Stubble Field

Stubble Field

9x6, soft pastel

I don't know if this winter will be as monumental a snow season as last year but I'm enjoying painting the snow...especially in shadow.  On an overcast day the snow is very turquoise (and lavender) in color as opposed to deep blues and purples during the night or early morning/late evening hours.  I love this scene especially because the low angle of the setting sun casts light onto the distant hillside (as well as the tall lone wheat stalk in the foreground) warming the scene just a bit.

Arms Outstretched

Arms Outstretched

6x8, soft pastel

This tree is outside our back door (actually in the backyard of our neighbor's acreage so fortunately we don't have to rake the leave it drops each fall),  I watch it all year long through the seasons and marvel at it's outstretched branches.  During the spring it vibrates with new life.  During the summer it's bark glows when touched by the setting sun.  During the fall it's absolutely radiant with autumn colors and during the winter it gathers much needed moisture from new fallen snow.  

I'm not a landscape artist.  Artistically speaking, trees have been my nemesis.  Painting them seems so daunting a task and there are many other subjects that I enjoy painting more (ie just about anything else).  During 2018 I hope to change this feeling of inadequacy by painting them more often.  After all, I love trees and have climbed many many trees in my lifetime.  It was my favorite pastime as a kid.  I can just imagine how fun it would be to climb this gentle giant.

4:00 AM

4:00 AM

6x6, soft pastel

Painting plein air while staying warm during the winter necessitates keeping close to home...or in this case, inside the house looking out.  I thought I'd better paint the tree outside, still decked out with Christmas lights before we take the lights down for the season.  I love love love the early morning hours well before the neighborhood wakes up.  Fully rested and full of hope that the dawning day (and year) will be a good one.  Happy New Year!

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!