Category Archives: pen and ink

A country Christmas

Posted on December 22, 2024 | 4 comments

The holidays are so busy, even out here in the boonies. But it’s good to take time to reflect. Take a walk. Enjoy the weather. Try not to get overly exercised about every little detail. So I tell myself.

I don’t have a tree up this year and haven’t put out a single decoration. Just too busy with some family things going on. But all my holiday shopping was done long ago. And the presents that needed to be shipped are out of here, too. I just need to wrap a few more. Plan a quiet meal.

But I did have time to create my own Christmas cards. This is our front door. It’s a very old house and that is a very old door. The flag is there because a storm knocked down a limb which knocked down the flag. However, I thought it looked festive. I made the ink drawing, then printed it out on cards. And they were all hand-painted so no two exactly alike. It was very soothing work, with a holiday movie or tunes on. Sometimes, a little peace can be found in unexpected places.

I hope you all can find some enjoyment and comfort this holiday season. Be safe.

Warmest wishes for a peaceful Christmas and New Year.

4 Comments

Posted in art, country living, holiday, pen and ink

Tagged Christmas, kit miracle

Painting churches

Posted on November 24, 2024 | 2 comments

Painting churches. In this case, rather, it is sketching churches. Although I have painted quite a number of churches over the years.

Holy Family. This is a large but somewhat modern church. The most difficult part was deciding how much detail to include of the large stained glass window.

I’m not quite sure why I have had an attraction to churches. I think that it’s because they are often the most spectacular or impressive buildings in the area, whether it’s a big city, a small town, or even a rural area. I appreciate the workmanship and planning which goes into such buildings no matter their size or location.

Trinity UCC. The beautiful cupola has stained glass which really lights up the church inside.

Some fancy cathedrals have been around for centuries while others are newer and usually more sedate in architecture. I’ve captured them in paint, oil or acrylic or watercolor, and pen and ink drawings.

Precious Blood. Another church with some stained glass but I was more interested in the architecture of the building.

Redemption Christian Church. This is one of the newest churches in the area. It is very striking with its light, almost white colored stone.

When I’m doing a painting or drawing of a church, I often reflect upon the people who belong to or use the church. What is the congregation like? Are they kind? Do they do community work? Do they celebrate with music and singing? Or are they among those who sit in quiet contemplation?

I recently finished drawing a group of local churches which I haven’t done before. I’ve completed some others before but realized that I’ve left a lot out. (And there are still many more I might do in the future.)

Shiloh Church. This reminds me a little of some New England churches. Although the exterior is larger than I was able to capture in this one image, it has a very modest feeling.

I print the sketches on notecards and sell them locally. It seems everyone is proud of their religious homes. But, actually, I just enjoy drawing them.

What are the churches like in your area? Are they beautiful showpieces or places of quieter thoughts?

2 Comments

Posted in pen and ink, travel

Tagged art, churches, indiana, kit miracle, local scenes, sketching

Spring, time of rebirth and renewal

Posted on March 31, 2024 | Comments Off

A little house on the hill overlooking the Easter eggs hidden on a sunny spring day.

No matter who you are or what beliefs you hold, nearly everyone experiences a time or season when they feel compelled to break out of their rut and try something new. For many of us, spring is that time. Other people seem to adhere to a new year as a new beginning. Sometimes we just want to shake off the old and strike out for new territories.

As an artist, I’ve had many rebirths over the years. I painted in watercolors for over twenty years. Then I just couldn’t figure out where I wanted to go with it anymore. So I switched to oils and explored that for ten years. But I became concerned about the fumes in my studio. So I switched to acrylic paints. There were challenges with each medium and some things I had to learn from the beginning. However, after I mastered the mediums, then it was very stimulating to try some new ideas and challenge myself.

I think many artists go through such periods of renewal and rebirth. It’s what makes us the creative people that we are. We get bored doing the same thing all the time.

Brightly colored Easter eggs hiding under an azalea bush

In the past couple of years I’ve explored adding metallic gilding to some of my paintings. That definitely has been a learning experience but it has taken my work in some new directions.

