Patches

Patches, oil on canvas, 9x12"

It hasn't snowed here in a while but when it did I went out to photograph some fields and a small lake nearby. Even though I thoroughly enjoy painting outside in the snow, it was much too blustery during this last batch.  Here is an active field, shut down and enjoying the peaceful silence.

Rows of Snow

Rows of Snow, oil on Arches oil paper, 12 x 16"

I have painted this scene before, a smaller version during the 30/30 challenge.  This time I interpreted it during winter with snow.  The red barn stands in the field alone. Everything else can't withstand the cold. 

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!

Winter Park Road

Winter Park Road, oil on gessobord, 6x6"

Here is another painting I took while being navigated through my local Olmstead Park during the last snow we had in Louisville. I actually painted this exact spot during the fall, because at the right time of the day the sun blasts the trees and all their color.View the Fall version here . It's hard to drive because you are too busy looking at the leaves changing!  I thought the snow was equally as beautiful so I painted it too.

Snow Multipaths

Snow Multipaths, oil on gessobord, 6x6"

Here is one more from the now thawed snow.  This was such a dreary rainy day; the snow's "pretty" stage was well past. But, in the monochromatic image that I worked from, there was beautiful color in the tracks (if you looked really hard, and squinted) as well as the left over fall leaves that refused to leave their home. I don't blame them....the view is always better from above :-)

Sketch, Beargrass creek through Cherokee Park

Sketch, Beargrass creek through Cherokee Park
oil on gessobord, 6x6"

I'm glad to be back up and running after over a week off due to computer problems.  I had a hard time trying to continue without what has become a necessary vice in today's world. Other than needing my computer daily for my 8-5 daily job, I lamented daily that I didn't have it for posting. I mean, what good is a painting if no one sees it :-)

This little painting comes straight from working en plein air during the snow. I was in an extremely peaceful spot where none even saw me. That was a nice feeling, and had I brought a stool to take a few breaks with, I would have been there all day. Now that I have officially broken in my outdoor gear for the new year, I have an itch to get out frequently. And with the days getting are getting longer so I may actually have more of an opportunity to do so after work.

Vacant

Vacant, oil on gessobord, 9x12"

Done on an extremely cold day, when I seemed to be channelling Cezanne.  Would love to paint en plain air but it's 5 degrees! This is a 9x12", larger than I normally paint. I am offering it for $250

Winter's Peaceful Energy

Winter's Peaceful Energy, oil on gessobord, 6"x6"

Snow on the ground, snow in the sky and more to come today.  I will never get tired though, of the peace that comes from a beautiful snowfall. I tried convey this with "Winter's Peaceful Energy".

Snow Tracks in the Alley

Snow Tracks in the Alley, oil on gessobord, 5x7"

The winter has been hard, long, gray but it has given me a lot of ideas and photos to hopefully paint from until spring rears it's beautiful head.  There are two old garages across the alley from my own old garage. On one pitifully gray, snow falling day, they gave me a nice jolt of color when I was taking the garbage out.

Sunny Snowfall

Sunny Snowfall, oil on gessobord, 6"x6"

Surprise! Snow has overtaken the eastern half of the U.S.

I attempted to make the most of it by taking some photos at the first peek of sunshine.  Normally, I enjoy the snow, but this last one did me in with it's accompanying freezing temps. The streets have ended up with jagged clumps of frozen snow which are not fun to drive on each day.

This tree was standing still, casting it's playful shadows. It looked very cheerful against the short-lived blue skies which quickly turned back to gray.

Snowy Road

Snowy Road, oil on gessobord, 10 x 10"

I started working finally on one of the "bigger" Ampersand gessobords that I bought myself for christmas. It is a bit of an adjustment, but at the same time it felt like it was the right time to paint a bit bigger.  People have asked me in many different, creative ways why I don't paint in a larger format.  The main reason is money.  When I decided to paint on a daily basis, I really attempted to complete at least one work per day, and the only way I could afford that was to paint small.  Oil paint itself is a huge expense and the gessobords that I use and love, rapidly escalates in price as the size increases. So I have to wait until I can splurge on a bigger size board. It's pretty simple. 

Snowy Road took about four days to complete all in all. I will let the pictures speak for themselves; they document the painting as it evolved.  I loved painting the snow as it was waaaay more colorful then the naked eye can see!

Snowy Road day 3

Snowy Road day 1

 Snowy Road, sketch

Blue Soul

Blue Soul, Oil on Gessobord, 6x8 inches

I bought a beautiful blue tube of paint over the weekend and wanted to try it out.  I have finally mixed the blue that I envisioned.  This fork leads to the Ohio River on the Indiana side of the bridge, in my neck of the woods.  The forest sat in the middle of winter last year amongst a patch of still-not melted snow.  Because the sun was setting and casting immense light on the white beech trees, they looked like they were coated in snow. It was just their beautiful, natural color.

First Snow

First Snow, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

The first snow is always so beautiful to me. I have to get out of the house to cross-country ski, walk, or in days of yore, I would go for a run. This particular day my hands were almost completely frozen and not for the lack of my oversized ski gIoves.  I took a photo looking straight up to capture the day; leafless trees replaced with cold snow, clean, blue sky and rapidly moving clouds which resulted in this colorful, soothing painting.

On a different note....the good news is I just bought a pochade box and utility tray to mount on a tripod to paint en plein air. I am excited about how an entirely  new dimension(s) could be brought to my work, by painting outside. The bad news is we are supposedly in round two of the polar vortex winter from hell. Uhg!