dipping my brush in my soul - jana van wyk: my travels

Showing posts with label my travels. Show all posts

Showing posts with label my travels. Show all posts

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Sold - Taos Adobe, oil on canvas

Toas Adobe, oil on canvas, plein air, Taos New Mexico

This painting is now in the Collection of Nelson Hubley. Thanks for buying original art! jana van wyk

janavanwyk.blogspot.com

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

SOLD - Jenny Lake and the Tetons, 12x16 oil on canvas panel, studio work

Jenny Lake and the Tetons, 12.x16 on canvas panel, oil, studio work

Sold this painting and it is on its way to a collector in the upper midwest! Thanks for buying original art work.

jana van wyk

@JanaDVanWyk #janavanwyk #makebigart #nationalpark #grandtetons #studioart

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about this painting:

"Jenny Lake and the Tetons" was painted from a photograph I took in Grand Tetons National Park near Jackson, Wyoming, while on vacation with my family....we crossed the lake to begin our hike up the canyon across the lake.

This is an original Expressive oil painting 12x16 inches - one of a kind. The brush strokes are juicy, thick, and colorful. The painting is on a canvas board that is 1/8 inch thick.
To read about my painting adventures visit: www.janavanwyk.blogspot.com and www.highdesertpainters.blogspot.com

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Something completely different

This past Thanksgiving my family and I spent 3 nights on Ocean Isle Beach in the southern tip of the NC coast. One night I managed to time my arrival just right - so I could catch the last rays of light as the sun set. These photos are just waiting for a time in my life when I can paint a new series inspired by the Carolina Coast.

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"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

From Study to Large Painting

My goal this Autumn is to take 4 of my on-location studies and use them as inspiration for large paintings. I really enjoy this process, since by re-visiting the study itself I am swept away by memories of the day when I created the study. This church in Arroyo Seco, NM was painted on site during a warm, wonderful May morning when I and several of my good friends set up and spent 2 glorious hours immersed in our creative bliss. The sun was warm on our shoulders, the only sounds were the call of birds and the rustle of bright green foilage in the breeze.

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"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

October in Taos, NM

l to r: Judy Howells, Nelson Hubley, Coni Grant, Jana Van Wyk (me!)

A few weeks ago I snuck off for a few days to bask in the glorious Autumn weather in northern New Mexico. I attended the opening of a show at the Millicent Rogers Museum where I had two paintings exhibited. I also spent special time with friends from California, Nova Scotia, and Colorado (see above).

Jana Van Wyk (me) standing beside my two paintings in the Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM in the show "A Spirit of Place", Plein Air Painters of New Mexico

Judy Howells painting just outside our rental house, north of Taos near Arroyo Seco, NM

Bill Gallen doing a demonstration just outside the Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Millicent Rogers Museum

Tomorrow I'm heading to New Mexico to see friends, attend the opening show of "The Spirit of Place" at Millicent Rogers Museum, and... to bask in the magical energy and peace that is New Mexico. See you at the show - I'll be the one wearing cowboy boots with a denim mini skirt!

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Dreams of New Mexico

I usually spend time in New Mexico in October but this year it seemed that the trip would not be possible. So I was not planning on it. However, several things fell into place such that I am able to make a short trip this year. One of the big motivations for the trip is that I have two paintings in a show in Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos and the opening is the same weekend when several of my good friends will already be there. So in 2 weeks I can spend time with them and also see the show. God is good.

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

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.

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

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.

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Along the Chama River

In Oct 2009 the High Desert Painters spent a week in northern New Mexico painting on location. Several of us set up along the banks of the river. The sun was beginning to set and the light and long shadows created a peaceful and colorful scene.

Earlier on that day, Janis Loverin and I had set up our easels (above) with a view of the cliffs and the Chama river.

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Eanger Irving Couse studio in Taos

While I was in Taos in July I had several serendipitous experiences that were magical. One of them happen during an afternoon when I was wandering around Kit Carson Rd, just soaking up the atmosphere. I walked up to a house to take photos and a man said "You are welcome to join the tour." What? Well it was a private tour of the Eanger Irving Couse studio and house! They can be arranged by appointment. For the next hour Couse's granddaughter and granddaughter's husband (above)entralled us with a tour of the house and studio, mixed with stories of his life.

Everything in the house and studio is intact, just as it was when he lived and worked there. All the items he used in his paintings, all the studies, his photographs and equipment. He even had a dark room and we got to see the very early equipment he used in it. He was great friends with Joseph Sharp but Sharp's studio and artifacts (props he used in the paintings) were all dispersed and sold.

A member of the family has always lived in this house and maintained it. There is now a foundation to preserve this historic resource.

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

High on Taos - Plein Air Painters of New Mexico annual Paint Out and Show

"St. Francis of Assis Passion" 14x11 oil $585

painted on location the morning of July 29, 2009

$100 from the sale of this painting will be donated to the St Francis of Assis parish.