More recently, I’ve been working with some different color combinations. A little brighter, not my normal palette. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. The whole point is to break out of my comfort zone.

This week I created some Easter cards for you. These mini-paintings are approximately 4 x 6 plus margins. They are watercolor, pen and ink on Fabriano watercolor paper. They are all originals and make nice little pieces of frameable art. I am giving these away for free. Just drop me a note on my Facebook page, KitMiracleArt. Send me your name and address. They will go to the first four people who respond. Free shipping, too, US residents only. (Sorry, it’s the free shipping.) When they’re gone, they’re gone.

Follow my blog at my90acres.com or my Facebook page KitMiracleArt for future surprise offers.

Happy Easter. Happy Spring. Celebrate a little something new.

Colored Easter eggs hiding in the tall grass

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Posted in art, holiday, pen and ink

Tagged Easter, free art, renewal, spring

Pen and ink, sketches and drawings

Posted on December 3, 2023 | Comments Off

This week I’ve been fooling around with some pen and ink artwork. If it’s a sketch, then it’s looser. If it’s a drawing, then it’s more formal. That is not an official designation, just my own idea.

Birdseye Branch Library, pen and ink, Kit Miracle This one is plain but I actually colored in the Christmas wreath with a touch of red and green on the samples that I printed for the library.

So about a week ago, I thought I’d do a drawing of the library for the library. This is the little Birdseye Library which was featured in a post a few months back. I thought a pen and ink drawing which they could reproduce and sell as note cards would help them raise some funds. Most people can afford a package of cards for $15 without too much of a stretch. As with a previous painting I did of the library, I gave them the reproduction rights. They would handle all the printing, selling, etc. They can put the image on T-shirts, bags, cards, whatever. I hope it helps.

I’ve enjoyed creating pen and ink sketches for about 40 years. I find them very relaxing and will often just doodle while watching TV or sitting outside. Some of the images of buildings and structures are more formal, but most of the landscapes are pretty loose.

The old bank building and other stores, Birdseye, Indiana, pen and ink. Kit Miracle

Inman Episcopal Church, first church in Birdseye, Indiana, Pen and ink drawing, Kit Miracle

This week I did five sketches. In addition to the little library, I did a drawing of the first church in Birdseye and an old bank building in the small downtown area. The little church was from a very old photo that someone supplied me. But the downtown buildings were from some of my own photos. I have boxes of old pictures. Many have turned out to be good recordings of places and buildings which no longer exist.

The Crabapple tree. Pen and ink, watercolor. Kit Miracle

A Quiet Place to Rest, pen and ink, watercolor, Kit Miracle

Finally, I sketched a couple of trees. An old crabapple which the grandson loves to climb. And a dogwood by the herb bed which shelters a bench, perfect for taking a break from yardwork. I have added a couple of touches of color in the form a cardinal pair. This is done after the image has been printed on heavy card stock in black and white. I’m turning this one into our Christmas card this year. So it’s part print and part original.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all that jazz. Take a moment to enjoy some nature and get a breath of fresh air.

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Posted in pen and ink

Tagged Birdseye, country living, indiana, kit miracle, nature sketches, painting instruction, pen and ink

The value of sketching

Posted on October 29, 2023 | 2 comments

I was tinkering around in my studio this week in between starting some new work when I pulled out a sketchbook. Well, one of many. I have sketchbooks of all kinds and sizes. Some fit in a pocket or purse, others are what I call vacation sketchbooks where I record scenes, thoughts and ideas while traveling. There may be more than one vacation in a book. Some I will start and finish completely, while others I pick up as needed. One of my favorite sketchbooks is a handmade Japanese book with thick deckle-edged paper. I don’t remember where I got it but it is so beautiful that I choose carefully what I put in it. Most other books, I write in the back the maker and particulars. And my name and contact info in the front.

Found objects, present from my son. Praying mantis egg casing and three blue jay feathers.

