Side by Side Comparison

Side by Side comparison of the original on the left, and the make-over on the right

  

 

"Playin' Up a Storm"

Revisited "The Banjo Player".  I really wasn't happy with the back ground or the facial color.  What do you do on a chilly, drippy spring day?  Do a painting re-do.  And so I present -

Playin' Up a Storm

Oil on Canvas

(24 x 36)

Let me know what you think..........

Changing perspective

Changed perspectives on a painting I did a couple years ago called "Awakening".  I decided to take a fresh approach.  And so.....  just off my easel.

"Not a Worry in the World"

(40 x 30)  Oil on Canvas

I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand

Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand

Life is good today, life is good today

~Zac Brown Band

"Closing Time"

Finally finished

"Closing Time"  

40" x 30"

I finally finished this painting I've been working on for almost a year.  I learned a lot working on this, and many of my lessons transfer to running and life in general.  Here are my top 5.

1.  If you don't start, you won't finish.  (That applies to everything)

2.  Keep your focus - don't wander too far from the plan.  (That includes training plans.  Keep focused.  Keep disciplined)

3.  Not everything you try will work.  But that doesn't mean quit trying.  (Absolutely - never quit.  You may have to adjust, but never quit)

4. Sometimes you just have to walk away - tomorrow is another day.  See #3 (Yup - sometimes it happens)

5.  Drying paint takes time - don't rush the process.  (Training for a marathon takes time - don't rush the process.)

This painting is based on a photograph by Carol Highsmith.  Permission to use the photo as reference was granted by the photographer, Carol Highsmith.

I would love to hear what you think.  Critiques are always welcome.  Thanks!!!

Check Players Update

Almost finished....  just have a lot of tweaking to do.

On my easel

Playin' checkers at the ol' general store. 

Oil on Canvas

40 x 30 x 1.5

Any and all comments are greatly appreciated!!!  Thanks for looking!!!

"Serenity Sunrise"

Just off my easel - 

Serenity Sunrise  (40" x 30")

Let me know what you think.  As always, comments and critiques are always very welcome!!!

On my easel - Ella Wants to Play Too!!

Working on a painting for my sister.  It's her grandsons playing football, and their cat is watching from inside - wishing she could play too.  Almost finished.  Just have to put final touches on the throw rug and add some shadow to the house under the pine tree.  Also have to figure out how to make it look like you are inside looking through the patio door.

(18" x 24")

I always appreciate comments, suggestions, critiques ........... Thank You!!!

New Beginnings (40 x 30)

Complete???  I added a bit more sunray on the right.  I think it needed it.  Let me know what you think.  All critiques are very much appreciated!!!

"New Beginnings" Almost Finished???

I think I'm almost finished with this commission piece.

New Beginnings (40" x 30")

 I see that there may need to be some tweaking of the foreground.  

Thank you for looking.  If there is anything that you see that needs attention please let me know.

New Beginnings (40" x 30")

Started working on a commission piece for cousin Judi.  The sky is almost finished, and the foreground is blocked in.  Next step is to add native plants and grasses to the pasture scene, maybe some yucca on the right and a few Mexican hat and penstemons dispersed through the grasses.  The final touch will be crepuscular rays  (sun rays) coming down from the left illuminating the path.

New Beginnings  (40" x 30")

Thanks for looking.  Comments and critiques are always more than welcome!!!

"Awakening" (40" x 30" oil on canvas)

Awakening  

(40" x 30"  oil on canvas)

This is a painting of a woman in her "Red Sundress".  The sky and the sea are dark after a long stormy night, but the sun rises between them - separating the darkness and offering hope.  The clouds are breaking up and there is a patch of blue sky.   The red dress, as in the first painting of the woman in the red sundress is her Courage.  As the sun rises, she knows she can face life with confidence.  The night is past.  Today is a new day.  She has an awakening, a spiritual epiphany, a lighting of the fire in her heart that she knew was always there, but was afraid.  Now with confidence she faces the sunrise, a new beginning.  She is a strong woman able to face the challenges of life.  There will be other storms, but she has her red sundress and will put it on and face them.  

Make today a Red Sundress day!!!

Finished Painting

I officially took this off my easel today.  I even did a little dance when I put my brush down.

 (40 x 30)  Untitled (as of now)

Here is the reference photo I used.  Thank YOU C Tann Starr from the Run the Year 2017 group for giving me permission to use your photo as a reference.

Thank You for looking.  Any comments, critiques, etc... are always very welcome!!!

Update of Untitled Beach Painting

Here is the update.  The sky is finished and working on the waves crashing on the beach.  This has proven to be quite a difficult piece.  Thanks for looking!!!

(Untitled Beach Scene)

40 x 30

I have been contemplating including a runner, but it just didn't look right.  So, maybe some footprints indicating that someone ran passed this place as the sun was rising......???

What's on my easel???

After taking several months off, I started painting again.  Here is what is on my easel this week.

The sky is almost finished, and working on the surf and beach.  Contemplating adding a runner ... ???  The reference for this photo was taken by C Tann Starr in the 2017 Run the Year group.  Thanks C!!!

Thanks for looking.  Let me know what you think - add a runner or not?

Snow Quite - Finished Painting

Oh my.......  I realized that I hadn't posted the finished painting "Snow Quiet".  So - here it is (a year later)  Funny how time flies.

"Snow Quiet"  (40 x 30)

And a poem by Robert Frost to accompany my painting ........................  Enjoy

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know,

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

Snow Quiet (40 x 30)

Instead of a grass/skyscape I chose a winter scene instead.  I'm almost finished with Snow Quiet.  Have a few details left.  Let me know what you think.......

Inspiration:   The quiet, peacefulness after a snow.  Sound is muffled as if frozen in mid air. 

Happy New Year from My Little Corner of the Universe!!!

Getting geared up for 2016!!!  I have a fresh canvas on my easel and an inspiration for my next painting.  This year my focus of attention will be the sky.  I have several "just grass and sky" ideas that need to find their way onto a canvas. 

This is going to be a FABULATASTIC year!!!  Stop by in a week or two to see what's going on in "My little corner of the Universe"

Just off the easel .............

Recently finished this painting of a late summer storm.  Which just might be a good title for this one. 

Late Summer Storm (24" x 18")

This is a gallery wrapped canvas in a 1 3/4" deep floating frame.  Comments and critiques are always very much appreciated.

Thanks for looking.........

U.S. Senator Bennet selects "Another White Combine Harvest"

I am honored to announce that U.S. Senator Michael Bennet from Colorado selected my painting "Another White Combine Harvest"  to be on display in his Washington, D.C. office for the next two years.

"Another White Combine Harvest"  (60" x 40")
(two - 30 x 40 panels)

"Another White Combine Harvest" (60" x 40")

This past month I've been working on a large piece I'm calling "Another White Combine Harvest".  I'm using two 30 x 40 gallery wrapped canvases for this one.  It's almost finished  ... working on tweaking clouds and started working on the wheat field in the foreground.

 "Another White Combine Harvest"  (60" x 40")

Background Information About this Piece:

As wheat farmers living on the high plains of Eastern Colorado, we are at the mercy of the weather.  Large super-storms like the one in this painting can wipe out an entire crop in the matter of minutes.  Hail storms such as this are often called "The White Combine"  and so, the title of this painting.

Your comments are always welcome!

Thanks for looking..............