The Grand Prismatic Pool - Yellowstone

Grand Prismatic - Yellowstone

6x8in  oil on canvas panel  $125.

If you are wondering what on earth this is besides color, you will not be alone.
This is abstract by nature and execution.
It is a composite from memory. One of the more difficult pieces I have done with
the fracturing technique...no scumbling the mist on here!

Of all the spots we went to in Yellowstone, this is the one which
made my heart beat
faster and my eyes and mind go into orbit.
Words seem inadequate to explain the surreal experience of walking in
and out of
mystical mists exposing gorgeous blues and turquoise
next to brilliant rust, orange and yellows
...only for them to disappear again.

If you have never been there, then check this video our friend and guide, Dave Hon, made.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSYalb-tmq4


Huge crowds gather to watch Old Faithful blow a plain white blast into the sky,
but it has nothing on the emotional level of this misty beauty of power and color.
In my humble opinion of course...

A Waterfall Somewhere in Yellowstone.

A Waterfall Somewhere In Yellowstone.

8x6in  oil on canvas panel   $125.

Wish I knew where this was in the park.
Unlike the other paintings, there were no markers for this spot.
I was there at this time of year and the snow was still melting
in some shady spots. I remember the roar of this waterfall
and lots of foamy bubbles at the base.

Artist Note.

 It is hard to show the scale on something like this without plopping a
person on the rocks, but these fell about 10 feet.
Interesting thing about about scale. Without a comparison it can be hard for the
viewer to gauge the exact size of many things and artists can play with this to their advantage.

Tomorrow I am going for a spot of color with the Grand Prismatic Pool,
my hands down, favorite place in the park. It will have to be an abstract.

Soda Butte Creek - Yellowstone

Soda Butte Creek - Yellowstone.

6x8in  oil on canvas board  $125.

Stopped and ate lunch by the creek
at Warm Springs Campground near the north east entrance to the park

Artist Note.

This was painted from a watercolor sketch in my book. Across the creek it
was cool and dark with light areas filtering through.
The other page is from the same spot, but looking outside the campground at the creek. 
I should imagine that is the "Butte" the creek originates from.
One view is intimate and the other 
quite the opposite. I sat and painted both views during a picnic lunch. Two, very patient
men with me. Their job was to watch out for bears!

The problem when painting from these little sketches is
figuring out what I had not done in detail. Like the exact type and color of rocks.
I should have made notes!
I did have the tiered, waterfall effect and the warm areas in the sun to follow.
I rearranged the rocks for better design.
I am getting more comfortable with doing landscapes with the fracturing.

I am having problems with blogger leaving some type in a white block
Does anyone know why this is?

Lower Falls - Yellowstone

Lower Falls - Yellowstone

8x6in  oil on canvas board   $125.

Simplified painting of the Lower Falls from Artist Point in
Yellowstone.


Artist Note.


If this looks a bit different than what you are used to seeing
from me, you are right, it is. I usually go from this simplified stage
into more fracturing.


I am painting these two ( yesterday and today) Yellowstone paintings
from my sketchbook.  Today's watercolor reference is below.

 Notice the detail - every tree is shown,  so when I started to paint
I found I wanted to say more about the sun hitting the falls than I did
anything else. So I pushed color and found a harmony which speaks
to me of sunshine and shadows. I have a wonderful new blue.
Ocean Blue by LaFranc. It has Thalo in it, but is modified to perfection!

Short story.
I was standing painting the view of the falls, totally absorbed and when
I had finished I heard applause so I turned round and a whole group of
Japanese tourists had been stood watching me paint. They had never
disturbed me, respecting my concentration. I was amazed thinking how you
would never get anyone else to be that considerate, but then I had to line up
with each of them while they they took a photo with me and my little painting
with each of them and I thought THAT would never have happened either!

Waterfall at Sylvan Pass - Yellowstone.

Waterfall at Sylvan Pass - Yellowstone.

8x6in oil on canvas panel   $125.  SOLD

This was painted from one of my watercolor sketches.
I am going to paint this again as I do not feel I captured
the correct height.
I am enjoying painting landscapes with water in them.

Taos Stream

Taos Stream

6x8in oil on canvas board  $125.

This was painted from a photo and memory.
The shower has just passed over and the air was clean and oh... so fresh.

Artist Note.

When I paint from one of my photos, I close my eyes and try to go
back to what I was feeling when I took it.
This is a lovely little stream just on the outskirts of Taos, N.M.
I remembered the sounds of the water and smell of the wet earth .
There was a breeze and a tractor starting back up after the rain.
It was the red of the wild flowers which attracted me.
They were fenced off so I never knew what they were,
but they sure looked like poppies.

Aspen Stream

Aspen Stream

6x8in oil on canvas panel  $125. SOLD

I was invited to paint with a friend today in her beautiful new studio.
It was wonderful.

Artist Note.

Fracturing landscapes is interesting. I am going to have to do quite a few
of them to learn the ins and outs.
When I was painting the water I found I could quickly lose the wet look.
The waterfall came and went so lots of scraping off and
starting again on this one.
I did enjoy painting it and learned some neat stuff, but feel I need to do
more of them before I offer some techniques.

Young Trees ll

Young Trees ll

6x8in oil on canvas board  $125.


This is from a photo I took in the spring of these lovely young trees
growing by a dry stream bed at the base of our local mountains.
When the monsoons start next month, the stream will become alive
with nourishment for them...just in time.

Follow The Sun?

Follow the Sun?

6x8in  oil on canvas board   $125. SOLD

I always believed that sunflowers turn to follow the sun only to read
that once they have bloomed they stay facing east (where
the sun rises.) It is only the buds and leaves which turn to follow the sun.
Don't believe me?  check wikipedia.

I did find out that their origin was Mexico and they are now grown
all over the world - climate permitting. Neat.

Artist Note.

I cannot imagine art without Van Gogh's sunflowers.
Remember his quote:
There is no blue without orange, without yellow.
Brilliant!

Shawl and Silver Bowl

Shawl and Silver Bowl

Graphite. 6x6in

Commission. SOLD

This is the shawl I love to paint in egg tempera.

The request was to make a pencil drawing with emphasis on the fringe.
This particular collector loves realism and I had a hard time suggesting the fringe
without making every single strand too obvious. I was concerned it was not
precise enough, but she loved it.

Artist Note.

There is a lot of repeat diamond and triangle shapes
in both the positive and negative areas. Squint
to see them. Start with the inside of the bowl...then the outside...
and on and on.
Hard to photograph the pencil so the dark contrasts look harsher than they are.

Back to oils....