Mid Winter Shadows

It is an absolutely gorgeous day out today.  I got out a little late today and the mud was beginning to thaw out by the time I finished.  I aquired about an inch or two of muck stuck to the bottom of my boots which made it hard to walk, it was extra sticky mud too, grass, leaves, twigs, ugh!  This is one of my favorite old ranches in the area and I like the way the shadows fall across the hillside during winter.

Long View

This is a view from the front of my house.  I have painted it many times, but none ever really look the same.

Morning Glory

I have been away on vacation for a while.  I didn't paint as much as I wanted to, while I was gone, but I did get in some painting.   This is a scene that greeted me almost every morning.  Many people would come out to the beach and stand watching the sun rise.  It was very similar to the scene where the angels would stand and watch the sun rise in the movie "City of Angels".  This photo isn't the best because I had my small camera and had to shoot in the room.

A Dave Brown Tractor!

This is another commission.  The title describes the first words out of my mouth when I saw this tractor.  I must have led a sheltered life because I had never seen one of these before.  As I understand it, this was the leading tractor in the world during the early half of the last century.  They must be much loved too because there is even a club for people who are fond of these tractors.  Just a note: the umbrella was not a factory option!

Don and Howie

This is a commissioned piece for a friend.  When her neighbor is out working with his tractor, his buddy has to come along.  Of course, Howie prefers it best when he gets a front row seat.

Grizzly

I am working these small animal portraits up for a show opening at the Goodnight Trail Gallery on Dec. 16.  There are several pieces, animal and landscape that will be available, if you are interested please click on the link above to get the contact information the for gallery.

Big Horn

This one was a real challenge for me but that is why I thought I should try it. Although it looks washed out on the computer it is a little more colorful than what you see.  I experimented with a limited palette of yellow ochre, cad. red med., ult. marine blue, burnt umber and white.  This is a palette somewhat similar to what Anders Zorn used.  I really like the way it turned out, I just hope I still like it tomorrow!

Autumn

Today was portrait day in Durango.  I love doing people but it is soooo easy to get one thing out of place and everyone will notice, it is not for the feint of heart.  Still doing figure or portrait is a great way to practice.

Brown Trout Redeux

This is a colorized version of my Brown Trout sketch from a much earlier post.  I had always wanted to do a color version but just couldn't figure out how until now.  I had done this as a preliminary sketch for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for their Salmon stamp back in 2005.  I had to change the final because the Michigan Lake run of Browns, I was informed, are not as colorful or spotted.  Wow, the things you learn doing this kind of work!

I offer this as an 8 x 10 giclee print for $45 USD.

Drum Raven

I haven't done any drawing in a long time and wanted to work on this idea for a painting.  This is another one of those ravens that hang around West Yellowstone, like the drawing Cold Raven that I did much earlier.

Quietude

This piece has been hanging around for at least a year in my studio.  It was running the risk of getting painted over until I went back to the site again, with similar conditions and got a new feel for it.  I was listening to some wonderful quiet piano music, which seemed to exemplify the quietness of this scene, hence the name.

Light in the Storm

This is a larger work than I ususally do.  I headed up to the pass to catch an early snowfall (what was I thinking, I have 5 more months of this!) and this is what I found.  I painted a smaller 10 x 12, plein air, to capture the color and essence of this scene.  It was about 38 degrees at that time with a good wind.  I used my SUV to block what wind I could and eventually ended up in the back end of the truck with just my easel outside.  I finally had to stop when I found my hands not working well and having a hard time thinking because I was so cold.  I have done a few touch ups since this picture but this is pretty close.

Incoming Fog

I went to a workshop a couple of weeks ago and am just now getting around to posting.  This is along the California coast and though I was excited about the fog, that sentiment wasn't shared by most of my colleagues.  I think it is mostly because I don't get to see that sort of thing very often where I live and I like the mystery that fog creates.

Mike Barr, a wonderful Australian painter, had taken a lovely coastal painting of his, and cropped it to make a better composition.  I thought that was a fabulous idea and I used that technique on my piece.

Mountain Highlights

We are now getting the first snows of the season.  It had snowed earlier in the day but we were lucky that the clouds broke and gave us some wonderful views to paint.   When I looked back as we were coming down off of the mountain, dark clouds had moved back in laying even more snow on these peaks.

Fall in the Canyon

I have been painting, a lot, these last couple of weeks but haven't taken the time to post any of the better ones.  This scene was up the river from Dolores on the same beautiful ranch as the prior post.  The cattle were hanging under and near the trees which I felt really added to this scene.

