Pickles

Today was a plein air time at Pickles Cafe'. What a perfect weather day. Even when it got a bit hot in the sun we could move into the shade and be cool. There were eight of us and 5 stayed for lunch. I guess I better get on with the pictures.

Yep... this is the place. An antique shop with a cafe in the back. Very quaintly.

This is my sketck done on a 6x8 inch paper.

There was also a train track close by with lots of wires going everywhere. Actually the train was across the road for a very long time. No traffic could get through. 

I did another little pen sketch of the sign and mail box. I have a cute little sketck book that is only 4x4 inches that I love to do little pieces in. Here also is my little watercolor paint box. They both fit in my purse and go along with me wherever I go.

What a fun day...k

Anticipation

I finished my little sketch while we were at St Francis for our Ventures show take-in. Lots of beautiful pieces. My job... just put them in their separate categories and spaces to be judged on Wednesday. I’m hoping to get one into the show.

Today I’m waiting for my new iPhone to come. The camera alone was a big draw.

Bye for now...k

Rhubarb

First on my to do list today was the rhubarb that has been waiting in the frig. My friend blessed me with a whole bunch of it. I’ve wanted to make some chutney so I looked up a couple reicpes on line and what did I find? Spicy rhubarb chutney! YES! (my family loves spicy)

There was another one, plain, with strawberries. I made a large batch of the spicy and a small amout of the strawberry.

I canned several half pints and a few pints plus I put a little bit in the frig to try.
Hubby and I tried it... YUM!  Especially the spicy.


OK... so I also found time to get off a quick pencil sketch this afternoon. We stopped at Wendy’s yesterday for lunch and I liked the cone flowers popping up in front of my car across from Subway. It would be better with a bit of color especially the flowers. Maybe tomorrow?

Bye...K

Drive By

I was at St Francis this morning. I’ve always noticed this building every time I come out of the parking lot at the Rowland Art Center. So I snapped a photo today thinking I might try a sketch.

That’s exactly what I did this afternoon. It’s very run down and many of the windows are broken. The truck outside says Jackson Oil.

I also saw this photo my friend took a few days ago. I do like hats...

Bye...

Lawn Mowed

I guess you could say that I tried something different today. Way out of my comfort zone.

I found some old watercolor paper that’s rather thin and not good for anything but playing.

So I played. I worked from a photo and the size is 9x12. Way bigger than usual.

No drawing. I just went right in with color. I think I’d try this again.

We’ve had lots of rain. I’ll be glad to get back outside without an umbrella.

Later...K

Library Time

Our plein air location was cancelled this morning so a friend and I went to the library and sat out on the big patio at a table. Very quiet, pleasant and a bit cool. I guess I’m into skylines for a while. Why is that? Well maybe for me to get angles and proportions drawn better. I just keep at it and it comes a bit easier after a while.

This was done on a rather thin drawing paper. I really didn’t think I’d put color on but changed my mind so it’s a bit wrinkled. My lines at the bottom are too angled... don’t go out to a correct vanishing 

point. I’ll have to fix that... next time.

Another sketch of the patio... and again my angles are off.

I better chalk that up to “needs more practice”.  

Maybe tomorrow?

Saying goodbye

Had breakfast at Panera and said goodbye to our California family. It’s been great to have them here for a couple of weeks. The girls are maturing so quickly and I really enjoying hanging out with them.

Dropped into Barnes & Noble this afternoon. Time to relax and checkout the latest art magazines. Of course I happened to spot this gentleman at the next table and took the opportunity to get in a sketch while he was busy on his computer.

Guess that’s it for today...

Day 19

This has been a great art day. No, I haven’t done any painting or sketching. Instead B. and I went to Nashville, IN to the IHA show. Not only that but we stopped in Greenwood to connect with our favorite workshop teacher and have lunch with him and his wife. It’s wonderful to keep in touch with art friends throughout the year at events that we all enjoy.

Of course on the way home we had to stop in Indianapolis to check out the Prizm Art store and our favorite grocery, Trader Joe’s.

It was a long drive but the art was worth it. I find myself totally inspired after viewing so many excellent pieces of art.

Bye...K

Day 18

Very hot here today. If it weren’t for the breeze I think it might be much hotter. Such is Indiana.
Went with a friend to have lunch at the “Deck”. It’s a neat place outside, under the trees and by the river. It also has a nice view of Fort Wayne’s skyline. This is a very quick sketch as I waited for my lunch to arrive. Later I pulled out some watercolor to throw on it.

I sketcked this in a little 3.5 inch square watercolor book that I keep in my purse. Small but always handy if I want to grab a quick sketch.

Also this morning I was looking out across the street and saw a hawk flying around. It landed on our neighbor’s roof so I grabbed my camera and took some pictures. I also threw some watercolor on a quick sketch from that photo. Actually, he is rather hard to see sitting on the chimney.

I hope it’s a bit cooler tomorrow. My friend and I are headed to Nashville, IN to see the IHA art show.

Bye...K

Day 16

Went out to Grabill this morning. It was a bit overcast but heading into the 90’s today. It was a slim crowd for plein air today. Everybody seems to be busy on Saturday.

This is what I came away with. Again I could have put some people in it but I forgot.

This particular log cabin houses a coffee bar as well as snacks and lunch.

Bye... K

Day 14

Our little plein air group met across from the Fort today. Some painted, some sketched. I sketched and then put on some watercolor. It was a beautiful morning. Sunshine, not too hot yet... and we sat under a lovely big tree for some shade. It was fun to catch the skyline in the background.

