Winter 9×12

Here is my most recent painting.  I was able to get outside for this one and it was a bit chilly.  Thankfully I have a very thick down jacket, I'm almost embarrassed to wear it it's so thick, I look extremely top heavy, especially when the hood is up.  I am grateful that I finally have a use for it: standing still in a snow storm for 2.5 hours.  This was a very picturesque scene looking across the valley toward the Blue Mountains with a group of cows in the foreground.  I think I need to work on my painting of leafless trees a bit, but overall I'm pleased with the result.

By the way, I know there are at least two followers of my blog who live in Walla Walla, so for the two of you, and possibly more, I will be displaying a selection of landscape and still life paintings at the Walla Walla Roastery for the month of February.

Thanks for viewing!

October 6×6

I had a short 2-hour window the other morning and decided on a whim to paint this small 6×6 landscape from a photograph.  My experience so far with photographs is that I have a tendency to over work the painting.  Without the moving sun and changing light there is far too much time to think and fuss, which for me leads to a loss of spontaneity, and a dull and static feel to the painting.  I am not suggesting that this painting is full of life, but I am pleased with the result.  To me it has qualities that I desire in a painting.

Thanks for viewing!

Tangerine 6×6

I'm beginning to recognize a recurring theme to my painting process.  I start painting, feel good about the initial monochromatic sketch, have high hopes in the beginning stages of color application, become frustrated and discouraged with the progression of color application, and finally make some desperate gestures with the brush that determine the success or failure of the painting.  In this case the painting was made in those final desperate brush strokes.  The result was that of color being distributed throughout the canvas, unifying the painting.  At least that is how it appears to me.

Thanks for viewing!