Dockside Sunrise

Dockside Sunrise

12x16, soft pastel

Back to my boat theme.  With this piece, I had to do quite a bit by memory.  Two years ago I painted a smaller version of this scene en plein air.   But, I made a rooky plein air mistake and didn't take a photograph of the scene before leaving the lake.  So, I had to recall some of the details that I had missed when I painted the first piece.   I was drawn to this particular scene because I loved how the sunlight from the early morning sunrise lit the tips of the kayaks casting jagged sunlight onto the waters below.  It was a gorgeous September morning at Redfish Lake.  One I will always remember.

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

Backyard Bouquet

Backyard Bouquet 

12x9, soft pastel

For the past couple years I focused on learning all I could about the use of soft pastels and (for the past twelve months) kept working at landscapes using a traditional realism style.  There are so many great artists (past and present) and I wanted to follow in their footsteps.  So, I tried like heck to temper my use of color over the past year...but I just couldn't achieve what was in my mind's eye.  

I often got bored painting trees, fields, mountains and lakes in realistic colors.  So for the next little while I'll try embracing my weakness for vibrant saturated color.  This style is reminiscent of Fauvism, the Colorists, and reminds me a bit of some of VanGogh's use of over simplification (as in his "Bedroom in Arles") and vibrant use of colors (such as "Starry Night" and "Cafe Terrace at Night"). 

Backyard Bouquet was a gorgeous vase of flowers from my yard sitting next to my favorite oval blue vase sometimes used to hold pens and pencils...all I had to do was add three oranges and I was all set with a colorful still life.  Yum!

Little Boy

Little Boy

7x5, soft pastel

I love how the warm golden sunlight was lighting this little guy up in comparison to the cool shadowy blues. Tubby was a happy little dog who loved going on walks especially with his "big brother".  He was a dog's dog...alway looking for other dogs who wanted to run and play.   Rest in peace my little buddy! 

My First Haircut

My First Haircut

7x5, soft pastel

This is little Bruce...and he just got his first haircut.  Like most Westies he's adorable and probably already full of Westitude!  Thank you Kaka from Brasil for sharing him with me!

Hanging Around

Hanging Around

17x13, soft pastel

This is a larger than usual painting for me and it was a fun one to tackle.  I love the shadows cast from this scarf's fringe and the Western/Southwestern feeling of the piece.  I've been painting as much as I can the past few weeks preparing for two art shows, one at Meadow Lake Village in Meridian the evening of May 4th (open to the public) and the other one is an art show the evening of May 12th in downtown Boise. The location of the Boise event is not to be advertised on social media because it's a "by invitation only" show.  However, if you are in the Boise area and would like an invitation I have a few to distribute (you can contact me by commenting to this post).  It should be an exciting show as 61 artists will be displaying their work.  

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.

Copper John - Yellow Belly

Copper John - Yellow Belly

5x7, soft pastel

To me, this little Copper John variation looks a bit like a Yellow Sally Nymph..so I named it Yellow Belly.  Tomorrow,  maybe a landscape is in order.

Fly 31 - Orange Nymph

Orange Nymph

5x7, soft pastel 

Well....here's one more since January has 31 days in it!  

The Orange Nymph is attributed to Joe Cornwall of the Fly Fish Ohio website. I have to admit...I started with one design and ended up with another...so I don't know if this one is extremely accurate...but he sure is colorful! Apparently, blue gill are really attracted to the color orange.  While this nymph looks like it's a late stage nymph, I would imagine it's fairly attractive to a lot of other types of fish as well!   

Ok, now I should confess. I have developed an addiction to painting flies. I don't know what it is...probably because many are so colorful and there are literally thousands of fly patterns to chose from.  So, I plan on painting flies from time to time...just for something fun and relaxing to do.  Enjoy your day!!!

Fly 22 - Rock Island Featherwing Streamer

Rock Island Featherwing Streamer

5x7, soft pastel

Monte Smith (www.nwflytyer.wordpress.com) created this version of a featherwing streamer...the Rock Island.  These types of flies originated from the Rangeley Lakes region of Maine.  They are attributed to Carrie G. Stevens (c. 1920s) of Upper Dam, Maine, a self taught commercial fly tyer.  Carrie elevated the eastern streamer from a utilitarian tool to an art form as you can see.  To learn more about this and other types of flies check out Monte's website...he knows much more about flies in general than I'll ever know! 

