Winter Glow

'Winter Glow'
Oil 6 x 8

I was going to take a break today to get some
housework done...well, it just didn't happen. I
sat down at my easel and started this painting,
working from photographs I took after the first
big snow we had this past December. The late
afternoon light on that day had produced
the most gorgeous colors.

Once I got started, I could not stop...I did not
even break for lunch. Love being in this mode - I
feel so creative and the energy is really flowing.

If you are interested in seeing any of my other
work, please go to my website. Thank you!

Landscape Commission - Step 5

Almost finished! Have some glazing I want to do once this is dry, then will see if any more bright spots have to be attended to. So much fun to paint the wildflowers, but I really had to restrain myself - especially since my client sent me a different picture of them at their peak, which was nothing but a gorgeous riot of color (future painting...).
I've really appreciated your comments along the way. Working with this limited palette (prussian blue, alizarin crimson and cadmium lemon) was a challenge, but so educational in terms of mixing the different colors. Even though I have worked with limited palettes before (the Zorn palette...), I really learned a lot from this one. I was truly amazed at the range of colors I was able to mix. You really don't need any other colors but the prmaries and white!

Landscape CommissionStep 1 - Underpainting

This is a landscape commission I have started working on recently that is of a log cabin in Wyoming. The light will be filtering in through the trees on the left, creating some great sunny areas as well as deep shadows. In the foreground grasses, there are many summer wildflowers, which I am am really looking forward to painting!

There is a rocky run-off area that starts just off center at the bottom of the canvas, and curves slightly left before disappearing. The fireplace is stone. It's a gorgeous place, and holds lots of happy family memories for the owners.

There may be a glimpse of a log cabin workshop behind the left side of the cabin - checking with my client to see if they want that there (my notes were taken months ago, and are not clear in that area :( )

I thought it would be interesting to post my process in steps. This is the underpainting, which maps out the dark and light areas. Doing this first helps nail down composition as well as the values and is very helpful when starting to block in color. In this particular painting, my underpainting is more detailed than I would normally have because I want the client to get a good idea what this will look like at the onset.

See you when the next step is complete!

Summer Hay

'Summer Hay'
6 X 8 Oil on archival canvas board
$165.00 plus $6.00 shipping
Contact me directly if you are interested in purchasing this painting

This has been such an idyllic summer. The colors seem more intense, the air seems so clear, and with all of the rain we have had, green rules the landscape! I wonder if I am just appreciating it more because I've been able to spend more time this summer plein air painting? Here's my work from yesterday - bales of hay sitting out among all the different shades of green.

Field of Poppies Oil 6 X 8

This is a small one I just finished not long ago. Any kind of flower (or even flowering weeds) growing randomly in a field is something I love to see, and to paint.