Gateway Truck and Mine

a truck in context. In the fall of 2007, I found this beauty in the town of Gateway on the border of Utah and Colorado. Walked around a bit to create just the right composition with the old mine and the truck. This was in between Norwood and Grand Junction, just as you are entering Unaweep Canyon on the border (Gateway) of Colorado and Utah. Gorgeous red rock country, the Dolores River, spectacularly glowing with fall colors and light or anytime in the afternoon glow of light. The truck portrait has become a historical family portrait in this one.

Tres Trees-stage 2

stage 2, I added some depth to the foreground with shadows and snow and softened the edges of the distant hills, adding a little subtle interest to the midground area. I don't want to take away from the trees, but kind of like the mist effect that covers the basic shapes. Lost and found edges are true to nature, and always add interest to a painting.

Tres Trees-in progress

One winter weekend, in 2007, I was returning from a hike at Gunnison Gorge and the evening light was spectacular. I kept driving looking for something beautiful that it was transforming with its magic and found this snowy field. The 3 Cottonwoods in stark relief were the perfect darks to the glowy oranges among the purple snow shadows. Snow is magical and snow shadows are purple and blue.

Tubac Wagon

another Vintage Vehicle, not really a truck, but I have always loved the way that other artists have portrayed these old Conestogas. This one lives in Tubac, AZ and it was late in the January day, 2005. The story of the wagon breaking down near Taos with the founders of the Taos art colony has become a defining story as part of their important history. It made them stop and pay closer attention, a good thing (if not the best thing) for artists. Countless pioneers giving up everything they knew for the hope of something better. Hope is our best survival instinct.

El Jebel Truck-done!

loved finishing this one! Any "thing" that I haven't painted before seems "hard" but intriguing to me. Especially if people know what they are "supposed to look like" as in trucks, people, pets, flags, etc. I can paint landscapes until the cows come home (and cows)because they are so generic and you get the light right and the edges right and boom you have a tree or a mountain. I never understand the people who think landscapes are hard. Maybe because I know them so well, they are a joy. Anyway, the flags were fun!

Palisade Truck-done!

Finished by adding more detail to the background (peach trees) and the truck.

El Jebel Truck (first stages)

this was a 2007 find while training a new home care nurse from Glenwood. She wanted to stop for a bathroom break at the Wendy's next door and I grabbed my camera. I had friends who lived near here years ago and this truck was parked in front of the old YesterYear shop, which I was so pleased to see again. Moral learned: always carry your camera, and when you are almost finished with a painting, start another. It saves the risk of overworking the first one because you are having so much fun, you don't want to quit. It allows you to stop at a reasonable place, because you have somewhere else to go.

Palisade Truck-step 2

it's always hard to tell how much more to do once I get to this stage, but I will apply some soft edges and subtle detail to the landscape as well as sharpening up the contrast and detail on the truck, the main player in the painting.