Molas Lake 16 x 20 oil painting. Just reworked this from an artwork I did years ago that had paint splatters on it. I thought it was ruined, but was able to recreate a new season (fall) in new colors as I painted over it. The original painting was done in spring colors, so changing it up was a fun challenge! I think the new version adds more depth to the mountains with the reflected light.

Big Sky, New Mexico

I love the big skies of the West and this one is 30 x 40 on gallery wrap canvas.

I have more to complete, but I'm revisiting some themes that I had to put aside

for awhile due to other life concerns. This is one that is not going out of style.

It's a window on a big world with hopes and dreams for a New Year.

Chico Basin Cloudscape

We have amazing clouds over the Front Range and I'm working on a series of large format landscapes that are really cloud-scapes. The land is there to ground the sky, but I have traveled so much across the valleys between mountain ranges where you get such a feeling of open space, this is my attempt to share that feeling of expansive freedom.

Sunflowers With Barn

"Sunflowers with Barn" is a 14 x 18 oil I painted the last day of August at RockLedge Ranch in Colorado Springs.

Pond in Fall

"Pond in Fall" was really this bright. It was a sunny Sunday and the light was just catching the willows
and a few cat tail leaves as well as the fallen leaves on the pond. Rock Ledge Ranch, again.

Evening Light

"Evening Light" is an 8 x 10 oil completed on location while standing by the Rock Ledge Ranch Mother's Chapel. The light was changing fast as the sun was going down, so while I finished the scene, I had to hold in memory the bright colors of the aspen in the background being lit by the diagonal rays of setting sun.

"Turning on the Pass"
 is a 9 x 12 on location at Independence Pass the last week of September.

Beautiful drive, sun was in and out of the clouds, the contrast between back lit aspen and the rest of the surrounding landscape is too much range for a camera to capture well. These were in the shade of a large cloud when I painted them and allowed for more subtle variation in color. Painting on location with all the sensations of sounds of birds, passing cars, breeze, changing light, hikers with dogs and kids passing by, even bugs and curious wildlife, adds another dimension of life to my work. Same old saw, the more you look, the more you see. The more there is to see on location!

success!

Finally, able to post another blog note, after a long frustrating time of computer confusion. 

This is "Snowy Bells" of a trip to Maroon Bells 6 x 8 oil painting done on location the last weekend of September.

 Yes, I'm still painting! Still traveling whenever I can and painting the beauty of nature!

Aspen Glow and Peak

Another 16 x 20 of aspen from Rampart Range with Pikes Peak in the distance. This was from the Lovell Gulch Trail. I hiked it in October and didn't bring my camera. This view was worth going back
to get a photo reference.

Aspen Energy

I've been waiting for months to paint this, from Rampart Range when the aspen were turning for the last time, what a beautiful drive. There is a series I want to do of this, really looking forward to painting more. The energy of the color was fabulous. I just read in Frank Waters book "Colorado" how settlers sometimes thought the bright sunlit aspen were a forest fire. The colors are the same, brilliant reds and yellows and oranges just glow with the afternoon backlighting.

Water Lilies

16 x 20 oil from a photo I took several years ago when Denver Botanical Gardens had its "Monet" Garden. It was lovely and not as far of a trip as Giverny. Had wanted to paint this scene for awhile, just before my trip to Taos, and just varnished it today. I like the composition and texture.

Aspen near Cripple Creek

They were really stunning this year, and you had to be there to believe all the color variety. Backlit against the shadowy hills, they were a color riot. For sale at Seven Arrows Gallery in Woodland Park

Aspen in Fall

A 6 x 8 oil done on location on Rampart Range Road after a hike there with my dog. It was getting later in the day, and skies were overcast. Made for more brilliant color without so much contrast. This one is framed and for sale at Seven Arrows Gallery in Woodland Park.

"Simply Taos"

A 6 x 8 on location behind the Millicent Rogers museum at an invitational paintout from the PPANM group. It was fun painting with a group, and their show "Light and Landscape" at the museum was fabulous and well attended. In all, I completed 26 paintings in the 21 days I was there, all on location, except the few larger studio pieces I did on the days it rained all day. These were from photo references I took while on my walks. Staying in Arroyo Seco at the Waters Foundation was inspiring, and simple, as my little casita didn't require much upkeep, except for refilling water jugs. The sunsets and storms were spectacular, and there were wonderful animal sound effects from the little farms nearby. I'm still studying the on location sketches I did, and am not ready to give some of them up, as I learned a lot from the true colors of the place.

its August Already!

Confession:I have been painting and not blogging. Life always seems to speed up in August, and this year is no exception. In June, we had a wonderful paint-out and art show for the Pikes Peak Plein Air Painters at 7 Arrows Gallery in Woodland Park. I was thrilled to win an honorable mention award after painting for a week on location

with many talented artists from across the region. This is my submission of aspen on Rampart Range, which I've painted before on location, but never in the evening. The trunks turned really purple with the changing light, and I wanted to capture it. This year, in retrospect, I've noticed most of my paintings contain trees,and I've been drawn to them. I've just learned trees are a symbol of feminine energy. I need this gift from the trees. I'm humbled to realize we intuit more than we know, if we just pay attention.

Painting Again

It's been awhile, busy with work, and teaching a new class and 2 clinicals took all my energy in April and May. Finally, the end of May, a beautiful Wednesday morning, several of us went to a place off Hwy 67 in Woodland Park. It was gorgeous, the willows were just starting to turn, and I did a little 8 x 10 oil on location. It made me want to paint again. I've learned with plein aire (painting on location) to paint fast, and can knock something out in 1-2 h

ours max, because you have to. Plein aire has made me be a more observant and prolific painter. You learn to put in what's important, and leave out what is not. I hope this translates to all of my life.

San Luis, Colorado

From a recent trip returning from Taos, the light was wonderful on this colorful barn and trees. I had to stop and get photo references so I could paint it. That glow from the orange trees (even in winter they are orange) and blue shadows gets me every time I pass through this colorful town.

Winter Tree

I did the original painting of this in 2002, after a trip to Taos in winter. The campground was covered in snow, and I loved the patterns and texture. I didn't quite get them right, and passing through Taos recently I got a better look. The campground was still covered in deep snow, and it was a drive-by quick look, but it helped. This is the rework, and I'm more pleased with the variety of texture.

Roses and Grapes

The last silk flower arrangement, with some plastic grapes. The vase is from Siena, always a good idea to buy a souvenier you love and can use. This one is a square format, as I liked the shape better. It gets stretched from the blog format, but it is really square. The others got stretched, too. They are not as wide as the photo makes them.

Peonies and Fruit

Another vase of silk flowers, this time with apples and pears. I've always been in awe of Ovanes Berberian's peonies and peaches, and the buttery strokes and accurate colors of flower and light. I would love to master getting just the right color in just the right place like he does. It's a wonderful challenge to try, and to learn.