Day 31, Remember These?

30 Paintings in 30 Days      All 6x6 Oil on Panels

So my big question to myself is, What did I get out of the last thirty days of painting?

Well besides selling five of them, hating four of them, loving six of them and learning something useful from 21 of them...

1) Landscapes have long mystified me and bored me. I have a better understanding of them now and may actually enjoy them.  It has certainly made me more aware of my surroundings.

2) I got some practice painting with lighter backgrounds.  I practiced "blocking in," and I think I am beginning to see shapes and values better.  -Nerdy art stuff.

3) I can now paint small, quickly, and confidently.  I know what brushes to use, I know what color to bring.  Kind of liberating.

4) I tried a few colors that I haven't tried in years.  I have a better understanding what I like and don't like now.  I brought a new color into my pallet - black.  I was mixing my darks before with Ultra Blue and Raw Umber, or similar variations.  I like black better.

5) I built a field easel a few years ago but have only used it a few times.  I used it for about 25 or so paintings this month.  Definitely feel more comfortable with it now.  I can't wait to take it camping or on other excursions.

6) For the last 20 paintings, I used three brushes.  Half inch flat, quarter inch flat, and a pointed one.  The larger flat on a six inch painting is like using a three inch brush on my larger paintings.  That's a big brush.  I can't wait to try it.

7) I definitely got some practice posting blogs, sharing on Facebook, and photographing art.  I'll have to keep this practice up.

8) I tried painting with a pallet knife.  This is new to me. I'll need to keep trying to incorporate this tool into my paintings.  I am just beginning to see the pros of it.

9) I have wanted to get back to figure painting but have been a bit nervous about it.  The few I did has helped me overcome the nervousness.

That's a fair trade for a weeks worth of time invested (40-ish hours).   I definitely have some new ideas to work on and I am excited to continue.  I think this exercise has a similar post feeling  as driving from California to New York and back again.  After you complete a drive like that, a couple hours drive to the beach is nothing.

Hope everyone has enjoyed this months worth of work.  To make sure you don't miss out on future blogs, you should enter your email address up top - to the right.  Then you don't need to worry about missing a Facebook post.

Take care,

Larry

Day 30, The End

Mill Creek Buddies  6x6  Oil on Panel

The goal I set for the first of this year was to paint 30 paintings in 30 days.     I made it.

Now what? ...

I think I'll have a celebratory beer, take a half hour break, then get back to painting.

Have a good night!

Completed January 30th

Larry

Day 29, The Artist's Muse

The Artist's Muse  6x6  Oil on Panel

She is my wife,
She is the mother of my children,
She is my best friend,
She is my sister (Sit Down! Not the Redneck type but rather my sister in Christ - just need to make sure y'all got that crystal clear. - I mean it.)
She is my muse,
She is my life.

I swear to God this girl could be picking her nose and I would still want to paint her.

Completed January 29th

Larry

Day 28, Thinking About You

Thinking About You  6x6  Oil on Panel

Day 28.  In my last few paintings, I have been exploring other colors a bit and the end results have not been so good in my eyes.  I like my earth tones and muted pallet of colors.  I really don't like bright greens, purples, pinks, and yellows.  All day today I have been thinking about how I need to pull myself out of this self imposed slump I was feeling.  My conclusion, it would be this painting that I would get back to my normal pallet and I would reconnect with my art again.

Ahhhh!  It feels good to be back.

I know to some this painting may look unfinished.  I was in fact planning to put her in a white shirt. But upon further speculation though, I think it looks wonderful as is.  Knowing when to stop is a huge battle.

Have a wonderful night.

Completed January 28th.

Larry

Day 27 Building Blocks of Life

Building Blocks 6x6 Oil on Panel

I had a required fine art class in College and in this class we were to paint a self portrait.  This was no ordinary self portrait though.  This had to be a portrait of our lives, a glimpse into our souls, something truly special, an expression of our inner beings.  Yep, not my favorite class.  To make it worse, we, meaning the students, graded one another right then and there.  And let me tell you, I was not the most popular kid in this class of Twinkies.

