Sept. 20 of 30//30

Here are two more quick studies in watercolor from the camping trip.  Brush Creek is calling…..

Sept. 19 of 30//30

As this is posted I am doing a plein air event.  Brush Creek Plein Air is Sept. 18 - 20.  I will post paintings from that event next.

Quick watercolor study for the oil painting from yesterdays post.  This was such an interesting tree right by our camp spot.  I sketched and painted it several times.  

Sept. 18 of 30//30

Today is my sisters 71st birthday!

This was photographed rather poorly, and I failed to crop and fix it.  Whooops.  This is the oil I did.

Sept. 17 of 30//30

Derald fished all day, from before light to sunset.  He had a blast in his kayak.

Watercolor
Across the cove, late day.  The sun set behind those trees, as you see in the above photo.

Sept. 16 of 30//30

Watercolor
Across the cove where there was a pop up camper.  The time was early morning.

Sept. 15 of 30//30

Same dock,  but different time of day.  This was mid day with a little color showing in the trees.
Watercolor

Sept. 14 of 30//30

Watercolor study.

I did several paintings of this area across the cove from us.  This was done in the early evening.

Sept. 13 of 30/30

Watercolor study.

The Airstream is a great subject.  She holds still well.

Sept. 12 of 30/30

The paintings I completed from Sept. 12 - 14th were done while camping.  Thus the late posts.  We were at Crawford State Park in SE KS.  It is supposed to be one of KS most beautiful parks.  Derald was in a kayak fishing tournament, and I stayed with the Airstream and painted.  Max and Woody kept me company.  I managed to read a book and my new Yoga Journal Magazine!

Watercolors happen to be my go to medium when we camp.  Easy and clean.  I did take my oils and completed one 9 x 12, which I really liked.  I kept painting the same subject as the light changed, and found it rather challenging.  It kept me on my toes for the light and shadow areas.

Lucky
1962 Safari Airstream

Sept. 11 of 30/30

I also painted 9 little mini flowers for those crazy little 2 x 2 inch frames.  I have given 5 away so far to the Charming Chicks!    Whew I need to scrape that little 3c scary guy.  

Busy painting my little mini 2 inch paintings.  

Standing next to Mary Jane Grinter.  They own the sunflower farm!  She was a real sweetheart.  She also paints.  I hope to get to paint with her soon.  

These little sweetie pie paintings will have new homes with the Charming Chicks, Nikki and Erin.

These little sweetie pies are waiting for their new home.  2 will go to our Charming Chick in Springfield, Joy.  Only 2 are left!  

Happy flowers.

Sept.10 of 30/30

You can see my notan sketch and get a feel for this little sunflower nest I was in.  I kept having to adjust the umbrella so the light wasn't on my canvas and palette.   

My hidden (well not so much) spot to paint.  

In the distance you can see another white umbrella and a red one.  Those are my painting buddies, Luanne Hein and Gregory Summers.  

Sept. 9 painting for 30/30

Only the 8th day and I'm behind!  Here are some photos of a sunflower farm I painted at with friends this week.  Thus, missed some posts…  But, these are well worth it!  This is Kansas folks!  Beautiful state.

This is my notan on the sketch book, and my underpainting determining the values for the light and shadow areas.  

Still unfinished in this photo, but you can see where I was going with it,
 I started this painting and thought 'oh my, I have NO idea how to paint all these crazy sunflowers.  I certainly must SIMPLIFY!  

The sky was rolling with clouds.  I can see I need to push the back rows of flowers further back.  

Sept. 8, 30/30 Challenge

Oil on canvas paper, from the series of mini paintings.

Sept. 7, 30/30 Challenge

Still working on the series of mini paintings.  Oil on canvas paper, 2" x 2".  This would have been a really interesting place to paint.  I am hoping I see this kind of landscape with light houses next summer.

Sept. 6, 30/30 challenge

This little guy was fun to paint.  Still posting the mini 2" x 2" paintings.  I actually did a little notan before I started each one of these.  Notans are my new BEST FRIEND.  I am seeing more and more posts on these.  Kevin Macpherson was one of many teachers I have had that stressed using them.  Joshua Been is a master at them.  He even sells them in his gallery.  I have purchased 3 or 4 of them and have them hanging in the hall by my studio as a reminder.

Sept. 5 of 30/30

2"x2" mini from Jim's stash of vacation photos.  I have never painted with such tiny brushes.  I actually had to go buy some cheap ones to do these.  Any of my painting instructors would flip if they saw these 3 hair brushes!  You just gotta have some fun when you paint.

Sept. 4 of 30/30

A friend of ours gave me an entire CD of his vacation.  The photos were printed with 12 per sheet.  Now that's small.  Low and behold I went to a garage sale and found a BOX FULL of 2 inch square frames.  Well, of course I had to use those cute little frames for something.  In kind of a painters slump, I have begun doing tiny 2x2 inch paintings.  Just little tiny studies.  I am enjoying the process.  After 9 little guys, my slump was over.  Who knows, I may have to enter a miniature show!

Here is tiny number one of the series.  I have no earthly idea where this is.  But thank you Jim for the photo stash!

2" x 2" oil on canvas paper.

Sept. 3 of 30/30

Due to technical difficulties, my post for day 3 was simply out of my control to post.  I tried every device I have to no avail.

This painting was done for a dear friend of mine's daughter.  She is getting married this month to her 'lobster love'.  Lobsters mate for life.  He is one LUCKY fella.  She is a real 'catch'.  Oh boy, I need to quit now.  Oil on wrapped canvas.  NFS

On a side note, anyone who knows me very well knows I really do not like the color orange.  But, I struggled through this one and actually enjoyed it…..since I used MY favorite color for the background.  Win/ Win.

Sept. 2 of 30/30 challenge

I have had the fortune of a wonderful teaching career.  During those years at the high school level I had several very special students that I have kept close to my heart.  One in particular has been such a blessing to me to have the opportunity to reconnect with.  She is now married, with two beautiful children and a wonderful husband.

 Although I have not met this darling baby yet, I have seen lots of great photographs of her.  She must be 6 months old now, oh how time flies.  This is a little 6 x 6 oil I did from a photograph her momma took.  I know she is much more beautiful than I could paint.  Its odd how you see something so perfect, so precious, so beautiful, such a gift from God, that you just can't capture it in paint.

Meet Amelia.

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

Leslie Saeta has a challenge starting today!  30 in 30.  It is fun to challenge myself for the diligence to paint daily, and to attempt to get back in to blogging.  As much as I enjoy reading blogs, I certainly need to contribute to my own.  I figure its a win WIN.

Todays post is a 12 x 16 oil on canvas paper.  The scene is of The Scout, a sculpture located here in Kansas City, MO.  In the background you can find indications of the four Sky Stations sculptures and our new Kansas City Performing Arts Center.