Twin Lakes pochade

I did this the first of October on a drive to Aspen to see a nursing client. It was a good place to stop for a walk to stretch my stiff back and legs, and the scenery was spectacular. The fall colors were bright yellow, and it was hard to decide on a scene with the mountains and lake. I chose a little historic cabin and a backlit cottonwood as it gave me the opportunity to stand in the shade and find a post to tie Carma. I had her off lead for the walk before, and she decided to cross the highway and follow another dog into his house. I got to meet a very nice dog-loving person who was remodeling her very old and interesting home in Twin Lakes. Who understood my gregarious dog who takes advantage of every chance she gets to meet new friends. Oh, and pochade means sketch. I have a little 6 x 8 pochade box that is very portable and allows me to make painting on location a very easy thing, so I actually do it. If I had to set up a big easel and box, it would be too cumbersome and I wouldn't be able to do it. Life means moving forward and figuring out what works to continue to do this.

September 27 aspen

this was another 6 x 8 I did on location at Rampart Range Rainbow Trail. It was a hot and bright day, so I found a spot in the shade, which made the lighting interesting as always. Can almost remember the smell of the leaves and Carma standing on a 20 foot rock, peering down at everything below. She is good at finding her way to the best view.

Early Fall Aspen with Peak

I did this one in August on location, with several members of the PPPAP group just off Rampart Range. It was a day when I brought my dog, we had lunch and took a walk after painting. 8 x 10 oil. Good memories.

Morning Aspen

Another 6 x 8 on Rampart Range. The colors and values in the trunks compared to the background and the foliage was a really good challenge in seeing. And fun.

September Aspen

It's been a month and a half of classes and visits, have not posted in a really long time. So here's the catch-up. Before I started my classes 9-30-10 I went to Rampart Range 4 days in September and focused on aspen on location in the fall. I will post the results in the next 4 days. Last weekend and this weekend I spent an hour or so a day working on a larger studio version of aspen. I feel I really understand them better after spending all that time with them on location. Here is the 6 x 8 inch plein aire from 09-26-10.

Fall aspen with lichen rock

Colorado Aspens-have captured my attention this past few month. I get out and paint them whenever I can, and at different times, weather conditions, in different seasons, their trunks are completely different colors. A really good painter's challenge. There is so much information to receive, that a photo reference couldn't possibly afford. I keep the format small (6 x 8) so I can easily transport the lightweight materials with me and actually do it on location. It makes all the difference.Even if I'm exhausted the next day from the effort (which I was), its so much more worthwhile to capture a subject from life.

Paint-a-thon in Victor

I did the Victor Celebrates the Arts event this year. Many fine artists attend this plein aire week in a small mining town every Labor Day Weekend. It's really a paint-a-thon as all painting supports are stamped the first day, and then you have a week to turn out 4 paintings to enter in the show at the end of the week. I drove up 2 days (3 days apart) and painted 2 each day. The challenge (and its a good one) is to paint fast. This one of Vindicator Valley and the Teresa Mine, I really wanted to do. I did a studio painting of it last winter and really wanted to paint one on location. The colors and shadows were much more interesting in person, especially in the morning light. And of course, changing drastically in a 2 hour time frame when I was there. The wind was really picking up and I found myself trying to hit a moving target by the time I got out my palette knife to do the detail work. Plein aire really is fun (and work.)I like my results when I paint outside, the work is usually fresh and colorful.

New Project

I am honored to have been chosen as one of a group of artists who will assist Doug Rouse in his latest project, "The 12 Mural Project." It is a community effort for the community to beautify public places in Colorado Springs. I will attach the link so you can follow the progress, and also will put it on my Facebook page. I'm excited to follow the progress. The plan is to have a video of the process from start to finish. The start is this weekend with powerwashing and basecoating. (which will be done by some of the other artists.)

Another Aspen

the more I look at these, the more I see. They really do come in all different colors and reflect the light that is around them. I'm looking forward to doing some on location this fall.

another re-work

This one I've looked at for awhile, and thought I had it sold a few years to a couple who had lived in Manitou, but moved back east. They liked it, I liked, but had it hanging up, so looked at it often. As my style developed, I thought, maybe I should do more with the foreground, maybe I should push the background back, maybe I should straighten up the windows. And so I did.

