Salinas Missions 2.0

"Mission Ruins at Quarai" 12 x 12 oil on canvas

Like my previous entry, I've painted this image before (over a year ago) but it has really stuck with me. I love the stark separation of the shadow and highlights and how they are connected as a continuous shape. My first attempt was 8"x 8" and I felt like a larger treatment was in order. I also was not satisfied with how the shadow areas turned out the first time around. I'm much happier with this one. Note: this piece has been accepted in the 2013 Salon International Exhibition at the Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio, Texas.

It reads easily as a black and white value statement.

Taking One to the Next Level

FALL COLOR • BIG CEDAR • DOGWOOD CANYON

"Autumn Portal" 18 x 18, oil on canvas

When I was painting this scene from life at the Big Cedar Paint Out, I knew it was one I would want to do larger when I got back to the studio. The original sold at the event so I was left to work with a couple of photos of the plein air piece and the scene, neither of which did it justice. The rest would be up to memory and imagination. It's one of my most ambitious paintings to date. After the block in of the shadow areas I finished it in sections so that I could work wet in wet throughout. Besides the natural harmony of the scene, I tried to use the fall leaves to connect it all together. I also reserved the lightest lights, darkest shadows and most intense color for inside the archway and upstream.

Winter Still Life Retreat

 After a couple of months painting alone in the studio, I gladly accepted John Lasater's invitation to join him and Jason Sacran for still life painting in his studio near Siloam Springs, Arkansas. They are both outstanding artists and I was hoping I could bring some encouragement or advice to the table also.

John liked to set up complex scenes and then crop in on them.

John's most ambitious painting still in progress. The photo does not do it justice.

Jason's first piece. His work defies labelling as either traditional or contemporary.

Jason finishing up his second painting, a daring composition.

For my first piece, I chose a traditional setup with complimentary colors.

My second painting, "No Cream, No Sugar" 9 x 12, oils.

To see more of John's work: http://home.centurytel.net/Lasater/home.html
To see more of Jason's work: www.jasonsacran.com

Getting Even Looser

SUNSET •  IMPRESSIONIST • AUGUSTA • MISSOURI

Transformation, 8 x 10, oil on canvas.

This is part of a series of paintings that I'm doing to force myself out of old habits. This time I did most of the painting with a palette knife but also added soft sable flats for modelling the paint. I photographed this spectacular sunset back in April and when I looked at my photos thought that it was too dramatic to paint. It took six months for me to even consider trying, which I guess makes it the perfect candidate for taking chances. First I toned the canvas with burnt sienna and wiped that down. I then painted the shadows in the lower portion with thin paint. Time to get crazy with the palette knife and all the brightest colors in the sky. After all that it was a push/pull of finding/losing edges and the play of cool vs. warm. I'm pleased with the moody, impressionistic results.