"Leighton View -Late Summer i" -plein air oil painting

"Leighton View -Late Summer i" -plein air oil painting, 8 x 8"
The view from the Leighton Art Centre is one of miles and miles of farms all the way up to the foothils, which are full of cattle ranches. It is impossible to paint all of that, so this is another attempt to simplify that expanse while giving that impression. Might be a bit too simple, but it is only an 8x8" canvas...
Enjoy!

Harvest Time -plein air oil painting

"Harvest Time", plein air oil painting, 10 x8"
This kind of landscape immediately surrounds the urban sprawl of Calgary, and makes escape from the city a wonderful treat. Fall is my absolute favorite season for plein air painting, only problem is that it tends to be very short here. We have already had a light frost, so the trees will be turning rapidly I suspect. As long as the wind holds off, we should have at least another month before we hit the drabs of early winter, then the LONG winter.
So enjoy it while its here!

"From Dead Man's Flats" -plein air oil painting

"From Dead Man's Flats", plein air oil painting, 10 x 8"
This was a really funny day. When we got to the campground at Dead Man's Flats, it was partially cloudy and cool, then it became rainy but warmer somehow, and then the sun began to peak out again giving a wonderful misty atmosphere late in the day (still haven't painted that one!) I couldn't believe how turquoise the water in the Bow River was. I really like how this little painting turned out.
Enjoy!

"Spray Lake" -plein air oil painting

"Spray Lake", plein air oil painting, 16 x 12"
Here is one painted at the top end of the Spray Lakes near Canmore. It was a wonderful day (aren't they all when you are painting from life?) and even a golden eagle circled overhead while we were painting. This view changes almost every time I see it, the amount of wind and sun makes a huge difference.
Enjoy!

Art In the Park Day

I had the pleasure of participating in the "Art in the Park" day at Bow Valley Ranch in Fish Creek park yesterday. There were about 20 artists and artisans there working for the afternoon and we had over 700 visitors! I was the only artist painting the actual scene, which is the porch of The Ranche restaurant. Thanks to Sandy, Elley and Jill for posing for me!
This is my friend Marilyn and I at the end of the day. We got quite cold as we were in the shade of huge fir trees across the walkway, and the warm sun never got through.
Enjoy!

The Great WORLDWIDE Paintout Continues!

I spent today painting at my friend Annie's studio and gallery in High River, Alberta, called Art & Soul Gallery. It happened to be Alberta Art Day as well, but I don't think they knew about the Great Worldwide Paintout - a coincidence?

"Annie's Place", plein air oil painting, 12 x 9"

It was a splendid day and I think I managed to capture the feeling of inviting warmth that I felt there. Enjoy!

The Great WORLDWIDE Paint Out!

untitled, plein air oil painting, 14 x 11"
This weekend is the 'Great Worldwide Paintout' for the International Plein Air Painters, of which I am a newly added member. I went out with Lorna this morning and this is all the painting we were able to do before a storm moved in (the clouds were beginning to build at the start of this as I put the sky in early in the process). Will head out Saturday and Sunday and will post the results of those days also. Sorry for the glare in this photo, but I had to photograph it in the studio under artificial lights as it is still raining outside.
Enjoy!

"Fireweed Along The Elbow" -plein air oil painting

"Fireweed Along The Elbow" -plein air oil painting, 12 x 9"
I did this painting while sitting in deep shade under the bridge on a very hot and sunny day. I was actually very cold by the time it was done, so when I emerged all bundled up, the swimmers who were playing upstream of me looked at me like I was crazy.
Enjoy!

"Mist Mountain" -oil painting

"Mist Mountain", 12 x 9", oil painting

This is another plein air piece that I went back in to simplify. (check post date Aug 18 to see the 'before' painting). I really think I am onto something -what do you think?

Enjoy!

Breakthrough!

"Banded Peak Revisited", 12 x 9", oil painting
Remember this painting from July 12th? I was looking at the 28 oil paintings I have done on location this summer, and I had an 'ahah' moment where I realized what I wanted my paintings to look like. I am in love with high contrast and chroma on well designed, simplified shapes. To this end, I went back into some of my previous paintings and simplified them, boosting the colour where needed. I am much happier with this painting now, as I think it is less 'literal' and more me. I do tend to get caught up in all the detail while on location, so I guess I may just have to carry on this practice if I can't manage it while on site. May not be pure 'plein air', but that doesn't really bother me. It is the end result that matters. Hopefully I will be able to capture the feeling of the place as I have perceived it.
Enjoy!