This is from a photo I took of a spot near my best friend. It is pretty farm country in central Maine. Again, I just love this snowy atmosphere where all the lines get blurred. It is challenging and thrilling to paint. I think I like to try to make it feel like I am enveloped in the painting sensing the snow all around me. This is an 8×10
This type of atmosphere in a picture really interests me. It is challenging because of the lack contrasting lights and darks, but I really find it interesting. I love to be outside on a snowy day like this or a really foggy day. There is just something about it that appeals to me. It seems like I have a lot of photos of fog or really atmospheric scenes. And they always call my name to be painted.
In this one I felt it was very helpful, interest wise, to have that bit of thicker paint to describe the snow in the foreground. It was something I added in later.
I love the woods. And I love painting them. I am continuing to challenge myself to paint them more often. I find them challenging but have taken some workshops by Phil Starke and they have been very helpful in many areas, but with trees in particular. I really like his teaching style and would suggest any painter check him out! He has a great way of explaining his thought process while he paints, and I find that very helpful.
This was a little piece that I did for a workshop. I really liked the soft atmosphere in this picture. I have not had much practice painting in this type of soft hazy lighting. but I really liked the effect here. It was challenging to stick with the softness and not think I needed to add any hard deep shadows. I think it was successful. It was also an opportunity to practice more bare trees, which was great!
These towers are spectacular and I am fortunate enough to be able to view them from my house. I love how the warm light bathes them in this glowing color. This was also good tree practice.
Sad story though, on the very day I painted this picture we had two young men go missing after reaching the top of the top. They posted a photo on Instagram and never made it back. The rescuers found their ropes and gear but as of yet, they have not located the men. Hopefully when the temps warm up a bit they will be able to find them.
Trees seem to be very challenging, but I am pretty sure they are my favorite subject. Therefore I must practice! This was an 8×8 study of a scene that was very muted and almost monochromatic because of the snowy atmosphere. I ended up using a palette knife on part of it to force myself to try to be loose. (8×8 Oil on board)
I love doing scenes like this that are very soft and subtle! They are usually challenging but rewarding. This is the Chilkat Mountain range here in Juneau. They are just spectacular, especially when snow-covered. This piece is a 5×7 oil on panel
This 8×10 oil painting was done so I could print some Christmas cards from it. It is one of my favorite types of scenes but also the most challenging. I am really looking forward to doing more of these paintings in 2018 and getting outside more to paint from life.
Mendenhall Glacier has become one of my primary subjects. It is only 3-4 miles from my home and always a beautiful place to take pictures. We have a lot of tourism here in Juneau so it also makes for a perfect painting subject to sell to tourists. Hence, my newest paintings are of the Glacier. This one is from a very clear bright day and very different than most days here. But I really liked this shot. All the colors are quite cool, but I tried to add a few touches of warmth in the green grasses and around the base of the most forward area on the left. I also used Pthalo blue in the Glacier, which is a rich, warm blue. (this is an 8×10 oil)
So recently I had the privilege to join the local Artist Gallery here in Juneau,AK. And I have lots of these little minis. So I’ve decided I’d better keep on painting them. There is no shortage of great, inspirational scenery here to paint. I almost never go out without my camera to keep lots of great photos on hand to choose from for painting. So the next several posts will be of more minis of local Juneau scenes. 
Art with my Coffee 