Lady with the Red Earring

Every Wednesday is an open portrait group in Durango, which I have recently been attending.  I haven't done any portraits in oil for a very long time and most are not worthy of seeing.  This was yesterdays attempt and since I like it enough I thought I would post it.

Old Timer

The gentleman that cuts our hay has this really great old tractor that I just love.  I was in luck today because he left it sitting here last night and I jumped on the chance, first thing this morning, to paint it.  It kind of reminds me of a red grasshopper.  I highly suspect that cushy seat is not a standard issue on these things.

The Old Church

This is an old church over in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.  I was close enough to the hot springs, and down wind, to catch a whiff of that strong sulfur smell while I painted this.  Luckily the wind would change from time to time.

Mossy Pond

This pond is next to Rudy's Barn and I have been wanting to paint it for some time.  I love the moss on top with reflections in the water peeking through.

DPW "Challenge of the Heart"

click here to bid

Daily Paintworks is doing a fundraiser called "Challenge of the Heart" for the children of Africa.  The UN has said up to 400,000 children in the Horn of Africa could die without aid and up to 11 million people require food assistance. I am donating 100% of the profit from this sale, minus shipping costs, to the Doctors Without Borders in Dabaad, Kenya to help these children.

This is a portrait I did of a model from a workshop I took a few years ago.  I loved drawing her.

Dragon Hang Time

click here to bid

The local market had these beautiful Thai Dragon peppers that I just had to paint.  Although some do look like dragons, I believe it is their "fire breathing" effects that give them their name.

The Goodnight Trail Gallery

Winter Light

8 x 6

Early Risers

8 x 10

I was honored to have these two pieces included in a landscape show featuring Veryl Goodnight and Carole Cooke's work at the Goodnight Trail Gallery.  If you are interested in either of these pieces please visit or call the gallery at: 970.533.1177.

As a reminder, Carole still has a couple of openings for her class next week in Pagosa Springs.  She is a wonderful painter and Pagosa is a beautiful place to paint!  For information about the class please click here.  You can also call the Goodnight Gallery to sign up.

Shady Rest

We have been in Canon City, CO. for the last three days.  I have been painting up the Arkansas River, which is absolutely gorgeous, but nothing good has come of my efforts.  Since it wasn't going well I wandered, dejected, over to the Royal Gorge which is a spectacular site.  One of the highest suspension bridges in the world, it can curl your toes when you look over the sides.  They have a nice animal park on the south side of the bridge so I decided to spend some time sketching them instead.  The bull elk are starting to shed their velvet, looking magnificent, but the smell of rotting flesh was something I didn't expect.  The photo is not the best but I am doing this "on the run".

Summer Monsoons

I saw this coming home yesterday and just had to paint it.  Since my Open Box M doesn't accept panels beyond a certain length, I held the panel in my lap and painted what I could to capture the image.  I never get tired of watching the weather over Mesa Verde and how it transforms the landscape. The summer monsoons have been wonderful for the rain on the fields and also the inspiring vistas.

Sunflowers

I guess everyone gets the desire to do sunflowers at one time or another.  I had put these in my favorite blue lock top jar and found I must try to paint this.  I wish it had been looser but maybe next time.

Here is an in progress photo with my $45 easel from a local antique store.

Cowboy Study

I have been planning on doing a painting of cowboys at work.  I got this photo from a cattle drive just up the river from Dolores.

Wilson Arch

This is just above Wilson Arch looking down.  I have always been fascinated by the shadows that creep up the sides of the red rock cliffs as the sun sets creating wonderful contrasts.

Springtime in the Rockies (revisited)

The first posting of this was what was finished in the field.  This is with the touch-ups that were needed.

Spring at Dallas Peak

This was another painting from my trip with Veryl and Carole.  It needed a little touch up before I could post it.  This may not technically be Dallas peak but if it isn't it is right next to it.  I loved the lights and shadows on the mountain and snow.

Since I am on the subject, I would also like to tell you about a landscape class Carole Cooke is going to be doing here in southwest Colorado.  She is a fabulous landscape painter (see picture below) and I am looking forward to taking her class as well.  If you are interested in taking her class, here are the particulars and a link to sign up!

Note: I am having trouble posting all of the information because of some formatting issue but the link should take you to her site so you can sign up.

Carole Cooke Workshop

PLEIN AIR PAINTING

"BOOT CAMP"

August 24 thru 26th, 2011
Mancos, Colorado

Location:
Mancos is located in the beautiful mountains of Southwestern Colorado.

Workshop Dates:
August 24, 25 and 26
9 am to 4 pm

Cost:
$375

Reserve Your Space:
Phone - 970.731.2015 or Email through this web site.

