5 x 7 oil studies

Here are the small (5x7 inch)studies I did during the Moab Plein Air event. They are my favorite paintings accept for the one of Castle valley. I think the reason I like them so much is the fast freshness of them, the strong technique..which may be more evident at a small scale. Its funny, they are painted on MFD primer with one layer of gesso, really an after thought, but I enjoyed painting them: That might be the Key.


This first one was painted in the morning as the sun was rising. The shadow was racing down the side of the cliff.



This last one is a Nocturne. I have painted many paintings of night, just never at night. It was hard because I would look at the landscape lit up with a full moon, then use my flash light muffled by my hand to illuminate my palette and painting. It takes a while for your eyes to become readjusted to the moon light. I had a hard time determining if I was actually seeing color; I knew there was value, but when I tried to assign color to a certain area my mind and eyes played tricks on me. "is that red...???"


This is what my set up looked like, I took the photo the next morning.

Moab Plein Air

I just returned from Moab and Arches National park yesterday; I spent Wednesday, Thursday, and part of Friday painting 'en plein air (French for painting outside). There are those who swear by the virtues of painting from direct observation and shun working from photos. I agree that observing colors outside is superiour to photographic references, however recording that color has always been my biggest hurtle; my canvases always look washed out. I think I am better equipped to deal with this issue after this week.

Here is my work from the last few days.


In all the times I have been through Moab I have never driven route 128 that follows the Colorado River. Beautiful! I could set my easel anywhere and find something awesome to paint.


This is a 10x15 inch panel, I started about 1 in the afternoon, and ended about 4 pm. The light changes so fast especially in the canyon. The shadow on the cliff on the left side of the painting had covered 80% of the painting by the time I was done!


This one is a 12x20, a large area to be sure, but I really like the longness of it. This image is from the park... Arches is incredible and a bit overwhelming when you look at all the picturesque things you could paint there. I had in my mind what I wanted to paint (standing on slick-rock with junipers popping up in the sand and from behind rock mounds) My internal vision and the final product don't match up yet, I was hoping for a bit more dynamic movement across the landscape. I flattened it out too much. I have noticed while I am refining I lose the energy my sketches had.

More watercolors from the mosquito pond

I am still working with the mosquito pond images, I like the warm sky and the greens and oranges, My watercolors feel washed out, I keep adding pigment to pop the colors, but it seems to always fade...frustrating...
This first WC is a larger version of one I have been working on for a while..I am going to do an oil of it next, the colors are a bit amped up here...



This last painting is the one I was working on in past posts. I am not sure I love the composition. I went with a taller format and I am thinking it should be more square...

Big Finish for the U

I worked on the HUNTSMAN CENTER floor last month, I had the family come and help me peel tape on the last day. they thought that was pretty great! Aaron peeled the "s" in huntsman, and has been telling everybody about it.


The "UTAH" is ready to paint,just need to sand the surface so the paint will stick....


Final Product from the camera boxes, Kevin and his guys still have the final coats of urethane to apply....


Here we are on the last day peeling tape...


The U is now in the PAC 12 conference....