Cowpoke

Cowpoke 10 x 8" oil/canvas

A painting of mine that sold recently over the internet.

Thanks Alan!

Poor Boy

Poor Boy 10 x 8" oil/canvas panel

For purchase information click here.

Another of my many farm kid paintings. I liked the cap, so gave this painting a title with dual meaning.

Update:  I kept thinking this wasn't such a great name for this painting so renamed it Scottish Emigrant.

Cable Knit

Cable Knit 10 x 8" oil/canvas panel

For purchase information click here.

Heres a little painting I did today of my daughter Rachel.

She's kind of an anchor for me when I lose my way in the studio trying to figure out "what the hell should I paint?!" It happens to all of us at some point. I get my artist block about once a year...usually just after the Holidays when I've let my brushes go idle. Self portraits are also a great way to get things moving again. Maybe tomorrow.

Virgelle Ferry

Virgelle Ferry 24 x 36" oil/linen

For purchase information click here

This painting is one I've been wanting to do for some time. Its of the old cable ferry that crosses the Missouri River at Virgelle just outside Loma, Montana in the Upper Missouri River Breaks country. When people visit Montana, most come to see the mountains in the western part of the state, but Eastern Montana holds some hidden jewels that make you feel as if you've stepped back in time. This is one of them and also a favorite destination of mine. This painting will be part of an upcoming exhibition at the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art this summer entitled; 100 Mile Radius - a Sense of Place.

More on that later.

Click on the image for a larger view.

"Calves in a Blizzard - Montana Winter 2011"

Calves in a Blizzard 12 x 16" oil/canvas panel

A few weeks back temperatures dropped to almost 30 below, with drifts piling up to around 6 feet in some areas. Normally we enjoy milder temperatures in late February and early March, but this winter has been an unusual one, bringing consistant snowfall and lower temperatures. With calving season underway here on the ranch, we've had to stay especially vigilant.

Below are two oil studies I did awhile back and are ones I used to recreate this finished piece. This painting will be at the Western Master's Art Show during Russell week in Great Falls - Room #166 at the Best Western Heritage Inn.

Opening for The Russell

A Place in the Wild 24 x 36" oil/linen

Tonight is the opening for The Russell - Sale to Benefit the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, MT. This is the painting I have in this years show.

As Russell week fast approaches, I'm madly painting away, hoping to fill my room with new work for collectors to view. This years event starts the evening of March 16th and runs through Saturday March 19th, when the auction pieces are sold. This year Dave Powell and I plan on sharing the same room during the Western Masters Art Show (formerly the C.M. Russell Art Auction.) The location is the Heritage Inn - Great Falls, MT - Room #166. Click on the links in this post for more information and details on the all the events taking place. This is going to be a fun year - hope to see you there!

The Return of the Wolf

Today I wanted to post the start of this wolf painting. I haven't actually finished it yet, but its progressing so quickly I'd like to share what I have so far. As I mentioned I had a strong, clear vision of what this piece would look like, so I went straight for the canvas. Normally, on a painting of this size, 24 x 36", I would have done preliminary sketches to determine placement of the wolf figure and also to map out an overall composition. All I can say is, I already knew it would work, so I dove right in!

Here is the roughed in sketch.

I used my knowledge of dogs to get the anatomy of the figure close, then I spent about 2 hours pouring over images of wolves, to study their unique characteristics, specifically their feet, which are much larger then most canines.

Now I've blocked in most of the color and values.

This particular scene is based on my first wolf sighting, which happened a few years ago on the Montana, Idaho border. Later I'll show you the finish of this painting and tell you about my first impressions on seeing this controversial animal in the wild.

Detail of "Foray to the Front"

At this point you may have noticed I'm taking it slow on this piece. Its such a large, (36x46") & complex painting created solely from my imagination - no photography, models or Photoshop - so I'm happy to move steadily through the process. Its getting closer now, especially since I've painted in the central figure. If all goes well, I hope to wrap things up in the next few weeks.

Well...we'll see.

