Sunset Olympic National Park

I loved my previous painting so much, I decided to do another painting based on ONP in WA. It continues my theme of first painting in black and white (grissaille) followed by numerous thin transparent glazes in color. Prints of this painting are available through Fine Art America. com and the original will be put up for auction on Ebay.

Olympic National Park, WA

This is my latest painting done in oil, on a 16 x 20 inch stretched canvas. It is based on an area within Olympic National Park, WA. I remember doing a hike in this park where you started in the rain forest, ended up on a beach much like this one, and then looped back into the forest to the trail head. It was probably one of the coolest hikes I have ever done, and I think this painting reflects the beauty in this area....

Mountain Falls

Mountain Falls is an oil painting on a stretched cotton canvas. In this case, the size is 12 x 24 inch, which is an unusual size for me. Like my previous paintings, I used extensive glazing techniques and the grisaille method for this painting. I am really liking this technique and the luminosity effects I am achieving with this style painting.

Still of Winter

Still of Winter represents a new series of paintings for me in which I am utilizing extensive glazing techniques. This painting was done on a stretched 20 x 16 inch canvas in oils. The technique is one that has been around for centuries by the old Master's but has since fallen out of favor for the alla prima technique. The technique used is called the Grisaille (pronouced griz-eye) by which you first paint in black and gray oils and let dry completely. Then, you apply multiple, thin layers of transparent colors on top of the grisaille using the fat over lean principle. I believe it is one the best paintings I have ever done and I think it really shows some luminosity which is something I am always trying to achieve.

Frozen Dawn

Here is my new painting, entitled "Frozen Dawn". Done in oils on 20 x 16 inch canvas. I worked hard on achieving luminosity in the mountains and sky. I love doing landscapes of the Rockies, plains and Native Americans.

Light House

Not much to say about this painting. It is on my standard size canvas done in oils.

Lake MacDonald from summit of Mt. Cannon

Third painting in my "color burst" collection represents a view of Lake MacDonald from the summit of Mt. Cannon. I took this picture, circa 1994, and remember this climb well. This is a region in Glacier Park Montana looking towards the west from Logan's Pass. The painting continues my theme of tonalism with an intense set of colors in one particular focal point. The painting was done on a stretched cotton canvas (16x20 inch). The summit represented an unique challenge in getting the feel for "lots of rocks". Enjoy!

Grand Prismatic Hot Spring

This is the fourth painting using my painting technique "Color Burst", whereby I use tonalism in shades of gray and include an focal point with intense colors. The painting is on a stretched cotton canvas done in oils, 20x16 inch. Believe it or not, the colors of this hot spring are really this intense, and is the reason Yellowstone is so amazing. From Wikipedia.org: The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the United States, and the third largest in the world.

The vivid colors in the spring are the result of pigmented bacteria in the microbial mats that grow around the edges of the mineral-rich water. The bacteria produce colors ranging from green to red; the amount of color in the microbial mats depends on the ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoids and on the temperature of the water that favors one bacterium over another. In the summer, the mats tend to be orange and red, whereas in the winter the mats are usually dark green. The center of the pool is sterile due to extreme heat.

The deep blue color of the water in the center of the pool results from the intrinsic blue color of water, itself the result of water's selective absorption of red wavelengths of visible light. Though this effect is responsible for making all large bodies of water blue, it is particularly intense in Grand Prismatic Spring because of the high purity and depth of the water in the middle of the spring. This painting will be posted on Ebay this coming week, and then on Etsy.com

Grinnell lake, Glacier Park, Montana

My next painting of Grinnell lake on a 20 x 16 inch stretched canvas in oil. I did this painting in about 5 colors and is a continuing theme of mine to use tonalism to highlight one particular focal point in the painting. I think the painting came out great and will try to sell it on Ebay, although I know it will not sale. Anyways, I am very familiar with Grinnell lake, having climbed every peak surrounding it and I have pretty much hiked this entire valley multiple times. It is a great area, but loaded with Grizzley bears. Thanks for looking!

Rays of Autumn

My new painting is based on a theme I have used previously and that is basically working with neutral colors (grays) and add an intense focal point in one color, in this case orange. For me, I really believe this is a style I can be successful at and plan on doing another painting using the similar technique. In any event, fall is the best time to paint in my opinion due to all the intense colors. This is an oil based painting done on a 16 x 20 inch stretched cotton canvas. I will be posting this painting on Ebay for $75.00 and if it does not sale, I will try Etsy.

Next Painting...September 2010

I am back from my hiatus. Normally, I paint very little in the summer as it is always difficult to be stuck down in my basement when it is so nice outside. Now, however, I am back to the easel and have completed my next painting entitled "Rays of Autumn". I plan on posting this painting this week sometime and next week it will be available on Ebay for purchase.

War Bride

Final rendering of my oil painting, War Bride. Noticed I changed the name. After finishing the painting I just realized the painting was more about the woman than anything else.

War News: posting #5

This is the second to last posting for this painting.

War News: posting #4

Partial colors of clothes on the three people; what I am looking is to make sure the 3 colors are complimentary....I used my color wheel for this one and formed a color triad.

War News, post #3

War News: posting #2

In this posting, I have largely completed the background of the painting. In this case, I really wanted the background to not draw a lot of attention, except for the radio. Till next time!

New Project: War News

My new painting is commencing after a 2-month hiatus. I am excited to return to the canvas! In this painting I will continue my diner theme of the 50's. Like last time, I will try to post different stages as the painting progresses. After the completion of the painting, I will be selling the painting on Ebay for $99.00. This painting will be done on oil, using a massonite board for my canvas. The size of the painting is 20'' by 16''.

At this point, you can see the composition of the painting and noticed that I have covered the painting with a thin layer of iron oxide.

Last Entry

Here it is, the final posting of my painting "Last Lunch with Grandpa". It was a real challenge, taking me anywhere between 30-40 hours to paint. I had a lot of different elements including some landscaping (outside window), human figure, and basically a still life element (foreground table). In addition, there were many precision elements including numerous straight lines, edges and angles. All in all I am pretty satisfied with the end product and it was very fun to paint. Notice that I really wanted to give it a 50's diner feel and even had numerous cigarette butts, and matches on the floor. Of course, one would not see this type of diner setting today, but this is how diners were back then. This painting will be available to be purchased for $199.

Entry 5: Last lunch with Grandpa

Here is my second to last post of this oil painting on canvas panel (20x16 inch). As you can see, I have completed everything but the foreground on the left. Lots of detail! Again, the hardest thing about doing a painting of this style, is that every square millimeter has to be accounted for with precision. There are not a lot of loose strokes, which is in stark contrast to doing a landscape painting. Overall, I am pretty happy with the painting, although an artist is never content....My last posting should be sometime late next week.