From Plein Air Study to Studio Piece

This past July I was in Eastern Idaho painting,  actually on the West side of the Tetons.  I was given directions for a great place to paint called Fox Creek, but was told that there was water over the road but it is ok to drive through it.  So, off I went.  Saw the water and went on in.  Wow!  I got through it but the water was about 18 inches deep.  Thankfully I was in my 4Runner.  Of course, it was a dead end road, so I had to return.  This time I was smart enough to use the 4 wheel drive.

While out there i did this small study of Fox Creek.

Recently I revised the painting in my studio.  While I used the information from the study, I re-organized the painting and improved the composition.

This is the first video in a series of three that show me painting at the Grand Canyon.

Second video in the series

Last of the series of videos.  Each video is only about 2 minutes long.

This is the final painting

Another plein air piece from my South Rim Grand Canyon plein air painting trip.  This rock formation is called, "Duck on a Rock."  Frankly, I don't see a duck.    

I remember a number of years ago trying to paint this feature, when I just started painting plein air.  It was a disaster, but a humbling learning experience.  There is nothing like painting publicly, doing it poorly, and having people watch!

From Plein air to Studio Painting

String Lake sits at the base of the Tetons and is a popular place to paint, hike, swim and kayak.  I completed several plein air pieces here in July.

Above is my studio piece, below is the plein air piece.

If you are in the Phoenix area I will be leading some plein air painting expeditions and also teaching a workshop on using plein air pieces in the studio.

From Plein Air Study to Studio Piece

Each July, I leave home and spend the month camping and doing two plein air studies each day.  These studies become the basis for many of my studio pieces through the year.  Of course, I get to camp in places like Zion National Park and the Tetons.

The following photos show my process.

An early morning view of the Great White Throne in Zion.  I was able to set up my plein air easel at a view point along the inner canyon road.  This time of year only the shuttle buses travel this route.

This is the plein air piece that I completed along side the road.  I returned several days later to this same spot and completed this plein air piece ( The color is off in this piece due to using my phone to take the photo.)

Using these studies and some photos, I completed the following studio piece:

"Virgin River Sanctuary"

Oil on Belgian Linen

11" X 14"

Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this piece

Bruce@BruceStam.com

To view my website please click here?  www.BruceStam.com

Northern Bank Juried Show

"Rocky Way"

Oil on Linen

18" X 24"

$1290

This painting has been accepted into Scottsdale Artists School's juried show at Northern Trust Bank in Scottsdale.  An image of this painting will also appear on the brochure for the show.  Available for purchase.

Colors of the West

The material for this painting is from several trips to the area surrounding Zion National Park.  I have always been in awe of this view and have painted it a couple of times, and never been fully satisfied.

I started the painting below and realized I had made a mistake in composition and size of the mountain. So I just painted over parts and increased the height of the mountain, trying to get the proportions correct.

After playing around with the above painting I used a small 5x7 canvas and just painted in basic shapes to see if the proportions were now working correctly.

I made a few more adjustments and then created the piece below.  Sometimes it takes a while to be satisfied with your own work.  The challenge here is to make the distant mountain the focal point and keep it in the background at the same time.

"Colors of the West"

Oil on Belgian Linen

16" X 14"

$990

Oil Painting Demo at Mesa Gallery Store

During the recent Mesa Art Festival I painted this as a demo, while working in the Gallery Store at the Mesa Arts Center.  Many people stopped by to view the painting.  ( The Store has mercury lights which are hard to paint under.)

The next day I did a few small things to the painting.

"Beware"

Oil on Belgian Linen

11" X 14"

$450

I titled it "Beware" as it seems that you cannot get within five feet of a cholla cactus without get thorns.