landscapes

Thursday 8th January 2009 - Ray Vinella's class

Not a bad start to the new year. I started this painting with Shari last week, we had lunch together for a catch up and then took a walk in the snow by this stream at a trailhead just outside of town. We were looking for a good spot to paint in, a good view with some sunshine on us to keep us warm but didn't find one - the good spots were all in the shade or on precarious looking ice. We took photographs and went back to my house, printed the photos up and worked in my warm studio instead.



At the end of the session I felt sure the painting could be better and took it to Ray's class yesterday to work on it some more. he made some good suggestions and I was much happier with it when I finished. Ray mostly encourages me to use brighter, stronger colour.



That lunch with Shari was at the sushi place north of town and I took a photograph of the teepee behind it on that bright sunny day with a recent fall of thick snow. I used that photograph to make this painting in Ray's session too. I think the feeling of light works well in this one.

Ice Bridge - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas - $750
Shelter from the Snow - 10 x 20" - oil on canvas - $795

Saturday 22nd November 2008 - Orange Trees

Again, something a little different. I've been wanting to push my composition and colour a little, to make my paintings more exciting and dramatic. I worked from a photograph I took a couple of weeks ago while the trees were still orange. I really liked the way the bright colour was contrasting with the blue of the distant hills behind.

Orange Trees - 20 x 20" - oil on canvas - $1,200

Monday 10th November 2008 - Fall Colours on the Rio Grande

Another chilly day in Taos, working in the gallery. I painted this one from a photo I took of the Rio Grande, a little south of Pilar.

I had an interesting conversation with a good friend and fellow artist, Rich Nichols. I had noticed that I paint differently when I'm in the gallery. Something to do with being interrupted and strangely I find it easier to focus on smaller details than when I am solely focussed on painting or out painting Plein Aire. I enjoyed painting in details like the rocks in the river and their reflections and the bushes and grasses by the water, whereas when I get into my usual painting flow, it's more about broad strokes. Rich said he paints the same way and usually does 80% of his paintings plein aire and then does the finishing in his studio in the gallery. I find this kind of thing fascinating.

Fall Colours on the Rio Grande - 12 x 16" - oil on canvas panel - sold

Tuesday 7th October 2008 - Golden trees

Jane and I went plein aire painting near a friend's house in Valle Escondido as she had told us that the trees next to the pond were in full autumn colour. We ran out of time so this one is so far unfinished.

Valle Escondido - 20 x 20" - oil on canvas - unfinished

Thursday 2nd October 2008 - Ray's

Finally finished this one of the Grand Canyon after 3 sessions on it at Ray's class. I took this photo a while ago while travelling in Arizona. I think I'll start a smaller piece next time...

Grand Canyon - 24 x 30" - oil on canvas - $1,750

Thursday 11th September 2008 - Misty Gorge

I painted this one over 2 sessions at Ray's class. I originally did a small painting of 8 x 10" on the day I took the photo. This piece sold in a fundraiser at the Country Club last year. I thought a larger sized piece would work quite well - not as big as the 30 x 40 Elk at Maroon Bells but still larger than I usually paint landscapes.

I really enjoyed the colour mixing for the gorge and sky in the distance. I told Ray that I was going to paint the sky a shade of orange and he fought me all the way but when it was done he agreed with me that it worked.

Misty Gorge - 24 x 30" - oil on canvas - sold

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

Tuesday 3rd June 2008 - Irises in Paule's Garden

I painted this spot this time last year and Paule said she would invite us over to paint when the Irises were in bloom again, they look so pretty reflected in the water. The painting I did of this last year sold quickly and i got many calls and e-mails about it afterwards.



It was a hot day, Jane, Peggy, Michelle and Shari had the right idea and chose shady spots to paint in. Talk about mad dogs and englishmen - I stood in full sun to get the view i wanted and even with sunblock got a little sunburned. I did the smaller painting afterwards from under a tree.



