Abundance

Abundance

11x14, soft pastel

While scouting out locations to paint during the Eagle Plein Air Festival, I toured a nearby iris garden. Two small boys were also walking through the garden trailing far behind their mother.  She told them not to pick the flowers as they made their way down the pathway.  It must have been quite a vantage point to view the blooming garden at eye level, a sea of color, an abundance of life.

Dusk Along The Riverbank

Dusk Along The Riverbank

8x10, soft pastel

Much of my summer was spent at a little getaway in Cascade, Id.  We were a mile from the lake and only steps away from the Payette river.  This scene is across the Payette and is always a delight to paint whether it be in the early morning or late evening hours.

Hay...just catching up

I have to admit....I’m being a little lazy in order to catch up on posting this summer’s artwork.  Most of these are categorized as practice pieces...most aren’t ones I’ll even post for sale on Dailypaintworks and some already have homes.  In an effort to be thorough in showing all my work (yes, the good, the bad and the ugly), well...here you go!

Hay

6x8, soft pastel

Into The Light

12x12, soft pastel

Willows Last Light

9x12, soft pastel

Apple Orchard 1 - Van Gogh Style

6x8, soft pastel

Apple Orchard 2

6x8, soft pastel

Purple Cow

6x6, soft pastel

Cocoa

8x8, soft pastel

Sammy

8x8, soft pastel

That Was Then, This Is Now

6x6, soft pastel

Tin Roof Shed -3

8x10, soft pastel

Sunflowers

6x8, soft pastel

A few attempts at plein air with oils

Since the Jan. 30in30 Challenge finished, I've been busy framing and attempting a few plein air pieces in oils.  It's almost like starting over again when you start with another medium...at least it is for me.  Frustrating at times because I'm not nearly where I hope to one day be with oils...but I guess I love the challenge.  Below are a few of my first attempts...hope you enjoy.

Warm Springs Rd., 8x10, oil

Joplin Rd., 8x6, oil

Before The Rain, 6x8, oil

Seattle Landmarks

Seattle Landmarks

14x11, soft pastel

This is a commission piece I promised to do quite some time ago (sorry, the image isn't the best).  It was tough to really think of a good way to layout a painting with so many landmarks.  And for me, it was tough to limit the detail in each scene in order to stay more on the "painterly" side of things rather than photo-realistic.   So, it's somewhere in the middle.  There's little chance the recipient will see this blog post so I thought I'd share it here.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Dancing Reflections

Dancing Reflections

9x12, soft pastel 

I so enjoyed the 2016 Plein Air Festival in Door County, Wi.  Unfortunately, my trip was cut short...but not before I could visit Gordon Lodge for a second time at sunrise.  On this morning, the featured artists weren't there...just me...and a gentleman quietly fishing from the shoreline.  It was so very quiet and peaceful as the sun rose and reflections danced across the water.   I hope to return to this magical place someday.

Hanging Out In Door County

Hanging Out In Door County

8x6, soft pastel

There are many homes and cottages around Kangaroo Lake near Bailey's Harbor, Wi.  A nearby neighbor's laundry provided a great little scene to paint.  With five brothers and sisters, hanging laundry on the clothesline was a frequent activity and fond childhood memory.

On The Way To Sister Bay

On The Way To Sister Bay

9x12, soft pastel

It doesn't take much to find a nice scene to paint in Wisconsin...this shed outside Sister Bay with an old boat beside it was just the ticket.  I especially liked the shadows on the rooftop.

Roadside Hollyhocks

Roadside Hollyhocks

10x8, soft pastel 

Door County is one of the most picturesque places I know. Boats, harbors, spectacular sunrises and sunsets...and more flowers than you can imagine!

Hedgehog Gift Shop

Hedgehog Gift Shop

6x8, soft pastel

Day one of the 2016 Door County Wi. Plein Air Festival.   I came mostly to watch the pros...but I couldn't resist a little practice time. What a gorgeous time of year to be on the peninsula!

The Hedgehog Gift Shop is in Gills Rock near the top of the peninsula.  A very cute shop on the water. If you know me, you know I couldn't resist the colors!

Across The North Fork

Across The North Fork

8x6, soft pastel

Camping in Cascade provides lots of opportunity to paint!  Especially along the river in front of our campsite.  I love how the late afternoon sun was hitting the side of this little outbuilding and its reflection in the water.   Such a peaceful little scene.

