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This mini painting for an upcoming show is from a photo that I took last year when we were in the Wallowas. I like that minute just before twilight really sinks in...when there are dashes of great color...

I am doing a series of paintings for a show in August. These will generally be large format paintings. I came across a photo I took several years ago when hunting for subject matter. I think I had avoided painting it as nocturnes or late twilight pieces are really quite difficult. It is hard to capture the colors just before sunset...almost impossible for a plein air piece as the light changes momentarily. Several painters in the early 20th century did an excellent job. My favorite is Charles Rollo Peters.
It is very difficult to get a fundamentally dark canvas but not have dull color. The values need to be close together. In this painting the focal point is the sunset on the lake. Peters, and Maynard Dixon often used a light within a distant house or a campfire.

I was going through my 6000 photos that I file for studio paintings. I seem to remember this was taken on my way home from Klamath Falls...but where I cannot say...maybe near Lake of The Woods.
But the scene really grabbed me and I wanted to capture the sense of abandonment...
I think that is one of my favorite themes...things that were and are fading away.

I have several shows scheduled this Spring, Summer and Fall, so I am painting away. It is still cold here in the high desert so most of my work is studio work, including this large piece.

The last time we camped at Hart Mountain it snowed over night...thank goodness our small (Casita) trailer is quite snug.

The Warner Valley is one of my favorite spots.

The Uncommon Beauty Project has been a lot of fun...now that I have about 25 paintings, I decided to do one more of a place that really caught my attention. This beautiful if abandoned house in Merrill in the afternoon shadows has a faded beauty all of its own.

You will be able to see this painting and my other work and the wonderful work of Vicki Shuck starting May 29th at the Favell Museum in Klamath Falls.