An Englishwoman's garden in Taos - 20 x 20" - oil on canvas - $1,200
Reflections of Irises -8 x 10" - oil on canvas - $295

Monday 19th May 2008 - Arroyo Hondo

This is a favourite spot of mine. I also sold a painting I did here during the bank show in March, so maybe a lucky spot too - are artist's superstitious? Shari and I had a great morning's painting before the wind kicked in - typical for this time of year. I would rather paint in the cold or the rain than in the wind.



I was focussing on being more directional with my colour; not just reproducing what I'm seeing but pushing it a little. The mauve in the shadows of and branches of the sagebrush for example and heightening the oranges in the rock. I was enjoying painting a little more thickly, with fat juicy brushstrokes.

Arroyo Hndo - 20 x 20" - oil on canvas - $1,200

Saturday 26th April 2008 - Opaeka'a Falls

I got a little baked painting this one!



Opaeka'a Falls - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas - $575

Wednesday 23rd April 2008 - Ke'e Beach

This beach is on the Na'Pali Coast, the North side of Kauai. I had meant to stay for a sunset painting but I painted these 2 during the afternoon and was tired and hungry, too impatient to stay. if i have time I may go back for the sunset here before I leave as this is one of the few places where the sun sets over the water in driving distance from where I am staying.





Ke'e Beach 1 - 8 x 10" - oil on canvas - $295
Ke'e Beach 2 - 12 x 16" - oil on canvas - $575

Thursday 17th April 2008 - Kaua'i!

Here is my first Kaua'i painting, the Kilauea Lighthouse. This area is a bird sanctuary so there are lots of birds, particularly red footed boobies (great name!)



This was painted in the morning with a constant line of sightseers taking a look, taking photographs of me as well as the lighthouse. When they ask me to take photographs of them, rather than say 'please don't interrupt me, I'm painting!' I just show them my paint smeared hands and they find some one else.



Kilauea Lighthouse - 8 x 10" - oil on canvas - $295

Friday 25th January 2008 - The Gorge

A sunny warm day for January so i got together with Lina and Jane at the South overlook of the Gorge. Shari is still away in Kwaii getting married to Norbert and honeymooning.
If you are driving North to Taos from Albuquerque or Santa Fe, you come around a bend and this spectacular view is in front of you. There is a picnic spot and plenty of room to stop, so it is a busy area with people stopping to take photographs. We had several conversations with people who came over to see what we were doing.

I never get tired of painting this spot. it doesn't hurt that nearly every painting I have done from here has sold! The wind picked up as we were painting so not only did it feel colder, but painting out in the wind makes you feel crazy after a while. I was pleased with this one, particularly the different colours in the sky.

Gorge - oil on canvas - 10 x 20" - $600

Thursday 14th November 2007 - Truck

I met up with Shari and Jane at the Overland Ranch, just north of Taos and after a sushi lunch we got to painting. These beaten up old trucks are very New Mexico looking and great fun to paint with their different colours of paint and patches of rust.

Truck - 8x10" - oil on canvas - SOLD

Thursday 8th November 2007 - Arroyo Hondo

Another day out painting with Shari - we do make excellent painting buddies! This time we chose the Gorge view from next to the John Dunne Bridge beyond Arroyo Hondo, north of Taos.
We had a good walk around looking for the spot that most interested us. I nearly painted some fishermen who were a little south of me, they looked very interesting backlit, but I didn't fancy squinting into the sun and chose this scene instead. I really liked the reflections of the rocks in the water.
Arroyo Hondo - 16x12" - oil on canvas - sold

Wednesday 7th November 2007 - Wild River

On Tuesday night, a friend told me about the spectacular scenery at Wild River. I have been here over 2 years and had never been there. I suggested a day out to Shari and she was keen to check it out as well. We spent quite a long time hiking and exploring, looking ofr the perfect spots. The views of the Gorge here are like the ones near Taos only much bigger. We made plans to come back and paint a couple of the most spectacular views and do some of the hiking trails as well.

It was already into the afternoon when we set up to paint this view. As we were finishing and the sun went behind the cliff, it turned quite cold and it was nice to warm up with the heater on in the car. I feel very lucky to have such wonderful weather to paint in! I may come back and work on this one a little more.
Wild River - 16x12" - oil on canvas - unfinished