Before and after

I did a couple of plein air paintings this weekend in Westcliffe. They weren't particularly good, but at least I didn't turp them out. I thought I would post one here as a "before" the Jill Carver workshop, and I will hopefully post a much better one as an "after". This isn't quite finished as I thought I would tweak the fence posts after it dried a bit. I may never get around to it, as it isn't one of my favorites....maybe it should have been turped out! The two triangular shapes are too similar; I should have make one of them larger and the other smaller. Not a particularly good composition. It also needs a lighter streak of light behind the trees. Perhaps I should never have posted it, but now you know why I am taking this workshop!

Off to a Jill Carver workshop

Tonight I am in Westcliffe, Colorado, a little town in the valley between the Wet Mountains and the Sangre de Christo Mountains. I am here with my sister and another artist friend, Joe Garcia, as they have work in a show and sale that benefits the San Isabel Land Trust. Sunday I leave for Rico, Colorado, a small town near Telluride, for a 5 day workshop with Jill Carver. Jill is one of my favorite plein air artists and I am excited to be in her workshop.

I have said that I find plein air painting plain frustrating, and if Jill can't get me to enjoy it more, no one can! Telluride is a beautiful place and the fall leaves should be near their peak. I will try to post some updates while I am there. We have internet in the hotel, so I won't be completely cut off, although cell phone service will be limited during the day as we are out and about. Not a bad thing!

Peak week for fall color

I know it is early for most of you, but winter starts much earlier here! This photo was taken yesterday. We have had daytime temperatures in the low 70's and nights in the mid 30's, so the color has just been exploding! No wind, no rain....just perfect fall weather for almost two weeks now, with more in the forecast.

This is the time of year when my fall aspen paintings sell well, so I am always sure to have plenty in the gallery. One of the little 6x8s sold the other day, so I did another quick one this week. They are simple and don't take long to do, but I like to use new reference each time so I am not just copying them off. I have been running around taking photos most mornings and late afternoons so I have enough to last me until next fall. Above is one I took at Maryland Creek Ranch and below is the latest little aspen study.

Where has the summer gone?

I have managed to hike once a week and I have done two outdoor art shows. I sold some real estate (thank goodness, as that is my "real" job!) had a successful launch of the piece that was chosen for the music festival poster in Breckenridge; but did I paint? Not much! Not near enough. So I am reduced to posting paintings I did early in the year. So much for trying to paint every day. This is a little piece (8x10) called "Arnica on the trail" that I did this spring. Arnica is a yellow daisy-like flower with a heart shaped leaf. It grows in drifts, usually under pines and spruces where there is still plenty of sun getting through. They bloom in June and are one of the first wildflowers growing in large displays. I always enjoy seeing them.

I am now taking an art class every Tuesday night and should be able to get back to painting with friends on Sunday night, so hopefully I will be able to post some new pieces soon.