Today's painting is kind of like what I painted for this "self Portrait."  When I presented it I really poured out my soul to the class. You have to understand, the oral presentation or the paper write up is the true art here, not the works that are produced.  Anyways, I explained how I played with Lego's my entire life and how I built my way through happiness and sadness.  I explained how I was like the bricks in how they are simple but can make complex things.  I explained how in my life things don't always go as planned and we often get the opposite effect of what we where trying for (hence the purple and yellow bricks - opposites on the color wheel.)  An on and on I went for 10 minutes.

When I was done, the class judged and I was given an A minus.  This was crazy good because all my prior grades for this class were D's and F's.  But this time I nailed it.  The teacher praised me for finally letting out my soul and exposing myself.  I smiled and thanked them all then I told them the news.  This was a performance art.  The painting of the bricks is just a painting and means nothing to me.  I made up the story and performed my dance to just tug at your heart strings.  I explained that my self portrait was standing right in front of them.  If they wanted to know me on such a personal level all they need to do is say HI.  The class was absolutely pissed.  The teacher decided that since I changed my presentation that the class should re vote.  I got an F.

Looking back on this I laugh.  But I also wonder if I could have possibly got anything out of this class if I was not such a closed minded ass.  Probably not.  This is the same class that I had to sit for an hour and meditate for a grade - I feel asleep and got a D.

At the end of the semester, I went to the Dean and discussed my lousy grade.  We brought in the teacher and I quoted her as saying that art was to move people, to touch them deep down and really bring out thoughts or ideas that would change them.  And these feeling could be good or bad, fun or scary.  Then I proceeded to point out that I did exactly that on every assignment.  I had the majority of the class infuriated with me and my ideas.  I had the class arguing about different aesthetics and directions.  I explained how my  actions in the class exposed how like minded and intertwined the rest of the students were and how I was one who stood out and demanded every ones attention, criticism and praise.  Everyone else's art did not move the class in any way as much as mine did.

I got an A.

Stand up for what you believe!  I graduated with Honors of Distinction.

Completed January 27th.

Larry

Day 26. Old Days

Old Days  6x6 Oil on Panel

I remember the old days when I didn't have to paint a picture everyday.  I remember the old days when my paintings weren't small and square.  Ahhh, the good ol' days.

Day 26, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

It's hard to paint a finished painting in a day.  Many of these little guys would be even better if I went back and touched them up the next day.  But, that was part of my goal.  I paint these in a day then they are done.  I'm okay with that.

I'm going to show you all the best part of being an artist.  Look below.

Yep, this is my reference shot for this painting.  I took it while driving about 60 MPH.  Doesn't look much like the painting huh?  This is one of the hardest things for an artist to understand.  Don't be a slave to what you are painting.  What I shoot with a camera is only for reference.  If  I wanted my painting to look just like this image, I would have kept the photo.  Make the painting your own. Does this make sense?

Completed January 26th.

Larry

Day25 Rough Waters

Rough Waters  6x6 Oil on Panel

You never know whats beneath you or why things happen.  You just have to trust that you will be lifted up.

Completed January 25th.

Larry

Needed to Play

The painting Shirt  8x12 Mixed Media on Wood Panel

Trying to complete a painting everyday for thirty days is nice but it can also be a bummer.  Today I needed to break the bummer feeling and just play a little.  This painting started off as an acrylic abstract.  Then I dropped in the silhouette of the lady by painting in the background with Ivory white.  It looked too "cut out" so I took the electric sanding disc to it.  This made it look better and was also really therapeutic.  I completed it with just adding enough paint to hint at a little bit of sexiness.

