pleinairs in July

I'm trying something new, that is working out pretty good for me. I am doing my under painting in one color concentrating on value. When I'm happy with it I add color. I did this last night from a photo. It is a view from in front of our house. This is done with burnt umber and paint thinner.

When I start adding color I am better

 able to see if it is the right value right away, because the rest of the values are already there and I can compare them to this new color's value immediately. I painted this this after noon near the South Boulder Rec. center.

This one I painted this morning from the same place in South Boulder. I was under this nice big gazebo with my friend Sharon. We didn't have to worry about rain or glaring sun. This after noon I had a few people stop and want to see my painting and talk a little. I am getting better with this. I figure if I want people to see my work I need to be where people can see me. Most of them could give a flying #*?%. But the ones that do are very nice and complimentary.

three paintings this week

It's been a stressful week with all of the fires going. I was able to get out a couple of times as well as painting on Weds. evening. I Did this one this afternoon. I found this nice deserted picnic area on the peak to peak with a nice view of Mt. Evans. The building is the restroom. 

This is From Weds. evening

I painted this Fri after work. I found this nice pull off just west of Wonder View, set up my easel and painted as the cars and motorcycles zoomed by. Maybe you can tell by the painting, it was kind of stormy. I got rained on a bit, but I didn't mind.

only landscapes this week

I was able to get out painting a few times this week. It has been hot and dry, so no afternoon storms, which helps for afternoon painting. This one I painted Fri after work. It's not really doing it for me, but I thought I'd share anyway. I am being much loser and using a lot more paint.

I painted this Thur. at Walden ponds. I kind of like it.

I painted this this morning. A friend from class, Sharon, and I met at Walden ponds to paint. It was a lot of fun to have company. I think it turned out quite well. I borrowed a few things from Sharon that made my painting better. She added a little red to her snow, which I also tried, but maybe not enough. I also liked the color she was using for the foothills so I changed mine to the color you see here. It's a little bluer than I had.

No the Aspen aren't changing yet. I felt like staying in the cool basement this afternoon, so I found this photo I had taken awhile back and painted from it. This is way different then the way I would have painted 6 months ago. It's kind of exciting.

two old paintings finished and two new paintings

My friend Mike posed for a few of us yesterday. This is what I came up with. Not too shabby.

I went back to Walden ponds and finished this one. It could be better, but I am ready to move on.

Here's another one that took a few short sessions to finish

I just could not get this one pulled together. It is from our Weds. night figure drawing. The over all color is good but other than that... I think if I had more time maybe... But the idea is to get the painting looking good fast. Oh well, I'll keep trying.

and painting and painting

You may recognize this from last week. I worked on it some since then. I may do some more. Sorry about the pour quality photo.

This is also from last week. I think one more hour session and I will have this one done.

I actually started this one a few weeks ago and finally got around to working on it some more. Still needs work.

 I did this painting yesterday. It is an old abandoned house just west of Nederland. I probably won't work on this one any more.

Finally we come to this weeks figure. I think I am slowly getting the hang of this. I know, as soon as I say something like that, I'll probably blow the next one

still painting

I wasn't going to show this one, but now that it's been a few days it looks a little better to me. It's still not what I want it to look like, but not too bad.

I discovered a place called Walden ponds. I walked around for awhile and settled into this painting when a lightening storm hit. So, I had to pack it up and run for the car. I am definately headed back. It is a beautiful place. I may work on this one more.

I started this one yesterday. If you look at anything long enough you can come up with a composition for it.

the past two weeks

It's been a long couple of weeks. I was in Ohio last weekend and sick this weekend. I haven't felt much like publishing anything in my blog until now. Here are a few things I've done over the last couple of weeks.