Shepherdess

this is one I reworked today and like so much better. I did the original in 2004, and have touched it up a few times, but this time was brutal. Sometimes it just takes looking at something long enough to tell how to fix it. (and painting for a few more years of problem-solving doesn't hurt, either.)

sittin' in a tree, kiss-ing

this was so interesting, I had to include it. This is the tree I painted on location yesterday. I always take a photo reference for later comparison. I don't really ever use them, as my paintings are usually completed on the spot. Even when it starts raining on the canvas, its hard to re-create that plein aire feeling from a photo. So I usually wipe off the paint and start over with something new. This really amazed me at how complicated the branch and leaf structure was, and how I simplified it for the painting. Simple is better, and you can see the difference in the visual material you receive from a photo versus from life. Kiss-ing refers to "keep it simple, smarty" of course, and always a good reminder!

Sunny Day Aspen

a beautiful morning, this aspen tree was very full of leaves and extra twigs. I simplified them and am pleased with the results. Aspen trunks are so colorful and detailed, I wanted to include the light-dappled and reflective effects of the light bark. The more I look, the better I see!

Rainy Day Aspen

my second in the series. The palette knife was useful in scraping on some of the dark colors when I was finished with the trees. Again, painted this one in the rain. Glad to see the afternoon rains are back in Colorado. 6 x 8 framed in gold $200

Little Aspen Grove

I have wanted to paint aspen on location for a long time. I did one in watercolor years ago, but never in oil. Yesterday I found this little grove just as it had finished a light rain. The observation you get is incredible. The lighting changes, the color changes, each tree is slightly a different shade. Very subtle. I want to do more, this is just a 6 x 8 in size. I want to do a series, so I really get to know the aspen trees.

Delphinium Delight

A small painting done on location at the HAS demo garden this morning, 6 x 8 of a group of delphiniums. The light changed under the filtered tree often, so it was a matter of remembering the essence. I loved the variety of color.

Bowl of Cherries

I took the photo references for this when the first cherries came out at the grocery store. I loved the way they looked in the purple bowl in the sink with the morning shadows and a few drops of water. I positioned the composition for the most dynamic impact, and built it up, layer by layer. Original oil 11 x 14 $400 framed.

Santa Fe revised

the new version with the orange roses. There may still be a few more things I change, but I like the color the roses add, and the ladder was glazed with color a few more times to get a more accurate shade. What do you think? Feedback welcome.

adjusting elements

This is the first version I did of an adobe building visited in Santa Fe. It was an early morning shot and I liked the shadows and the ladder and the blue windows. The flowers were snowballs, and the more I look at this, the more I realize it doesn't have the zing I wanted in colors. I really like to crank up the colors in Santa Fe, because it feels so colorful to me. I changed the color of the ladder, the flowers (made them into those orange/red wild roses that were not blooming yet) and have a few more changes to make. I'll post the new version tomorrow so you can see the difference. The painting has to take over where the reference leaves off. (sometimes more than others!)

Pecos Church

I've been working on this for awhile. It's 12 x 16 in oil and would be $500 framed. It's been layer upon layer, adding elements that weren't there, and enhancing what was there. This is an old New Mexico church that I photographed 6 years ago on a visit to Santa Fe, and the photo was pretty basic and plain. I've seen so many paintings done of similar churches there that I guess they all were calling me to bring it to the life that I feel when I'm there. The lines and perspective were a lesson in archetecture, and the more you look the more you see in relationships of lines to one another. I'm pleased with the light and glow it achieves.

Another Poppy

I found another one! The HAS garden downtown has beautiful poppies in bloom, despite the heat of yesterday. My thing was to go to Taos and paint poppies (its been in my head to do so for about a year now) and so I'm the Colorado Springs poppy scout. There may be more! I love painting them, although there are some peonies and iris waiting at HAS also. This one is 6 x 8 inches for $200 framed.

the last Poppy

did not paint today as it was 97 degrees in the shade. The last poppy in my garden last evening I painted in the shade. Spring flowers seem to be here for about a week each, then move on. The daylilies are budding, as is the lavender. Must be the heat.

Poppies and Iris

This is another backyard painting 9 x 12 on location. I really love this time of year. Everything is in bloom. The challenge is to want to capture all the details, vs. create a painting of it. This one had a lot of details that needed to be coordinated and simplified. I want to do another one before the poppies are gone, they last only about a week every year.