Completed January 24th

Larry

Day 24, Painted with a Knife

Oregon View  6x6 oil on Panel

This is not a new concept to the world but it is a new challenge to myself, I created this painting with only a pallet knife.  I also did not start with any sketch, I just started laying in the color.  I think it would have been easier if the painting was on a bigger piece of wood.

Completed January 24th.

Larry

Day23, Mom's Friend

Mom's Friend  6x6 Oil on Panel

Sometimes a painting just pops out and I wonder "where did that come from?"  Others sit half completed and wait for the final inspiration.  This painting started as an abstract and I knew it was missing something special but I didn't know what.  Then, when speaking to my mom on the phone, it became clear.  My mom t told me about her dear friend.  This painting is of a very rare Hummingbird breed known as Betty's Hummingbird.  At least I think it is, as I am no bird specialist.  In fact this could all be a figment of my imagination.  After all, I have had a long day.

Here's a close up.  These are always fun to see.

Have a wonderful day.

Completed January 23rd.

Larry

Day 22, Prayers Answered

Prayers Answered  6x6 Oil on Panel

I'm sure we all wish, hope, pray, in some way, for a happy ending in all that we do.  In a search and rescue operation I would imagine the people who are lost and hurt do the most aggressive hoping and praying out of everyone involved.  It's hard to say though, because there are also family members and friends of the person who is lost or hurt who want their loved one back, the rescuers who want to make it up there, find this person in need and get back safely, the family members of the SAR teams who want their loved ones to return home at the end of the night and there are the bystanders who, after witnessing such a thing, probably hope and pray to never be in the same predicament.  This creates a great mental strain on all involved.

The lady I have painted here was in tears after we went in, found her, treated her, and brought her safely back out.  She was so thankful to be able to see her family again.  Before the lady was put into the ambulance my wife noticed her crying and knelt down to see what was wrong.  The lady was so distraught that she wanted to pray for all involved and give thanks but didn't think she could do or say the right things given her present state. My wife encouraged her to try her best and that she would be right by her side so they could pray together.  This was a true celebration to an end of a hard day.

Completed (Painting) January 22nd.

Larry

Day 21, Exploration

Exploration  6x6 Oil on Canvas

Another exploration into the abstract world.  There are things and places in this world that fascinate me and I know I will never get to see them first hand.  Some people may say I should add them to my bucket list.  But my bucket is full.  This is fine because I can always visit these places in my paintings.

Part of my bucket list: Hike to Everest base camp - and paint along the way, Spend a couple of weeks in Alaska just painting, Whale watching from a small boat, Travel to space, Walk Pacific Crest Trail and paint along the way, Paint in Ice Land, Paint in Scotland, Paint in Netherlands, Fish from an offshore oil rig- and probably take some reference shots for paintings, Turkey hunt, and Read the entire Bible, to name a few.

Completed January 21st

Larry

Day 20 Tired

Tired  6x6 Oil on Panel

This was to be a study of a column/ figure to be used in a larger painting. I was sick and tired today, not the best feelings for doing awesome paintings.  I count this one as a bigger failure than my dog portrait.  That's okay though, I'll get to it tomorrow.

Completed January 20th,

Larry

Day19, The Gift

The Gift  6x6 Oil on Panel

I did it!  This is a portrait of my daughter.  This is a miracle because I do not do portraits.  I do paint people, but they do not resemble anyone in particular.  This one though, I gave myself a challenge and went for it.  It took me three times longer to paint this than the others but, TA-DA. Here it is!

Just had to get that out.  HUGE accomplishment for me.  I feel like climbing on my roof and shouting.

I love the painting, but to be honest, I never want to do it again.  It was no fun.

Completed January 19th.

Larry

Below is a close up.  It's actually larger than the original.  I painted it with the same pallet I have been kind of using for all my landscapes with the addition of the pink color.  What a range of color possibilities.

