Blue Glasses

Blue Glasses
Oil on Canvas Panel
6x6"

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I've been finding it difficult to motivate myself for my daily paintings for the past couple of weeks. I've still been painting - bigger pieces, but I feel like I'm getting off track with what I should be painting...and who knows what that is? I'm at the point now where it's really bothering me that I can't settle on one subject to focus on - everything around me draws me in, I want to paint everything - as with most people, if I've got too many things going on, I can end up doing nothing....just procrastinating.

I've bought canvas and stretchers do a series of 30x40" paintings. I'm going to try working on 2 or 3 at a time, and see if I can't reign myself in from 'moving on' after each painting. It's like I draw a line under every canvas I paint, and then I can't go back. It's not that I feel I've accomplished everything I can with each painting - far from it - I'm just restless to start on the next one after having seen something amazing, or woken up in the night with a 'brilliant' idea. Maybe the discipline of this series will help!

Good news though - the Welsh Sale in the UK went really well! All 8 pieces I submitted sold, and they want more for their October Sale. I'm also in negotiations with a gallery in North Wales - so watch this space.

Tonight: My Exhibition, 'Kokanee: Recent Work' at the Foyer Gallery at Lake Tahoe Community College opening reception is on tonight, from 5 - 7 pm. Admission is free.

Blue Vase

Blue Vase
Oil on Canvas Panel
6x6"

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I thought I'd have a go at painting blue glass for the first time today. It's really fun - all the cool reflections and colours are pretty hard to capture though - I'll have another go with some different blue glass forms next week I think. We're off to Bishop climbing again this weekend, so no posts till Monday - have a good one!

Indian Paintbrush (ii)

Indian Paintbrush (ii)
Oil on Canvas Panel
5x7"

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This painting is much darker than yesterdays...and that was partly to do with the angle of the sun. I can't decide which one I prefer, but this one definitely has a different kind of drama.

Indian Paintbrush (i)

Indian Paintbrush (i)
Oil on Canvas Panel
5x7"

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I'm back! we went to Bishop at the weekend to climb - and the wildflowers have just gone...wild! I've never seen so many flowers in the desert, it was amazing. I've taken loads of pictures, and have lots of inspiration for semi-abstract paintings of wildflowers. I actually wanted more than anything to get some good shots of Sky Rock, but it wasn't to be. I'm going to have to hike up there with my paints and canvas, and do the painting I want on the spot. It won't be easy...it's a steep hike and then to access the actual rock with the petroglyphs on it, you have to climb up a slab, and then mantel up a flying saucer type rock to get a decent perspective. Hmm, maybe if I pack very light and small I can manage it - it's definately worth it.

I first saw these beautiful wild flowers in Canada when I first set out on my travels a few years ago. I'm a big fan of red, and I literally stopped in my tracks at the sight of these. I was hiking in to a climb in a rocky stream bed near Canmore, and there were several little clumps of Indian paintbrush dotted amongst the greenery. If I didn't know then what complementary colours where, that would have been the lesson right there....

Sky Rock Petroglyphs

Sky Rock (i)
Oil Canvas Panel
4x8"

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Sky Rock is an amazing example of ancient Native American Petroglyphs, located in the tablelands of Bishop, California. Sky Rock is huge, and really difficult to photograph well. Photographer Galen Rowell took a famous picture of Sky Rock at sunset, which was the inspiration for me to find it for myself. I'll be back in Bishop this weekend, so I'll make more sketches from different angles.

Violas (ii)

Violas (ii)
Oil on Canvas Panel
4x8" Signed Original

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I'm having a really hard time getting the violet colour to look convincing - it's such a vibrant hue, especially with the light coming through the thin petals...oh well, keep trying! I like the rhythms which are coming out of these studies though - it seems the faster I paint the better they are!

Violas (i)

Violas (i)
Oil on Canvas Panel
5x6" Signed Original

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Yesterday we went to a nursery in Gardnerville to buy potting soil, and came away with flowers and a plant pot with a Buddha on it...couldn't resist! Turns out I was jumping the gun weatherwise a bit - it was 78 degrees yesterday, so I was feeling all optimistic about planting outdoors - today we have 50 mph winds. So these little Violas have to stay inside for a while, which is OK because I can paint them now!