That was the fun part. I probably shouldn’t mention the noise from traffic was very loud and there were bugs that bite and ants kinda crawling all over everything. I think I forgot my bug spray.  Oh well. Such is plein air. I still love it.

I was going through a sketch book this afternoon and came across a page of practice characters.

It just reminded me to do more of these and also to put them in my sketches. They sure don’t have to be detailed but they do add a sence of warmth and much more inviting. I could put one or two on the walk in front of the Fort? Maybe the one with the dog?

Bye 👋  Keep drawing...

Day 13

Sometimes it’s just good to look back and remember...

This is from a trip we took to California last year. We have family in the San Francisco area so it’s always fun to visit. 

Bye for now...

Day 12

I found some quiet time this afternoon so while I was sitting out on our patio I sketched this pot of plants. I decided to go right into it with ink. I was using a pen with water soluble ink so when I finished the sketch I used a water brush to add variety.

Good night...😴 

Day 11

I drove through downtown on my way to lunch. 

I purposely went early so I could find an interesting building to try some direct watercolor. 

I had looked at Marc’s earlier and I thought maybe I could do a simple one.

This is my atempt—

Obviously I didn’t spend much time on it but learned a couple of usefull tips.

Now I’m looking to find some more buildings to work on.

Later....

June 10

Yesterday’s painting just didn’t happen. Another family get together at our house. Fun to have them all here and listen to the conversations. They are a great bunch and we are so proud of them all.

As a result, between church and napping, I only did a small watercolor today.

Hubby loves his clamatis.

Enjoy and we’ll see what tomorrow brings.

June 8- Family Fun

Very busy day today. Getting ready for a big family get together tonight. One of our sons and family from California is in town so we took the opportunity for dinner and a fun night. The Cupbearer Cafe let us use their facilities for the evening and a good friend did all the shopping and cooking for us. Thanks to both of them.

That would include four sons and their wives plus children. Grandchildren equal 14. Great grandchildren number 6 with 2 more on the way. What a wonderful bunch God has given us to love.

I would be remiss if I didn’t include a picture. Smile everybody!

Aren’t we all cute?

Maybe I’ll paint tomorrow 💕🌼

June 7

Our plein air group met at a garden this morning. It’s a rather extensive garden with a wide variety of plants, trees and flowers. Some of us prefer to sketch depending on the weather and the distance to carry equipment.

I played around with several things...

It was nice and cool this morning. Lots of sun and it warmed up fast.

Lunch and beer with a friend.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

June 6

What a beautiful day we had today. Total sunshine and not too hot.
Together with a friend we got in a good workout at the gym first, had a nice outside lunch and then found a nice place to do some painting. Perfect!

This is my attempt at a direct painting and then I did one with pen first.

See you again tomorrow...

Sketching June 1

It was a rather busy day so I decided to keep this first sketch rather simple. Looked out my back window and saw a nice pot of pretty plants.

I’m hoping to do what Marc Taro Holmes refers to as direct watercolor painting. That means no pencil drawing and no ink drawing first. He would like to see everybody do a painting a day for the month of June. Check out https://citizensketcher.com/2018/05/15/announcing-30x30directwatercolor2018-lets-do-30-paintings-in-30-days/

                   
                 Bye for now.....
               

June 5

Hi again. I added a bit of watercolor to yesterday’s sketch.

 I sat outside this afternoon and sketched my neighbor’s back yard. It’s not direct watercolor but maybe I’ll find something tomorrow that feels like it might be a better subject for direct.

I also need to put some people in my sketches. 

Even though they aren’t there for real I think it would feel better.

Bye for now...

June 4

Sometimes the best plans just don’t come together. I thought I would be out and about today but instead it was a work at home day. I am trying to make sure I sketch something everyday though.
As a result my drawing skills have improved. I don’t seem to agonize over them as much as I used to.

So... here are my busy day sketches.

When I have some more time, I’ll put a bit of color on them. As Hubby and I had dinner this evening we enjoyed watching the robins flail around in the water fountain.

Have a good night...

June 3

Oh gosh! I thought I could get another one in today but alas I just finished this one from a few days ago. Maybe I can do 2 tomorrow... no pressure.

It’s nice to start with pencil or pen. I probably depend on them more than I need to. I tend toward detail and I’m trying to step away from that a bit.

Here is my little plein air sketch that I did yesterday. It’s incomplete yet. I’d like to put a couple of people in it. Maybe some chairs also. I think it would make it a little more inviting. As I was painting this, all I kept telling myself was “just put the shapes in”, leave the details until later. Hoping that will sink in more often... remember, no pressure.

Let’s call it a day... bye for now.

June 2

I was in Auburn today for a Plein Air paintout. I put together a pretty good piece and stopped before I was really done to go to lunch with hubby. When I came back to my spot I didn’t want to get out all my paints so instead I decided to do my direct watercolor sketch for today.
I really didn’t think I would do very well at the judging that afternoon anyway.

I quickly finished this piece and went to turn in my oil painting piece. While we waited for the judging we went and had a glass of wine and spent time talking with people. So of course you’re going to guess… I won 3rd place. Could have picked me up off the ground. Totally unexpected. I think I needed that bit of reinforcement and encouragement. To be truthful I’ve been a bit discouraged lately.


That’s it for now... bye.

Pouring Paint

A friend of mine has been having fun pouring paint. She uses oil paint and a few other ingredients and enjoys the surprising results. As a result she offered to give a little workshop for any of us that wanted to try it out.
How could I resist the temptation to get my fingers full of paint. Anyway this is the reuslts of a piece I did earlier in May. I’d like to experiment further but just haven’t taken the time to do so.

It was fun.

                          Bye for now...