The Drying Rack, or third in a series at Washington ParkT

The Drying Rack, 11x14, oil on canvas

My third trip out for Denver Plein Air was last weekend. After doing the egrets and a bit of garden, I went back to birds. The Cormorants are another staple of bird life in our park. They are a prehistoric looking bird and just fun to watch. I am not sure if this device was built for them, but they use it to dry off, preen and just sit. If you do not know the Cormorant, they are diving birds and they are shaped like a torpedo for that reason. I thought this scene had such fun shapes and I enjoyed painting this very much. I had to go out early to beat the heat of the sun as I had to stand out in the open to get the view I wanted. An interesting side note is that this is near the main parking lot off or Downing and Exposition, so I was in a high traffic area. Five or so people stopped over the two mornings I was out; One recognized me for the previous morning when I was painting in the garden area, and asked about that painting; One wanted me to join a nature group! and the other three were all eastern European. I have not been out painting plein air for almost 2 years and I had forgotten not only how much fun it can be, but how much I enjoying chatting with people who appreciate art.

First Day, Second Week

False Start, 30x20

I just started taking the Advanced Master Painting class with Kevin Weckbaugh. The first day of class was last Monday, which I missed. A friend, who is also in class, was kind enough to call me and give me the gist of what I missed so I could prepare for today. Well, I must have willfully read into it what I wanted to hear because I am off to a false start. I understood that this month's project is about abstraction and that we could take a photo reference but we had to abstract it. I picked this photo my son had taken downtown a few years ago as it is already fairly abstract. I have been told I must get it beyond the "feel" of buildings, so I did start on that before class ended today, but only after I had a really good start on it looking like buildings. It was hard for me to start "erasing" all that work as I really liked what I had going. I am tempted to wipe the whole thing off and start a new one, but then on the other hand I would like to try and pull this off.

The notes from today are pretty sparse. We were told to be aware of line quality. To vary the line and create a dialogue with it. One of my buddies was using Franz Kline to get that dialogue, while Kevin prefers Willem deKonig. I am going to look at Richard Diebenkorn this week for inspiration. Kevin really wants us to play with the visual dialogue this month and for us to ask questions of ourselves while we work. ie What is working, what isn't working; is there too much of something or too little? how is the color working? is there harmony? To keep in mind that the easiest way to create shape is with line, and to try to incorporate line into the painting and to think about soft edged line and sharp edged line - ie to vary between the two. AND most importantly, to not be afraid or "ruining it" since this is all about playing and getting out of our comfort zone. Since we paint on one painting for a month, all canvas must be large.

Last Day to Paint for Denver Plein Air

The Hang Out, 11x14, oil on canvas

Today is the last day to paint for this years Denver Plein Air. I did not decide to participate in the event this year until a few weeks ago. Life has just been full enough without adding one more pressure. I went out 5 times over 8 days for three paintings. I had set myself a goal of one. "The Hang Out" was my first order of business as I have been watching the Snowy Egrets at Washington Park since late Spring. First there were 2, then 5 or 6, until the weekend I decided to paint them, there were almost 40 hanging out on this fallen limb! Lucky for me, they come in sporadically, so I could do enough to make it interesting without going crazy. If you have an idea for a better title for this piece, I am open to suggestions.

The opening for the juried show will be in early November and run through the end of December/early January. It is held on the 7th floor of the Main Denver Public Library downtown. It is always an interesting show if you have not been. I will be sure to post the dates and opening information when the time comes whether my work gets accepted or not.

Poured Out

Poured Out, 18x24, oil on canvas

Here is a new painting fresh off the easel. One of my friends sent me a cropped version of this photo. It is the daughter of one of her friends. She thought I would like the composition. She was correct. The mother sent me the uncropped photo after I asked for it and from there I went to work. I know it is not always the best protocol to use other people's photos, but I can't tell you how many of my family and friends send me photos that they think would make a good painting. It is not always easy to pass them up and this was definitely one of those.
I must admit, the crayons were a challenge. I wanted to keep the mass without getting into too much detail but still keep the crayons individual. The rug was fun. I added the little angel last. This so reminded me of my own children with their coffee can of crayons and markers. I just never thought to take a photo of it at the time.
I sent an image to mom who just wrote me back that she would like to see the painting in person as she does like what she can see in the image. This is not a commissioned piece so I have no expectations. Just wanted the challenge.

Evening Glow Revisited

Evening Glow, 20x10, oil on canvas

"Evening Glow" was painted a year ago spring and is the bottom piece here.  I was never content with this painting I recently hung it in my studio to give myself time to really look at it and last weekend, with a vision in mind, reworked it. The beauty of reworking a painting for me is that the structure or foundation is all there and I just have to get the rhythm and flow going.

The first order of the day was to get rid of my hard edges on the trees, the bridge and the sky. The sky and its reflection were softened and blended to remove the "stained glass" appearance. With the softer blending of the "glow" I was able to add some reds and oranges around the center of the tree on the right to make the tree light up from the sun behind it. I then used a purple color as my "mother" color to give unity to the whole. I used it to soften the edges of the group of tree trunks on the right, in the mountains, in the grass and I added it to the evergreens color as well to bring out some depth to it, as I felt that tree was too flat. I added some warmth to the left bank of the stream leading to the reflection. The last thing was to bring out the second boy.

Museum Musings

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."  Albert Einstein


We went to the Denver Art Museum last week. It has been awhile since I have been, and though I saw many paintings I have seen before many times, I was still able to see many of them with new eyes. I am still amazed at how a little bit of knowledge can send you off with a shift in your perceptions. One example is the room of British portraits. I have always enjoyed it for the historical aspect, but this time I looked at it as if I were the painter. I decided it would have been more laborious than fun and I did come away grateful that we don't wear such clothes with all the beading, embroidery and lace! But then on the other hand, it could be a joy-filled challenge to get into the patterns of it all.



The Western Art collection had a few gems in it, but overall, I think the Anschutz collection was far more worthy. And then there is the collection at the Denver Public Library, which also has a stunning western art collection.


Just a reminder - Vincent Van Gogh coming to Denver Art Museum this fall! Don't miss it!

Before and After - On the Ranch

Deer Hollow Ranch, 18x24, oil on canvas redo

On the Ranch, original from 1997

This is most embarrassing. A painting from 15 years ago or so of my son as a teenager running one of the old Ford tractors on his grandfather's property. The top photo is my attempt to save this painting. I am not convinced it is "finished" but I am done for now. There is something "missing" that I just can't put my finger on right now. The property is in northern California and just sold. It is so much a part of both my offspring's youth I feel compelled to get it right.

It should be an overcast day with rather flat light, which is not in evidence in the original painting. I still have the 4x6 overexposed photograph to work from. The billy goat is one four of my father-in-laws pet goats at the time. There is a goat dairy not far from here and as male goats are 50/50 of births, they are sold for meat. Hence a few were saved from that fate. The goats followed him around the property for years like faithful dogs, even going so far as to protect him from his grandchildren. I think almost all of the grandchildren got butted at least once. The billy goats all met untimely deaths, mostly due to mountain lions. There were also sheep in residence at that time and their numbers were also decimated by the mountain lions.

And so another chapter closes...