Rocks and Water

another beautiful day in Colorado. 6 x 8 inch study on location with Pikes Peak Plein Aire Painters. I travel light with a small paint box and lightweight easel. 3 geese hung out with us while we were painting, and the sound of rushing water was like music. Painting outdoors is the best.

Lilacs

a small sketch for the color and detail on location, the fragrance while painting was a nice bonus. I love spring flowers.

Poppies from Life

Did these Saturday morning in my backyard. Love this time of year with everything blooming. Want to paint it all.

Poppy Passion

every year I have to paint poppies, they grow in my garden and the ones I do from nature are better than the ones I do from photos. This one is from a photo, but I loved the composition. Have to try again from nature, they are blooming now.

Simplifying the Complicated

Didn't simplify very much! This is a 6 x 8 study done on location that I loved the location. Didn't really think in advance about how much detail there was. My brush was old (have since tossed it for a better one)and yet I continued to daub on the paint because I loved being here in this place. The light changed in an hour (of course) but the scene was so engaging it was a challenge to simplify it into paint. Patterns, light, and shadows. That's the key, it always is. "Paint what you see" wasn't so helpful, because I saw a lot. So I took off my glasses. Always helps, to simplify into near-sighted vision. Squinting can have the same effect. You CAN see the forest AND the trees!

Painting from Life

Painting from life is always a good thing. With several others, we had intended to go paint a location a mile or so away from my house. The wind was extreme, so headed for a fellow painter's studio. He had set up several still lifes which seemed like a let-down after the plan to paint outdoors for the first time since last summer. It was really a good experience, as it took the same concentration, color mixing, and "seeing" that is crucial to painting of any kind. Any time one can paint from life is preferable to using photos for reference. I recommend it!

In season again

My apple tree is in bloom and I painted these beauties several years ago at Happy Apple Farm in Penrose. Orchards in bloom have always inspired me as I have seen other artists interpretations of them for years. I loved seeing the orchards when I drove between offices for work the year I lived on the Western Slope. I did a few touch-ups on these this winter and they kept me going until now,as the real thing has returned. I have not painted since April, as I have been teaching and not had 2 days off in a row for a month. I realize the first day off is for errands, getting caught up and then the second day I feel like I have the freedom to paint or do something creative. It takes time to be creative. The orchards and I are back in season again. Yay.

Gateway Truck and Mine

a truck in context. In the fall of 2007, I found this beauty in the town of Gateway on the border of Utah and Colorado. Walked around a bit to create just the right composition with the old mine and the truck. This was in between Norwood and Grand Junction, just as you are entering Unaweep Canyon on the border (Gateway) of Colorado and Utah. Gorgeous red rock country, the Dolores River, spectacularly glowing with fall colors and light or anytime in the afternoon glow of light. The truck portrait has become a historical family portrait in this one.

Tres Trees-stage 2

stage 2, I added some depth to the foreground with shadows and snow and softened the edges of the distant hills, adding a little subtle interest to the midground area. I don't want to take away from the trees, but kind of like the mist effect that covers the basic shapes. Lost and found edges are true to nature, and always add interest to a painting.

Tres Trees-in progress

One winter weekend, in 2007, I was returning from a hike at Gunnison Gorge and the evening light was spectacular. I kept driving looking for something beautiful that it was transforming with its magic and found this snowy field. The 3 Cottonwoods in stark relief were the perfect darks to the glowy oranges among the purple snow shadows. Snow is magical and snow shadows are purple and blue.

Tubac Wagon

another Vintage Vehicle, not really a truck, but I have always loved the way that other artists have portrayed these old Conestogas. This one lives in Tubac, AZ and it was late in the January day, 2005. The story of the wagon breaking down near Taos with the founders of the Taos art colony has become a defining story as part of their important history. It made them stop and pay closer attention, a good thing (if not the best thing) for artists. Countless pioneers giving up everything they knew for the hope of something better. Hope is our best survival instinct.

El Jebel Truck-done!

loved finishing this one! Any "thing" that I haven't painted before seems "hard" but intriguing to me. Especially if people know what they are "supposed to look like" as in trucks, people, pets, flags, etc. I can paint landscapes until the cows come home (and cows)because they are so generic and you get the light right and the edges right and boom you have a tree or a mountain. I never understand the people who think landscapes are hard. Maybe because I know them so well, they are a joy. Anyway, the flags were fun!