Day 18, I Picked You Some Flowers

I Picked You Some  Flowers.   6x6 Oil on Panel

Sunset in Oregon.  We just came out of a stand of trees where we were watching a momma dear and her baby feed.  Very relaxing night.  Another half mile and we'll be back at the truck.

When I am out hiking I like to pick flowers for my wife.  I don't actually pick them, because they tend to die before I can get them home, especially on the long hikes.  This doesn't make for such a lovely gift so I take a picture of them.  Back as home, as I show her the pictures of the trip, every time I pass a picture of flowers I say "I picked some flowers" and she knows I was thinking about her.

Completed January 18th.

Larry

Day17, The Fishers of Men

The Fishers of Men   6x6 Oil on Panel

An abstract Sunday.  This abstract has something in it I see.  What do you see?

I'll edit my post later tonight with the the title I want it to have and I wonder if you will begin to see what I see.  Or - maybe we already see the same thing?  Turns out most people did pick up on the boat image.  After looking at it now I see I over did it.   A lot of people also saw a city or tall buildings in the background.

When I was painting it, I was thinking coastal colors and fog.  It was too pail looking so I added the brown, which to me indicated a boat.  A keel and net was indicted and I was almost done.  The red and yellow to the left some thought was a space man or alien type of figure.  This represents the divine light of Jesus as he is calling John and his brother to him.  He tells them you will no longer fish for food but you will be fishers of men to teach the Word to.

Some people, teachers, gallery owners and critics think an artwork's title is just as important as the artwork itself. I don't necessarily think so.  I can just as easily enjoy a painting entitled "painting 4" as I can one with a lavish title.  I was once at a gallery opening for a pretty well recognized abstract artist.  This artist was leading a group of us around and giving us an explanation of his work.  Afterwords, we were all free to wander, drink our wine, eat our crackers and enjoy the art.  I looked at every painting and thought "Blobs of paint.  All it is is blobs of paint."  As I was analyzing one of the paintings the artist came into the room with me.  He knew I was an artist by how closely I was analyzing his work.  (This is common with Gallery owners too.)
He asked "So, what do you see?"
I answered "Honestly?"
"Yes."
"Blobs of paint is all I see, and I don't particularly like the colors."
He said"  No, no no.  let me show you."
And he proceeded to tell me how he went about painting it, what he thought about, and all the other whats, whens and whys he painted this painting.  It was a true learning experience for me and I think about this conversation every time I paint an abstract.  When he was done explaining he asked again what I thought.
I said, "It's all good if you are hear to explain, it really makes a wonderful story.  But if you do not personally fallow this painting around to explain it to everyone, every time, then it would simply be a blob of paint."  I then asked, "What do you think all the other people in the gallery are thinking about your other painting right now?"
He called me a "little shit" and ran out of the room.

It's not the title that makes a painting, it the painting that makes the painting.  A title can actually change the way someone sees the painting so an artist really needs to be careful and purposeful in their decisions.  As far as abstracts go, there are great abstract artists out there and there are ones who make blobs of paint.  The blobs of paint generally look good over the couch.  To each their own.  This little attempt shows I can try to lead you with the slight details toward what I want you to see.  It doesn't guarantee success though.  This is how I want to work my abstracts because I love to tell a story.  But...the point of an abstract is to be abstract, void of any representation crap.  So in this sense I guess my abstracts will fail.  What do you think?

Have a great Sunday.

Completed January 17th.

Larry

Day 16, It's Never too Late

Never Too Late  6x6 Oil on Panel

Its never too late to do the things you want.  Never too late to take a hike, paint a picture, have a family, fall in love or to get saved.  It's never too late to post a painting either!  Yes, this was painted yesterday, but I was too lazy to post it.  Sorry.

This painting was fun to do.  For starters I used a base color of a brownish red oil paint.  Burnt Sienna to be exact.  Now, Burnt Sienna is a slow drying paint, in the world of oil colors.  I painted the base color last weekend.  When I picked up the panel to start painting all seemed well but when I started applying paint the base color started mixing with the colors I was applying.  This is both good and bad.
Good - because it harmonizes the colors by adding that touch of red in everything.
Bad - because I was fighting with the same color changes.  Made me think more and guess more.