Fly 21 - Orange Flamethrower

Orange Flamethrower

5x9, soft pastel

I've been painting all the flies in this series in a 5x7 format.  However, this Orange Flamethrower just demanded a longer size to accommodate its gorgeous tail.  

The Flamethrower is another tube style salmon fly, this time with a double hook.  I couldn't find my original source for this particular fly...but I know the guys at The Canadian Tube Fly Company could set you up with the supplies to tie this beauty! 

Fly 16 - Olive Elk Hair Caddis

Olive Elk Hair Caddis

5x7, soft pastel

Day 16 is the beginning of the second half of the month...and I spent a portion of the day reflecting on the first 15 days.  I really wanted to take another stab at the Elk Hair Caddis.  While the first one was accurate, it had a light background and from an artistic viewpoint...it was bland.


I began with different paper which is new to me but a common pastel paper, Sennelier's Pastel Card in Charcoal.  This time, I left the background alone, chose an Olive Elk Hair Caddis and just focused on the fly.  I was quite happy with it until I showed my husband who had a puzzled look on his face since he'd never used a green Elk Hair Caddis...oh well...I know there are some out there somewhere! 

Fly 13 - Deep Dish Callibaetis

Deep Dish Callibaetis

5x7, soft pastel

A gorgeous fly created a few years ago by Curtis Fry (www.flyfood.com) is the Deep Dish Callibaetis which is a mayfly nymph.  This fly looks like it would be a very effective little fly.

Curtis says the idea behind this pattern was to make a somewhat realistic representation of the natural fly that could be tied in a variety of colors and sizes with a focus on the two-toned nature of callibaetis, the pronounced gills on the abdomen and the sparkley-ness of the emerging insects.  

Check out Curtis’s YouTube video where he demonstrates tying this fly.  He was much faster at tying it than I was at painting it!  

Fly 11 - The Little Brown Trout

The Little Brown Trout

5x7, soft pastel

The Little Brown Trout fly was originated by Samuel R. Slaymaker II of Gap, Pennsylvania.  There are several trout flies attributed to Mr. Slaymaker in his streamer series.  All of these flies are effective flies while fishing for trout using a stripping action.  What is a stripping action you ask?   No, stripping isn’t disrobing and wearing your birthday suit while fishing…it’s the action of pulling the line in (after casting it out) in a quick methodical pace several inches at a time.   The resulting jerking action of the streamer fly really gets the trout's attention.

Fly 7 - Red Copper John

Red Copper John

5x7, soft pastel

I couldn't resist painting a second Copper John...this one with red wire and a bit more wing detail.  Not only do I like this little nymph...but I love it's name.  Although, I have to admit I kept calling it a Copper Bob for the first day or two...that is until my husband corrected me (oh well). 

Fly 5 - Thunder and Lightening

Thunder and Lightening

5x7, soft pastel

I couldn’t find a lot of information on this particular Atlantic Salmon fly except to say there are several versions of flies called Thunder and Lightening. The Atlantic Salmon Thunder and Lightening was originated by James Wright around 1850 and can be tied as a featherwing or hairwing version (this one being a featherwing).  

Thank you Klaus Woggon for this beautiful example of a Thunder and Lightening Atlantic Salmon fly.

Fly 3 - Midnight Blue

Midnight Blue

5x7, soft pastel

This fly is called a spey. What is a ‘spey’ fly?  The term is used to describe a type of fly featuring long body hackles. According to Monte, the modern steelhead speys look quite different than the classic spey, but they do retain a certain similarity in style.  I'll have to research the classic spey to see the difference.

The origin and development of the spey fly is attributed to Scottish anglers who fished along the River Spey in Scotland during the early 1800s.  A gorgeous fly!

Fly 2 - Brown Sugar

The Brown Sugar 

5x7, soft pastel

Day 2 is an original fly by Monte Smith, Northwest Fly Tyer.  The Brown Sugar is a classic style hair wing with a silhouette found on many traditional steelhead flies.  The wing is actually made of raccoon fur.  While the Atlantic salmon flies are pretty vibrant and colorful (as you may have noticed in yesterday's post), the steelhead fish out West are attracted to more subdued colors (maybe our native bugs out West are a bit more drab).  In any event, I do love the touches of orange!

Amaryllis

Amaryllis

10x8, soft pastel

This past week was crazy busy but I managed to find time to paint at the greenhouse along with a few of my plein air buddies.  Although it was a bit cold, I was able to persevere long enough to paint a flower (red of course). Not liking it at all...but that's how it goes!