Pet Portraits

I thought I'd practice some pet portraits, and if they were any good, post an ad on Creigs list to see if I might be able to get some work. This is Leo, our dog we lost to cancer early this year.

 This is Prim our one and only pet at the moment.

 Saturday I took my paints skiing up to tree line at Butler Gulch. It was windy and cold, so I felt pretty good about being able to paint this, despite the elements.

 Weds I found this old farm house way out on Valmont east of Boulder.

 Tues. afternoon a few of us at the studio set up this still life.

Cold Painting

I have been working on getting out in the cold to paint. I definitely takes a lot more work. If the sun is out, I have a prayer, a little wind or clouds and my hands start to freeze up. I think it was about 5* when I painted this.

 Friday a few of us hired a model for the whole day. It is way more comfortable painting inside this time of year.

 Sunday I ventured out again. I still need to figure out how to keep my hands warm without affecting my painting dexterity.

 This is the first attempt of an idea I have been thinking about. I painted the right third first for about 20 minutes. Then the middle third for 20 minutes, and then the left third for another 20. The idea is to catch how the light changes over time.

 Tuesday afternoon a few of us set up a still life.

Telluride and more

Well I missed last week and am late this week. But I do have a lot to share. I am not going to describe each one. It is enough to know that all of the landscapes are from a trip to Telluride I took this week end and the portraits, figure, and Still life are from live models at the studio. Take care.

 

 

 

 

 

pretty productive week

I painted a lot this week. It was great!

Weds afternoon I had off so I joined a figure group that meets in the afternoon and painted this. I think it is my best portrait to date. I really like it when they just fall out of the brush like this one did.

 Friday was another good day to not have to work. I went out to Saw Hill Ponds with Sharon.

 

Monday evening I tried to catch some last light at the bottom of Coal Creek Canyon.

 Weds evening figure. sorry about the poor photo.

 My uncle was a photographer when he was alive. My Aunt shared some of his portraits on one of my visits. this past week I dug them out and tried to do some painting from them. The photos are black and white. I am attempting to paint in color with limited success.

 Saturday night I ventured outside and painted my first plein air night scene. I am hoping to do more of this this winter. It is tricky getting my eyes to adjust from the lit easel to the darkness of night. I tried closing my left eye and using my right to paint. then closing my right eye and using my left to study my subject. this worked pretty well, but it is hard to see the depth of my brush touching the canvas with just one eye.

another quick study of some fleeting light in front of our house.

Fall Colors

This week I spent some time searching out fall colors. This first painting I did off of Cherry Vale Monday late after noon. I love how the mountains glow blue through the branches and leaves of the trees in the foreground.

Friday after work I found some color to paint in front of the South Boulder Rec. center.

Saturday morning I went up to a friend's on Caribou  rd. above Nederland and painted for an hour before going for a mountain bike ride.

This morning I met another friend at Red Rocks to hike. I got there early and painted for awhile. The gnats were out and got on my painting. They should brush off when it dries, but I'm thinking about leaving them. They look like birds.

Wednesday night I painted this.

What a great surprise!

Friday was the opening for Boulder County Open Space's juried plein air art show, "Outdoor Creations", at The Great Frame up in Longmont. When I got there I was surprised and thrilled to find out my painting of the Walker Ranch homestead won best of show.

Yahoo!

Friday before the opening I stopped at Saw hill Ponds to catch some fall colors.

 This morning was rainy, windy and cold, so I painted some more fall colors from the front seat of my truck.

 This afternoon instead of fighting the weather, I decide to spend some time in my studio and paint a self portrait.

 and of course, the Weds. night figure.

Yesterday I painted two. This one in the morning.

 Then I went out on 128 and painted this view of eldorado canyon.

 Wensday night figure.

 Earlier in the week I painted this from the front seat of my car. It was raining.