MV Snohomish

 

Presumably off to pick up new cargo. A good day to be a skipper. Flat calm and nothing to bother with but the fishing fleet. 8X8 oil on canvas

Washington State Ferry

The Whidbey Island run. Its a great ride if you are in the Northwest.

Oil on Canvas 5x5

work boats 2

The Chip boat. Hauls barges to the wood chip dock and when filled takes them to a bigger tug.
Oil on canvas 8x8

New Digs work boats

I have some new surroundings having moved onto a boat in the river. Decided to do a series based on my new neighbors Oil on canvas 8x8

Island time Oil 12x12

Arts and crafts movement inspired the trees.

Oil 12x12

Vines at sunset

Summer Stream oil 11x14

\Another take on an earlier scene and in horizontal rather than square 

A Summers Day

A summer scene Oil 11x14

Fall Pathway

A fall scene after some of my favorite Canadian painters the group of 7 and Tom Thompson in particular.

creekside

 

More New Work

New work Poplars

Started painting again after a break. Here is some new work

And God spoke to job from the eye of a violent storm...

Who do you suppose carves canyons for the downpours of rain...

And who took charge of the ocean when it gushed forth like a baby from the womb? That was me! I wrapped it in soft clouds and tucked it safely in at night. Then I made a playpen for it. A strong playpen so it could not run loose at night.

Can you find your way to where lightning is lanched?

"Do you know the first thing about the skys constellations and how they affect the things on earth?"

"Have you ever traveled to where the snow is made? Seen the place where hail is stockpiled?"

"Can you get the attention of the clouds and commision a rainshower?"

"Have you ever gotten to the bottom of things? Explored the labyrinthine caves of deep ocean?"

"That bring water to unvisited fields, deserts no one ever lays eyes on. Drenching the usesles wastelands so they are carpeted with grass and wildflowers."

Job Paintings

Working on a series of paintings from the Bible. This is from the book of Job. Job 38. This is when God was confronting Job on who he was and who God is. This is from verse 12. Its good to read this and remind ourselves on who really created what we copy.

Verse 12 the "And have you ever ordered morning, 'Get up!' Told dawn 'Get to work!'

A small study of the road to deer harbor.

Sailboat 12x12

Tis is a classic look for european sailboats. Edgar payne used these classic work boats in many of his works. Still payne is one of my all time favorite artists.

Small Boat

Started doing some boats again. This is a little 5x5 miniature. Love the small quick direct feel of the brush strokes. Its also on masonite which adds to the texture.

Small dusk Vineyard

A small vineyard painting at dusk for a winery show. The colors of the mountains in the background are my favorite parts of this piece.

spring to summer

This is another compositional sketch that I am possibly going big on. It is from eastern Washington in the spring.

rooster mixed media

Rooster sketch on gessoed newsprint on board. this was a classroom demo and is oil paint. Sorry I have not been blogging much. I have had some upheavals in my marriage that have been something I have had to deal with. Still not completely sure what will happen but I am continuing to try to stick close to my foundations of faith and move forward. Those of you who are prayer people I would covet your prayers.

Small studies.

Small paintings series. Mostly demos for the class. Small prices and a great hliday gift.

snowmelt

Always winter never spring has been the theme of our washington weather. I really enjoy the sun on the snow and the way the shadows turn cool purple or blue. Have not been posting much due to graduations and sports with my daughter but that stuff is important to.

Lowering sun on the river creates rich lite. love the misdirection of the vines in the foreground. The light is also very rich.

Sold

A small vineyard outside a french town. Love the patterns that the buildings form mixed with the green of the farmland.

Another night study. I tried to add more blue to the night sky just to see the effect.

An intense sunset combined with the storm clouds is a great contrast. The complimentary colors that form make the drama even greater. Values in the blues also flatten out which makes the light that much more spectacular.

This is some obscure pasture but I love the way the light hits the trees and the reflection of sky in the drainage ditch. Beauty is all around us.

Moonrise

I saw the show in Denver " The Color of Night" nocturnes painted by by Remington. It was really stunning the idea of night painting and the way he portrayed color at night. There is a book as well that I highly reccomend titled "the color of night" probably published by the Denver Art Museum. Might be a good DPW challenge for all.

Finally a nice day to paint the tulips. They were really full and blooming with the blast of sunshine. They are just North of Seattle and always a rite of spring for many northwesterners.

California Coast

My first post on the Daily Painter Originals site. A great group of artists and I am honored to be juried in. This is a scene of the California Coast. I really tried to simplify the light and shadow shapes in the rocks. Just a small 6x6 study.

Long and skinny study for a commision possiblilty. Its morning light over the olympic mountains. I have another that I will post that I like a little better but this one has gotten some good peer feedback.

A bit of a change. This fine animal is Jet who my daughter rode on a trail ride. Many great memories.

A lighthouse in a Seattle Park. I tried to capture the reflected light at sunset especially in the buildings. Also driftwood takes on a beautiful color when the light reflects into it.

This is a painting from our trip to Las Vegas via Arizona and Utah. I cant remember the specific spot but the trail along the hillside was spectacular. I love the green accents the brush gives to the rocky hillside and the canyons in the distance.

winter warmth

A winter study of trees and snow. Its amazing the subtle colors of snow and the range of warm and cool that it reflects. Again excuse the quality of the photograph. Its a bit washed but the best I could muster.

Utah Vista

Small Study for the class I teach. Its about atmosphere and the way it affects color and value. I love the area around Utah and Zion National Park. Mostly the images remind me of Edgar Payne and his dramatic landscapes. It also reminds me of being warm again which due to our cold wet spring cannot happen soon enough

Vineyard study. The backlit sky in this piece was challenging as well as the perspective especially in the distance. A little bit different palette as well. The value scale in foiliage and trees is always something I am chasing trying to get right.

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The conversation. A sketch done on the beach at the Washington coast. I like the light that forms from sun filtered by moisture. Its hard to get right and express it in paint. Practice outdoors I guess and failure breeds success.

A farm scene outside of our little town in rural Washington. Painting distance is always a good thing for me to work on. Thats where painting outside comes in handy. You notice the atmosphere more when you are outside. I used the scanner for this one so the close up version looks a bit weird. FYI

Decided to throw this piece in despite it being a little older than the new stuff I have been doing. The perspective of the road and flat light accentuate the bright flowers in the field making them seem like a big shape. I have always liked this piece mostly for its abstraction in the shapes.

A very quick study of a scene in california. My main focus was to study the trees and work on the value of the greens. I will probably work this sketch into something more finished and larger. I like the composition of the trees leading you back into the piece. Maybe some clouds in version 2 and some definition to the foreground. The study is being used in the High School play where I teach art. Kids needed paintings for the set. Maybe broadway is its next stop? Have a great weekend.