Student Painting of the Week: Walter's Forest

Unfortunately, this week I must say "Au Revoir" to my "beginner" student Walter, who is off to work at the Cirque du Soleil show (how cool is that?) in sunny Southern California. As a souvenir of his art time here in Denver, I had him work on his first abstract landscape acrylic painting of aspens and I think it's just fantastic. Great job Walter!

Walter was a natural painter from the start and never afraid of shapes, bold color mixing, or pattern as I think you can see here. Walter, we'll miss you in the studio, and I hope you enjoy this painting as a reminder of your time in Colorado for years to come. Keep on painting!

Good Morning Taos!

It's no secret that landscape painters all over the world fall in love with New Mexico. Even though I was only in New Mexico for a brief trip last week, I'm already missing the landscape and hoping I can return soon to take more photos.

The mornings in New Mexico are especially wonderful when it's sunny and you've got a spicy Mexican hot chocolate in hand!

This landscape painting was painted back in the studio from my photo references which I took just north of Taos. It's the kind of landscape that I find energizing and peaceful at the same time.

For Georgia

I finally had a chance last night to watch the Georgia O'Keeffe movie (on Lifetime) I had Tivo-ed over the weekend. While I would have liked to have seen more of Miss O'Keeffe painting--I found it very inspirational and moving. How often do you get to see a movie about a female painter?

My favorite scene is where, after an arduous trip from NYC, she wakes up in magical sunlit Taos. You just know she's not leaving after that.

While wandering the mesmerizing landscape she holds a skull up to the sky. In honor of that, I thought I'd post one of my skull paintings--this one in watercolor. I love to paint skulls, and like Georgia says in the movie, unlike real cows they don't smell.

My Big Debut

This month with the painters of Daily Painters Abstract Gallery, I'm in my first full page international ad in American Art Collector magazine. I've just returned from Santa Fe and was thrilled to see the magazine and the ad in one of the galleries on Canyon Road.

Since the ad is a collage I wanted to post a larger format image of the abstract painting featured in the ad here, it's one of my favorite abstract color studies. Welcome to any new visitors from the magazine!

"Infinite Possibilities" oil on canvas, 36 x 48, for purchase information please contact me.

Viva la Violets

This time of year I really start to get the urge to paint on location if I can find the time. This small oil landscape was the result my landscape workshop with fantastic landscape painter, Tim Deibler in the La Veta/Spanish Peaks area.

With wind, sun, bugs, bears--yes bears--it was a challenging, but amazing place to paint. Again, my apologies to Tim again for any foul language I may have used. But in the end, it was absolutely worth it.

P.S. Tim's book on landscape painting, Capturing the Seasons in Oil, is also excellent.

Wishful Thinking

It's been a while since I posted a cat painting and this is one of my favorites.

For this layered acrylic painting, I thought it would be interesting to paint a white, but colorful cat against a dark background. I added the blue feather in the corner at the end just for fun.

Wishful Thinking: 18 x 24 acrylic on panel, Private Collection

Perfectly Red Thank You

Purely by creative serendipity, I came across these wonderful and whimsical red owl note cards from Lemon Drop Studio available on Etsy--one of my favorite places to shop online for artistic, one of a kind items.

Obviously, these cards were the perfect match for my Scarlet Owl Studio. I promise the next art order I receive, you'll get to see one of these in person! I just wanted to give Shauna a shout out if you are looking for some unique and beautifully-designed handmade note cards (she has a wide variety of cool designs) be sure to visit her Etsy store. Thanks again Shauna!

Falling Forward

I have a confession to make. As much as I love landscape painting, I'm not the world's most tolerant plein air painter. For me, plein air is the "camping" of painting, where my cozy in home studio is the Ritz. I really have to give props to those die hard plein air painters that the West is known for.

Once it a while though, despite the maddening light changes, bugs, wind, etc. as all plein air painters know--it's all worth it.

In anticipation of fall, here's a plein air painting of my beloved Washington Park. True, I did not stray more than a few blocks away, but I was outside and that always makes for a very special painting. I'm pledging here to try it again in a few weeks--though I may have lounge chair and a Starbucks mocha (with extra cinnamon) in hand.

Vincent & Me

I absolutely loved the movie Julie & Julia and while I was watching it I couldn't help but wonder what would be an artist blogger equivalent of such a daily "challenge" blog?

Some of my thoughts:

• What if I gave myself the creative assignment of painting a mini "famous" painting or masterpiece everyday?
• Or at least something in "famous" style?
• Or what if I painted all the known paintings of Van Gogh or at least the most famous ones (since I think there are at least 900 or so)?

So many possibilities...While I'm still thinking about this concept, here's an example just for fun: My quick study version of one of Vincent's Sunflower paintings.

Painted Rocks

Before I get back to posting a new painting, I just had to post one more photo from my trip to Arizona. Many friends and family said I would love the dazzling colors of Sedona. And they were right. The towering multi-color sandstone formations are unlike any scenery I've seen before. I can't wait to work on a painting from my photos back in the studio.

Also, when you visit Sedona, be sure to check out the D'Lish where you can drink fresh coconut milk from a young Thai coconut which seems very desert appropriate!

Cactusland

Today I toured beautiful Taliesin West in Scottsdale. I also went to the wonderful Phoenix Art Museum this morning and particularly loved the Western collection. The Tony Foster watercolors of Everest and the Grand Canyon were also amazing.

In the evening, went for the Scottsdale Art Walk for further inspiration--so getting lots of inspiration for when I'm back in the studio. Tomorrow, off to Sedona!