The Details

I haven't done any studies like this in a long time and it is quite possible I never, ever, did an ear study. Always good practice and I may do more with just one part drawn from different angles.

Eye study

I have found that it isn't easy to paint or draw after moving lots snow, every day, sometimes in the same area two and three times in a day! My arms are just now starting to quit hurting and I am not done yet.

I wanted to work on drawing so I started with a full face but it didn't work well so I decided to concentrate on specific parts for practice and to warm up.

Telluride valley willows

This is a small view of the Telluride valley. I blew Fridays attempt and this is yesterday's painting. I have several things on this painting I want to fix, including values. A great way to check your painting to see if your values are working is to take a black and white picture. As you can see values are obviously lacking.

I do like the way the willows were coming along and I learned a lot. It was originally an 8 x 10 but I didn't like the upper part, so I removed it.

Back Home Again

I was really having trouble finding something I was excited about painting. I set up several scenes but never got really excited about them. This was the last set up and even then I wiped the first and changed the hat. I thought doing a complex shape would be a challenge and it was!

Which way?

This panel has had several attempts of many different paintings over the last few months. I had begun to refer to it as the "cursed canvas". I attempted it again this last week but it didn't look quite right. I reworked it yesterday and feel much better about it, given the circumstances I didn't want to push it.

Hanging by a Stem

I wanted to do a still life with cherries . I liked the idea of having one hanging on to the other just for fun. The photo didn't turn out as well as I had hoped, those little white dots are shiny spots from the wet paint. After trying many angles and turns of the filter this was the best it was going to be.

Mount Wilson

This is Mount Wilson, one of Colorado's "fourteeners".  My family went skiing at Telluride and I took the opportunity to paint.  It's hard to find a place to pull off the side of the road and paint with the snow on now.  The lookout point for Mount Wilson was cleared of snow so I set up there. 

Apple Study

I haven't done a still life in a long time.  I had to wipe both tries yesterday and one today. I finally decided to try something a little simpler.  I wouldn't swear to it but I have the distinct impression that landscape and still life/figure painting use different parts of the brain, it's like shifting into a different gear.  If anyone has any input on that I would sure like to hear it.

For this painting I am not totally satisfied with this yet but after missing the boat completely yesterday I thought I should at least make a showing.

LaPlata sunset

This is up near Summit Lake looking towards the LaPlata mountains. I think this particular peak is Hesperus but I'm not for sure.

Hindsight

The Elk come down in winter to the lowlands.  This cow was just up the road from my old place.