Palisade Truck-done!

Finished by adding more detail to the background (peach trees) and the truck.

El Jebel Truck (first stages)

this was a 2007 find while training a new home care nurse from Glenwood. She wanted to stop for a bathroom break at the Wendy's next door and I grabbed my camera. I had friends who lived near here years ago and this truck was parked in front of the old YesterYear shop, which I was so pleased to see again. Moral learned: always carry your camera, and when you are almost finished with a painting, start another. It saves the risk of overworking the first one because you are having so much fun, you don't want to quit. It allows you to stop at a reasonable place, because you have somewhere else to go.

Palisade Truck-step 2

it's always hard to tell how much more to do once I get to this stage, but I will apply some soft edges and subtle detail to the landscape as well as sharpening up the contrast and detail on the truck, the main player in the painting.

Ribbon of Light in progress

I always wanted to do one of those alpenglow sunsets and had a 12 x 24 board. Looking through my photo references, I had an almost dark sunset one where 11-mile reservoir really stood out. I decided to push the colors so you could really see that alpenglow that photos (and late timing) miss. This is my attempt, still needs a few details to be finished.

Palisade Truck in progress

Still having fun with the trucks, this one in Palisade. (all those wonderful peaches!)I found a great photo reference from Glenwood (its next), and one through Unaweep Canyon on the way to Grand Junction from Norwood. I'm so glad I got to travel before driving became torture.

Salida Truck

Truck #2 I found in a back alley of Salida. 11 x 14 oil.

Taos Truck

My first truck! I finally started my series that has been in my head for years. I have always found an exceptional antique truck in every small town I visited. They are all so unique, and deserve a second look. I am compelled by the shapes, especially the bent out of shape shapes. They have years of history of sheepherding, hauling produce, etc. The contrasting colors of the rust, faded colors, and highlights on the metal is the real appeal. My blog will be a truck a day for awhile.

Taos House

I reworked this one from a painting I did after a trip to Taos in November 2001. Snow had fallen the night before, and as usual, melted the next day. The entrance to Mabel Dodge Luhan's estate, fascinating. I had read the history of these interesting pioneers and artists who established the Taos Art Colony in many places and told in many ways. I'm getting tired of working from photos, my work is fresher and less noodley when I paint on location. Still working for the day when I can put in just enough detail (the important stuff) in just the right places and leave the rest out. I was there in 2004, I painted a lot on location that year. I'm looking forward to painting plein aire again when the wind stops blowing snow. Even my dog didn't want to go out this morning. Springtime in the Rockies=snow and mud. And the occasional break when you just have to get out there and enjoy it!

Mountain Lake

Another example of a rework. I've been pulling out some work that "bothered me" for one reason or another, this one had a fisherman in it who just had to go. He was competing too much for the scene. My original thought was that he led into the scene, and he really was there! I decided this mountain and lake needs to be enjoyed in all its solitary splendor.

Spring Marche

Did a painting I had wanted to do for a long time. Spring Marche is from a photo reference in 2005 trip to Aix-en-Provence. Spring Market with all its colorful baskets was a good place for my mind to escape winter. Still love the snow, but am looking forward to spring. 12 x 16, $400 or $450 with 3 inch frame.

Autumn Leaves

This could be titled "Autumn Leaves, and Winter is Here, but where is Spring?" It's spring break this week, so I'm going to paint in short spurts in between dr's and therapy appts. Travel is out (since I'm only able to drive or sit for 15 minutes at a time), and its cold and snowy here. Spring in the Rockies is unpredictable: its warm, then things start to grow, then it snows again. Still hoping to get some walks in this week. The painting is one I had started and looked at undone for months. Thinking, I will finish it one day. Instead of starting a new one, I'm finishing my unfinished work and those I've thought, "there's something not quite right with this one, but I don't know what it is yet." Usually, with the passing of time, I can figure it out. Hindsight is 20/20.The photo reference for this painting I took while visiting Union Printers Home at the corner of Union and Pikes Peak. The grassy lawn covered with leavs and the morning sun shining through the turning leaves with a mist (rare in Colorado) reminded me of fall back in the Midwest.

Old Work is Still Good Work!