Spotlight

A colorful "landscape" and a few others that didn't get posted the last few weeks.     I'm almost caught up!  

Spotlight

  8x6, soft pastel

North Fork Of The Payette River

6x8, soft pastel

Along The Boise River

6x8, soft pastel

                           Pansies

                      5x5, soft pastel

                       Primroses

                    7x7, soft pastel

                           Daylily 2

                      8x10, soft pastel

                    Winter's Timber

                     8x10, soft pastel

                   Green Butt Skunk 2

                        5x7, soft pastel

                 Royal Coachman 3

                     5x7, soft pastel

Lily Pad Down Under

Lily Pad Down Under

6x8, Soft Pastel

    

 Today I had a shot of inspiration from an artist buddy who is in Vienna, Austria today at the Albertina Museum.  She shared photos of works by Monet and Degas this morning...two of my favorite artists!  

I've been meaning to take a swing at lily pads for a couple years...and today was the day! I have quite a few pictures from various areas around Idaho and the Midwest...always imaging how awesome they might be...and I have to say, I had a blast painting this little study.   I think I'll paint a larger version!  I hope you enjoy!

The past couple months have been a blur.  Lots of travel, a long bout of influenza (I never get the flu!), a wonderful surprise birthday party, working on refining the Plein Air Painters of Idaho's website and preparing for a couple of art shows. Life is exciting right now...and yes, I have a few paintings to share that I haven't gotten around to posting but I hope to soon.  Thanks for reading!  And, if you're a fellow artist....keep on painting!  

Desert Color

                         Desert Color

                      8x10, soft pastel

When in Vegas, one must paint cacti.

Poplar Place

Poplar Place

8x10, soft pastel

Continuing on with landscapes....I'm beginning to tame the color (at least a little more than usual). Restraint isn't easy for me but I like the progress so far.  This scene captured my attention because I love the way the back field peaks through the trees.

Sunrise Over Redfish Lake

Sunrise Over Redfish Lake

8x10, soft pastel

It was time to paint mountains again.  This scene was an early morning sunrise while I was staying at Redfish Lake last fall during a plein air event.  The sun was lighting up the mountain tops while a subtle fog was lifting over the water's edge.  It was such a peaceful morning!    

Peaceful Meadow

 Peaceful Meadow

5x7, soft pastel

If this looks a bit familiar...it is.   I kept looking at the Wild Phlox painting from a couple days ago and it was crying out "yikes!".  The field I had imagined was going to be much more peaceful...I was headed in a good direction with the trees then as soon as I painted the flowers...I went way way too far with color.  I'm not sure this is an improvement or not...but it's much more peaceful to me.  Thus, Wild Phlox is no more.  That's the beauty of do-overs.  The blues in the photo above look brighter than they do in real life...in a frame, the painting doesn't look too shabby.  

Wild Phlox

Wild Phlox

5x7, soft pastel

Finally...a little landscape.  I wanted to play with a yellow sky.  As I've said in many a post before, I'm not too great at landscapes...but maybe someday I'll be satisfied with one.  Practice, practice!

Frozen Dog Day

Frozen Dog Day

11x14, soft pastel     

This is Boone.  He's a very special dog because he's my grand-dog. I had the pleasure of playing with the litter of pups (he is a Pudelpointer)...and helping to pick him out three years ago.  Before he was ready to leave his mom, I visited him and his litter mates several times.  Early on I could tell that he was going to be a good family dog.  More importantly though, the breeder said he was going to be a great bird dog for my son-in-law Jason and grandson Jake.  And that he is!

Boone goes to work on the family farm each day with Jason.  They share many many long days together working the farm.  But on this particular winter's day, it was time for some fun! 

Pudelpoiinters are breed to retrieve birds...a job Boone does well.  So well in fact I think he was completely oblivious to that fact that he was covered in icicles as he posed for his picture at the end of the day.

Hollyhocks 2

Hollyhocks 2

12x9 soft pastel

For some reason I failed to share this second Hollyhocks painting (the first one was completed last May).  I love this scene...it was captured on an early morning walk in Door County, Wi.  I just had to try it again.  It hangs in my house and I love it...must be the vibrant colors!