:O)

C.M. Russell Art Auction - Room #166

I'm gearing up for a busy week as I put the final touches on these last few paintings. Nick is keeping his eye on the ranch side of things and my daughter Rachel is home from Helena to help out while I wrap things up for the show. And as I mentioned earlier, I'll be sharing a room with artist-friend Dave Powell. I also have two paintings in this years C.M. Russell Art Auction. I couldn't feel more fortunate! This is a big week for Great Falls, and if you're planning on a visit to the area, the timing couldn't be better! While you're in town, I hope you'll stop by and see me. I'll be the one next to the pool.

Well, I still have 24 hours left to paint - puff! puff! - so back to the easel!

That Larger Image...

Sorry, I think Blogger has a limit on the number of images it will expand.

So I'll give this another try.

Thanks everyone.

"In the Heat of Harvest"- some details

So I'm back now with a few details on this painting. I posted a larger image of the finished piece here, so if you click on the full image above, it should pop open something a bit more visible.

I have to admit, I'm having a tough time getting the colors right on these detail photos, so if they're a little off, I apologize. Does anyone else have trouble with Photoshop CS4 this way? It never looks the same in Preview (on a Mac). Am I missing something? Maybe a RGB color profile?

Anyway, this is a close up of that look. I kept losing her in all those figures, so I just had to take those kids out as I mentioned in my previous post.

I really like the shadowed contrast of this sheaf of grain, against the sunlit background.

Same with this one, too. The purple shadow, against that yellow compliment.

Also, the woman on the right has that feel I wish I could get in all my figures. She's a little less romanticized than the others. More "truthful" I guess.

I'm also pleased with the colors in her costuming.

Overall the piece is finished, but I'd still like to warm up some of the cool areas in the whites. Bill seems a bit too blue and also the head scarf of the woman in blue, holding the sheaf of grain, needs more reflective color from her surroundings.

"In the Heat of Harvest" - The Finish

So here (below) is the finish of my newest harvest painting. This painting has taken a few twists and turns, so I've jumped ahead a bit. I tried putting several children in the foreground with these women, but in the end I opted to take them out all together.

Harvesting in the 1800's was accomplished by the entire community and I had wanted to include everyone, as with my last painting. But I also wanted the focus to be on the figure at the left. Its seems I couldn't have both, so I've decided those kids may have to wait for a future in a separate painting, later on.

The top photo is not very good, but I wanted to show how that transition took place.

...and I just HAD to put Bill (the dog) in somewhere!

This is the finish. I still have a few value and color adjustments to make, but its close.

Its the largest painting I've done to date at 36 x 46". I'm planning on doing another large harvest painting, this time with a horse drawn hay wagon up front.

In the coming days, I'll try to share a few close ups of my favorite details from this painting.

Now, I need to take a few days off...

Whew!!

Happy belated Veteran's Day, everyone.

Please pray for our troops abroad, that they make it home safe to the families who love them.

Big Sky Art Festival

This weekend I'm packing up my paintings and heading to Big Sky, Montana for their annual Art Festival. I'll be there with two of my artists friends; Christine McKay, a fantastic clay artist, and Laurie Stevens an amazing oil painter who use to work for Disney. (These girls are really going to make me look good!)

Hope to see you there!

"Rocky Shore"

9 x 6" watercolor/arches

For purchase information click here.

Howdy!  I am back from a much needed break and I had such a wonderful time!  We went camping up by the Seeley - Swan Valley, north of here.  It was SO beautiful!  We did some hiking, fishing (my husband) and painting (me!)

This little watercolor I did from the west shore of Lake Alva looking toward the Swan Range.  My husband dropped me off here, while he canoed down the lake to do some fly fishing.  I was painting away, when suddenly I realized I was sitting right in the middle of a huckleberry patch.  Yummy to be sure, but this area is prime grizzly bear habitat!!  And grizzlies in Montana, LOVE their huckleberries. I had a brief case of the "woods willies" but then relaxed and got lost in my painting.

  The situation reminded me of this illustration by John Potter, from the cover of Jim and Narda Wilcox's book, The Artist's Book of Excuses (And How Not to need Them)

Study for "The Real Deal"

8 x 8 oil - canvas mounted on masonite

For purchase information click here.

Heres a subject near to my heart.  Women on the ranch.

I want to do a series on this subject, to give an honest portrayal of the western cowgirl.  As I have said, they are rarely pretty and model thin, like the rodeo queens you see in many calendars and coffee table books.  They are tough and stout and work harder than most men.  They fix tractors, train horses, build barns, mend fences, plow fields, cook for an army of field hands and doctor anything that moves.  All before noon!!! (Just kidding!)

