Channeling Vincent

Channeling Vincent

6x12, soft pastel

I've been studying the masters recently. Primarily focusing on the styles of John F. Carlson, Edgar Payne and Vincent VanGogh.  This one is Vincent Van Gogh's "Landscape At Twilight" aka "Landscape With The Chateau of Auvers at Sunset", 1890.  This piece has lighter more vibrant colors than his original...but it is his style that I was most interested in trying out.  He painted this near the time of his death in July, 1890.

Tomorrow commences the Straeda 31 Day Challenge which I plan on attempting. I hope to focus mostly on plein air landscapes...maybe with an interior or still life thrown in.  Wish me luck.

Payne's Canyon

Payne's Canyon

9x9, soft pastel

This is a study of Edgar Payne's Canyon De Chelly Sunset.  I turned it into a square format not realizing the original was rectangular.  So, I made a few changes while studying his "brushwork" with my soft pastels.  It was quite fun for me to add more vibrant colors than his...something I still have a hard time taming.  Ha!  Maybe I'll just stop trying to tame it.

Sophie The Goldendoodle

Sophie The Goldendoodle

9x9, soft pastel

Sophie crossed over the Rainbow Bridge recently...so this is a piece for her "mom" to help ease the huge loss she's surely feeling. All I really know about Sophie is that she was constantly getting into the trees and shrubs in the yard (something our little Benny is very talented at doing too).  This is a favorite image of her mom's because she had that look that all little "kids" have when they know they may be in trouble...but they just couldn't help themselves.  A beautiful sweet Goldendoodle! Of course this means I will need to paint Bennington...maybe some day soon.

Variegated Poinsettia

Variegated Poinsettia

6x6, soft pastel

May your holidays be as bright as this wildly colored poinsettia!

Windy Sail

Windy Sail

6x8, soft pastel

I doubt that I'll ever be on a sail boat. While it always looks quite thrilling, I imagine all the tilting and swaying wouldn't be up my alley...but who know's, maybe someday. For now, I'm content studying them from the shoreline with my feet firmly rooted to the ground. Or, better yet, laying in a hammock on the beach sipping something cold.

I'm always tempted to paint realistically but for this one I really tried to paint in a "Edgar Payne Impressionistic" style to help depict the feeling of a very windy day on the water.

Kay's Bird

Kay's Bird

10x8, soft pastel

A little tribute to my mother-in-law who left us far too soon.  I have fond memories of her picking out this little ceramic bird. She displayed three of them in her kitchen window for many years...a great reminder to me of the time we spent together.  The sunflowers certainly take center stage in this painting with the drama of the late evening sun highlighting their petals...but the tiny bird is there as my muse.  A sweet reminder of a wonderful lady.

Riding The Wave

Riding The Wave

16x20, soft pastel

Another boat/kayak piece that "missed the blogging boat" last spring.  This scene is a familiar one (in Cascade, Idaho) where there's always several kayakers to watch as they teach or compete at the Kelly Whitewater Park. If you're ever driving up Hwy. 55 be sure and stop by to watch...it's mesmerizing!