The old windmill in Veere, Zeeland, The Netherlands.  9" X 12". Oil on Canvas.

Recent Plein Air painting in Holland

While painting in the south of Holland the art critics dropped by!

Plein Air Piece -Salt River

"Salt River Cliffs"

Oil on Canvas

6" X 12"

This is my most recent plein air piece, painted along the Salt River just below the Saguaro Lake Damn.  I usually make my gray - for the cliffs - using Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine Blue, this time I used Viridian and Alizarin Crimson.  I have been experimenting with this combination for a while now.  In certain places I like it a lot.

How I created "Standing in Aspens"

I recently received a Second Place Award for my Painting "Standing in Aspens" from the Glendale Arts Council, additionally they honored my with a Purchase award.

This piece was based on a small study I did in the Summer of 2014 while in Teton National Park.  The study was 10" X 8" and the final piece is 18" X 36".


I made several videos of the process.  I look rather stern and I don't think I am that stern.

Video #1

Video #2

The painting on my easel, about half way completed

Cityscape Painting - Mesa, AZ

"Crossing Broadway"

Oil on Linen

14" X 11"

$450

Rarely do I paint cityscapes but this scene at Broadway and Center in Mesa, AZ appealed to me.  Perspective is always hard for me but love it when it works.

Accuracy in Oil Painting Values

Starting Out With Correct Values In Oil Painting

One of the ways to ensure that your values are correct is to create a mono-color painting using four values.  I first tone my canvas with a mixture of Red and Burnt Sienna which has been thinned with Gamsol.  This becomes my mid-value.

Next I put in my darkest values using mostly Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine Blue.  Then using a brush and more Gamsol I remove the first "Toning" to create my lightest value.  I also use  paper towel for larger areas.  Then I adjust my mid-tone values.

If I cannot create accurate values using a monochromatic scheme, then it is just going to be that much harder when I add color.  I check my values by constantly looking and trying to 'see' the painting in its monochromatic state.

The finished painting will have more than four values just through the process of completing the painting.

Still on the easel.  Needing a some adjustments

And the final Painting:

Storm Over Great Salt Lake

12" X 14"

Oil on Linen

"Aspens in Snow"

Oil on Linen, 9" X 10"

$325

I'm a bit shocked at the way the 'blue' is showing on my computer screen.  Hopefully it is better on yours.  Trust me it is not this blue in real life.  Actually, the photo on my computer looks so different from this view in Blogger.  Why is that?  I do think the blue on digital cameras often comes out too strong.

This is from a trip to Utah.  I took a drive on the Mount Nebo Loop Road.  Amazing scenery on the road.  There were just a few patches of snow.