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.
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)
These are some of the newer miniatures from the end of 2017. I am very pleased with how the minis were received this past year. It was my first year at the Juneau Artists Gallery and it was a very good one. I do not plan to paint as many minis this year but rather focus on quick studies. But I still have more to add here over the next several days. Some of these will be turned into larger paintings. I think the larger photo of the ripples in the sand is one of my favorites. I will definitely be doing this one soon. (each mini is 2.5×3.5)
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.
I’ve been painting miniatures for a Gallery most of the year. Finally I have gotten to the point where I can begin working on some bigger pieces. 8×10 isn’t big, but it is much bigger than the minis. This is one of the wintry paintings I did to use as a Christmas card for this year. It is a view from the road looking toward the Mendenhall Glacier off in the distance. Always a beautiful place to stop for a photo!
This is another 10×8 oil of Mendenhall Glacier. I love this view from a large stream up the road as you approach the Glacier. There is often fog here and sometimes you can only catch a glimpse of the glacier itself, but it is very interesting to me when it is like this. There are always wonderful reflections in the areas of water around the glacier and this is one in particular that I like because of all the dead trees in the water, giving it a nice textural quality. As a note though, I find these trees extremely difficult to paint. I have found them very challenging. So in order to overcome this, I will be painting them quite a lot for practice ( =
In this 8×10 painting, I really wanted to push the warmth in the bushes to contrast all the cold in this scene. That part went pretty well, but I really struggled with the reflections in the ice. This is how it looks after 3 attempts at getting it right. At this point I have decided to let it dry before I do it again. It kind of amazes me sometimes, the things I struggle with. It certainly isn’t predictable. I am hoping that I can get it right on the fourth go round. we shall see. Anyone with helpful tips here is welcome to chime in ( =
Art with my Coffee 