The second fun thing about this painting is I picked up a pallet knife and used it for maybe half of the painting.  You van really see it in the foreground.  I generally only use a pallet knife in my abstracts so it was fun to bring in and try a new tool.  Probably like a concert violinist playing a fiddle.

Completed (painting) January 16.

Larry

Day15. Half way there

Half Way There  6x6 Oil on Panel

I am half way complete with the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  Whoo-Hooo!

I wasn't actually thinking about this title when I was working on this painting but it sure does fit. I was still in a somber mood after yesterdays painting. Thank you all for the comments, both on the blog and on Facebook. Y'all really lifted me up. When I started painting today I said a quick prayer and asked for some guidance. In the beginning I really struggled. It started as an abstract, lead to another abstract, then a third and finally I started to see the potential.

As I was painting I was rambling in my head, (a good kind of ramble, I can control it, I promise) what it must have been like for Jesus to be tortured as he was and still know he had to walk out to be hung on the cross. He knew the journey he must take and he still took it. He took this journey for us. This was a very humbling thing to think about and I am grateful for the thoughts. The final touch to the painting was the cross.

We have a good life, hope you all agree.

Completed January 15th

Larry

Day14, Reality

Reality  6x6 Oil on Panel

I know we all have those days that things just don't seem to work out as planned.  This is one of those days.   I think failed on this one.  This painting was supposed to be a portrait of my dog.  It may resemble someones dog, but not mine.

There were a couple contributing factors.
1) I started this and then got interrupted with a meeting that completely got my mind thinking in another direction.  It was for the public art committee in the city I live in.  When I got back home, I tried to get back into the painting but I just couldn't seem to do it.
2) My dog, Mable, sits in the studio with me every time I paint.  As I was studying her, it really brought  my attention to how much grey she really has on her face.  She's 13 years old.   The more grey I painted the more I thought "This isn't my Mable."  Then I would add more gold color back in and create a younger looking dog and say again "This isn't my Mable."  In the end, reality sucks.

Painting  a pet or a person you love is really hard.  There are things you want to express but just can't with the paint.  It's when you hit on these "can't-s" that you realize they are the very things you love about them.  Without the "can't-s" your painting becomes a different person - or pet.

I think I need a therapist.  But I'll settle for a shot of whiskey.

Completed January 14th.

Larry

Day13 Somewhere, Sometime

Somewhere, Sometime  6x6 Oil on Panel

Back in the school days I did hundreds of quick drawings and paintings.  It was laborious, intense and I didn't really see the value of it until I became a freelance illustrator.  Before school, it took me a month to complete a painting.  After school, it took me a day to complete a better painting than I could ever imagine before school.  This is the one of the greatest things I got out of school.  It really freed me up to paint what I want, when I want.

My mouth was completely numb today after my visit to my Dentist (Carlson Family Dentistry ). They did such a good job taking care of me today that by the time I got home I was ready to tear through at least a dozen paintings.  I set up and completed this one is 45 minutes.  I chose to paint quick to just see what  I could produce.  I haven't done this since school and I have to admit I am happy with the results.  It was fun.  I ended up only painting two paintings (I may go back and paint a third or I may just cuddle up with my wife and call it a night.)

Completed January 13th.

Larry

Day12. The Morning Kiss

Morning Kiss  6x6 Oil on Panel

The sun was just coming up to give a morning kiss to the moon.  Oregon has beautiful sunrises!

This little hay barn was just down the road from the barn in my Day 1 painting.

Have a wonderful Day.

Completed January 12th.

Larry

Day11, Getting Monday started with Expression.

