TROUT LAKE

24X36

     This is one of those scenes I've painted before, but for me, like Monet's hay stacks or waterlilies..I continue to be inspired by it. It is a place that is close for me to drive to from where I live in Arizona. I have been going there for many years, camping, hiking, and painting this lake from different spots. On this particular piece, I wanted to give priority to design and spontaneous brush work with a minimum of detail. I keyed the painting in from the front bottom and moved up while working back and forth somewhat with "atmospheric perspective" in mind. Then I went back over it, adjusting areas I felt needed more or less. I think I kept it simple and said all I wanted to say.
     In the Design, I tried to use all the painting elements in support of the bowl in the distant snow covered mountains. Art rules are made to be broken, but I usually try to follow a few guide lines in the "Sequence" of the painting process. I like to start fast with more emotion and as the painting progresses slow down and put more thought into it. I work Large to Small shapes and brush sizes; Thin (but not runny) to Thick paint; Dark to Light values; Brush work and painting handling Loose to Tight. I always do thumbnails sketches and then a final drawing, and I like to work from a small field study for color information.

EVENING GLOW

20x30

     I've got a show coming up in Jan, so have been doing some larger studio pieces lately.
     If you are in the Phoenix area next month, I am doing a couple all day workshops. They are on Sat Dec 1 at the Salt River Canyon and Dec 8 will be at the old historic town of Jerome. Contact Scottsdale Art School to sign up.
     I will also be starting a new session of Basic Painting classes in Jan starting on the 12th. Every Saturday morning. There is a Part 1 and 2. This class has evolved over a 10 year period and has become very popular. We really cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. It is hard work with homework every week.

SHADES OF PRICKLY PEAR

     I did this cactus study one morning during a workshop I was attending with Kathryn Stats. I donated this painting to the Daily Paint Works help the Hurricane Sandy victims auction.

LAST DAYS OF DESERT SUMMER

8X10

     Well the summer monsoons are over and the river has dwindled down to a creek. The mornings here in the AZ desert have become very pleasant for anything, especially a walk down to the river with the dogs to paint.
     I have started my fall classes at Scottsdale Art School. Click to check them out. I am going to do 2 one day workshops this Winter and 2 more in the Spring. If you are in the area, they will be a lot of fun. Going up to historic Jerome, AZ,  Sedona Red Rock, Salt River Canyon, and the Gold King Mine with it's Ghost Town and old trucks. The other class is a long time favorite, Basic Painting and Design Part 1 & 2 that is held every Sat. morning.

    

MY DOG'S VIEW

12x16

     When I was pulling out to leave our campsite in Colorado last time I was here, both dogs were staring out the window at this little road. So this time I got up early in the morning and painted a 12x16 of it. I call it "My Dog's View"
     It's always somewhat of a challenge painting all the different shades and temperatures of "GREENS" in Colorado in the summer. 

LIZARD HEAD MEADOW

8X10

     I have been camping at this "Pass" for many years. There's something very relaxing about looking out into the distant mountains over a soft golden meadow with a small glacier run off creek passing through it; As the sun goes down.

TROUT LAKE VILLAGE

8X10

     I had finished a little 6x6 and was still waiting on the lake mist to rise enough that the distant mountains at the south end would be more visible to paint. I saw some early morning people down below on the north end where they can put their little paddle boats in or just fish from the shore. You can also see the quaint little cabins down along the edge of the lake. A really enchanted location.