds, and just as I am finishing, the clouds begin to open up, showing a little blue sky.  Another day with a run and a paint, certainly a day well spent.  Painting number 2640 in 2640 days

Twisting Creek

How quickly the world is changing with this new social distancing!  My very full schedule has wound down to a luxurious choosing of times and tasks to be done in any order I see fit, with no alarms and no guilt about late bedtimes.  I am already getting so much done!  Without all those restrictions, I can work until I finish a thing before moving on.  After accomplishing so much, my sweet reward is a long run and pen and ink at water's edge.  These moments are where I find my zen.  Michael moves back from college tonight to finish his semester online.  Thank goodness for these little slivers of normal in my day!  Painting number 2633 in 2633 days.

Tranquil Creek Inked

Wanting to soak up another warm day with a run outside, I headed to a favorite trail after the gym.  As I ran, scene after scene appealed to my senses but eventually brought me back here.  A dark day, I was unsure if the rain would hold off.  The ink I use in my fountain pens is fugitive when wet!  This landscape drew me in, and I started with the line work.  Using a pen I have not used for a while - I had a little trouble getting the nib to release that ink!  I kept wetting it over and over again until finally it was flowing freely.  I'll need to rinse out the nib to assure good flow next time.  I'm so spoiled with the TWSBIs, this almost never happens.  I probably allowed the bag to lay over at some point, drying some of the ink inside the pen.  When I was packing up, I realized a storm was fast approaching behind me!  Almost a mile from my car, I ran back as the first raindrops were falling!  Just another plein air adventure - lol!  Painting number 2629 in 2629 days.