Once again I find myself obsessed with clouds and skies. This painting kept changing and restarting. I probably destroyed 2 perfectly good works before finding my way here. Unusual colors and lighting won me over in the end!
Thunder Tower
Tag: creative
Destroy to Create (update)
This painting is on the bubble for me. It has a lot of the force and intrigue I enjoy but is that enough? I will catch it out of the corner of my eye when I am working and it draws my attention… is that enough? It has some beautiful color, blending, texture, shape and motion… enough?
I am forever running out of painting surfaces. Now when I finish a painting I set it aside in the studio rather than varnishing it. I let a little time and distance come between me and the painting and see how it stacks up against other works I am making. Then when there are too many paintings and not enough new boards I spend a morning removing paint from the ones that fall short.
This has become part of my process. I am increasingly comfortable destroying to create. Nothing is sacred.
Still not sure if I will keep it but it is intriguing so I will put it aside and let it breathe.
Big Light
I am prepping a collection of paintings to send to Horizon Fine Art Gallery in Jackson, Wyoming. I am thrilled to have gallery representation in Jackson Hole! A town I have always loved visiting.
Lately I have been spread thin sending out so much work and prepping for my solo show this February at Elliott Fouts Gallery. I am absolutely loving it, and so thankful!
Earthly Days
Another cloud painting inspired by the low winter sun of the north! Pictured in progress on my studio table.
Great Silence
This is another painting inspired by mist and morning light.
I have been painting a lot of work this size lately. It has enough surface area to have a bit of freedom. I am going to start treating this as my minimum size. I have a lot of prepped 16″x20″, 18″x24″ and 20″x24″ panels I am excited to dive into next.
Your Fire
I have painted some small campfire paintings with the intention of eventually working on larger ones. Currently the largest boards I have prepped are 11″x14″ so I decided to paint some at that size. Just large enough to give me more freedom of movement! 
I sold this one before I posted it on Instagram. The woman who purchased it saw it on my “story” which is a video limited to 24 hours. She lives in Kuwait, excited to be sending work to a country I have not mailed to previously!
Summer Work
Here is a collection of some of the paintings I have done this summer. They are all on display at my solo show in Pendleton, Oregon at the Art Center!
It just occurred to me that I left out one of my favorites when I was taking this group photo so I will include it separately!
Beneath the Surface
Two 11″x14″ paintings I wrapped up last night… well aside from varnishing, signing, framing 😳. They really look good together as an accidental diptych!
I often work two or three paintings of similar subject at a time. It keeps my focus narrowed and my paints can be shared between multiple paintings. I frequently make interesting discoveries and small creative jumps with this approach!
Far Light 20”x16”
Another painting in my brooding landscape series. I hope to have 4 of these totally finished for my next solo show. It opens in Pendleton, Oregon at the Arts Center August 2nd!
Seasons Change
This 36″x48″ painting has been part of my exhibit collection since late last fall. Yesterday it sold at the McVarish Gallery in Astoria, Oregon. This is one of my favorite recent large scale paintings, I hope it adds some intrigue and drama to it’s new home!
brian sostrom 