December at Riverlands

 

 

The Audubon Center

 

 

 

 

 

5x7 plein air oil

 

 

Painted several small studies with the MOPAPA group.  Skies were changing throughout the morning.  This study captured the changing clouds.

November Rain

 

 

Cliff Cave Park

 

 

 

 

5x7 plein air oil

sold 

 

 

Cloudy, rainy and chilly was the weather this morning as the MOPAPA group huddled under the shelter at Cliff Cave County Park.  The misty tones of the distant trees and the muted shades of russet grasses were the elements that caught my eye. 

 

 

 



Cliff Cave Park

 

 

 

Before the Snow

 

 

 

sold

6x8 plein air oil

 

 

 

Painted this morning before the snow started.  It was rather bleak lighting but these trees still held some color along with the grasses.  It was cold but I was grateful that it wasn't windy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Fall Colors

 

County Parks

 

 

A couple of small (6x8) plein air oils that I did a couple weeks ago in the area parks.  The bright orange and gold leaves didn't last very long.  One of the trees actually lost half of it's leaves during the time that I painted the picture. 

 

 

 

 Clydesdale Park

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Queeny Park

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MOPAPA Group Show

 

 

1900 Park Creative Space Gallery

 

 

Hope you can join us for the opening reception Friday Nov. 7th 6pm.  The gallery will also have Thursday afternoon hours.  For further information you may email 1900parkcreativespace@gmail.com



Beautiful Colorado

 

Perfect Plein Air Weather and Subjects!

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

The Gunnison River,  Gunnison, Co. 6x8 oil 

 

 

Had a great time painting this and was a bit envious of the fly-fishermen I saw down stream.  Made me wish I had brought my rod.

 

 

Sleeping Ute Mt. at Mesa Verde Nat'l Park 6x8

 

It was so peaceful in this spot with just a soft breeze blowing and an occasional bird flying overhead.  The park is an amazing place with amazing views.  It was hard to pick one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colorado National Monument 6x8 oil

 

This National Park is outside of Grand Junction, Colorado and one that I had not heard of before.  It is a beautiful place and there are a lot of trails with wonderful views of the mesas.  I'm so glad I had the time to paint this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Colorado Springs

 

Glowing Aspens and Garden of the Gods

 

Glowing Aspens  6x8 plein air oil at a ranch near Woodland, Co.

 

 

6x8 plein air oil at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs

 

Colorado is the most beautiful state.  So happy I had the chance to paint there.

The Flint Hills, Kansas

Kansas is Beautiful

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The Flint Hills of Kansas is a magical place.  Wide open prairie land that gives one a special feeling when you gaze out across it.  These are 2 8x10 plein air oil paintings I did at a workshop I attended given by Kim Casebeer. http://kimcasebeer.com/ She is a master at painting this lovely land.

Louisiana, Missouri

 

Louisiana Plein Air Event

 

 

By the Railroad Tracks

8x10 oil

Honorable Mention

 

 

The Highway Bridge

8x10 oil

Purchase Award

sold 

Yesterday was the 3rd annual plein air event at Louisiana Missouri.  It was a chilly start but ended up to be a beautiful day.  I did two paintings and was happy with the unexpected outcome of an honorable mention and a purchase award.  Icing on the cake of a fun day of painting.

Shaw Nature Reserve

 

 

Pines and Prairie

 

 

sold

plein air oil 8x10

 

 

Hot humid summer weather didn't keep me from going out to Shaw Nature Reserve.  It is one of my favorite places to paint.  There was a nice breeze to keep things comfortable.  The prairie flowers were blooming and the grasses are starting to turn that russet color.  Dark pines in the background seemed like guardians of the field.  A nice morning spent in this lovely place.



Perfect Weather

 

 

Backyard Sunflowers

 

 

Sunflower study

6x8 oil

 

 

The sunflowers in our backyard garden are starting to fade so I took advantage of the beautiful weather today to do this small study.   



Cliff Cave Park

 

 

The Bluffs

 

 

  sold

Living High

8x10 plein air oil



 

 

The morning started out foggy and hazy but when the sun came out so did the heat.  I stayed under the park shelter to set up in the shade.  The first faint change in the colors of the trees are bringing a promise of the coming fall.  This one needs some work but I think I have a good start on what I wanted to say about the scene.

Lebanon, Illinois painting event

 

 

Lebanon Plein Air

 

 

 

Fence and Field

8x10 oil

sold 

 



Just got back from a 2 day plein air painting event in Lebanon, Illinois sponsored by McKendree University. Most of the painters stayed in town and the immediate surrounding. I couldn't resist Horner park outside of town with the surrounding farm fields. Beautiful weather, warm with a nice breeze and plenty of sunshine. The paintings will hang at the McKendree Gallery of Art in Lebanon until September 27th.



Summertime

 

 

Sunflowers

 

gifted

Backyard Sunflowers

8x10 plein air oil

 

 

It's the season for sunflowers and ours are in full bloom.  The goldfinches however are attacking them daily so I thought I better paint them while they were still intact.

 

 





Tower Grove Park

 

 

Lotus

 

Reflections 6x8 oil

sold 

 

It's getting to feel like summer in St. Louis.  Hot and humid.  But that means it's time for the water lilies and Lotus flowers to start showing off.   Tower Grove park has some beautiful ones.  I painted this small study of the shapes and colors and didn't feel I needed to add any more.



Jonah's Park

 

 

 

Just waiting for Jonah

 

gifted

Jonah's Park

11x14 plein air oil

 

One lucky little boy has this wonderful backyard to play in.  It looks like a park with the big shade trees and large grassy area.  So many fun times with Daisy and Charlie playing in the yard.  I just had to try to preserve this special place to remember those wonderful years of childhood that will go by much too fast.