I have been inspired in the past few weeks by my patrons, including some new ones! Thank you all for your encouragement and helping me take my art to the next level. The ultimate appreciation for an artist is to have someone love your work so much they want to pay for it and take it home as part of their art collection. I have as an artist, taken some of my older works for granted. Some of them I still am amazed by, and others I think, "I could have done this or that to make them better." A jaded eye can set in. My own personal favorites are not for sale, as they are in my private collection. Usually they are views that remind me of a special memory or a breakthrough in technique or style. I have to remember that my favorites are not always those of my viewers/patrons. They see their own view of my work, with not such a critical eye. They remind me why I painted that painting in the first place. They give me a new appreciation of why I paint. Just because I have painted Pikes Peak a dozen times, it doesn't mean its not worthwhile. Cezanne is known for his numerous paintings of Mont St. Victoire, which I have seen in numerous collections and museums worldwide. Like an old friend. I have looked at the real thing every day since 1984 and am awed by my fortune. I miss it on rainy/snowy days. I can't wait until the next cloudless morning when in reappears in dazzling snowy splendor. I'm like those cloudy days now, working behind the scenes, and preparing for my next paintings, when my body is ready to sit or stand for longer periods of time. Seasons, and time. It's all good.

recovery

After much pain from nerve pressure on sciatic nerve and working hard on recovery, I am posting to say I'm not forgetting about painting. Still selling work, just not actively painting for awhile. Working on the art of living and recovery. Hopeful that it will happen, soon. It takes time and energy. Still teaching part-time at the college, everything takes energy and I only have so much available. Pain takes a lot of energy. Time management and self-care, all lessons in life.

Creative Work and Self Care

Living an artist's life(synonymous with a good life, a creative life)is about balance. I must care for myself in order to produce work as an expression of the joy of life and celebrating beauty. Self-care for me can be spending time with friends, creating affordable healthy meals (egg salad in pita pockets) quesadillas with corn and fresh cilantro) homemade split pea soup with Yukon Gold potatoes and carrots. It is also resting when I need to rest, walking when I need to walk. It is knowing my limits, which are different and changing after my car accident in August and being in constant pain. It is not easy, but important. Sharing my struggles with others is difficult for me, but struggles are part of everyone's life, and a common thread to our humanity. Asking for help is even harder, but I respect those most who know what they want and ask for it specifically. I need what I need and it changes (like life itself) and I want to be honest in all of life, not just my paintings. Honesty and the present is where life is. If you are reading this, I ask that you would wish me the courage to be present in the moment with whomever I'm with.

"Where the Eagle Flies" is a painting I did on location as part of a weekend paintout in Victor, Colorado. People often ask me how I create my paintings, many are done on location to capture the lighting and color accurately. The ones I do from photo references are planned ahead, and I compose the photos with the painting in mind. These are ones from locations where the lighting and color hits me with inspiration, and I create a composition by eliminating unnecessary elements and simplifying the scene to include a point of interest, and move your eye around the scene. This painting won me an award and was sold the same day. An artist's best case scenario. We love to share our work and have others appreciate what we do. Most work is created in isolation, but art is about communication and sharing beauty.

Using a Scanner

Using a scanner to record images of small works (9 x 12 or smaller, or however large your scanner bed is) gives a much more accurate image than using a photograph, even with a tripod. I had to wait until the oil painting was dry, of course, but compare this image of "Barns in Winter" with the one from the previous blog post. It really gets the colors and textures. This painting is sold, but there are more available (all are one-of-a-kind originals!)See previous posts or my website for paintings for sale. Or call me for a particular subject or commission.

Finishing Touch

this is an example of a watercolor that looked unfinished to me. I did it on location, and the edges seemed "mooshy." When I got home, I added the definition of ink pen and liked it so much better once defined. I always did ink and watercolor sketches on travels, and this way, although "backwards" works very well. I have transformed many of my watercolors from several years ago with this "finishing touch." Turtle Rocks at 11-mile canyon, $175 framed to 11 x 14.

Old Town clock

This was done in fall on location as part of the Art on the Avenue event in Old Colorado City. I sold it at my Annual Studio Sale. My favorite pieces usually sell first, and its a wonderful affirmation to have this happen. I had to move the mountain (Pikes Peak) to fit it in the scene, which meant I had to move my easel and use several on-location references to accomplish the desired effect. Plein Aire painting is the best for lighting and even though the light changes quickly, it gives you the accuracy for color notes that really make the scene shine. Colorado light is brilliant, and fall colors are spectacular!