Susan Neese McKinney Ramblings

"Going to the Chapel", 8"x 10", Oil Add caption I didn't have much time at Big Cedar Lodge to do this painting, but was pretty happy with the study I got started.     After getting home and photographing it, the evergreen right in front bothered me, so I decided to remove it.    But as usual I see I've lost some of the spontaneity.   Of course the first photo was taken on the phone, so it's not very clear.   Back to the drawing board.........Ha

"Old Log Home", 8"x 10", Oil I was hanging out in the studio for a while and decided to touch up this plein air painting I started last month.   I needed to add some color to the sky and to fix the tree trunk.    This is an old log home moved and preserved on a museum grounds in Bolivar, MO.    The rail fence was a challenge, but I'm pretty happy with the loose results.

"Along Hwy 66", 8"x 10", Oil "CAROUSEL", 8"X 10", Oil I enjoyed a few days off after the Todd Williams workshop, then the weather turned fantastic for the Maple Leaf Paint Out and Show, in Carthage, MO., sponsored by Cherry's Custom Framing & Gallery.    The above are my two works painted in Carthage.     The first is on Spring River which runs along an old section of Hwy "66".    The second is my rustic version of the carousel in Kiddie Land, City Park.    A couple nice fellows from the Kiwanas club were repairing the flooring on the carousel.    The horses were already put in storage for the Winter months.   It'd be fun to come back next Spring to paint it with the horses attached.    The next paint out is this Thursday at Big Cedar Lodge, with the Springfield Plein Air Painters group.    It's always a delight to paint at the resort. 

"Summer Splendor", 8"x 10", Oil  I had a wonderful workshop with Todd Williams a few weeks ago.    This is one of the studies I did from a photo.    The other was from life.....I'll have to post it after a little touch-up.    Todd's process is a little different from my own, so I'm going to have to practice and see if it will help my works.    I'm sure it will, as I love the effects Todd gets in his paintings.  

"Hope Wilderness Chapel", 8"x 10",  painted on location I was really excited to find out and to see my painting on display in the BRIDE'S ROOM at the Hope Chapel in Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, Lampe, MO.    I'm  tickled to have it enjoyed by many happy brides and their attendants.     I was so excited to see it hanging there........that I walked off and left my wallet lying on a bench in the room.    Thankfully an honest soul, Clint, who works there, retrieved it for me.   Thanks again Clint......and thanks to the owners Jeanie and Johnny for purchasing the painting.