This is my first oil painting I did when I was about 11 yrs. old. I was trying to figure out how oil painters could get the paints to blend together so well without having sharp edges between the various colors and make it look natural. As a youth I did some paint by number kits and hated the outcome of the paintings. Then one day I had an epiphany...just try blending the two colors side by side with a brush for a smoother more blended look. I had no canvas, so I painted clear nail polish on card stock paper and this is the result. The painting held up fairly well for 44 yrs.
Watercolor on 140 lb cp 12" x 16" This painting was just accepted into the Montana Watercolor Society Show that will be held this fall in Bigfork, Mt. The paintings will be on display in Oct at the Bigfork Art and Cultural Center.
This painting is of a friend who was born in Germany and is one of the happiest people I know. On the day I took pictures of her, she was worried about her husband who was in treatment for an illness. The concern for her husband came through the expressions on her face in most of the pictures, but I decided to go ahead and paint her anyway. Hope to do more of her soon.
A painting I intended to do last April while we were having so many cold, gray days this spring. Experimenting with the suede matte board and trying to learn the characteristics of this surface when applying the pastel.
pastel on suede matte board 8" x 10" Suede matte board is a fun surface to work on with pastel. It holds the pastel better than pastel paper and holds many layers of color.
This is the 20 minute sketch I did of the following painting. Drawing before you paint forces you to study the varied values of the face and notice the small characteristics of the face that makes that person unique.
Sir Henry Thompson was a surgeon and painter living in England in the 1800's. I was intrigued by his face and the challenge to paint a large mustache and graying hair.
12" x 9" watercolor on 140lb arches; plein air This is a painting I did of Lolo Peak from the view point of Fort Missoula. This mountain peak will have snow on it up until late July on average.