Afternoon Tea Light

"Afternoon Tea Light"  6" x 8"  Oil on Gessobord

I painted a version of this building a while back, "Tea Room Lights". This view is looking up from the west, late afternoon. I love this old building and particularly this sun room. It sits on a property for retired people. I don't know what they use this building for, but I can picture sitting in that sun room, enjoying tea and scones and watching the swans in the lake below.

End of the Cul-de-sac

"End of the Cul-de-sac"    6" x 8"   Oil on Gessobord

I loved this little scene I came upon while walking Violet. The pinks and oranges in the flowering tree, fresh yellow greens of the birch and the dark greens in the evergreen. After almost a whole month of rain everyday seeing all this color, shadows and clear blue sky was truly uplifting.

Sweet Teddy

"Sweet Teddy"  6" x 6"   Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Painted Teddy last year. Funny my girl Violet looks a lot like him. Violet has a smaller, longer muzzle without the white but does have a beautiful white chest and paws.
I love the way the surrounding blue is reflected off his coat. A very sweet boy.
This painting is on a wrapped canvas. The color flows around the sides allowing the canvas to be displayed on a small easel.

Clearing to Evans

"Clearing to Evans"   5" x 7"   Oil on Gessobord

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/390558

The pull off for this view of Mount Evans in Colorado has been used a zillion times by photographer and painters. So, I was just one more that couldn't pass it up.

Limelight

"Limelight"  6" x 8"   Oil on Gessobord

I had some fun with this little piece.  FB friend, Jack Sasson, posted a great shot.  The view, looking across a field with a beautiful rainbow, dark brooding sky behind and light breaking through illuminating the field and tops of the trees.

I started out including the rainbow in the painting.  But, frankly, my version just appeared very trite.  I couldn’t even come close to what Jack was able to pull off (on his cell phone , geez). 

So, I just started playing and experimenting.  I only worked with the palette knife.  No brushes. I do like where the painting ended up.  I just might work this up on a larger support, larger palette knife.

Here's Jack's photo:

 

Along for the Ride

"Along for the Ride"   6" x 6"  Oil on Gessobord

A photo posted on PMP by John Robinson just caught my eye with the bright yellow, turqouise and violets. I simplified quite a bit.
I just could not get the photo to come out correctly. The background in the photo of the painting is off. What looks to be a very warm red is actually much closer to a violet or manganese violet. complimenting the yellow beautifully.

Sunset Notes

"Sunset Notes"  8"x 10"  Oil on Oil Primed Linen Panel

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/378499

One of our beautiful sunsets captured from my deck before all this rain moved in last week.
Had to work very quickly to get the color notes. Finished in the studio.

Sidetrack to Antonito

"Sidetrack to Antonito"   6" x 8"   Oil on Gessobord

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/377894

Antonito is a small picturesque town in the southwest area of Colorado. I look forward to seeing it, sometimes stopping on my way to Northern N.M. Old farms and buildings, lush acres of grass with horses and cows grazing. Chama Valley with it's beautiful fall colors just a short distance down the road.
This area of Colorado and N.M. have a peculiar draw for me. I'm not sure why. I only started traveling there a few years ago and will always return every year.

Up and Over

"Up and Over"   8" x 6"   Oil on Gessobord

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/377592

A little scene close to my house. There's a pedestrian path that parallels the highway. I'm standing on top of a vantage point where you can see out at least 30 or 40 miles. A great sledding hill on the other side. Some really beautiful trees and brush. Fall colors are outstanding.

May Cottonwood Grove

"May Cottonwood Grove"  9" x 12"  Oil on Oil Primed Linen Panel

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sheilamarie-littlehorn/may-cottonwood-grove/372778Tough day plein air painting, 2 scrapers. Packing up and looked behind me to see this scene.
The new spring grass growing in, deep shadows, new growth in the distant trees, beautiful colors in the sturdy cottonwood trunks. And I love the stripped bare tree almost dead center.
I did a quick bare bone sketch, took a pic and headed home. Painted in the studio. 
Photo of the painting is a little off.  Sky is slightly less green and some lavenders in the trees are coming across too grey.

Photo of scene

I edited the photo of the painting and the photo of the actual scene to black and white to check final values against each other.  Of course, overall values in a photo can never compare to live.  I think it still helps checking keeping in mind that darks can be much darker in a photo and lights can be blown out. I kept that in mind when painting.  Also, because I had painted some notes on site I had a good idea where I needed to be.

Photo of painting

Photo of scene

A few progress shots of the painting below

Long Barn on the Way to Byers Peak

Long Barn on the Way to Byers Peak   8" x 6" 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/376698

This is an old dilapidated barn right off a dirt road that leads up to Byers Peak. I typically spend a few days up around Winter Park, CO right during mud season. Everything is still quiet and nature is waking up. A beautiful time to be there.  On my check list this year, 
check out the history of this old place.
This year may be quite different since I'll be bringing Violet.

I'm guessing there will not be a lot of painting happening.  Note to self; make sure my batteries are charged for my camera.