Memories of String Lake

"Memories of String Lake"

Day 30 of 30/30

6"x8" oil on canvas panel

$75

I started off the month with some aspens from the Tetons and I am finishing up the month with beautiful String Lake (also in the Tetons) and its mountains and of course its trees.  I loved the bright blue sky with puffy white clouds and the reflections on the lake.  Also, the strong vertical tree shapes with their dark base was striking to me.  

Participating in a challenge of this sort where I am required (by my own rules) to post a painting a day is so good in many ways.  Most days what I post is not always worthy of posting and/or putting it out there.  But the important thing is to show up for work and try to create a painting that is pleasing. The showing up part is the most important aspect in my opinion.  Sometimes the not worthy of posting part is very helpful because hopefully I have learned something even though the painting did not work out.  I love learning and stretching myself and painting helps me in both regards.  I will never stop learning and hope to continue to create paintings that are interesting to others.  

Thank you for following along on this journey this month!

Standing on the Shore

"Standing on the Shore"

Day 12 of 30/30

8"x6"

$75.00

I am back home (but exhausted) after spending the last four days participating in a very eye-opening learning experience in a Colley Whisson workshop over in Cary NC.  I have been wanting to study with him for the last couple of years and I am so glad I did!  I plan to write a separate blog post about these four days but I need to play catch up first!

This painting was painted from a photo I took either at String Lake or Jenny Lake in the Tetons.  I really think it is String Lake but I am not sure.  I wanted to simplify the background and foreground and really focus on this clump of trees and I rather like how this one turned out.  As you know, an artist cannot always say this about something they have painted!

Please come back tomorrow as I have another very different tree to share with you!!!

Blue Waters at String Lake - Day 9

"Blue Waters at String Lake"

#9 of 30

6"x8" oil on canvas pad

$75.00

Last September I travelled to Grand Teton National Park with two art friends sightseeing, plein air painting and wandering through the multitude of art galleries in Jackson Hole.

One such morning we headed north from Jackson Hole into the park and spent a glorious day painting, exploring and seeing one beautiful vista after another.  This fabulous view at String Lake has yielded me more than a few paintings.

String Lake

String Lake

8"x10" Oil on Canvas

$295.00

Last September I spent a glorious week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming with two artist friends.  We spent the week plein air painting, driving all over Grand Teton National Park, eating (a favorite pastime) and trying to do as much gallery hopping as we could to soak up all the gorgeous artwork displayed in the galleries in downtown Jackson.  We also timed our visit to be able to see the Western Visions Show at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, and what a fantastic show that was!

One morning we walked around String Lake snapping photos at every turn and this composition caught my eye.  I recently painted this small 8"x10" for the Guild of Charlotte Artists winter show.  The reception was last night and I was honored to receive an Honorable Mention for it.  I almost fell off my chair when they called my name!  My plan is to use this study for a larger canvas, so stay tuned!

By the way, we just installed photoshop elements 12 and one of the options it gave was to have this frame around my painting so I went for it this time.  Something a little different.