A Cut Above - SOLD

12x9 inches

oil on panel

I find the Coyote Syncline incredibly challenging to paint.  It's amazing to look at in person, but it's difficult to translate to canvas its immensity.  Especially plein air, since I paint pretty small outdoors.  I feel this one is successful-- I was going for that early morning freshness.  I hope you like it, too.

This is hanging at the Columbia Art Gallery in Hood River, OR, as part of the 2011 NW Plein Air Show, during the month of September.

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Growth!

Wow.  I have discovered Carlson.  Amazing that such a boring, difficult book could be so enthralling four years later.  Who knew?  Thanks to my first plein-air workshop instructor for insisting that all his students purchase this staple of landscape painting.  He'll never see this, but thank you, John Budicin.

Oh, How I Love Cliffs! (SOLD)

Horsethief Cliffs
11x14 inches

oil on canvas

Went out with a painting buddy today--and renewed my love affair with basalt cliffs.  I had to get up at 5:30am to make it to the site by 7:45am (get self & kids ready, get kids to grandpa's house, stop for espresso, hour's drive to location) but it was worth it.

This one will most likely be in the 2011 NW Plein Air Show at the Columbia Art Gallery in Hood River, Oregon-- opening reception September 2.


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plein air painting

10x10 inches

oil on panel

Went out this morning.  This is probably destined for the 2011 NW Plein Air Show at the Columbia Art Gallery next month, but we'll see what I paint between now and Monday's deadline.  It still needs a title...

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Taking the Plunge!

I've been asked to teach, give private lessons, give demos.  While flattering, I have resisted all requests for multiple reasons: inexperience, lack of confidence, lack of knowledge (I know this, even if they don't).  Seriously, how do I teach when there's so much I don't know?  Anyway, I finally did a demo at the Sunriver Art Faire last weekend.  (The lady who arm-twisted me into it was on my hit list the last three gut-wrenching days beforehand, although I am now quite fond of her!)

So the demo consisted of the above three canvases: 1) a toned canvas with the sketch on it, 2) a partially-painted canvas (which I attempted to complete during the demo), and 3) a finished painting to show the audience where I was going. 

Speaking of the audience, it consisted of 5-10 people who, for the most part, came and went.  Which didn't hurt my feelings at all!  There was one young girl who asked tons of questions and helped to make the hour pass quickly. 

Overall, a good experience.  I'm glad I did it.

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The Short Season

Summer Blues - SOLD

30x40 inches, oil on canvas

Summer Song

30x40 inches, oil on canvas

I thought I'd post these together, given the "Summer" titles.  There is something about both of these that evokes in me the feeling of a late, warm, summer evening, with the soft breeze on my cheek and a contented feeling of being alone with God.  It's funny how you can feel alone but absolutely not lonely-- one of the sweet pleasures of life.


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Painting, painting, painting-- Really!

Well, I have actually completed two large paintings and several small ones since I last posted, but am unable to upload photos of them as my camera battery has died and I have lost/misplaced the extra battery and charger (Sony! argh).

So, instead, here is a photo of a painting I helped install in a collector's home last weekend.  My camera was set on landscape, so it's a bit blurry and dark (this should not come as a surprise to anyone who's been following me for very long-- I'm notoriously scattered), but you get the idea.