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I have been fortunate enough to be selected for Cowgirl Up 2014. They request 3-5 paintings. So I have been hard at work. This is painting number two. I don't want to find my self in early February (the show is in March) rushing work.

At a recent opening of my work (and Vicki Shuck's) Vicki's husband, the painter, Gary Vincent suggested that we go out on the porch at Pronghorn and look at the sunset. It was amazing... even at an art opening you need to also be open to the tremendous beauty of nature. This little painting is a tribute to that wonderful evening.

I will deliver this painting to the gallery today...it is a a bit wet, but isn't that a tradition with my work?

I have a couple of new paintings for the gallery....real summer pieces
We camped near the town of Paulina in Eastern/Central Oregon...our campsite was wooded and near a great little stream. But going into Paulina (one store) to stock up (beer) the morning clouds were magnificent.

I am continuing on this fun and challenging project. Nye Miller (Danae Miller) is one of my favorite artists. Luckily we are both at Tumalo and have decided to trade one of my paintings for one of her sculptures. If you visit Tumalo you will see a magnificent Long Horn Bull....I will get one of the limited editions.
We also agreed that I would paint something reflecting her beautiful ranch east of Bend. When out there I got a great photo of her horses at the crest of a hill. This is phase 2 of the underpainting. The challenge is that Nye is an expert horsewoman...wonderful printmaker (of equine subjects) and I darn well better get the conformation right. (I am less worried about he landscape, the composition, lighting, chroma, etc....that I ponder every day in my landscapes...but working on these lovely horses will be a challenge. I will continue to post as I progress. This is just phase 2 of an underpainting...the cmposition is set, but the final colors will be nothing like this.

I am trading a painting of Nye Miller's horses on her beautiful ranch for one of her outstanding sculptures...a long horn bull. (You can see the sculpture along with others of her sculptures at Tumalo Art. Co.) Because she is a fellow artist I am sharing the steps as this painting progresses...something that is risky to do with most clients. This is the first step...staining the canvas, and then blocking in the composition and sketching, with vine charcole, the main subjects, in this case, her horses. When done, none of that diluted alizarine crimson will show. Thought I might as well share it on Facebook, too.
One of the joys of being an artist is the opportunity to trade for work from other artists I really admire.

Fort Rock is a rock formation rising from the desert east of my home in the high desert of Oregon. Woven sandals dating at least 10,000 years back have been found here. The day I was out I did not find any artifacts (which I would have had to leave in place!!!) but I did find a magnificent sky and the solitude of the desert.
This painting will be in Tumalo Art Co., when the frame arrives from my framer.

This summer has taken a toll on Oregon and the west...so many fires. Two friends homes are at risk...one near Yosemite and on near the Dalles on the Columbia River. We are all hoping for rain, no lightning and no wind!
Last week to escape the smoke here we camped for a few days in the Ochoco Mountains. The weather had been perfect... On our way back, toward the town of Paulina I was struck by how beautiful the morning sky was....so naturally I had to paint it.
This painting will dry for another week or so and find its way to Tumalo Art. Co.

This will likely be one of my paintings for the 2014 Cowgirl Up show at the Desert Caballeros Museum in Wickenberg, Arizona. We need to submit photos of a piece by October for the catalog, so I am starting already. Really excited about this event.

We had dinner at a friends ranch a few weeks ago...and they "entertained" us with one of the best sunsets I have ever seen...they have a wonderful, distant View of the Three Sisters (Mountains). This view even includes a beautiful pond. This was heaven.

Nothing nicer than an evening with friends, good wine and food and one of the best views of Central Oregon. I just had to paint it.
And now I will drive this little pochade into the gallery.

There is unfortunately a small upside to our summer fires...the sunsets. They are magnificent, but at what cost? I photographed this scene when driving home fro the gallery one night...amazing sky.
However, I will pass up the great skies to get some relief from the smoke, and some security for the people living at forests' edge.
I will bring this painting into Tumalo Art Co in Bend today.