A Study of Rocks

"A Study of Rocks"

Oil on canvas board

10x20

sold 

This was a good excercise in painting rocks--one of my favorite subjects.  I took the photo several years ago in Colorado while on a hike.  I used different colors than I've used before to paint the rocks and I like the results.  I'm always experimenting with new color combinations--it makes life interesting!

Telluride

"Telluride"

oil on canvas board

9x12

sold 

I am teaching another workshop this coming weekend and painted this scene in preparation.  I'm planning on painting this scene of the river in Telluride, Colorado, for a demonstration.  I worked from a photo I took years ago on a jeep trip to Telluride.  We usually camp in Ouray, and take jeeping trips over the old mining roads throughout the area.  The scenery is amazing, especially with the fall foliage!

Follow the Leader

Follow the Leader"

oil on canvas

11x14

sold

Today I finished this painting of a small bison calf following the bull of the herd.  I am glad to be finally back to painting after our summer trips to Colorado and Iowa.  I taught a one day workshop in Weatherford, Oklahoma on the 22nd of last month and have been catching up on projects around the house.  I had painted this subject a few years ago and decided to try it again.  The results were quite different the second time around.

 "Ragged Fence"

9x12

oil on canvas board

sold

I've been asked to teach a worshop this month and I'm trying to prepare for it.  I've been painting small paintings to find a subject that would work well for a demonstration.  This is the scene I've finally chosen to paint.  I panic when someone asks me to teach.  I'm not sure how much of a system I've developed to ensure a good painting.  I mostly just solve problems as they come up.  Hopefully I can teach them something worthwhile.

"Cool Waters"

9x12

oil on canvas board

sold

This was one of the paintings I did to prepare for the workshop.  I don't think I'll demonstrate painting this one.  It might be too difficult for the students.  I decided to paint this one in bright greens--colors I seldom use since we live in Southwest Oklahoma.  We just got back from a trip to Colorado and Iowa where we saw some breathtaking greens--so refreshing to the eyes!

"The Narrows"

24x32

oil on canvas board

Once again, I repainted an old canvas.  I painted the first version in 2009 and it just seemed too cool in color to me.  So I took off the frame and tried again!  That was not an easy process, as I discovered that the framer had nailed the painting into the frame with quite a few nails!  This is a scene from the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.  I warmed up the color of the cliffs and the trees and darkened the crevises in the side of the cliffs.  I put a bit more detail in the background, putting in warm green trees.  Then I lightened up the water and the ground in the valley.  I also lightened up the mountains in the far background.  The light on the cliffs seemed to be a bit stark, so I changed the color from a yellow-white to a softer lavender.  Hopefully I can finally sell this monster.  This is the largest painting I've ever painted.  I was advised by several people that I ought to paint larger paintings, but they just don't seem to sell.  People around here don't want to spend much money on paintings.  

"Zion Morning"

12x16

oil on canvas board

sold

I painted the top painting in 2010 and was not pleased with it, so I decided to repaint it.  The bottom painting is the edited version.  I enjoy repainting canvases from time to time to see if I can improve on what was painted years ago.  The colors are warmer in the second version and the river has better reflections in it.  I do like the second painting better--hopefully I am getting better at expressing myself in oils.

"I Lift Up My Eyes to the Hills"

oil on canvas board

20x10
$140

This is a scene from the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge--one of my favorite areas to paint.  This particular scene is found on the trail to the Narrows.  There is a place overlooking the stream that has plenty of rocks on which to sit and enjoy the view.  I started this painting before I attended the Edmond Art Show and finished it after I returned.  I did well at the show despite the cold windy weather--I sold 10 paintings!  Now I am inspired to paint more.  I always enjoy visiting with my fellow artists and I picked up a few painting tips from them as well.