The Vessel  6x6 oil on Panel

Third abstract in eleven days.  This painting I saw right when I made the first two strokes.  The very thin straight lines up top and to the left are something new I discovered.  The lines are made by scraping the smallest amount of paint possible with a razor blade then applying it with a slashing motion.  The middle yellow/ orange and small silhouette near bottom right are very purposeful.

What do y'all see in this in this one?

Completed January 11th.

Larry

Day 10 Prayers for Sunday

Prayers for the Lake Fire  6x6 Oil on Panel

This painting marks the 1/3 way toward my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  This would be the point in the tunnel where the light at the beginning is fading and it is getting really dark.  You start to feel a little worried or anxious because you cannot see the light at the end.  This is the point you need a little prayer to keep you going.

We had a huge fire here in my area of the woods last year.  It burned thousands of acres.  It was called the Lake Fire.  Beyond the actual fire fighting, there are other things that go wrong and must be dealt with and, with limited resources, sometime the call is answered by others.  Case in point, San Gorgonio Search and Rescue Team was called in to help clear up the main drinking water supply to a bunch of camps located just beyond the limits of the fire.  The source of water was up in the fire though.  We hiked in, did our thing and went home.  We didn't make the papers or the evening news but what we did was important to the community.  What we saw made most of us cry.  Our wonderful wilderness that we all love was burned to the ground.  It is a day I will remember for a long time.

Completed (painting) January 10th.

Larry
Artist and 13 year member of the San Gorgonio Search and Rescue Team

Day 9 Three Squares

Three Squares  6x6 Oil on Panel

Day 9 is here and I have new art.  Another abstract to tease your mind.  What do you see in this?

One of these days I'm going to go big with an abstract.  I have only adventured into the 6 x 12 inch realm.  This is mainly because I am just experimenting with paint application, application tools and texture.  I am finding I prefer the less colorful ones and I really like white textural back grounds with the paint skimmed on top.  The hardest part of these little gems is when to stop.  One side of my brain wants to keep going to find the image or to see what will happen if I do this or that.  With just one last application of an "if"  I see the painting go to hell, I try to fix it, I hate it and then I trash it.  The more paint I apply the worse it gets and the more money I burn.  It is a real mind tease to me too, but for different reasons than yours.

What do I see?  I see the two beautiful white rectangles, one with the red square the other with an ivory square.  I'm loving the vertical scrapes through them and how the purple plays a role to the right.  The green shapes are nice but I dislike the reddish brown to the left of it near the edge.  Bad color combination.  In short, I see the color and texture.

Completed January 9th.

Larry

Day 8 The Valley

The Valley  6x6 Oil on Panel

Have you ever been up hiking and you look down and see the perfect place to camp?  I did, but it wasn't in the valley, it was on the next ridge.  I wanted to camp there and watch the sun rise and see what was on the other side.  On my way to this ridge I took water from the muddiest, stinkiest cow water hole.  It was all I could find.  I filter it with a bandanna and a Steri Pen.

Montana- Continental Divide Trail

Completed (painting) January 8th.

Larry

Day 7, The Trumpet.

The Trumpet  6x6 Oil on Panel

This image is a study of a larger image I am thinking about creating.  I'm thinking 24x36 in size.  I like the concept but now that I have added color I am back on the fence with it.  For this study I used Thalo blue.  I really don't like Thalo blue but thought I would give it a try.  It just makes the blue too blue and the grass too green.

So what do y'all think?  Should I make this into a larger painting?  Do you like the bright greens and blues?

Completed January 7th.

Larry

Day6, Long Road Ahead

Long Road Ahead 6x6 Oil on Panel

24 more paintings to go.  Definitely a long road ahead.  

I have to be honest here.  I am actually painting these little artworks a day early and I am calling them completed the day I post the image.  Posting them is the final step and for me this means I can tuck this little guy away and not worry about him.  Today would have been a good day to pass on the painting.  I feel off a roof today.  I landed like spider man and have very minor injuries, but still, it would have been a good night to curl up and watch a movie.  In my world this would feel like giving up.  I don't like to give up and I never plan on doing it.

