Early Light

Oil on oil primed linen panel, 8"x10"

My last painting for the year. I am finishing with a hill country piece and will start 2013 with a painting from Big Bend National Park which has been the theme for the last few years. Oil primed linen is a very slick surface and not the easiest to manipulate, it lends itself nicely to loose work. I am fairly pleased with the color saturation I achieved in this piece.

Falling Apart at the Seams

I have revised and reposted this painting with the above image. This weekend was spent repainting several pieces that I thought could use a facelift.

Oil on linen panel, 11"x14"

Another barn scene from La Grange. This one had a clear view of a pasture and distant hill behind it. This barn like many others in the area has seen better days and appears to be falling apart at the seams.

Sunset

8"x10" Oil on linen panel

This is of course a Texas Hill Country sunset with springtime bluebonnets.

I hope that everyone had a safe and happy holiday. I'm looking forward to the new year but also want to finish this year strong so I'm hoping to post a few more finished paintings before the year ends. I was busy this last month with several projects and of course the holiday shopping which all had an impact on lowering my blog activity. 

Moonlight and Snow

Oil on panel, 8"x10"

Tis' the season, so I decided to paint a snow scene even though there isn't a snowballs chance in you know where for it to snow here in Houston. At least painting snow would help me get into the Christmas spirit! Happy Holidays to all!

Sunset Blues

Oil on panel, 6"x8"

This painting I actually rescued from the trash. I had worked it into something I really didn't like and had tossed it in the garbage. There is sat until the next day when I grabbed it out and decided to go a totally different direction with it. I massed in the large foliage areas and popped in the sunset behind the tree, added an indication of a fence and thought, hmmmmm I may have something here.  Glad I rescued it and gave it another chance.

In the Grapevine Hills (repaint)

Oil on panel, 11"x14"

The Grapevine Hills is one of my favorite areas of Big Bend National Park.

This is one of those paintings I just wasn't happy with and since it never sold I decided to make it or break it. I actually learn a lot when I repaint a finished work. Making alterations to improve a painting requires deep analysis of the work and the ability to view with a critical eye. It is often difficult to see problems that you have stared at for long periods. Our eyes and minds begin to fool us into believing that what we have created is good and that can cause complacency. I am beginning to understand it is as important to make a painting beautiful as it is to make it believable. That idea is the catalyst that enables me to modify what I see into what I want. I know there is more I could do with this piece but it is far improved from the previous version and time to move on.

Hilltop View

Oil on panel, 6"x8"
This scene was created from a thumbnail sketch idea.

Bluebonnets and Paintbrush near La Grange

Oil on panel, 8"x16"

This was painted from photos I took near La Grange, Texas.

Moonlit Meadow

Oil on panel, 16"x20"

Painted from a thumbnail sketch idea I had.

Fall Color

Oil on panel, 11"x14"
I wanted to paint something with fall color, a lazy brook or stream and distant mountains, and this is what I came up with. Painted from one of my thumbnail sketches.

Pastoral Blue

Oil on panel, 8"x10"

Another scene from La Grange, Texas. Just a beautiful pasture of bluebonnets and Oak Trees.

Barn in La Grange

Oil on panel, 6"x8"
I  found this barn in La GRange, Texas. It was late in the afternoon and the trees and barn were casting long shadows.

The Grapevine Hills

Oil on panel, 11"x14"

Another repaint of an older piece. This is in the Grapevine Hills of Big Bend National Park.

Cactus

Oil on panel, 8"x6"
This cactus was growing at altitude in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park.

Reflections of October

Oil on panel, 8"x10"
This is another redo of an older painting. I just painted right over the top of the old piece.

Red Barn

OIl on panel, 8"x16"
I found this scene in La Grange, Texas. The barn was actually being worked on and had scaffolding covering the front left side. Obviously I removed the scaffolding and fit the scene to a wide format.

County Road

Oil on panel, 6"x8"
This is a lightly improved county road near Hallettsville, Texas.

Dusk

Oil on panel, 8"x8"
This scene is at dusk just as the sun is setting.

September Moonlight

Oil on panel, 8"x10"

A simple moonlight scene. Not sure about the photo of this painting being representational of the actual color. It seems as though every computer I view my paintings on have vast color differences making it hard to judge what is being viewed by the masses and adjust color with any certainty. 

September Sycamores

Oil on panel, 6"6"
Fall colors and sycamore trees.