Paint'n Cows

Lunchtime | 6"x8" | Oil on mounted linen

There's something so therapeutic about painting cows grazing in a pasture.  I painted this group as they meandered around a lush, tree-lined field.  At times they would come up to the fence right next to me and check me out.  Of course I would talk to them...like I talk to any animal that comes up to see what I'm doing.  The time spent in nature observing these creatures makes me so thrilled to be an artist.

Thanks for your Facebook "likes" too!

Matterhorn Commission

Matterhorn
10"x8" Oil  

  This piece was a commission done from a photo reference.  I've never been to Switzerland so the photo was all I had to go on.  Since the mountain is the focal point I put the foreground in shadow and suggested some rooftops so as to acknowledge the characteristic mountain chalet in the photo but not let it compete with the focal point.

Fun to do and the clients loved it.

A Light Amid the Forest

A Light Amid the Forest
8"x6" Oil on linen panel

Sometimes you just have to look up for inspiration.  I was walking along a stream in the foothills West of Boulder Colorado looking for something to paint when I looked up to see this one branch of an Aspen tree glowing with light.  Against the cool, dark forest interior, the leaves themselves seemed to be the source of the light.  I set up my gear as fast as possible and went to work to capture the fleeting effect.

Winter Silhouette

Winter Silhouette
9"x12" Oil on linen panel  

  This painting is all about the flowing lines of the tree and it's shadow along with the contrast of warm and cool colors.

Thanks for looking.

San Pellegrinos & Lime

San Pellegrinos & Lime
10"x8" | Oil

I was invited to paint atop an exclusive rooftop garden at the Museum Residences in downtown Denver.  I, along with a few other artists, enjoyed a catered lunch up there and then painted at our leisure for the afternoon.  I painted the above view of the radiant umbrellas and bold diagonals in the architecture and landscaping.  This property is adjacent to the Denver Art Museum which is an architectural marvel who's style elements are echoed in the Museum Residences property. 

 

The Denver Art Museum Photo by Daniel Libeskind via Arch2o.com

That evening, residents and some guests who are well connected in the Denver art world were invited up to watch us paint a quick-draw piece and enjoy great food and wine.  Our completed quick-draw paintings were then auctioned off.

My quick-draw piece
11th Avenue Hotel | 10"x8" | Oil
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I entered "San Pellegrinos & Lime" in the Colorado Plein Air Festival competition and it was awarded 2nd place in the professional artists category!

San Pellegrinos & Lime
Colorado Plein Air Arts Fest 2nd place winner 2013

Mt. Audubon - Indian Peaks Wilderness Colorado

Mt. Audubon
12"x12" Oil

This scene I painted looking at Mt. Audubon from Brainard Lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness of Colorado.  As usual this time of year, the day started with beautiful blue skies and brilliant light.  By late afternoon the clouds had formed and the scene had totally changed.  This is a wonderful area to hike.

Thanks for looking!

The Historic Ryssby Church in Longmont, Colorado

Ryssby Church
8"x10" Oil
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I found this wonderful old church outside of Longmont Colorado a couple of weeks ago.  It happened to be late afternoon and the colors were wonderful so I pulled over, set up my painting gear and painted like mad until dark.  The beautiful roses and other flowers planted in the bed along the back wall drew me in; they were so vibrant against the aged stone wall.  I also like the sunset light reflecting on the side windows and the purple mountains.  What a beautiful and serene place.

This church was part of the first Swedish settlement in Colorado back in 1882 and was modeled after the settler's church in Ryssby, Sweden.

Here is a link to the church's web page: http://www.ryssbychurch.org/index.html