Friday, December 26, 2014

December at Riverlands

 
 
The Audubon Center
 
 
 
 
 
5x7 plein air oil
sold 
 
Painted several small studies with the MOPAPA group.  Skies were changing throughout the morning.  This study captured the changing clouds.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

November Rain

 
 
Cliff Cave Park
 
 
 
 
5x7 plein air oil
 
 
 
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. 
 
 
 


Sunday, November 16, 2014

Cliff Cave Park

 

 
 
Before the Snow
 


 
 


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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Friday, November 14, 2014

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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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

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


Friday, October 17, 2014

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.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

The Flint Hills, Kansas

Kansas is Beautiful


sold


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.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Louisiana, Missouri

 
Louisiana Plein Air Event
 



 
By the Railroad Tracks
8x10 oil
Honorable Mention
 

 
The Highway Bridge
8x10 oil
Purchase Award
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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.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Shaw Nature Reserve

 
 
Pines and Prairie
 
 

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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.


Tuesday, August 12, 2014

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.   


Monday, August 11, 2014

Cliff Cave Park

 
 
The Bluffs
 
 

  
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.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

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.


Saturday, July 19, 2014

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.
 
 



Sunday, July 13, 2014

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.


Thursday, July 10, 2014

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.

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Forest Park

 
 
Elderberry Bushes
 
 
6x8 plein air oil
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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, June 28, 2014

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.
 
 
 
 



Wednesday, June 25, 2014

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.  


Sunday, June 22, 2014

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. 
 


Sunday, June 15, 2014

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. 


Friday, May 30, 2014

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.  


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

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
 


Saturday, May 24, 2014

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. 
 

 


Tuesday, May 20, 2014

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.
 


Wednesday, April 16, 2014

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

Sunday, March 30, 2014

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.    
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday, February 27, 2014

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
 

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

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