The End.....

So the Field's Project 2011 has come to an end. It was another great experience, a wonderful host family, interesting artists, great locations to paint! Only the weather was a problem at times, too much damp, rainy, humid air for successful watercolor painting a couple of days. But there were other things to see and do, as always. The Bocker's railroad spur and storage operation in Polo was amazing to see, a visit to the John Deere Historical site was interesting and I stopped in the Next Picture Show Gallery in Dixon to see the IWS National Exhibit with another artist. This was my fifth time to be a part of the Field's Project, I could probably do it 5 more times and still not feel like I have seen and done everything. Hopefully, there are some good paintings to come out of this year's experience. The photo above is of the 13 artists that were a part of the 2011 Field's Project and was taken after the pot luck dinner on Saturday night at Mix Park in Oregon, IL

Home Again

It was a wonderful week, even if the weather did not fully co-operate. I had a perfect host family and learned much from them. Weather was perfect today for the closing Art Fair and I ended up doing well with sales. I am tired! Will do a wrap up tomorrow. This little painting was my last attempt at capturing the Mud Creek Valley where I was staying and I love the simplicity of it!

Last Day

I spent yesterday finishing this and several other small paintings. Last night was the pot luck dinner for all the artists and host families and committee members. As always, a wonderful evening of good food, funny stories and a few tears with our new extended family. Today is the art fair and then it is will be time to head home.

Making Progress

Brighter day..... Brighter colors!

The Last Day.....

Today is the last working day of the Field's Project. Had breakfast on the deck with my hosts Kent and Kathy and now will set up out there to work on finishing a few of my starts from the week. Beautiful morning, probably the nicest day we have had, wish it had been like this all week! This is the view of the Mud Creek Valley from the deck.

Work in Process

Painting at the Croft Centennial Farm.

Fly Over

I am just back from morning flight over the field designs, skies are clearing and I am going out to the Croft Farm to paint. The three designs are a petroglyph type figure of a man fishing, a corn stalk and a footprint on a patterned field.

On Tour

Did a tour today of the new railroad spur and corn storage complex that Gary and Judy Bocker have built in Polo, IL. It is quite amazing. Did not paint today, was on tour most of day and did take a lot of photos. Did a little sketching. Tomorrow morning we fly over the field designs. Hope the gray clouds and showers of today are gone.

Home Work

Rain persists, so after dinner I used a photo and a sketch from yesterday to get something done for today! This is the corn crib on Ocken's farm. While the tractor was out to work the view thru the barn intrigued me. I think I will probably do a larger painting of this after I get home.

Rain, Rain...

Rain Rain Go Away

Could not get out to paint today!

Took some photos and did some pencil sketches but awful day to do watercolor outside.

Hope to work on something this evening at home!

Tuesday Night Rainbow

We had a brief thunderstorm last night but the sun came out and gave us a beautiful rainbow as the storms moved east to the Chicago area.

Tuesday Afternoon

The rain went south and north of us today, very windy with ever changing skies. This painting is almost done, just need to attend to a few details. We had a short but dramatic thunderstorm tonight with a lovely rainbow afterwards.... a good omen for the rest of the week!

Windy Morning

It isTuesday morning and we are at the Ocken farm on Union Road, near Polo. It is quite windy and rain will likely move in later but this is a great location. Have to hold on to paper and paint drying much quicker than it did during yesterday's rain and humidity.

Yesterday!

Sunday morning I got a tour of the home and property here, beautiful place. In the afternoon I sat out on the deck and painted the view of a section of Mud Creek down the hill from the house. It is nice to have a covered outdoor space to work.

Rainy Start

It is raining on and off this morning but we are at the Vogl farm anyway. I am set up just inside a shed sharing space with Ruth doing an oil painting and the old tractor. This was my first small painting of the day.

Home Away From Home

Here is home for the next week while I am at the Field's Project. I am staying with Kent and Kathy Lawrence and this is the Kickapoo Mud Creek Nature Conservancy dwelling in Oregon, IL. It is just beautiful here and I am learning a lot about the Mud Creek watershed area that they are working to preserve and energy saving buildings! Hope to paint for a little while this afternoon before our dinner event tonight.

Painting At The Zoo

Yesterday was a perfect day to paint outdoors and we were at the Lincoln Park Zoo. There were five members of the Sketch Group and it was decided that the giraffes might be good models for the day. One was very co-operative and spent the time eating an extended lunch. I have never painted animals so it was an interesting challenge. The zoo is a beautiful location, I could go there every week and always find something different to paint!