Summer,
Once again you made me your fool. All those warm days and late nights the sun barely resting. I tried so hard to keep you by my side.
Now you are off to some southern land. I laugh as you go but I will never forgive you. I prize my solitude and I will cling to the darkness. Maybe I will pine over an old photo of you this winter. In April a sparrow might spark a faint memory.
Damn, I just want you to come back.
Where has the summer gone? I am working on pieces for an October show and already dreading summers departure. Dig deep, that’s all there is to do.
I have been painting a lot of sunsets lately. Trying to capture the color shifts and play of light and atmosphere is something I am obsessed with!
I have been pretty obsessed with the sunrises and sunsets on Lake Pend Oreille. Conveniently I have a tough time sleeping during normal hours so that makes it easier to witness the incredibly early dawn.
Not to complain but I’m always a little sad after the summer solstice. The first official day of summer is also when the daylight starts to dwindle. That’s life in a nutshell.
I have returned from Pendleton, closing out my most recent solo show. I came over to the studio to prep some paintings for shipment and decided to get a photo of this painting.
Safe travels on this Labor Day weekend!
This is a small collection of 10″x8″ paintings. I am experimenting with more aggressive mark making trying to boldly capture the morning light.
I am currently working on smaller paintings. After so many shows and deadlines this year I just want to paint and experiment and see where it goes!
My collection of four campfire paintings. I sold one of these and thought I better get a “family” photo of them before I mail off the purchased piece. These paintings are all 8″x10″ plus the dimensions of the floating frames.
I am starting a large collection of small works (and writing a long letter on a short piece of paper). After so many exhibits this year I am resetting a bit and approaching my work in a little different way. I am always experimenting and exploring.
Vacation time rolled around and I was fortunate to go to some of the prettiest country around with much of my family! Our ultimate destination was the Wind River Mountains but we took a day to tourist it up in Yellowstone National Park.
I have visited the park many times over the years and it is always stunningly beautiful. The number of cars and people in the park these days is the one negative point. It is a strange contrast between the natural beauty and the jostling sea of humanity.
Old Faithful is still reliable entertainment this eruption was witnessed by well over a thousand people!
One of my favorite animals trotted along the road through Hayden Valley. This valley is a massive expanse and one of the greatest places to see bison as they once were. This bull is still shedding it’s winter coat!
The colors in this spring were amazingly vibrant. This is one of the icons of the park that everyone has seen on the cover of National Geographic and park promotional images. From the walkway you only get a glimpse of the magical colors and how they blend together. From above it would be all the more dramatic!
When I was a child there were two destinations, the Oregon coast and Wyoming. My Mom’s parents lived in Oregon, my Dad’s parents… you got it Wyoming!
I feel a real love and connection to both places. I am excited to have a show in Astoria, Oregon in June. So close to the coast you can see it from the Astoria Column. When you fill the gas tank at Safeway you hear sea lions barking and complaining about the fishermen. In July I will be going to the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming, the greatest place! Family will be at both destinations and I am excited about these adventures.
I now reside in Idaho, I seem to have split the difference between Oregon and Wyoming. I was thinking about these amazing places, the past and the unknowable future. What does today’s rambling blog have to do with this painting? Aside from the obvious coastal connection, everything.
Gathering up some paintings in my studio that were commissions. I painted four 24″x24″ paintings for a great family that has a house on Lake Pend Oreille. Painting these was a real pleasure knowing they would be hanging lakeside on this beautiful North Idaho lake.
I will be posting more images of the four paintings along with two additional paintings very soon!