They really ARE amazing!

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Update on "Highland Dreams"

Good news!!!  I have been accepted into the Oil Painters of America Exhibition at Devin Galleries in Coeur d'Alene.  This is my first acceptance into an OPA show since being juried in as a member four years ago.  I'm SO excited!!!

19th Century Harvest Painting

28 x 36" oil on linen

sold

This is the "finished" painting for my commission with the Blackfoot River Brewing Company. They are a local micro brewery here in Montana (which has AWESOME BEER by the way!!) and are opening a new larger Brewery this summer. This painting will hang in their Taproom.

I've been working on this piece for about 6 months now. Its so complex that I had to slow the process WAY down in order to watch the elements progress. I spent lots of time just sitting and studying it. Also there was lots of sketching and historical research, etc., not to mention models. But the real challenge I think, was value relationships. I think I've got them close now, but still see things I'd like to tweak.

"Red Earth"

10 x 8"  oil/gessoed hardboard panel

For purchase information click here.

I've been working on my brewery painting today (its almost done, I promise!) so I decided, just for fun, to post this painting I did a few years ago.  Its of my daughter again, walking down a washed out road in Sudden Valley.  A remote area about 12 miles west of our ranch.

Plein Air Painting with the Montana Painter's Alliance

Okay I'm back from Ennis. After a long drive and a good rest, I have got lots to share!

But first, I've just got to mention how thankful and lucky I am to live and work in Montana. It is such a rare gift. The open space and scenery here is just breath taking. A landscape artist's dream. I would also like to thank the MPA and especially my good friend Laurie Stevens Gilleon for taking me along as her guest. Everyone was so nice and we had so much fun!

"Moonlight Basin Below the Madison Range"

9 x 12" oil/canvas panel

For purchase information click here.

I arrived on Friday late in the afternoon and did this painting quickly before we all headed off to dinner. I tried to keep it simple with just a basic value design.

"Aspen Grove in the Tabacco Root Mtns"

16 x 12" oil/canvas panel

This piece is probably my favorite of all the paintings I did this weekend. I love aspen groves. There is a kind of serenity that I feel when I'm near one. They are so magical! I was going to keep this one, but I'm a little short on cash this week so I'm putting it on the auction site. Its larger than the other auction pieces so I'm starting the bidding a little higher.

Here is my artist/horse riding buddy Laurie Stevens Gilleon. She is SO gifted!! I am really lucky to have such a good friend.

This is Margaret Graziano, another talented artist. She joined Laurie and I in the aspen grove. She is such a gentle soul. She just tucked herself right back in this tree and looked as though she might become part of it.

"Cattle Scale on Bear Creek"

"8 x 10" oil/canvas panel

sold

This painting I did on our final day. Thats my friend Ron Ukrainetz below. He and Laurie both joined me up on Bear Creek. The light was sort of diffused and put this soft glow on everything. I just loved it!! I could have stayed there all day, but had to get back home that afternoon.

Oil Painter's of America in Montana!

So I got back from the OPA show last night and I have to say, I've never had such a wonderful experience. Today I am so inspired I just can't wait to get to the studio!

The first day, Friday morning, we were all treated to a demonstration by Ramon Kelley, where he created a painting of fellow artist Neil Patterson, Vice President of the OPA. You would not believe how fast he got it down! Most of the time he was painting with a #14 flat, even for the details!

Later I got to join Ramon and several other OPA members for lunch with my artist friend Ron Ukrainetz. How lucky am I? Everyone was so nice! It made for such a fun weekend.

Saturday morning, a few of the Signature Members held painting demos at the Dana Gallery. Zhiwei Tu who paints alla prima style and goes straight to the point, has such a fresh, (seemingly) effortless way of painting. I learned so much from watching him and what was happening on his palette.

"Hay Bill"

6 x 8" oil - canvas panel

sold

Okay, heres two more, then I better get packing for the OPA conference.
We are doing some Plein Air painting on Sunday, so I'll try to do something worth posting, (hopefully not just poorly rendered trees and bushes!)
Otherwise I'll be back Monday night.
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Another painting of my best friend "Bill" on the hay stack.