a departure

untitled 16x20 oil

I've been studying and thinking far more than I usually do... before I begin to paint. I'm trying to simplify and make big shapes. So, somehow, I ended up with this - my most recent painting. It's quite a departure for me! I really have no idea where this painting came from. I'll probably touch up the area at the base of the hill a bit.

So this painting is different... but... somehow I still like it, even though it doesn't look like my usual technique.

I think I am working my way from thick paint, lots of color, and lots of brushstrokes to ... something a bit more "mannered" or deliberate. I don' t know what will happen but I'm enjoying the journey.

accepted into Taos Art Museum "A Russion Night in Taos"

16x20 oil "On the Mesa at Ghost Ranch, NM"

I am pleased to share that my painting "On the Mesa at Ghost Ranch" has been juried into the show "A Russian Night in Taos" at the Taos Art Museum and Fechin Institute in Taos, NM. This is an international show where a significant portion of the proceeds benefits the Taos Art Museum. I am thrilled to participate and help support this fine historical art museum. The paintings auction begins on August 1, 2010 at the Taos Art Museum, Taos, NM. The auction closes on August 28, 2010 at the Taos Art Museum's 6th Annual Gala Auction.

Enduring Beauty: Landscapes of Northern New Mexico

Here's a preview of the postcard for my upcoming show. I really like how it turned out. I did it myself, and it's been a good learning experience.

Today I'm busy framing paintings that will be in my show beginning on Monday. Fourteen paintings take a lot of work to frame! Plus it's been difficult to find 12 x 16 frames -- that size panel is beginning to be my standard size for plein air paintings. Actually, for framing in general, I have a lot to learn. Selecting the right size width and style for each size painting is a challenge, especially when you have to order over the internet. Plus I'm always on the lookout for more sources for frames and hardware.

Enduring Beauty: Landscapes of Northern New Mexico
July 16 - September 12, 2010
Cameron Village Library
Raleigh, NC

A solo, juried exhibition sponsored by Visual Art Exchange and Cameron Village Library.

Show opening, August 6, 2010, 6pm at Visual Art Exchange during "First Friday Art Walk".

Cliffs Near Abiquiu

Cliffs Near Abiquiu 16x20 oil

These interesting cliffs and rock faces are just north of Ghost Ranch, which is just north of Abiquiu, NM. The striations in the geology of the rocks are really this strong and interesting. I like the rocks and ground but I'm not so sure about the sky. But I don't believe I'll work on this one any longer, it's finished. The sky has yellow and some lilac in it which is appropriate for this area; I do like that.

I'm looking forward to this weekend. My men will be out of town on a birthday camping trip so I'll have lots of painting time and the perfect companion: my black lab Scout. I hope to do some more large sky paintings.

Carolina Marsh

"Carolina Marsh" 16x20 oil on linen

This is a photo -- taken quickly -- of a painting I completed this weekend. I wanted to do a southern theme, and this scene of a marsh fit nicely. I believe this is my first painting where the sky was the primary subject! It came together fairly nicely. Once again I painted the entire surface yesterday. And then this morning, while the paint was still wet, I came back and softened some edges and unified some shapes. I'm starting to love this two-day process. When applying paint the first day, as usual, I get so excited that I use too much paint and too much color. Then on the second day, after I've calmed down, I can see what needs to be done to give the painting more structure and less chaos, i.e not quite so much emotion from me. After I'm done there's still plenty of emotion but also a bit more depth and what I like to call "presence".

For this scene I used a few reference photos taken years ago for some ideas but then ended up inventing the details - or lack thereof, actually.

Firehole River at Twilight

18x24 oil "Firehole River at Twilight"

A few years ago our family had an extended hiking vacation in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons national parks. During an evening hike we crossed the flat wide Firehole river to view a lesser known basin of geysers near the Old Faithful Lodge. I created the painting above based on a series of photographs I took that evening when the sun was low in the sky. I've been painting on 18 x 24 inch canvases lately and I really love this format for the landscape.

Late Evening Glow in Zion

16x20 oil "Late Evening Glow in Zion"

Four years ago, I snapped a photo of this location during a late evening stroll in Springdale, Utah, just outside the Zion National Park. The desire to create a painting based on the photograph remained for all these years and last weekend I painted this 16x20.

I worked on it a few hours on one day, and then the second day came back to work on it again. The paint was still wet and sticky and I am happy that I was able to create more depth during the second painting session without overpainting it. Our trip to Zion National Park was a family hiking and biking vacation so I was not able to paint on location. However, after experiencing that canyon in depth and taking photographs, I am eager to paint more scenes from that area of our country. I have other photographs just waiting to be interpreted and referenced.