Sunlit Willow

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The willow tree is one of my favorites. I love the shape of the tree, it's tiny leaves that glimmer in the sunlight and the very sturdy trunk and branches that are low hanging to the ground. I like how this tree was sunlit from the back and how the grasses in the fields are starting to turn into their fall colors, ready to go dormant for the winter. My goal was to capture the feeling of movement in the branches and the sunlight behind them.

The painting is painted on Arches oil paper.  It is a paper that is treated so the oil in the paint does not bleed through.  I like using this paper when I am trying something new or just want to experiment.
The oil does seem to soak into the paper more than other supports,  but I've enjoyed using it.

ENJOY!!

Late Summer Pastures

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I finished this painting today after a plein air session in one of my favorite spots to paint.  I love the ranchland in and around the Heber Valley where we live in Utah.  I am trying to paint there as often as possible these days.  Rumor has it that a major highway is going to split this area up.   It is needed in the name of progress in order to relieve traffic backups in Heber City.  I will be sorry to see this area destroyed but have lived through many such destructions to our lands.

 The farm that my parents owned was taken from them (by Imminent Domain) back in the '70s for a new power plant that was built along the river in Indiana.  We fought hard to keep the land,  but the locals thought this progress would be good for the rural area, bringing jobs and new businesses.  All it really did was bring more pollution and did nothing to bring more jobs after the plant was finished. 

I'm hoping some of these beautiful lands remain to survive this progress.

ENJOY THE BEAUTY WHILE YOU CAN!!

Summit Park Hike

The inspiration for this painting is from a hike in the surrounding neighborhood where we live in Utah.  I am so impressed by the work of Deb Komitor, and her beautiful paintings of the landscape that I decided to give her technique a try.  She paints her works on a black background and they are just so stunning and lovely to view.  I love how she makes the forest look so inviting, and I hope by using this technique that I can bring the same mood to my works.  Hope you ENJOY!!

Birthday Tomatoes

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Today is my birthday, and I celebrated by doing one of my favorite things....painting.  The subject is also one of my favorite summer fruits.  The ones in the grocery store are what I used in this painting, but my favorite are those wonderful summer-kissed-with-flavor tomatoes that only come during the tomato season, late summer.  I have such good memories of growing up with bummer crops of tomatoes from our families garden.  My mother canned loads and loads of them for use in the winter and even made her own ketchup.  In fact,  I don't remember ever having store bought ketchup unless we went out to eat somewhere.  Her ketchup was deep red in color and very tangy and spicy.  It made the entire house smell wonderful. 

I used the complement of red for the background in the painting, a sure way to get those tomatoes to really pop.  I also used a warm reddish brown color to tone the board ensuring the painting would take on those warm tones.  For lighting,  I made sure to use a neutral colored bulb so the colors would remain true.

I am attempting to paint in a looser style and the more I paint and the more frequently I paint, I am beginning to see some welcome changes.  I am seeing the benefit of painting often and actually get grumpy if a day goes by when I don't put in some paint time.  How's that for dedication?

I love the work of Carol Marine,  the founder of Daily Paintworks, and I often read her materials for inspiration.  Thanks Carol for giving me a platform on which to show my small works!

ENJOY !!😀

Sign of Summer

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My latest painting is of this beautiful sunflower.  I love them for their sturdy structure and the fact that they last so long as a cut flower.  I am attempting to paint in a looser style like many of the artists I admire on the dailypaintworks.com web-site.  Since my training is in design,  I learned to be an exacting draftsman, so much of my former work in drawing is very detailed..  While I love detail,  I find that as I mature is my style, I am looking to the impressionists and how they paint as more desirable.

Have a great day filled with sunshine.  ENJOY!!

Whistling Marmot

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I see these marmots every day when I'm out on my walks.  They hide in the large boulders lining the street and peek out at us as we pass by.  Their whistle sounds exactly like a smoke alarm battery failing.  It has fooled me many times into believing I need to change batteries!! This is painted on a canvas panel that was toned in burnt sienna.

ENJOY!!

RedRock Spring

A recent hike brought me by this grouping of trees and rocks that I found very pleasing.  I like how the trunks of the aspens stood out in front of the cedar trees and how the red rocks complimented the color of the surrounding greens.  Below is the finished painting, a small work that just might become a larger piece.        

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ENJOY!!