Sunset on Ice, 12x24, oil on canvas, NFS

This is the last post of the year and the last of the Christmas presents painted this year. It is the first sunset I've ever painted and was a little concerned it would look artificial, but it came out pretty good.

Home Grown, 24x36, oil on canvas, NFS

This is the last of the painted Christmas presents for this year. I made it up to fit a particular spot in a particular house. I first did a small study and then painted this large version of it. It was very enjoyable to paint large and intuitively. ( I hope it looks good in the house!)

You Say Tomato, I Say Tomahto, 16x20, oil on canvas

This was a totally fun painting to do. I had a great time playing around with the colors in the shadows and highlights. 

Soon to come - fantasy flower.

Snowy Day at Sharon's, 36x24, oil on canvas, $1700

This is a painting I did from a small plein air study in the backyard of my friend Sharon's house on a morning when the snow started coming down really hard. We left soon after so we wouldn't get stuck in her pasture.

Nicole's Sunflowers, 16x20, oil on canvas, NFS

Well, its been awhile since I posted anything - lots of Christmas painting going on. I had fun painting these for something different. I'm still working on my very small oil sketches and trying to figure out the cool/warm relationships. But these are fun! Wait till you see the tomatoes . . . 

Evening Shadows, 8x10, oil on canvas

This is another painting done from a smaller study. I am looking forward to practicing some more with the paint textures.

Autumn in Wyoming, 9x12, oil on canvas

This is a painting I did recently from a smaller thumbnail painting of the scene. At first it was challenging to paint so small (2x3 or thereabouts), and then it was beginning to be challenging to go back to something a little bigger. So, I'll just have to do a variety of sizes.

Cheyenne Botanical Garden, 9x12, pastel on sanded paper

This is the first painting I did in Cheyenne. I had no idea where to go to paint and so I just drove around until I saw something that looked inviting. I found my way into the place and chose this spot to paint. After I set up my equipment and had been painting for about 15 minutes I heard an increasingly loud roar approaching. It was so loud I was more than startled, and a little uneasy. Then a huge armed forces plane flew right over my head close enough for me to read the letters on the bottom! I was right next to the airport and there were planes taking off on this route about every 20 minutes for the rest of my time there! Needless to say I found a different place to paint the following day.

Kilty's Barn, 6x9, pastel on sanded paper

This is another from the plein air event in Cheyenne this summer. I have been working on some small oil studies, trying to understand how color works a bit better, but don't want to post any of them yet - just a bit more study. I find pastels very easy and I'd like to get as comfortable with oils. 

Rocks and River, 11x14, oil on board, SOLD

This painting was done mainly with palette knife. I have found that I like using a palette knife on this type of rock painting. The knife lends itself to the sharp edges of rock very nicely.

Lily Pads and Gazeebo, 9x12, pastel on sanded paper, SOLD

This is one of the first pastels I did this summer at the inaugural Wyoming plein air event. I was at the Botanical Gardens in Cheyenne. There were artists and scenes all over the place. 

Yellow Rocks and Sagebrush, 16x20, pastel on board

I have looked at these rocks in all seasons and always wanted to paint them. I was happy with the colors I got when I layered the pastel on the sunny side of this ridge. Next time I paint them I will use oil and hopefully it will be after a dusting of snow. Those colors are amazing!

White Rocks 2, 9x12, pastel on sanded paper

Yes, another pastel. I really like these rocks. Wyoming is full of interesting rock formations. This was another day and later in the day than White Rocks 1.It was also later in the summer. We painted for about two hours and packed up when it got too hot. Hope you enjoy this one.

Evening at Pathfinder, 8x10, pastel on sanded paper

Another pastel. I really had a pastel binge this summer. This painting was done on our overnight camping trip to Pathfinder Reservoir - a much needed break. I am very fond of this painting for the soft color of the evening light.

White Rocks 1, 9x12, pastel on sanded paper

This is a rock outcropping near the town of Glenrock. I had driven by the spot many times and never noticed because its tucked away behind some hills. It was one of the first pastel paintings I did this year after a 5 year time of painting only in oils. It was good to use pastels again - I like the immediacy of the medium, but I'm still hooked on oils.

Home Turf, 8x10 pastel on sanded paper, SOLD

This pastel painting was done on location about 7 miles from my home.  I did it after a weekend in Cheyenne at my first plein air painting competition.  The following weekend this painting received an honorable mention at the opening of the show. I was very pleased!

Cottonwoods, 11x14, oil on board

This is a scene not too far from my house. It was a perfect autumn day with no wind to contend with - it was great!

I painted this using a palette knife, so it has lots of texture. I like using a palette knife at times because the color is rich.