Deep in the Pine Forest

"Deep in the Pine Forest"

Day 14 of 30/30

6"x8" oil on canvas panel

$75.00

This painting is rather dark and gloomy but we found this scene in Yellowstone while on a two-hour Ranger Walk that took us to Indian Pond and Storm Point.  We walked deep into the woods with the ranger and came upon this spot where it looked like there were about 1,000 pine trees so deep and so close together.  Steve crouched down very close to the ground to get this perspective and I always thought this was such a neat photo.  Only a little patch of grass was visible in the foreground and little seedlings of tiny pine trees would poke up here and there.  

Maybe tomorrow's painting will not be so gloomy.

Lamar River Valley - Day 5

"Lamar River Valley"

#5 of 30

6"x8" oil on canvas pad

$75.00

One thing that has occurred to me during this challenge is how enjoyable it is for me to look through my photos and have my eye notice photos that never seemed to catch my eye before.  It could be the values, the composition, the subject matter,  the colors or any number of things.  However, another thing that has occurred is how many ways the same image can be interpreted. By the way, this was painted from one of our hundreds of photos taken in Yellowstone National Park.  It is an expansive area in the Lamar Valley where buffalo by the hundreds roam and graze.  We have been so fortunate to see them both from a distance and up close (carefully and quickly of course).

This painting "Lamar River Valley" is an example of the latter example.  I have painted several versions of this image and each one has been so different.,  Just look at these two paintings (both of which have sold) shown below:

"River Stream"

24"x30"

"Lamar Valley"

18"x36"

In today's small painting, I have chosen the upper left area as my focal point but made the trees surrounding it more prominent.  It was in the original photo but I never made it be a feature.  I have also used different paint colors in today's painting and added features that were not in the other paintings.  

I know I have put a lot of information in this post that most of you could not possibly be interested in, but  this challenge is becoming for me an exploration and I am really enjoying the journey!

Rainbow Woodland

Rainbow Woodland

24"x36" oil on gallery wrap canvas

$995.00

This is a recent painting using a photo taken by my husband while we were in Yellowstone.  Granted, I took great liberties with this one regarding the colors but that is what artists do!  I experimented with a couple relatively new colors (for me) by Charvin called Coral and Intense Pink and I really like how it turned out.  Not sure you can see the true colors on  your monitor but take my word for it, it is colorful!

Twilight

Twilight

24"x12" Oil on Linen

Gallery Wrap

$425.00

     I am participating in Leslie Saeta's 30-day marketing challenge.  Our mission today (day 2) is to select a painting that we really like that still has not found a new home.  

     "Twilight" is my interpretation of a grouping of trees in Yellowstone National Park.  The color on my monitor does not show the true colors of this painting but take my word for it, it is unusual and colorful!  Granted, this clump of trees did not have turquoise or lavender foliage but this painting certainly does!

Around the Bend

Around The Bend

16"x16" Oil on Canvas

$500.00 framed

     This is a high-key painting from a photo we took several years ago on a trip to Yellowstone National Park.  We were driving through the Hayden Valley area and came across several cars pulled off to the side of the road - a sure sign something like a black bear has been sighted.  It wasn't a bear but a fox den and when we got our binoculars out we could see mama fox and a couple babies sunning themselves in the bright June sunshine.  

     I took a lot of artistic license with this photo and really changed it up to suit my purpose.  I have painted this photo before and that painting was much more literal.  I much prefer this version with its bright colors.

A Natural View

Jackson Hole Grove

36"x24" Oil On Canvas

$795.00

       

Canadian Wilderness

20"x16" Oil on Canvas

$495.00

     These two paintings were accepted  into "A Natural View", a juried art exhibit presented by The Schiele Museum of Natural History and the Gaston County Art Guild.  The exhibit features artwork that focuses on nature and may include plants, animals or natural landscape native to North America.

     These paintings were based on photos from trips we have taken in the last few years.  Our vacations have taken us to the Yellowstone/Jackson Hole area a couple times and that part of the country offers spectacular views in every direction.  I can't wait to return to that beautiful part of the country.  About three years ago we travelled through the Canadian Rockies aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train on a two-day journey from Vancouver up to Jasper National Park.  We then rented a car and drove to Lake Louise and Banff National Park for the next two or three days.  

     This exhibit will be hanging from now through March 22, 2013, and features dozens of beautiful pieces of  artwork.  I hope you are able to stop and see the exhibit if you can.