A Bit of Life

I made a slideshow for the Western Masters Online Auction... and submitted it in plenty of time for the deadline, I might add... with four minutes to spare! I'm sure there are angels making my nine-year-old hard drive go. I'm posting it here to see if it actually works because I'll have to use my phone to watch it. Lol.

A New Leaf

     This summer has been an eventful one for me. Do you ever have so many "coincidences" dropped in your path that you become sure you're going the right way? Through more of these than I can tell you here, I've become really really intrigued by old black and white photos of actual people who, I feel, need to be remembered. For our sakes. Whenever painting people, I've always recruited models, tried to set up a scene with costumes accurate to the setting, and when possible, painted from life for realistic color. But the initial idea or concept for the painting always came from my head. (So it was fictional). I'm not saying there's anything wrong with fiction, but this summer I've discovered a well brimming with meaning -at least for me- in the lives of people who really existed. They say truth is stranger than fiction. I think it can also be more intense, and more lovely. So this is turning over a new leaf for me... I want to start painting people from historical photos. But this isn't going to be any easier, because in most cases, I'll still need real life reference material- i.e. models, clothing, and landscape photos- to recreate accurate color and value notes in order to make the paintings feel real. I'm excited to share this new journey with you, and to share the people and stories I discover along the way.

Navajo Wind

12" x 16" Oil on Masonite Panel

Why The Chickadee is My Favorite

    

 

     I started noticing a trend when I realized that most of the birds I've drawn have been chickadees, and wondering why I like them so much. Maybe it's because they don't squawk and screech like magpies and crows... They don't attack and kill like vultures and eagles. They're not really all that majestic or graceful- not even really what comes to mind when you think about flight. You rarely see them soaring, or gliding, or playing on the breeze. They dart around so fast you hardly even see their wings at all. So what's so neat about chickadees? I think it's that they seem to be so diligently intent on what they're busy doing. I like that they mind their own business and do it well. They don't go around causing problems for everybody else, or demanding attention, or being showy about it. (These are all things I aspire to). They're content and the energy of their movements seems to exude enthusiasm. Maybe I like them because they're black and white, like how I prefer to see things. Or because they aren't virtuoso singers, but they can carry a tune, and it sounds happy. In any case, here's a sketch of one of the little darlings.  :)

One for the Baby

While I've been working away at several landscapes, my subconscious mind has just been dying to draw or paint this new little member of our family. On Saturday I finally came to my senses and put aside all of the other projects to do what I really felt like doing, and it was soooooo fulfilling. I love this little guy like crazy and it's a relief to finally have a portrait of him.

Going to the Sun

This piece is from the vantage point of "Going to the Sun" road in Glacier National Park, a narrow road etched into the side of a steep mountain pass. No painting or photo can adequately describe the experience of driving that road. It's a breathtaking view for sure! I always get a kink in my neck from trying to see up, as well as down whenever I'm a passenger. It would be fun to do it on a motorcycle, I think!

Glacier Runoff

This little guy was finished last week. It was nice break from all the hot sunny desert paintings, and made me want to go climb on these rocks and sit down in the mist of the waterfall with a warm snowboard jacket on for some fresh air. I love Glacier Park, and there's no place like home!