Please include your name, address, telephone number and some examples of your work or a website link and a short paragraph as to what you hope to gain from the class.

Students are responsible for their own transportation, meals and lodging.  Information of local accommodations, restaurants, directions, logistics, class schedule and supply list will be provided upon registration.

Setting up for the Art Walk

I haven't been able to post for the last few weeks mostly because of getting things ready for haying, ridding the property of some of the weeds and entering shows.

Today I am in Denver at the Cherry Creek Art Walk.  Saks Gallery wanted some of the Plein Air Artists of Colorado to paint in the area to promote the show.  I got up early and found this scene of sun lit tents to do my warm up on.  It is really distracting because there are some really amazing artists and I am definitely going back for a look when everyone is open.  It still needs some touch up spots but I think I got the gist of it.

PAAC Show at Saks

Next Friday is the opening for the PAAC (Plein Air Artists of Colorado) show at Saks Galleries in Denver.  There are many incredibly talented artists in this show and it is really worth a look.  I was humbled and honored to be juried in this year with two of my paintings, "First Snow" and "Scattered Show Showers" (below).  Although I can't make it for the opening, I do hope to be there over the 4th of July weekend.  The show is only up for a short time so if you are in the area, please come by and see the show.  We'd love to see you there!

First Snow

Scattered Snow Showers

Springtime in the Rockies

I was lucky enough to be invited to go plein air painting with Veryl Goodnight and Carole Cooke.  Two incredible artists who happen to be the nicest of people as well.  We met up in Ridgeway, Colorado and used it as our base camp to explore the incredible scenery around there.  The weather was absolutely perfect, we couldn't have asked for better weather.  I only got three paintings that were acceptable...I was a little nervous around such great talent.

This was done yesterday and still needs some touch-up but I was happy with it anyway.

Brown's Old Farmstead

This is another study from Illinois.  This great old farmstead used to be owned by the Browns.  As the family scattered and the old folks aged, it was in danger of falling into ruin.  Recently a new family has bought it and fixed it up.  I was glad to see this familiar sight back to its former glory.

Morning Haze

I got up before sunrise and went out to paint.  There was a heavy haze in the air that is always great for that feeling of atmosphere.  It is hot and sticky during the day so going out early works well for me.  I am using my small camera and I can't seem to get a clearer shot.

Castles in the Desert

This is another quickie from our road trip. This is just south of Wellington, Utah.

I am traveling back to my parents farm, hopefully I will get some time to paint.

Spring in Price Canyon

This is another sketch of a scene I did while riding in the car.  This is just out of Price, Utah heading on Hwy. 6 toward Soldier Summit.  These are all "quickies" since we were on the move and I wanted to note the scene.   I just couldn't resist trying to capture what I could.

Book Cliffs

We were traveling up to Park City, UT, and on the way we passed the Book Cliffs.  Clouds were rolling in and the lighting was beautiful, highlighting and darkening the cliffs in various areas.  My iced tea substituted for water.  This was quickie, painted in the car, on the move. (I promise, I wasn't driving!)

An Old Crazy Crawler

Sorry I haven't posted as often lately.  I am working on a commission right now but hope do be done with it soon.  It is a present so I can't post it yet.  I will try and at least post some "quickies" in between.

I had picked up this old lure from a yard sale in Dolores.  It has some paint missing and scuffs that, I like to think, was from some huge fish it caught.  Carved from wood, hand painted and applied decals it reminds me of the lures in my dad's old fishing box, a very nice memory.

Young Fancy Dancer

This youngster was a "fancy dancer" last year at the Cortez Cultural Center.  Those feathers bounce and flow as they dance, it is quite a treat to see.

Cat Skull and Bowl

I had a hard time getting going this morning and nothing was coming easy.  I finally settled on this scene to work on white objects.  Hopefully I'll get some sleep tonight and be better tomorrow.

To The Very Last

I found this pencil in my son's school things.  It couldn't go into a sharpener because there was not enough to hold on to.  I had to laugh, how he could even write with it!

Salt Shaker and Spoon

I need to practice and I haven't done any glass or shiny things lately so this seemed to fit.

Buffalo Study

Sorry I have been out for the last week and a half, so I didn't get a chance to do any painting.  This is my warm up after being away so long.  It took me three tries just to get something even acceptable.  There's a bit of glare off of the paint from the photo too.

My Neighbor's Rooster

This was my neighbor's rooster until he got too cocky and so became dinner.  (Sorry, had to say it.)  His tail was scraggly like that because he was young.

This is from an older post but it fit for the challenge.  I submitted this for the DPW Challenge since I hadn't been able to participate lately.