Thursday 14th August 2008 - Ray's class

They say it takes 2 people to paint a picture - one to paint and another to say when it is finished. I finally finished my large painting of Maroon Bells in Colorado and Ray was the one to say "step away from the canvas". I may leave it a while before I attempt another landscape on this scale!

Maroon Bells - 30 x 40" - oil on canvas - $3,600

Thursday 31st July 2008 - Ray's class

Still working on this big old painting! I took it to Ray Vinella's class and he made some helpful suggestions. I painted out the clouds to emphasise the shape of the mountains, added more colour to the water in the lake and painted in the elk, which was great fun. I think one or maybe two more sessions will get this one finished.

Maroon Bells - 30 x 40" - oil on canvas - unfinished

Saturday 26th July 2008 - Habitat For Humanity Fundraiser

Busy day for me! I ran the portrait group in the morning - I'm not including the picture i did because I don't like it much) and then spent the afternoon at the Habitat for Humanity Fund-raising event at the San Geronimo Lodge. I hung a few framed pictures in the big room and had my clearance box next to where I was painting and sold a few so made a bit of space in my house and earned some cash for a good cause (and some for myself too)

I brought this painting of Maroon Bells along to work on. I started this one in Ray's class a couple of weeks ago and it still needs a lot of work on it. I'm coming to the conclusion that I prefer painting smaller pieces!

Maroon Bells - Oil on Canvas - 30 x 40 - unfinished

Thursday 12th June 2008 - Ray Vinella's class

My third class with Ray Vinella. I took these photographs over the weekend on my trip to Colorado; the evening sun on the mountains behind the big stage for the chilli cook-off and beer fest in Snowmass Village and the aspens taken from Independence Pass.

I'm really enjoying the class and I'm happy with the results so far. Ray really is a great teacher and we also have a lot of fun.

Evening light at Snowmass Village - oil on canvas - 10 x 20" - $600

Aspens from Independence Pass - oil on canvas - 14 x 11" - $475

Monday 15th October 2007 - Basalt Fall

Another day to paint in Colorado and i went up to look at Maroon Bells, a local beauty spot. It was fabulous, the red rock formations and the reflections in the lake but it was definitely winter and I wasn't really prepared for it, no hat, no gloves. Instead I drove down the valley where it was much more of a Fall scene and quite a lot warmer.

This is the view from the bridge going into Basalt. The Fall colours were wonderful and got prettier as the sun started to lower in the sky.

Basalt Fall - Oil on Canvas - 12x12" - $425