Tuesday, January 18, 2011

"Shadow Study"


5" x 7"

Oil on panel


This was my last painting of the day. I started this one with the knowledge that it was getting late and I probably wouldn't finish it, so I worked fast, trying to get as much on the panel as I could before everything was lost in shadows. When I got home, I was pretty pleased with it and I decided to call it finished. Sometimes trying to get to a more "finished" state, it's easy to cover up what made the painting fresh and bold in the first place.

Monday, January 17, 2011

"Winter Sun"


6" x 6"

Oil on panel



From another fine day in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was ok sitting and painting in the shadows, but I forgot my prescription sunglasses and thought I was going to go snow-blind while I was snow-shoeing around.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

"Indian Peaks Thaw"


5" x 7"

Oil on panel


This is from a photo I took on the trail up to Lake Isabel a couple of years ago on the first day of July.

Monday, January 10, 2011

"Twin Peaks"


6" x 6"

Oil on panel



Longs Peak an Mount Meeker - iconic backdrop to life along the Front Range.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Thursday, January 6, 2011

"New Years Day"


8" x 10"

Oil on panel



I love this time of year! In the high country, the wind sculpts the snow into wonderous waves and hills and hollows, cliffs and ripples - and the low angle of the sun accentuates everything with long, blue shadows. Many days are overcast of stormy, but every so often, a perfect day comes along - warm and still and clear - those are the days I live for.

Monday, January 3, 2011

"Late Afternoon Near Glacier Creek"


5" x7"

Oil on panel



Well, I really enjoyed my time off with my son, but I'm looking forward to painting and posting in the new year.

This first painting for the new year was painted in Rocky Mountain National Park, near Glacier Creek. It had been cloudy and stormy for a couple of weeks and this was the first clear day. I snow-shoed off the trail a ways and started this one when the shadows were getting long. By the time I finished, I had lost the sunlight, (because of the high peaks just to the west, this happens about 3:30pm this time of year) and it made me think how easy it would be to head back too late and not be able to find the trail again. Thankfully, the times when I have headed back too late, nothing has ever happened to me - still - it made me think I should pay a little more attention sometimes.