I find sketching to be very relaxing but I’m not obsessed with it. I try out new ideas. Make notes of the materials I’ve used. Or I might write the name of a book that I heard about while listening to NPR. They’re my sketchbooks and I can do what I want. There really aren’t any rules. I might cut swatches from a favorite article of clothing before I put it in the rag bag, or add a post card. Or how about that sticker from that wonderful chocolate shop I visited in Paris. I would never remember the name of that again.

If you looked through my books, you might find some pressed flowers or leaves, lots of four leaf clovers (artists are good at finding those). A favorite quote from a Chinese fortune cookie.

Typical found birds nest waiting to be captured in my sketchbook.

Many of my sketchbooks are devoted to nature or natural elements. I have plenty of subject matter out here on the 90 acres. Plus, one of my sons would (and still does) leave interesting things on my drawing table. A birds nest, some feathers, a praying mantis case. I’ll hang onto these items until they become too ratty and disgusting to have around. But the drawing will last much longer.

A messy robin’s nest. See if you can spot the secret code in the drawing. Notice the thumbtack shadows.

One of my oldest sketches (not in a book but just loose paper) was of a very scruffy robin’s nest which my son brought me one day. I did a fairly large drawing, added some (imaginary) eggs, and scanned it electronically. I’ve used that drawing for many years. I’ve even printed it off on watercolor paper and painted it so I have two versions. Unfortunately, I have seen my drawing pop up on the web elsewhere under someone else’s name. Ha ha. What they don’t know, is that I added a secret code to the drawing so I know it’s mine. I kept the original drawing on my bulletin board in my studio for years until the paper yellowed but you can see the thumbtack marks in the corners. Yeah, those artists are violating copyright laws but I have neither the time, interest nor resources to pursue the matter.

Box of found objects. Birds nests, acorns, chestnuts, magnolia seedpods, etc.

Back to the point. I highly recommend keeping a sketchbook or two or four. They’re so great to relax, record your life, your thoughts. I’ve used pencil, pen and ink, watercolor, colored pencils and markers. I don’t use charcoal much as it tends to be messy and it smears but you can use what you want to in your book.

A dead bird. Anything can end up in the sketch book.

2 Comments

Posted in art, country living, painting instruction, pen and ink

Tagged art, contemporary impressionist, drawing, drawing instruction, kit miracle, painting instruction, sketchbook, sketching

Painting in the deep freeze

Posted on January 23, 2022 | 5 comments

This little English robin is looking right at the viewer. Watercolor on Arches paper.

After a very balmy December, we have been experiencing some single digit temperatures this week. Too cold for plein air painting, at least for me. Fortunately, most of the snow has missed us. So I mostly trekked between my house and the studio, a commute of only about thirty feet.

If I haven’t mentioned it before, my studio is an old summer kitchen. This is where cooking and canning was done during the worst of the summer heat, when cookstoves burned wood. The whole point was to keep the heat out of the house. Well, what that really means is that there is no insulation in the building and most of the windows are single pane. It is pretty dang cold out there. I have a wall propane heater but keep it turned pretty low when I’m not there. Sometimes, too low. The water for my work will freeze and it takes awhile for the building to heat up.

Wine, cheese, grapes….oh, and some crusty bread. Watercolor with pen and ink overlay.

However, this is a perfect time of year to create some smalls, i.e., small topical paintings. I’ve been thinking spring, or at least wishing for it. I’ve been painting flowers and bunnies, robins and a cute little mouse. I get on a roll and don’t know when to stop. Well, usually after a couple of weeks, I’m ready for something more challenging.

Mousey and friend. Just a whimsical spring-time scenario.

These little paintings are popular in the local shops and in my Etsy shops. Although they make great gifts, sometimes it’s nice to just buy something for yourself.

5 Comments

Posted in pen and ink, watercolor

Tagged contemporary impressionist, kit miracle, seasonal painting subjects, watercolor with pen and ink, whimsical paintings

Creating a painting from a sketch

Posted on July 14, 2019 | Comments Off

West Texas Big Sky, watercolor, pen and ink, 13.5 x 9.5, Kit Miracle

A few weeks ago I posted several sketches from my recent vacation. I’ve been working with those and some 1500 photos to create some fresh and lively watercolor / pen and ink paintings.

