Back to the abstracts!

Reworks!

If, by chance, a painting comes back to me after exhibiting in a gallery for a period of time, I will often reevaluate the work according to my abilities now compared to then.  If I feel like I can add to them or change them in some way that will preserve the idea of the piece, but improve the technique or idea, I will do a rework before it goes back out again.  These are three pieces that I have done this with.  With each of these three, I pushed the light a bit further.  The contrast has been increased in subtle ways making the light in them appear brighter, stronger.  They are all three pieces I have really been proud of and I like them even better in this state.

Duck Creek Aspens, 30x20 oil on canvas

Illuminate, 24x30 oil on canvas

Last Light, 40x30 oil on canvas

Island Park Abstract Landscape

This is a 14x14 oil on board piece called Island Park.  Anyone out west knows that Island Park is just west of West Yellowstone.  For such a peaceful place, there is so much volcanic activity going on - almost as much as Yellowstone.  The landscape and wildlife are very similar without the thousands of tourists!

In the spirit of Monet

Here is a little study I quickly painted today of a lily pond out at the Ogden Nature Center a few years back.  I am honored to be asked to do the poster painting and donated original for the yearly fundraiser for the Center.  This is a beautiful nature center, educational and a little preserve in the middle of city limits.  This study will eventually lend itself to a 20x30 of the same image.  I wanted this one to have spontenaity, abstractness and a freshness of color.  What do you think?

All in a days work!

Boy, it's been a busy day!  I've deconstructed a barn, built it back up, removed a mountain and replowed a field :)  All in a days work for a painter - and still not done yet!  I'm trying to apply my new process to an old painting I wasn't exactly thrilled with.  I know it looks better than it did, but it's going to look even better by the time I am done.  Problem solving.......it's a heck-of-a-job!

A Beautiful Day!

This little 9x12 linen on panel piece was finished up at Pineview Reservoir en plein air!  I got together with my painting gang for our first day out this spring.  As I have been telling you, my paintings are in transition right now.  I'm really playing with heavier paint, more palette knife, a more abstract process.  This was my chance to apply all my new tools to some field studies.  This is a little quiet piece, but I love the repetition of planes and the play of warms and cools.  I hope you enjoy looking at it as much as I enjoyed painting it :)

Early Spring

This is a piece that is a contemporary approach to one of my all-time favorite painters - Dwight Tryon, from the early 1900's.  The landscape is from a trip to Virginia and a theme I have explored from a tonal point of view many times over.  I am working almost exclusively with palette knives and using paint in a way I have never applied before.  My goal is to work very spontaneously, making quick decisions once the painting starts.  I've been doing thumbnails first to fine tune the composition, deciding on a basic palette and them diving in.  Rather than overwork, I'm trying to allow the spirit of the piece to come through and leave it be.  That might be the biggest challenge, as I've been knows to rework a painting a dozen times.  Like I stated previously, I have no idea where this is going to take me, but the process is keeping me excited and passionate!

What a Journey!

Ok, so maybe this is a bit more edgy than I am completely comfortable with, but it's a journey right?  And what   a journey it is becoming!  I am having such an adventure, playing with edges, line - paint.  I have no idea where this will all take me, but it certainly is keeping me on the edge of my seat.  I call this one "Edges" - right???  Any feedback would be certainly welcome - so far the feedback on these more abstracted landscapes has been positive and that keeps me strong and moving forward.  My mother used to say to me "We shall see what we shall see..."

Today's Painting

Summer Lace, 12x12 oil on panel

Snoqualmie Blues

Snoqualmie Blues, 8x12 oil on panel

Painting A Day Works

I just finished another of the small abstract landscapes and am having such an exciting time liberating my style, I've decided to keep it up for a month straight and see where the road leads me!  I'm working primarily with a palette knife and I must say that I have been influenced by the phone application "Instagram" and the photography that I have taken and adapted with filters.  I have always loved doing my photography and even considered showing it before, but it was always saved for my work. This process is just another step to the separation of abstraction.  Who knows where it will lead, but I'm getting down to the studio a little earlier, staying a little later and getting excited in a way that feels really great!
I hope you enjoy!

Primary Colors, 9x12

New Abstract Landscapes

Winter Sunlight

This was a painting with the emphasis on high key, change of color temperature without drastic value changes. LOVE winter aspen! Just a small 20x16, but has a very light hearted feeling to it.

The Watcher

This is an ever-evolving painting of deciduous trees with strong sunlight and warms and cools.

The square format has been a challenge of shape placement and still keeping it minimal. The painting source comes from the inlands of New Jersey - love the humid sky!

Small Works

I will be doing quite a few small works in the next upcoming month, picking one from the group for the Western Visions Show at the Jackson Wildlife Museum. The rest will be available through my studio, this blog and the website! Most will range in size from 8x10 through 11x14, a very affordable price point and most times the sources for much larger (expensive) paintings. Here are a few from the last two days!

Also, more news......I was juried into the Saulsalito Art Festival in California with my watercolors. I can't tell you how very excited I am for this! I started my career in watercolors and after ten years of primarily oils, I am very enthusiastic about redefining my career in my first love. It will be so interesting to see how the oils have affected transitions in my watercolors! Stay tuned.....

Legacy Gallery Salon of Fine Art

Here is the piece submitted and accepted into the Salon. It's quite different from my norm, but months ago as I was passing through the Vermillion Cliffs, I made an oath to myself that I would do a series. The passing storm was magnificent, the light shining from the heavy clouds illuminated the cliffs. Well, this is the first of the coming series. A little more color than I had expected, but dramatic nonetheless. Stay tuned for more work!

Eccles Art Auction Pieces

Here are a couple of pieces submitted for the Eccles Art Auction, held March 3, 2012 in Ogden Utah. The Auction is a great event that benefits the many classes, exhibits and collections that are presented to the public, as well as preserve the historical building and landmark! Please support our local community by attending, donating and/or buying art from many local artists willing to donate their valuable time and paintings! Here is the link - http://www.ogden4arts.org/ for more information.

Seared Flat Iron Steak, caramelized onions with Balsamic Reduction

This recipe was a little of one, a little of another and a few other things thrown together, so I need to write it down before I forget! If you are in the mood for beef, this is now on my favorites list!

Caramalized Onions

Two large sweet onions, sliced thin

1 tbsp minced garlic

1 tbsp brown sugar

generous salt & pepper

Two Tbsp Olive Oil, two tbsp. Butter

Saute the onions, garlic, brown sugar, S&P in the oil and butter until the onions are rich and golden, at least 30", stirring constantly. The drippings will be used for the reduction.

Flat Iron Steak

Rub with Olive Oil and coat with Montreal Steak Seasoning and let stand while onions are cooking.

Balasamic Reduction

Remove onions from saute pan with slotted spoon, leaving all the drippings and little burnt pieces. Keep the onions warm. Add 1 Cup dark red wine and 1/2 C Balsamic Vinegar, 1 tsp. sugar, generous Salt and Pepper. Cook until sauce reduces to about 1/3 Cup. While cooking, put steak on the grill and sear both sides on very high heat, keeping center medium rare. Slice thinly against the grain of meet, pouring the dripping from the steak into the Balsamic Reduction.

Place 3-5 thin slices of beef on plate, top with Caramalized onions and then drizzle the Reduction over the combination - YUMMY!

I accompanied the beef with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Carrots and Leeks with Pesto as my side dishes.

Served it with a nice Merlot and a candle on the table!

Moran Junction

Rain in Mackey