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!
This week I mailed off two paintings to a new collector in Hong Kong. Two of my favorite water paintings, funny to think they will be on a wall so far from Idaho.
My sister and brother in law made the treck to North Idaho to visit over the 4th of July weekend. We had a lot of fun on the water enjoying the rewards of summer.
I sent her home with a couple of paintings she was fond of!
I mailed this 10″x10″ acrylic painting to Indiana this week. I’m staying put but my paintings are enjoying a bit of travel.
I just finished painting these 5″x5″ paintings. They are inspired by late afternoon light hitting the forests around Lake Pend Oreille.
I plan on doing a larger painting based on these studies, hopefully I will be able to have that posted by next week.
This painting was inspired by a late night on the lake. A friend came out to visit, we went kayaking and were still working our way back home long after the sun went down and the bats came out.
Summer please don’t go!
This little acrylic painting completely slipped my mind. I found it while emptying a drawer in my studio. Kind of a fun surprise.
The work was done on a small piece of masonite. A thick layer of acrylic gel texture was built up and then painted over.
brian sostrom 