#50 - Queen Anne Gem

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8" x 10" Oil on canvas panel, Plein Air

My fiftieth painting. Another beautiful morning, so I ran out with my paints to a nice high spot on Queen Anne Road where I had a nice view of this gem of a farm and the distant Illinois horizon. I felt rushed during this painting session because of diminishing shade, sudden mosquitoes, and a big to-do list at home, so I probably could have added a little more detail. Still, it turned out alright.

#49 - Made in the Shade

8" x 8" Oil on Canvas Panel

My wife and I woke to a beautiful morning, so after a cup of coffee and an apple clide donut on the deck we drove out into the country. She dropped me at a corner of two country lanes that was shaded by three big oak trees across the road from this little red barn shaded by an oak of its own. She went off to take pictures and I set up my easel. Great morning.

#48 - Garden of Eatin'

6" x 6" Oil on Gessobord

I love early September because gardens around here are in full production and mine is no exception, despite the weeds, rabbits and deer. We've got a lot of tomatoes, poblano and jalapeno peppers, and a bumper crop of onions. Perfect for salsa and bruschettas on the deck.

#47 - Next Stop: Dahlgren

6" x 6" Oil on Gessobord

Last month we found ourselves traveling thru Dahlgren, Illinois, a sleepy little town of 500 with a great old Scandinavian train depot. It made me wonder who designed it and where they came from.

#46 - Red Iron Tavern

8" x 10" Oil on canvas panel

There's a great bar in town that's a throwback to the local corner watering hole every little town had back in the day. It's a great place to watch a game and enjoy a pint and the proprietors are good people too. The building has great lines and with a low afternoon sun it makes for some nice warm brick colors that play well against a blue sky and cool colors of the street out front.

#45 - Rolling thru Kentucky

8" x 8" Oil on canvas panel

We spent the last week in Kentucky and I got the green light to go off by myself and paint a couple times. This barn was near the entrance to Lake Barkley Resort and I painted it one morning before it got too hot. I love the vertical barn with the round hay bales.

#44 - Knee High by the 4th of July

8" x 10" Oil on canvas panel

On the way home from work the other day I encountered a cornfield and stopped to take a picture. I was especially drawn to the narrow strip of gold in the distance past the corn; another summer crop ready for harvest. I also liked the threatening clouds above (been a lot of those this summer in northern Illinois!)