Behind the Grasses

"Behind the Grasses", oil on hardboard, 9x12"

A white barn, highly lit by the sun, hidden behind a sea of wheat and other grasses appeared abandoned when I shot this photo last month.  I think barns tend to exude that feeling.  Contrasted with the organic elements, I found this to be an interesting subject matter.  

Blanketed

Blanketed, oil on gessoed watercolor paper, 9x12"

day 16, 30 paintings/30 days

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I felt the need to resurrect myself after being unhappy with the results of yesterday's painting post. I worked bigger and looser on Blanketed. I feel like I am half-way to the point in painting of where I would like to be, as far as loose application and brushstrokes  I guess the answer to that is to keep painting!

Contrast

Contrast, oil on gessoed watercolor paper, 9x12"

day 14, 30 paintings, 30 days

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The dark blue under the clouds was actually the stormy sky breaking through under the swift clouds. My kind of scene!

Capital Reef Cow 2

Capital Reef Cow 2, oil on gessoed watercolor paper, 9x12"

day 11, 30 paintings/30 days

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I zoomed in on a magnificently vast scene to create this painting. Capital Reef National park has many signs throughout its boundaries informing visitors of free-range cows, which is something I found fascinating. To me it signified no boundaries, literally and figuratively, an idea that I love, especially when it comes to finding a place to paint.

Red on Green

"Red on green"

oil on gessoed board

9x12"

200

Sometime when you fall into a ballpit of lemons, you do come face-to-face with the one lemon that will give you a pitcher of lemonade (after you add the water and sugar).  Or whatever that expression is.  I painted last night to the point of an extreme headache, and overwhelming fibromyalgic pain, without finishing what I set out to do. This morning, nature awoke me at 5 (not unusual), so that I could go back into the studio to feel accomplished before heading into work. This is fresh off the easel and not the best photo of it. Still I'm excited about this painting. What say ye?

Cove Jut

Cove Jut, oil on gessobord, 9x12"

So I had a few days in a row of painting en plein air which was so rewarding.  I got to be outside for entire days, and I got to paint for entire days, which I rarely get to do.  I went to a lake in Indiana, and because it was a Monday in September, I could have counted the people that I ran into on one hand.  Due to high water, some of the areas I would have sought out were closed.  I did find a small-craft launch, like kayak and canoe size, that had enough flat to set up my easel. The ramp had these little juts on each side of me, so I painted them both as the sun moved overhead.  They caught my eye because each was lined with cedar trees, one with living trees, the other with dead and brown trees. These are the living. 

Road to Moab, 2

Heading into Moab, 2, oil on gessoed board, 9x12"

These red rocks are embedded into my heart. It is the same part of the chain from my pastel drawing Heading into Moab from earlier this week. The colors, formations, sage and sky speak for themselves. 

Sprague Lake Reeds

Sprague Lake Reeds, oil on gessoed board, 9x12"

Sprague lake was one of those places on my recent trip that put me on senses overload.  We were finally to Rocky Mountain National Park by evening and had enough time before the sun set to take a small but beautiful hike.  Sprague is a shallow lake that attracts fly fisherman who stood like statues, casting long shadows.  It has several layers of illuminated reeds and shore boulders on one side.  And that was just the beginning of the trail!
This painting, however, almost bit the dust several times during the process of painting.  I am not that adept yet with painting water....despite giving it many shots.  I took a photo of the painting in progress and sent it to Hugh, now in college in St. Louis, telling him I was at a standstill. He gave me some simple advice on "fixing" the water, and 10 minutes later I had a painting that I liked. Just a bit more touch-ups and it was done.  I will say that I normally don't get so detail-y, but felt with the reeds, I couldn't do them justice without it this time.  I am thrilled though, at how "un-detail-y" the background is, basically the initial wash I put down, with a small bit of touch-up.

Heading into Moab

Heading into Moab, pastel on paper, 9x12"

I enjoyed the pastel sketches I did on site(s) during my trip trip.   I have been feeling under the weather today, so I decided to take a paint-break and work with pastels again. This "wall" of red rocks was one of the views on the twisty road into Moab.  I was taking non-stop photos as we rounded one amazing turn after the other. I liked them all, as usual :-)