Step by step painting

Today I worked on a 30x40 inch desert painting based on one of the 8x10 studies I on site. I took pictures of the steps so you can see how it all happened. I also like to check what I am doing and looking in the camera gives me a different perspective. Another way I get a fresh look is by using a mirror to see what I am doing. With your face buried in the process you sometimes lose your objectivity. It was a wonderful day on the patio..great weather and some cool tunes.

Another Monday Morning

These Monday morning paint outs are a spectacular way to start the week. This morning was a bit different. The wind was starting to gust and the day started cloudy. The mountains had a different look with the cloud shadows. I keep trying to tell myself not to "chase the light" as it made the mountains go dark and then light and then back again. I loved the way the brittle bush has some dead straw like parts left from the winter so I chose a scene with them in it. I also like the contrast of the palo verde green against the bluer hue of the mountains. In this painting I really tried to stay fresh and not "picky" with the paint. I brightened up some of my color as well.
The second painting was a quick sketch of another tough old desert tree. It has lots of roots showing along the edge of a wash. By then the wind was starting to get stronger so I packed up for the day.

Still More Desert Painting

Today I was out painting the desert again. The weather was just perfect for outdoor work with no wind and the temperature just right! I always learn something when I paint in front of nature. The colors, the lights and darks, the shapes and textures are amazing teachers. Each painting is like a problem and I have to work to find the solution. Even paintings that don't succeed can have great lessons in them.

A Year Later!

This was cool. I got an email from someone who wanted to buy a painting that was in a gallery a year ago. Her aunt loved it and is back in town again. The buyer had taken a picture of the label with my name and found me. I met her today to sell the painting of my bad puppy. Her aunt loves Boston Terriers even when they are naughty!

Presidents Day

Back to the same great spot looking at the McDowell Mountains. I still need to work on the first painting of the mountains and some cacti. The second one I did during the last hour of my morning. It is of a palo verde tree that is still alive but bent and dead in some parts because of flooding in the wash it grows in. I was enjoying the contrast of light and shadow in this view.

Valentines Day in the Desert

Well I was up and at it early on a Monday morning. Instead going off to the office it was back to the desert for a painting session. These on site plein air paintings are so much fun. That is the only way to truly see the colors and lights and darks. It is a challenge to get it nailed down because the sun is changing every thing by the minute!

Beautiful Saturday in the Desert!

Today I forced myself to get up and out of the house (instead of a lazy morning with coffee,the paper, the news, the dogs on my lap)and drove to McDowell Mountain Conservation Area. This area was set aside 20 years ago and as part of the anniversary about 15 painters set up to paint this beautiful area. I had never been to this trail head and will definitely be back...bathrooms, water, shade and gorgeous scenery! Here are the paintings I got done this morning.The wet oil paint has a lot of glare in the sun..sorry!