Boone county plein air

I painted this view from the banks of the Missouri River this weekend at the plein air event in Hartsburg Missouri. It was super windy, but I managed to finish this 11x14 of the water with the shimmering sunlight dancing on it.

Autumn iris

Here’s a little 8x8 on canvas of one of my garden iris... I love flowers, and love painting them, too.

Finished portrait

Put the finishing touches of this portrait.   The success of a portrait like this is primarily a wonderfully visually descriptive photo.  The best photos capture the personality of the sweetie....😘

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.

With added color

Adding color to this pooch.  A commission for a living pet owner....

Lagoon in the park

Started Plein air and finished in my studio...painting with some of my friends last week in Forest Park.  So enjoyable listening to the running water and waterfalls
.

57 Chevy

I painted this at the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis.   A fun day, with other painter friends..... doin’ my thing...😘

U City in Bloom

From the plein air event this weekend in University City Mo.  Started plein air and finished
In my studio....I liked the sidewalk curving up to the door but didn’t want to paint in the middle of the street, so I chose the front view...

Eliot Chapel

Wonderful, open and exceptional chapel in Kirkwood, Missouri.   All are welcome here....
     Painted plein air from the Kirkwood farmers market.

Buick

I painted this while at St. Louis Museum of Transportation yesterday, with a group of plein air painters.
     This annual event is fun and challenging. I worked on this in the studio for awhile to try to get all those details of this wonderful car just right... a pleasure to paint this.

Sweet pup

Starting a commission of this sweet pup.   This is the underpainting-12x12 oil on canvas-
     This was the owner’s favorite pic of his beloved pet....
   These are rewarding to paint😘

Choir practice

While at a plein air event in a little town so took this shot of a little church nestled in the trees . I caught the inner light from an evening service or choir rehearsal and painted it later in my studio.
It’s a little guy 6x8

Sweet innocence

A commission of several shots of this sweet lab from a former student.   They have had several portraits commissioned from me... the family all love their dogs....
     This is a 12x12 on a thick 1 1/2” canvas, which does not require framing...

Apricot rose

I decided to set up my easel in the front garden to capture the sunlight on this little gem.   Fun, catching this, since I only have 2 rose bushes I have ever been able to get roses from... this is a thornless variety I bought because I had 2 little granddaughters at the time and didn’t want them to get stuck...
   Sorry for the glare on the photo...

Jocie and Rowyn

My hairdresser and her daughter..... 16x20.  I did a series of portraits when I retired from teaching high school art.  These portraits, of my students, started me on the journey of painting in oil...I still enjoy doing a portrait now and then😘

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.

Pink ladies

Prepping for my workshop I went back to my roots... I have painted apples lots of times and always have them in my kitchen, it seems... (best on Plein air trips with peanut butter...yum)

I’m a little teapot

I couldn’t resist this adorable little teapot at the thrift store.   I did a quick little 6x6 as another warmup for my class prep.   I picked an angle just a little unorthodox...

Small cuppa please

This one is from the archives.  I like the mix of warm and cool colors here, and the feeling of anticipation for that first sip....

Seersucker leaves

Here is another in the warmup paintings for my workshop prep.   I have been painting mainly Plein air, so I wanted to get back into ‘studio’ mode to teach.....
     I handled the workshop like my school teaching- with handouts and instruction like I worked with my high school students.  I also walked around the group critiquing after my demo, which my students really seemed to enjoy....

Front and center

Another Warmup for my workshop in the spring. I had fun with the brushwork on this flower, which takes front and center in this little 6x6.  This one sold to someone during the workshop.

Cutie love

     Sometimes the simplest subjects are the best.   The “cuties” that we buy in the summertime my granddaughter loves as her favorite snack. I always try to have some on hand

Stand up and look alive

         
                       This Spring I taught a workshop for a new art organization in St. Louis
                   called  Heartland Art Club.   I have resisted teaching since I retired, but was
                   convinced I should do it this time.   As a result, I made quite a few examples
                   for my students, and also completed a demo each of the 6 Tuesdays.   Here is
                   one of my examples with some shiny, colorful pears from the grocery......

Sunlight on the Huzzah

A painting friend and I attended the Steelville Missouri Plein air event in June.  One of the days
a free day to paint at a location of your choice, so we ended up setting up IN the Huzzah River
With the cool water on our feet, standing in the shallow rocky river.  It was so amazing. I started
With a alizarin underpainting to highlight the red rocks in the water, and captured the cool shadows on the water from the overhanging trees... a delightful experience...

Sun on the garden path

Painted in the shade at the Missouri Botanical Gardens  with my Plein air buddies.   This little path winds back to a bench behind the water lily pools.   It was a great location on a sunny summer afternoon.  I love capturing the light on the stone path and various plantings.

     I had just a bit of time the first day to get the shapes in, then came back at the same time of day the following week to finish...