"Olive Branch"

8 x 6  oil/canvas panel

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This is a little impressionistic sketch I did this morning.  Its a Russian Olive branch.  Not as detailed as my aspen branch and I love the color!  I was experimenting with diox purple and sap green.  Its fun to use those two mixed together to get your darkest value. (black?) You can bend it either warm or cool, depending on what you're after.

I'm OBSESSED with getting my canvases larger, so I'm stretching up a few big'uns today!

"Aspen Leaves - Study in Oil"

6 x 8" oil/canvas panel

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Heres another try at those aspen leaves, a bit condensed and this time in oil.  I wanted to see if I could capture those same subtle grays, so effortless in watercolor.  NOT an easy thing to do, but I think I'm close.  I mentioned this the other day in Carol Marine's blog, on how important it is for an artist to play around with their palette.  Specifically by creating color charts.  I know!  That sounds suspiciously like WORK!!  But it does help you befriend your mud and turn it into something beautiful!

"The Gold Band"

8 x 6" oil/canvas panel

sold

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Have a great Labor Day weekend everyone!

"Paint That Ain't"

8 x 10" oil - canvas panel

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This title most likely needs an explanation...

This bay horse is actually a registered paint.  His mother was completely black and his father a flaming red sorrel Overo paint.  Some call this result, a "Paint That Ain't."

I've been training him for the past few years and he's really coming along nicely.  His name is Buddy and he really is!!

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.

"Muddy Montana Landscape - A Study"

8 x 8" oil/canvas panel

For purchase information click here.

Heres a little sketch I did this morning. It has a strong composition and I thought it might make a nice larger painting. We'll see, some of these don't get that far, but its nice to experiment. Its a view to the west of our ranch and its about the sky. We have the most amazing sunsets here.

"A Head Study"

8 x 6" oil/canvas panel - sold

Heres another little sketch, with my daughter as the model.  It really doesn't look like her, but I wasn't going for portraiture.  I never tire of painting faces.  Burt Silverman describes it as being in love with the landscape of the face.  This is certainly true for me.

Dare I say it? Finished?

12 x 16" oil/canvas panel

Yes, I think so! Yahoo!!

I had such a great time doing this painting. I got it just how I wanted. My only complaint would be that I now wish it were larger, say 24 x 30" or so. The blanket in back became a Tartan (Irish) after I realized I wanted a more symbolic message. I've done some really nice paintings that miss this element. I think its what sets a work apart from the average painting. Anyway, now I am not sure of the title, "Couch Potato". It doesn't seem quite right and I could sure use help. Could everyone please click on the comments link below and give me some ideas? (You can sign in as "anonymous" if you don't have an account.) This painting is for entry into the Oil Painter's of America - Regional Exhibition and I want it to be perfect, so I hope you will all help me!

Click here to read the outcome.

"Couch Potato" - study

6 x 8" oil/canvas

sold

Heres another of my favorite model, Sweet William.  This sketch was inspired by another painting I did back in January entitled "Nap Time" which sold to a woman in Virginia who also lives with a Border Collie.  We had a good laugh at how many people think BCs have no down time.  They do however, need full-time monitoring due to their needy and compulsive nature.  Hers likes to jump off the boat dock into the lake - over and over and over!  Mostly, I think they just want to be with you.  Our governor, here in Montana, takes his BC to the office, press conferences, meetings, etc.  Everywhere!

My Bill is sleeping in his favorite studio chair as I post this.