Karen Halbert hard at work

St Francis of Assis Church, Rancho de Taos, NM

This week Karen Halbert and I are participating in the "High on Taos" Plein Air Painters of New Mexico Paint out and Show. Yesterday morning we got up and out very early and painted on site at the St Francis of Assis Church in Rancho de Taos, NM. We both chose to paint close to the church and had a wonderful spot to set up in the courtyard under the trees with benches to sit on.

Four and a half hours later I had one painting completed and Karen had completed two.

This morning I chose two of the four paintings I completed between Monday morning and Wednesday morning, slipped them in the frames I had shipped from NC, and delivered them to the gallery. Tomorrow night Rob, the owner of the gallery, will hang the paintings for the opening on Saturday, August 1.

This show will be judged by Ray Vinella and features works from 50 artists painted on site in and aroundTaos between July 24 and July 30. See you at the show at Wilder-Nightingale Gallery!

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

The Mountain

"Taos Mountain, Summer Evening", 11x14, oil on linen $585
Painted on location north of Taos, NM during the evening of July 28, 2009

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Day 2 - The Rio Grande gorge

"Before the Storm" 11x14 oil $585

On the morning of my second day at the PAPNM paint out I painted the Rio Grande Gorge overlook. Painting the distance was a challenge, and the early morning shadows in the gorge were a gorgeous pink and violet.

A few hours after I left this scene and headed into Taos a huge storm moved through this area with hail and significant lightning. I was happy to enjoy the storm from the comfort of my covered courtyard.

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Day 1 - Plein Air Painters of NM Paint Out

"Racing the Sun" 14x11 oil $585

Day one (for me) of the Plein Air Painters of NM Paint Out in Taos began with a very early rising and on the road to Arroyo Hondo by 7am. And the early rising was so worth it! The rolling countryside was enchanting.

Eventually, the road revealed the Rio Grande gorge.

And by 8am we were throwing up our easels to paint this scene! We painted quickly since the sun would be over the west side of the gorge wall in less than 90 minutes. By 10:30am we were back at the El Monte Sagrado resort to enjoy a late breakfast/early lunch - with a painting to show for our early adventure!

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Pilar Yacht Club

There was not a yacht in sight but the idea of a yacht club in the middle of the high desert did cool us off on a warm day in May! The High Desert Painters posed for this photo after a day painting along the Rio Grande Gorge in northern New Mexico.

The High Desert Painters in Pilar, NM - l to r: Jana Van Wyk, Judy Howells, Nelson Hubley, Coni Grant, Nita Harper, Ron, and Janis Loverin.

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Crested Butte, Colorado

My family and I vacationed in Crested Butte, Colorado a few weeks ago - what a gorgeous town and area to visit. The vacation was primarily for skiing but I did manage to get into town late one afternoon, specifically to take reference photographs for future paintings. The town is a historic mining town and it is very "paintable"; everywhere you look there's compositions and character.

I visited Shaun Horne's gallery named Oh-Be-Joyful Gallery. I've been following his career and it's a class act. The gallery is wonderful and his large, plein air work is very well done.

Here's a photo of us on the Crested Butte Mountain!

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Taos paint out in May 2009

Even though it's only February we're beginning to plan the next High Desert Painters' plein air paint out trip. Our next paint out will be Taos, New Mexico and its environs which we will visit during the week of May 3, 2009. We should enjoy some wonderful spring color in the high desert!

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

La Santisima Trinidad, Arroyo Seco, NM

La Santisima Trinidad, Arroyo Seco, NM

14x11 oil

(painted on location)

From the church's website: "The Holy Trinity church in Arroyo Seco is an excellent example of early 19th century historic mission churches of northern New Mexico. Dating from the 1830’s, its thick adobe walls, heavy pine vigas, hand-crafted corbels and original altar screen tell of the intense faith that motivated the early settlers who built it, using only the simplest of tools: their hands, wood and earth. "

Mid-morning in autumn was a wonderful time to set up on location and paint my reaction to this scene. There was so much to absorb outside that we didn't even think of going inside! The next time I'm in Arroyo Seco I'll be sure to stop by and see the altar screen.

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Santuario de Chimayo

Santuario de Chimayo, Autumn

11x14 oil

(painted on location)

In early October of 2008 I was privileged to spend a day in Chimayo, New Mexico. After a deeply moving visit to the santuario, two friends and I set up our easels and painted in the warm sun. I chose to paint this side view under a tree next to a babbling stream. What a wonderful day.

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." -Henry Ward Beecher. This is my journey of dipping my brush into my own soul and painting what I find. I have a passion for our American West and those landscapes are my primary focus. But, averaging 6-8 weeks of travel a year, I will paint whereever I am. I usually paint on location, i.e. plein air, but also revel in taking a plein air study and my photographs and using them to create a large, more thoughtful, studio work. In addition to bold brushwork and vibrant color, the power of the composition is becoming more important to my work. The work of Vincent Van Gogh, Maynard Dixon, Edgar Payne, Birger Sandzen, and Walt Gonske has been a huge inspiration to me.

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