#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!)

#43 - Looking West from Hobe Road

8" x 10" Oil on canvas panel

It's been very rainy in northern Illinois so last weekend when I woke up to sunshine I grabbed my paints, got a large coffee from Dunkin Donuts and drove into the country. I was lucky to find a big old oak tree to shade me while I painted a lush field and the distant horizon. A wonderful morning!

#42 - Survivor

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8" x 10" Oil on Canvas Panel

Everyday on the way home from work I pass a silo sitting alone in a field, but the trees are getting closer. It's one of those silos faced with terra cotta tiles and is beautiful, especially when the sun is setting and casting a warm glow. Some farmer invested for the long haul because it still stands, alone. Everything else is gone.

Last night I  stopped and painted it. Few better ways to spend a beautiful June evening in northern Illinois. While I was out there a buck called and a doe ran past, followed by the buck. So, maybe it is not alone.

#41 - Hustling to Ketchup

6" x 6" Oil on Gessobord
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It's so cold in northern Illinois I had to wait to put in my tomato plants and put one to work as a model. I fully expect this one and his 5 friends will satisfy our bruschetta, & BLT cravings later this summer.

#40 - Just My Cup of Tea

6" x 6"

Oil on Gessobord

It's been a while since I've painted so it was good to get back. I thought I might be a bit rusty so I went with an old standby, our heavy duty kitchen mugs.This is also the first painting I did using Ampersand gessobord. I was somewhat reluctant to try it because I like the way canvas grabs my brush and I was afraid gessobord would be too smooth. I was pleasantly surprised however, and really like the way I was able to move the paint around, and think coverage was maybe even a little easier than with canvas. I'll definitely be using gessobord again.

#39 - Glory Days

6" x 6" Oil on canvas panel

May is my favorite month of the year. No bugs, perfect temperatures, everything coming to life. I revel in the couple weeks when the world pops outside and color is everywhere you look. The first responders in that explosion of color are the daffodils; when you start seeing them you know more is on the way! My wife cut one and put it in a simple vase and I enjoyed painting it, but it was more challenging than I expected. I might try again before they close up shop for the year.