This is an example of a painting of the Big Sky country of West Texas. There is just something about the terrain and the brilliant blue sky with the white fluffy clouds that draws me. I’m not sure I quite captured the fluffy clouds receding into the distance but I like the colors.

Driving west on 87, sketch, Kit Miracle

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Posted in pen and ink, watercolor

Tagged contemporary impressionist, kit miracle, pen and ink, Texas, watercolor

Western Landscape Paintings

Posted on July 7, 2019 | Comments Off

Arches Vista II, watercolor, pen and ink, 13.5 x 9.5 inches, Kit Miracle

Since we returned from our big adventure out west a few weeks ago, I have been taking a break from the beach series of paintings that I’ve been working on. It has been fun painting several landscape impressions in watercolor with pen and ink overlay. I just can’t get away from this subject.

These paintings are very loose with bright colors. I have probably done more paintings in this medium than any other over my artistic lifetime. And I still find them fun as well as challenging. Of course, they’re all for sale in my Etsy shop.

Arches Vista I, watercolor, pen and ink, 13.5 x 9.5 inches, Kit Miracle

Zion Vista II, watercolor, pen and ink, 13.5 x 9.5 inches, Kit Miracle

Zion Vista I, watercolor, pen and ink, 13.5 x 9.5 inches, Kit Miracle

Grand Canyon Vista III, watercolor, pen and ink, 13.5 x 9.5, Kit Miracle

Zion Vista III with Virgin River, watercolor, pen and ink, 13.5 x 9.5 inches, Kit Miracle

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Posted in art, pen and ink, watercolor

Tagged Arches, Arizona, art, contemporary impressionist, grand canyon, kit miracle, landscape, pen and ink, southwest, travel, Utah, watercolor, Zion

10 states, 4,435 miles, four national parks, 16 days

Posted on June 23, 2019 | Comments Off

Duck on a Rock, Grand Canyon, plein air sketch, 12 x 16 Kit Miracle

Part I

Ten states (plus three of them twice). Indiana, Illinois, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and back through Illinois and Indiana. Lots of different terrain and climates.

4,435 miles. Not really too bad.

4 National Parks – Carlsbad Caverns, Grand Canyon, Zion, and Arches. Plus, you can’t be in the area without stopping at Roswell to see the alien museum. It’s not exactly on the way to anywhere. Even their streetlights are painted like aliens.

16 days – we left a day early and returned a day early.

Whew!

Earlier this month we drove down to Texas to pick up our granddaughter for the summer. Then we went of a big adventure.

I like to keep a journal of my travels with notes and musings, small sketches, mileage, and even sometimes the label from that chocolate shop in Paris which I never can remember. These travel journals are always fun to revisit later, long after my memories have faded and gotten fuzzy. They instantly transport me back to the place and time, allowing me to experience the trip all over again. They’re, of course, nothing so monumental as the Lewis and Clark journals, but they work for me.

Sun breaking through the clouds over Arkansas, sketch, Kit Miracle

After months of planning and preparation, making reservations at the big stops (didn’t realize it was the Grand Canyon’s 100^th anniversary until afterwards), we lit out on June 2^nd, a day earlier than planned. We were concerned about the flooding in the Midwest and decided to skirt along the Mississippi to Arkansas and then take the southwestern route to Texas.

Flooded Arkansas River in Little Rock, sketch Kit Miracle

Fortunately, the only flooding we saw on the way out was the Arkansas River in Little Rock but that didn’t affect the drive.

Driving west on 87, sketch, Kit Miracle

After we picked up the granddaughter, we headed west through the Texas hill country (beautiful), to the flatter and dryer areas of west Texas. Just a delight to be on the road again, away from the daily maintenance of the homestead.

