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.

Christmas Tree Past

Feeling a little better today.  I was going to paint inside but blue shadows were calling to me. Although I am now a bit "snow blind" I felt is was a good practice.

The Longhorn

My cold is in full bloom and I thought I would have to give up in defeat.  I decided to try drawing and that wasn't going well.  This was my last one and although I feel I can do better, it was the best I could do today.

Sun through the snow and clouds

This is one of those times where it is snowing below but the sun is just barely peaking in from above the clouds.

Cloud Study

Back at it!  I got this one done late yesterday and didn't get a chance to post it until today.  I was wanting to work on painting clouds and sky composition.  I still feel it is not quite hitting the mark, maybe after my cold lifts I will be able to think more clearly about what it needs.

Hunter's Holiday

I am having trouble this week getting any more acceptable paintings done, along with the holiday obligations and still moving in, it is neigh on impossible.

I thought I would post this older piece I had done back in 1990. This was a holiday design done for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

This is my holiday card to those who may be looking in. I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and hope all your wishes come true.

Across the valley

This is a view from my house looking across the valley toward Mesa Verde.  It will probably get some adjusting tomorrow.

Spike on duty

This is Spike the cat, he hangs at the coffee shop where I go in the mornings.  He likes to guard the porch from other cat interlopers and gives them a stern warning when they trespass.

These sketches are done completely freehand with pen and ink, there is no preliminary pencil layout.  No guts no glory!

Buffalo Sketch

I missed a couple of days because of snow shoveling and a painting that I am not happy with yet. I sketched a little yesterday and decided to post these instead.

I usually like to work from life but since the temperature is about 15 degrees above zero with a 15 mph wind so I thought I'd work inside.  I snapped a picture of this bull in Yellowstone bellowing and scratching, a sure sign he wants to fight.  I thought he was talking to me at first but soon noticed there was another bull coming up behind me!  I never saw them fight but there was a long "sizing up" session punctuated by bellowing, scratching, dirt slinging to show off.

First Snow

We are in the midst of a blizzard/snow storm.  I love subtle shades so I decided to take advantage of the situation.  Luckily, I could paint this looking out my living room window.

FLW figure study

This is a study from a  Frank Lloyd Wright replica called "The Boulder" from his Oak Park Studio.  Since this model was available and easy to set up I thought I'd give it a try.  This view is looking down on it.

The Party Hat

A friend and painting partner had some wonderful heirloom tomatoes.  I couldn't resist this one with its voluptuous body and wild, kinky stem still in place.

Moose Creek

This is a little quickie during Christensen's class.  We were challenged to do quick one hour studies.  Friend and painting partner, Mary, pointed out a bull moose passing though the foreground area of this scene.  Too quick to paint but a nice treat to see.

Cold Raven

This was a raven hanging out at the wolf and grizzly center in West Yellowstone.  He was fluffed up against the cold.

Quiet Time

This is an older drawing of mine.  It had been hanging in an office with bright, indirect sunlight, which faded it a bit.  I am attempting to photograph and make a print to hang in it's place.

Fall Shadows

I haven't posted in a while because we have been moving into a new home and studio.  My studio, of course, being the last thing to get done.  I thought I would post some old and new things to look at.

This is a small practice I did during Scott Christensen's workshop.

Pumpkin Mutant

I bought this at the farmers market in Dolores. It seems like one of those small pumpkins you see in stores but the farmer said it was off of the squash vine. She theorized that it must have cross pollinated somehow with the pumpkins to create this charming product.

Up Bear Creek

Went up river to Bear Creek to practice landscape.  Dealing with all the green is a real challenge for me.

Katrina

I had been wanting to draw this model for some time.  She happened to have some free time to sit for me.  Unfortunately I was working the gallery and didn't have my favorite paper, so I used a shopping bag as my toned paper. This was done live in about 45 minutes.

Slice of Sunshine - SOLD

This is another study during Carol Marine's class.  I was having a time with the shaded parts of the orange, it kept looking dirty to me.  I worked on it when I got home, darkening it.  I found it very tricky since the orange is now long gone.  Lots to learn.  Thanks Carol for a great class!

Tomato and Pepper

Another composition.  I am still struggling with the free brushstrokes that Carol is such a master of. 

Ravishing Radish - SOLD

This is another study in Carol's class.

Hot Tea Please - SOLD

This was my first study in Carol Marine's class,  I fought with the ellipse quite a bit.  Carol was a great help and eventually this painting came around.