Black Mountain and Lake Tomahawk

Black Mountain and Lake Tomahawk, oil, 14x11"

I used a much bigger brush for the majority of this painting, and it was liberating.  It was a size 16 filbert instead of a 4 or 6 that I normally use. I found the 16 among some leftover supplies that my college kids didn't take with them and decided to give it a good home. It worked.  This photo reference is from the NC mountains, and a small lake.

Black Mountain, oil on board, 14x11"

I returned yesterday from NC full of inspiration. As a landscape painter, I am always invigorated by change of scenery, large expansive spaces containing small intimate shapes.  I tried to capture the light that took over the area for a few moments. The fields were illuminated and shaded by the swift clouds which made for some nice patchwork.

Transitioning Topography

Transitioning Topography, oil on Arches oil paper, 12x16"

The reference photo for this painting was taken somewhere after the Rockies, heading west, when the topography becomes more sculptural and red. Nature rocks!

It has been a nice week off from painting, but I am ready to get back to it. I have been cleaning and reorganizing my studio. I bought a large metal tool chest to hold my palette and turp on top and to hold all my paints and chemicals in the drawers and underneath. It came unassembled.  All I can say is, it took me over a week to do it. Never again. But then again, never say never!

Groomed

Groomed, oil on gessoed watercolor paper, 9x12"

day 6, 30 paintings/30 days

 This photo reference was taken was from the northern part of Sonoma County in California's wine country, near Healdsburg. It a wonderful place to visit. I would love to set up and paint en plein air soon, as those endless rows would put me in a painter's trance.

Passing through Vail

Passing through Vail, oil on gessoed board, 9x12"

When I started Passing through Vail from a relatively dark photo, I wasn't sure how it would turn out. I have been reading a lot about atmospheric perspective and how objects turn lighter or blueish to the naked eye, the further they are away.  When I was out West, I tried to recognize this with the distant views I was taking in, to apply it to my future paintings  I would be doing of the trip. The photo was taken while driving on the highway near Vail, CO. There was a small lake that held the reflection of the beautiful sky that day, with the Rockies on both sides. 

The Straight and the Narrow

The Straight and the Narrow, oil on gessobord, 9 x 14"

Over the weekend I participated in my first Art Fair-type event. My son and I spent a few hours setting up the evening before, and my good friend Lynn helped hang up the artwork the morning of, only to have the event overtaken by storms. Despite being disappointed for the sponsors of the event and for the lack of visitors, I learned quite a bit, and am contemplating another event. 
While still in my post-fair fog, I hid in my studio and painted a few bad paintings (a reflection of my mood I guess). Somewhere in all those bad ones this emerged...a road to somewhere. Maybe a metaphor, maybe just a road, in the middle of some beautiful plains headed to the mountains. Maybe yet, a hint of my future!?!