Forest Park

 

 

Elderberry Bushes

 

 

6x8 plein air oil

sold

The Elderberry bushes are just past the peak of their blooms and these were fading fast.  The creamy white flowers were such a nice contrast against the cool greens leaves.  Cloudy skies gave a soft light to this shady area.   This area was pretty thick and I spotted quite a bit of poison ivy too.  A nice morning to paint before these blooms are gone.



Saturday at Forest Park

 

 

 Along Theatre Dr.

 

 

sold

 

Forest Park

8x10 oil

 

 

A lovely morning to paint.  Mostly sunny with a nice breeze.  The park was crowded with people.  There was a charity walk and a lot of runners, bikers and other activities going on.  I enjoyed a visit from my great nephew's cub scouts who watched us paint and learned about how some artists work.  It was a very enjoyable morning.

 

 

 

 





The Botanical Garden

 

In the Bird Garden

 

 

sold 

Zinnia's in the Sunlight

6x8 oil

 

 

It was a beautiful morning to go to the Botanical Gardens and picking a subject to paint took some time.  There is so much color and texture everywhere.  I knew it was going to get hot and crowded so I sought out those areas that are less traveled.  A small garden planted to attract birds had these zinnias that were lit up by the morning sun and knew I had my subject.  



By the Barn

 

Log Pile

 

sold

8x10 oil

 

I was pulled by the interesting shapes of this pile of logs.  The light was rather flat from a mostly overcast sky.  As the morning wore on the sun was coming in and out and making really nice shadows but I tried to keep to the original scene and not chase the light as they say.  It was hot and humid but a nice breeze to keep it somewhat comfortable.  The biggest challenge I had was sharing this scene with several photographers who were using it as a backdrop for family photos.  I had to just stop and have an early lunch until they finally finished and I could continue.  An unusual subject and one I wouldn't have expected to be so popular. 

 



Thornhill

 

 

Ice and Smoke houses

 

 

  sold

 

6x8 plein air oil

 

Yesterday was one of those perfect days for painting en plein air.  Beautiful weather and light.  Faust Park and the Bates historic site was the destination and I have always liked these little structures that have been restored.  An Ice house and a smoke house.  Their appeal is the small size that makes them almost look like play houses for our era.  I set up a bit downhill to give them some stature and to point out their importance in their era. 



Faust Park

 

 

 

Thornhill

 

 

Painting in front of Thornhill,  the home of  Governor Bates, the 1st Governor of Missouri.  He and his family are buried in a small cemetery up the hill behind the house.  I was actually painting the barn that was off to the side from the house and the picture was taken by the park ranger who likes to photograph people enjoying the park.  



1900 Park Ave.

 

 

Creative Space Gallery

1900 Park Ave.

 

 

 

 

 

I have hung my paintings at the gallery and all is ready for the reception this Friday at 7pm. Located at 1900 Park Ave. Easy to get to and a wonderful show with lots of great art. Hope to see you there

 



Faust Park

 

 

Bates Historic Site

 

 

 

The Red Wheelbarrow

6x8 plein air oil

sold

 

It was a beautiful day at Faust Park to paint.  I love this area around the Bates historic home.  It's so peaceful and quiet.  There are many subjects to choose from but this morning this red wheelbarrow caught my eye.  The barn is an interesting structure with it's rock footing. 

 



 



The Bridge

 

 

Lafayette Park

 

 

  sold

 

The Bridge

plein air oil 8x10

 

Once again a beautiful day at Lafayette Park.  I tried not to fuss too much with the details of the posts even though they have some interesting ornamentation.  This bridge is a favorite spot for photographers and as I was leaving a wedding party arrived.  They had a lovely day for a wedding.

 



Spring is here!

 

Bee Tree Park

 

 

Finally spring is showing up.  The first blooms of the Forsythia bushes are brightening the bare branches with their sunny yellow color.  The day was mild and it felt so good to not be cold as I painted this small piece with the MOPAPA group.

 

 

 

 sold

Forsythia's at Bee Tree Park

6x8 oil

Spring is Emerging

Castlewood State Park
 

 

It seems as though it's a real battle between winter weather trying to hang on and spring trying to emerge in spite of it.  This scene originally caught my eye because of the cast shadows from the trees.  However it ended up being another cloudy overcast day with a chilly breeze.  In spite of that the grass is greening up and overtaking the dried stalks from last year.  The woods are coming alive again with new color and form.

 

 

 

 

First Signs of Spring

8x10 oil

 

I started this painting by experimenting with a monochromatic underpainting and adding the color over it.  It turned out a bit more low key than I intended.    

 

 

 

 

 

Cliff Cave Park



Winter Grasses

 

 

 

It was hard to find grasses that weren't laying down flat from the last deep snow we had.  I found this area looking up a hill next to a path that led down towards the river.  The sky was overcast and it was cold but being down hill helped shelter me from the wind.

 

 

 

sold

 

Prairie Grasses

6x8 oil

 

A Cold Winter Day

Audubon Center at Riverlands

 

 

It was cold and windy so I sheltered myself with a few others behind a building to paint.  The sky was overcast but seemed to brighten up after awhile.   I had a tough time as usual with the leafless winter trees.  I tried a palette knife, then a brush, wiping out and going back and forth.  After I got home and looked at it for awhile I wiped it off and tried again using brush, palette knife and fingers.  Finally I decided to go with this version as my memory of the scene is no longer in my mind. 

 

 

 

Lingering Snow

 

sold