White Rock Lake

This little painting is a view of the lake through the trees. The sun was shining on the water and made it quite brilliant which couldn't really be duplicated with oil paints. I had the idea of the space between the trees being a kind of portal.

Trinity River Audubon Center

This is the finished painting which I originally posted on October 16. I decided that it's not easy to finish a plein air painting in the studio. The feeling is just not the same. It's hard to summon up the origianl excitement. However, I like how this painting looks.

Trinity River Audubon Center

This is the beginning of a plein air painting I started today at the Trinity River Audubon Center south of Dallas. What a beautiful place! And the weather was absolutely perfect today. I had some trouble getting all my gear to the site but the effort was worth it, although I'm going out right now to get a box on wheels to haul stuff tomorrow. This is the first day of a workshop that is being taught by Henry Finkelstein. I'll post this painting again when it's finished.

Supermarket flowers

I'm working on laying in patches of color instead of going for detail, but this little floral turned out very realistic.  Value defines the form. 

Hand in the Water

I can't believe that it has been a whole month since I posted a painting.  Christmas really gets me down (sorry Jesus).  Anyway, I found this image that I had painted years ago in a much larger format and decided to try it out on a small scale.  Also, what I really mean, I just wanted to get my hand back into painting.

Drowsy river not knowing where to flow

This is a last minute painting that I made just looking down at the shoreline of the river.  My easel was just a few feet away from the water.  I loved the way little waves lapped up at the shore and some of the rocks were under water and some broke the surface.  I wish I knew if I was on the left bank or the right bank.

Under the Bridge take 2

This is a revision of the previous "under the bridge" .  It's not as lively but more harmonious, and I'm all about the harmony--everywhere, all the time.

Under the bridge

This is the same spot I was in yesterday but looking up the river instead of down the river.  I was working near the bridge which crosses the Rio Grande near Pilar.  This is the bridge to the famous road to Ojo Caliente.  So I guess I went overboard on the color here and the red waves are a little strange.  I'll tone those down and also the tree at the top was more in silhouette so that needs to be darkened.  But overall I was pleased.  I did another painting of rocks under the water with which I was even more pleased, but you'll have to wait as I want to make a few minor corrections before I post it.  Tomorrow we'll be in Abiqui all day (Georgie O'Keefe country where I painted Jude's painting).  

St. Francis of Assisi Church in Taos

This is the famous church here in Taos that was built in the 1700's that artists always paint.  I feel like I almost got a sunstroke painting this.  I started at about 8 in the morning and for about two hours it was OK, but towards the end of the morning it got pretty toasty.  Now I know this is going to sound crazy, but when I studied art history back in my college days, I remember the professor going on and on about flying buttresses.  I could never figure out what the heck he was talking about and I guess I was too cool to ask.  When I see this church, I really have to chuckle once again about flying buttresses.