The sun is elusive this time of year, dramatic when it appears. Constant inspiration in my North Idaho home.
There are many paintings in the works today in my studio. I am really getting into the groove, one of the better feelings to have as an artist.
A new painting in the studio! I am currently preparing a lot of boards that are this size and 16” x 20”. These will be keeping me busy throughout much of the very dark winter season.
I really love this painting, I will probably let it hang around the studio for a little while. The title and vibe precisely capture my feelings this time of year. The daylight dwindles and the temperature plummet. The studio feels extra isolated with the snowbirds long gone. It feels grim and a bit exciting. The studio is my haven, dig in and of course dig out.
Inspiration from the mountains of North Idaho. Summertime always slips away. The old cliches about time are all true.
The last nine years I have picked huckleberries hiking down from the top of Schweitzer, our local ski resort. This year it was a bit too early for the berries but it was still beautiful!
A bit more detail work and color glazing. Now this painting is finished!
I am really enjoying working on larger paintings again. While I am painting I am continuing to prepare new wood panels. When winter rolls around I will be stocked up just like the squirrels.
A new painting on the easel! I have had Covid the entire time I painted this. It has been a strange shaking fever dream but the painting came through! All of these years since the pandemic, this is the first time I caught the virus… I have been fortunate.
It is exciting to be working on some larger paintings once more. I am also preparing a lot of wood panels for future work, stay tuned.
My new painting! It feels really great, painting at a larger scale. The summer was pretty much all small boards. It was a very practical approach but not entirely satisfying.
My parents have headed back to Arizona. The weather is cooling so I will be in the studio much more. I have felt desperate to get lost in my work but everything feels very sad now. I will do what I do, keep pushing forward with my art. I suppose it is a strange way to spend my time, I know it makes no sense.
I have always loved watching clouds and weather systems rolling through. I very often find myself echoing nature in my studio, it is the heart of my work.
This is one of the many small paintings I have done in the last couple months. Today I am moving onto my first 18” x 24” painting in a number of months. Excited to get back to a larger scale.
A new small painting completed this week. An ode to summer.
I am working on three of these unusual paintings. Dark, brooding and mysterious. I am continuing my summer of modest sized works, looking forward to scaling up in the fall.
Next March I will be having a solo show at Haven Gallery in New York. Many ideas and much work ahead! Stay tuned.
brian sostrom 