Powder Valley Waterfall

My painting buddies and I paint and draw at the nature site called Powder Valley in Kirkwood, Mo., sometimes on Wednesdays.  This day we set up to do a plein air study behind the main building to capture this lovely waterfall.

St. Louis Art Museum

Plein air by the Grand basin by Art Hill, St. Louis.  Great place to paint or to sled down the fantastic hill after a winter snow.

"Dorothy"

     I started this at the gallery on Saturday, where my plein air painter friends and I did a bit of studio painting.  The gallery is not usually open on Sat., during the day, so we decided to paint and open the doors, so visitors could come and look around.  We had quite a few wander in, including some friends, and chatted and showed them the exhibit.  Here's the painting that I finished up when I got home.

Plein air in Lafayette Square

     The Lafayette Square districts is one of the greatest older neighborhoods of our fair city.  It surrounds the wonderful Lafayette Park, and contains a quaint shopping area and great restaurants, as well as fabulous old houses which are so unique !   It's possible to find a great scene to paint by turning in almost any direction.

By the Grand Basin, St. Louis Art Museum.... love the railings around the water

     The sun seemed to be "after me" all day long.  I love to try to get a shady space to paint, but that was nearly impossible. At least I started out in the shade... I had to leave my easel where I started, then the sun started beating down on me, so I darted back and forth.... I would paint, move back, go forward, paint again...  I was doing the dance with the painting... ha ha
     I liked the results.  At first I thought the subject was too simple and uninteresting, then quickly decided it was difficult.... Oh, whoa is me... HA !!

Grand Basin plein air

  We met at the Grand Basin this morning, in front of the Art Museum to paint plein air today.  It was beautiful everywhere, making it hard to decide what to paint.  I picked this bridge, because somehow these bridges tell a story, I guess.   Seems like I learn something every time I go out with this wonderful group of artists.  Today I learned a bit about different brushes !  I even stopped and got a few new ones on the way home.  I've never used 'flats' before, only 'brights', so I'm excited about getting to know these new ones !

  

Plein air- beautiful day !

Last weekend was a beautiful sunny day.  Our group met at the Muny and found our spots.... I picked my bridge again, with several other painters.   We stopped briefly for lunch, then got back to work.  I finished around 3:00, when Gwendolyn and I were the last to leave.  Such fun.  Here's my painting, it's 8 x 10 on gessoboard.

Tower Grove Park, St. Louis, Missouri

     Tower Grove Park is a wonderful park inside the St. Louis city limits.  Joggers,  cyclists, families, dog walkers, and plein air painters occupied a small, beautiful, area of the park today.  We positioned ourselves by the Piper Palm House... famous for it's fabulous Sunday brunch.....I tried to stay in the shade, and found this great pond with lily pads, and a few flowering water lilies in view.    This time I worked with an 8 x 10 gessobord, and was able to complete my painting.  I was very happy with the flow and movement I tried to convey.  It seems I learn something every time I paint outdoors... Either something TO DO, or something  NOT TO DO..... ha
      We had a great big group of at least 12 artists painting.... such fun, and such support everyone gives to each other... love it.

Here are some of my peonies from my garden.  I've got to paint fast.  They completely disintegrate in one day, when I bring them inside. 

Spiral vase #109

 

 

     I always loved this vase, but I had forgotten about it, tucked way in the back of my cabinet.  My friends delivered it to me filled with flowers awhile ago when I was recovering from surgery.   It was the perfect fit for my double bouquet, I thought.  I did have to place it lower on my work table, though, so I had to try and work with the background, which was my horizontal shade.  I was worried about doing the shade, but then I thought maybe it would add some interest.... Well, here it is, and I like it  ! ha

Forward reach #107

 

     These are the second batch of tulips I purchased at, of all places, Walmart.    I was at a friends the other day and she had the most gorgeous vase of flowers.    She had gotten them at the market at Walmart.... who knew that I'd be giving them good 'press'?.. ha ha 
     Again, they moved during the night (I got them started after dinner), but this time I made sure I had the petals well established before turning out the light !!

Tulip dance #106

 

     Still one of my favorite flowers.  These tulips had such a natural sway to them, almost a dance. (and I LOVE dance !)  Anyway, I started them late last night, and by this morning they had certainly changed positions.... just like a dancer to never stand still !     I love this goodwill rectangular vase, so much fun finding the values and reflections !

Hyacinths in January #104

 

     I remember these being one of the first blooms of spring.  I have a variety of them that come up some time, maybe around May... How do they get these into the stores in January?   Maybe they grow them and force the plants in greenhouses.... I do not know, but I loved painting them !
     I'm just getting finished with my painting for the challenge today.... whew... just made it !

Iris variety #101

     These flowers have a very unusual arrangement of petals... they look awkward, but that's the way they grow....  I googled iris to see what variety they are and found there are hundreds of different ones !  I was really only familiar with the hybrid ones I've grown and the Siberian and Japanese ones.... who knew?

Time with Dad painting #87

 

     Here is DAY TWO of the challenge.   I had some fun reference photos, and wanted to paint them, but kept putting it off.  This seemed like the perfect opportunity to 'make it happen', as my daughter likes to say.  My darling, insightful co-worker (art teacher) used to say all the time, "The way to begin, is to begin."  and sometimes it's just THAT simple. !  Inspiration comes from DOING, not just contemplating what to do.... ha ha 
     I love to observe the interaction of children and their parents.  On this Saturday at Tower Grove park, I enjoyed watching this little boy and his dad.  They were mostly in the shade, with hints of sunlight, as they sat and splashed in the big fountain.

Stripey bouquet painting #85

SOLD

     I really do enjoy painting sunflowers.  They are now all gone from my favorite haunts, like Dierberg's floral shop, and Whole Foods, so I guess I will have to wait now til next summer or fall.     This grouping I painted as my demo at a local gallery.  I set up my still life and lots of my friends and family came to watch.  They had wine and cheese at the gallery.  They have an "Open House" once a month.... Fun !

Play with Me painting #83

 

     We used to wear oxfords when I was in school.   Brown and white was as popular a combination as the black and white variety.   These were the days LONG before velcro ! ha !  Mine were made by Spaulding, and they were expensive for mom to buy, so you were Very lucky when you were able to get a new pair... so proud !

Donkey Party shoes?? painting # 82

  SOLD

      My sis and I used to have booths at the antique mall right outside of St. Louis, and we had lots of fun buying, selling, painting furniture, and working together in this little business venture.   We have since given that up... (in the hopes of having more time to paint) but, I still have a few items from my accumulation.  I used to love to buy that old vintage stuff !  Well, this is a box from the old 'pin the tail on the donkey' game that we used to play at parties when I was little, back in the day.   Thought it would make a good accompaniment for these classic red patent leather mary janes.   Brings back memories of my daughter and grand-daughters tiny feet, too.

Water shadow painting #75

SOLD

     Here's a different version of my sunflower... love the vase.  So fun to paint...

     These have turned into a series, without me even trying.  HA !

Dark background painting #72

 

I thought I'd try a darker background today.  Hopefully I got enough contrast of values... Here's the progress during the process.
     I DID forgo the polka-dots for the sake of simplicity... ha  !