Paint On!

Completed January 6th.

Larry

Day5. Coastal Memories

Coastal Memories  6x6 Oil on Panel

Day five is here and I have a new painting to show you all.

This is an image of my son looking out at the Oregon coast.  

For this painting I started with a teal green oil background.  The pallet I used was Cobalt blue, Burnt Sienna, Cadmium Yellow medium, Ivory black and Titanium white.  Have you all noticed a trend with the pallet choices?  They are basically the same but I am just substituting different shade of colors depending on what I want to achieve in the painting.  In all simplicity the pallet of colors are Blue, Red, Yellow, black and white.  This is as basic as it gets.  I use Winsor Newton oil paints and I can order 119 different colors from them.  Limiting your pallet makes for a more harmonious colors and teaches you to mix all these 119 colors with just a select few.  Cool huh?

Completed January 5th.

Larry

Day 4. An Abstract

Raiders  6x6 Oil on panel

Abstraction.  It looks easy to do.
This is the most common art that people look at and say "I can do that!"  Well, so can I.  The difference is that I did do it.

For me the key components to abstract art is:
One, it's has to be immediately visually compelling.
Two, the colors have to work together and be beautiful.
Three, it has to have little things.  Little placements of meaningful colors. Things the artist added that makes the piece purposeful.
Four, I need to look at it and say, "I could never reproduce that if I tried."

Without the above it's just smeared paint.

Completed January 4th.

Larry

The Wait

The Wait 8x16 Oil on Panel

A new addition to the studio.  One of my goals for the year is to get back to doing more figurative work.  This image is painted with a limited pallet of Prussian blue, Burnt Sienna, Cadmium Scarlet red, Titanium White and Ivory Black.  There is a touch of Thalo blue in the scales to add interest.  

The idea behind this image is love.  Who would be able to imprint a map on the back of a mermaid, and why would she stand guard to protect something that is not hers?  She's waiting for his return.  Are mermaids immortal?  I don't think Pirates are.  This could be a long wait.  

Take a look at her back.  Can you find her with in the map?  Below is a close up.

Happy Adventures!

Larry

Sentury

Sentry  6x6 Oil on Panel

I have been to this place many times, in my dreams.  This image is not a real place but a culmination of many experiences and long miles of hiking.

This image uses the same pallet as my first painting but I have used Cerulean blue in place of Prussian blue.

Completed January 3rd.

Larry

Second Painting of the Year

Montana Trail  6x6 oil on panel

I walked a portion of the Continental Divide trail.  Over this portion I was on a fire road in the middle of open hills in central Montana.  It was a true blessing to be out on the trail for over a week with all my supplies on my back.  I wish I could do this more often.

For this painting I used Ultramarine blue, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Cad Yellow Medium, black and white.  I decided to set up my travel box in the studio so I could get more comfortable using it.

Completed January Second.

Larry

New Years Challenge

Morning Mist 6x6x oil on panel

I'm going to try and paint 30 paintings in 30 days!

The goal here is to not produce master pieces, but to just paint more.  I have prepared 50 boards, each one six inches square.  The extra 20 boards will be used another time or as back up if I decide to pitch one out the back door.  I thought about what I could paint through the month of December and I tried desperately to come come up with a theme, but I had way too many ideas.  So I have decided to just paint whatever I wanted, how I wanted.  If I learn something new from each painting that will just be a bonus.

This first image is from a picture I shot one early morning after we just started our drive home from my mothers house in Oregon.  I started with an acrylic base color of olive green.  The image is painted in oils.  I wanted to see if there is a textural feel to the paint application vs starting with an oil base color.  The pallet I chose was limited to Prussian blue, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Ivory Black and a Titanium white.

The painting was completed last night on January 1st.

Larry