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!

Sunrise over the Tetons

"Sunrise over the Tetons"

Day 26 of 30/30

6"x8" oil on canvas panel

$75.00

Yes, I was actually up (which is very rare) before the sunrise because Steve wanted to document the sun coming up over the Tetons and I wanted to go with him.  We drove over in the early dawn and naively thought we would be the only ones there.  To our amazement there were already 10-15 people with their telescopic lenses all poised to catch the sun rising.

And yes, that is really snow on the mountains even though it was June because these are the mighty Tetons and they usually hold the snow until at least August.

I know this is supposed to be about the trees and it really is.  I wanted to see how much I could simplify the tree masses with just a little bit of daylight hitting the outer branches but I could not resist playing in the mountains too!

Up on the Hill

"Up on the Hill"

Day 6 of 30/30

6"x8" oil on canvas panel

$75.00

Here is another from a clearing across the road from Jackson Lake Lodge where we were staying in the Tetons.  Steve and I were wandering again and enjoyed our afternoon snapping photos and soaking up memories of a beautiful week in the Tetons with our dear long-term friends and fellow travelers.

Doing this tree challenge has reminded me that trees come in all shapes and types.  Some are evergreen, like most of these in this painting, but also decidious trees like the aspens also in the above painting.  Some of my paintings will focus on the trunks and twisting branches while some will have foliage and some will not.  You just never know!

Come back tomorrow to see!

Canyon Wildflowers

"Canyon Wildflowers"

Day 3 of 30/30

8"x6" oil on canvas panel

$75.00

Some paintings flow off the brush nicely and easily.  This one did NOT.  Originally I had a large rock or boulder that sat among these flowers but the rock grew larger and larger and eventually took over the painting!  So I wiped it out and planted more wildflowers!

The photo inspiration for Day 3 came from a beautiful hike Steve and I took several years ago in the Tetons.  I loved the value contrast between the tree mass and the flowers growing in the foreground.  

I hope you come back for Day 4!