Taking time to blog

These are a few of my more recent paintings.

Barn Yard

Can you tell I'm enjoying summer painting?  The Cache Valley offers spectacular view in all directions so one is never for lack of things to paint no matter what the season.  There are times I wish I was ambidextrous so I could put a brush in each hand.  That might calm all the visions that constantly run through my head.

BarnYard 

11x14 oil

Cache Valley - Enjoying Summer

I love getting outside to paint.  Everywhere I turn there is something new and different to paint.  The sun falling on a barn- the new growth on the trees - the snow lingering on the mountains - the newly plowed field.  I am never for lack of subject material.

Before I started painting I think I just wandered through life not noticing the shapes, colors and patterns that were all around me.  I saw trees, barns, houses, man, woman or child.  I labeled what I saw but it wasn't until I took up painting that I really began to think and see in shapes and values.  My family will laugh when I get all excited and say "Look at the wonderful dark shape and how it intersects with that light shape and how it connects and flows over to there!"  I wish everyone could sample seeing the world through the eyes of an artist but then maybe that's why I and others paint.  We want others to share in our experiences.

Second Cutting

16x20 oil on panel

Late Snow


18x24 oil on canvas

Never Say Never

Wellsville Barn

watercolor 11" x 15"

When I started painting I swore I would never paint barns.  It's not because I don't like barns.  I do.  I have loads of photos of barns and I can't avoid them living in an agricultural valley. Everywhere I look there is another barn.   I didn't like to paint barns because I struggled with them.  The perspective would be off of if I got that right, the colors wouldn't work.  Last summer something changed.  I didn't give up and  I found barns actually fun to paint.  I'd like to do this one in the different seasons.

I even dream in paint

Weathered Barn 

 (oil on masonite 11x14)

I know this sounds crazy but I find myself dreaming of painting.  Sometimes it will be changes I need to make to a painting but most often it is compositions and ideas for new paintings.  I definitely dream in color.  No doubt about it because there are time in my dream I have difficulty mixing the right color.  I'm not sure if my dreams mimic my life or the other way around.

All of these paintings so far are in oil but I will need to put the final touches on a watercolor I did in church last Sunday.  I'm donating the painting to the church for a silent auction and want to get it matted before tomorrow. I'll post that painting later today.

I'd appreciate your comments.