Pink Pop

This piece has sold.

Time for something a bit different! I loved all the pinks going on in the flowers on this shrub. No idea what kind it is, even though there is one in my yard! With everything going on in this little painting, my favorite part is the abstracted buds in the lower right corner.

I'm leaving for Portland's Art in the Pearl tomorrow, so this will be my last post until I get back next week. If you happen to be in Portland, come see my booth full of big paintings!

Olives

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A fairly common sight around where I live is these beautiful silvery Russian Olive trees. This was a fun study in contrasts---the pale leaves to the dark branches of the trees in the foreground, the cool aqua against the bright, pale chartreuse where the sun cuts across the tops of the trees, and the pale foreground trees agains the deeper olive sunstruck pines.

Golden Slant

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This is such a simple piece overall, but I loved the sparkling pattern of golden light slanting through the cool green trees.

The Riverkeepers

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Like several of my recent small landscapes, this piece is a study for work to be sold at a fundraiser for the Riverkeepers this September. The tall trees in the foreground seem to be guarding the passing stream, so it seemed appropriate to name this one for the cause.

Bright Distance

$275. Available at Randy Higbee Gallery.

Still going with this great evening drive on Latah Creek! One of my favorite effects in landscape paintings is the poin of view from shadows with warm sunlit areas in the distance. I'm happy with that in this piece, plus the almost graphic, angular shapes of the water.

Cooling

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These great gnarly Ponderosa pines frame just about every view around here. It was fun to make them more of a focus in this piece.

Lazy Latah

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The last bit of light during my photo reference journey made for such a peaceful scene!

Last Glint

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I was afraid when I started this piece that it might be a bit boring. It turned out to be a lot of fun. I really enjoyed working with the negative space and cool shadows vs. touches of warm evening sunlight. It is in Washington, but the scene reminds me of northern California.

Hints of Fall

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The combination and number of colors going on in this field was mind blowing, and fun to try to capture. Although, one of my favorite parts of this piece is actually the reflection of the setting sun, on the house on top of the distant hill. Really just a single dot of pale yellow.

Watching Over

This piece has sold.

The other end of the long hike from the car. I'm starting to love these ubiquitous, gnarled old Ponderosa Pines.

Pink Horizon

This piece has sold.

After hiking half a mile down the road, up and over steep hills (wearing inappropriate footwear) to get water landscape reference shots, I came back to the little dirt turnout where I had parked my car. This was the scene I found.

Winding Down

This piece has sold.

As the day winds down, the first signs of changing color in the fields meet the last hints of color in the sky.  

Latah Dusk

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As the sun went down the other night I had to keep stopping my car to jump out and catch more views. A woman walking a dog kept catching up to me---another artist, it turns out! Too funny.

Fields Beyond

This piece has sold.

Another find on my flip-flop-hiking photo session of the other night. This was mercifully close to the road. The warm and cool contrast was incredible. I am happy with this one. I think I captured the feel fairly well without getting too caught up in detail.

Last Light in the Canyon

This piece has sold.

Last night I went on a slightly epic reference gathering trip, really just a few minutes from home but on this wonderful rural road. Naturally when I left home, I did not consider that the best views are never from the road. So, hiking doggedly in flip flops through grass taller than me and who knows what else, I got this photo. I loved the slice of sunlight coming through the field between hills and trees.

Olive Stream

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Montana landscapes are made all the more interesting by the onset of stormy weather. I love the quiet of this scene.

Late Summer, Latah

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Here's a view of Latah Creek, from the creek. Literally. Note to self: before next "water reference" photo excursion, buy hip waders. So much for that pair of shoes.

Latah Lavender

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Still warming up for the Dirty Martinis for Clean Water series... this view is of Latah Creek in the Vinegar Flats area. I did a little demolition and removed a boring bridge for a better view.

Colorway

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More of that eastern Montana terrain. I love the simplicity and subtle variations of color I get to work with here. This stream bed was mostly dry, but I added back in some water to bring sky reflections across the field.

August

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In September there's an event in Spokane called Dirty Martinis for Clean Water. It is put on by the Spokane Riverkeepers, and includes an art gallery with a percentage of sales to benefit the cause. I'll be creating a series of ten new 8" x 8" framed local landscapes for the event. So it seemed like a good time to get back to some landscapes here, and get warmed up!