Longhorns resting in shade (from memory), sketch, Kit Miracle

Abandoned House, Texas sketch, Kit Miracle

We negotiated miles of roadwork through the oil fields of west Texas and New Mexico to land at our first national park, Carlsbad Caverns. My husband and granddaughter had never been in a cave, and even though I have, this was a truly fascinating experience. The vistas outside were gorgeous, and inside the cave was even more so. We elected to take the elevator down (700+ feet) rather than walk. The National Park Service has done such a wonderful job of making this site accessible and interesting. We took a self-guided tour of the great room which still took an hour and a half. Although many other areas remained to be viewed, that was enough for us. We didn’t stay for the bat exodus at sundown either. Just too tired and road-weary and ready for a meal and bed.

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, sketch, Kit Miracle

Carlsbad is probably typical of any town in the oil field area with lots of traffic, overpriced rooms, and not much scenery. As we were waiting at a restaurant for dinner, we spoke with a lady who was a local who said it was always this way during boom times. People renting a room in their homes for $1200 or more. And getting it.

Sample sketchbook – journal with alien streetlight, sketch, Kit Miracle

Our stop the next morning heading north was Roswell, NM. You have to stop if you’re in the area as it’s not exactly on the way to anywhere. We visited the alien museum built in a former movie house. It was pretty much as I expected. A mix of history, facts and lots of speculation. (I hesitate to use the term cheesy but you get the idea.) Of course, had to buy the T-shirts and trinkets as I don’t expect to get down this way again. The whole town has gone alien nuts; even the streetlamps are painted as aliens. The annual UFO festival this year is July 5-7, 2019. I expect it will be a sight.

Butte, New Mexico, sketch, Kit Miracle

We continued on down the road towards Gallup where we spent the night. My granddaughter’s major requirement for a hotel was a pool (she’s nine). After a quick stop in the morning at Walmart, we stocked up on food for our stay at the Grand Canyon.

The further west we drove, the more interesting the landscape became with the big mountain in Flagstaff calling us (Humphrey’s Peak). It still had snow on the top. After a roadside picnic lunch (sure got tired of fast food in a hurry), we headed north to the east entrance of the GC National Park. I’d been there before but the others had not so I couldn’t wait to introduce them to “my” canyon.

We drove through sparsely populated reservation territories. Some beautiful scenery but appeared to be struggling.

Finally, we arrived at the East entrance of the Grand Canyon. I want to insert here that every park employee that I have met has been terrific. They’ve always been so polite and helpful. This is true for every park we have visited. And I also want to emphasize that our National Parks are one of the greatest assets the American people have. People from all over the world travel to see our lands and it makes me just want to bust with pride.

Duck on Rock, Grand Canyon, sketch, Kit Miracle

My granddaughter and I got up early and went out plein air painting. Well, I painted and she checked out the rocks and vegetation. The first day was very windy, but after that, it eased up. My husband was really affected by altitude sickness but we all had a great time.

Next week I’ll post Part II of the remainder of the trip, parks and scenery

Hopi House, Grand Canyon Village, sketch, Kit Miracle

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Posted in art, holiday, pen and ink, plein air painting

Tagged acrylic, aliens, Arizona, Arkansas, art, Carlsbad Caverns, contemporary impressionist, grand canyon, Illinois, indiana, journal, kit miracle, Missouri, national parks, New Mexico, pen and ink, plein air, Roswell, southwest, Texas, travel, travel journal, Utah

A hot cup o’ tea

Posted on January 16, 2019 | 2 comments

Laura’s Grandma’s Teacup. watercolor, pen and ink, 4.5 x 6.5, Kit Miracle

In celebration of National Hot Tea month – which is especially appropriate for January – I thought I’d paint a few images of my teacup collection.

This is a small watercolor / pen and ink painting of a teacup which is especially dear to me. It was given to me by a friend who was moving and had to pare down. I was honored to being gifted this beautiful teacup which had belonged to her grandmother. It is a Royal Doulton in the Passion Flower pattern. Very light and pretty.

I’ll put this up on one of my Etsy shops soon.