February Snow

"February Snow"

12" x 9"   Oil on Oil Primed Linen Panel

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/522985

We continued to have warm weather this past week. I ran over to Red Rocks hoping to paint what snow we had left and the red rocks. Way too many people, everywhere, with no where to park.
I ended up on the out skirts of the park. Sunny day, the snow is disappearing quickly. 

I didn't get started until late morning so shadows were moving quickly.  A super quick drawing for placement and then throw the paint at the canvas.  By noon everything had changed.  I tweeked a few things when I got home.

A pic of the scene and some progress shots:

Behind the Wedding Chapel

"Behind the Wedding Chapel"

9" x 12"  Oil on Oil Primed Linen Board

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sheilamarie-littlehorn/behind-the-wedding-chapel/449406

This spot is directly behind and across the interstate from a little wedding chapel. I actually look forward to driving by it throughout the year as the colors change every season. I love this view!

The day was so perfect.  That was until I had everything set up to go.  Just got a few marks for spacing and man the wind started gusting.  I painted quickly, about 15 min., chasing paper towels over the hillside as they blew out of my trash bag.  Brushes were flying and my turp container flipped over. I got down a start for colors.  Packed it up and headed home.

The photos below are the scene and then the first one is what I brought back to the studio.  I didn't get many shots as it's even harder for me to get decent pics inside.

Note, I started with putting the fence in but in the end edited it out.

Adele

"Adele"

6" x 6"  Oil on Gessobord

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sheilamarie-littlehorn/adele/449145

This girl took a bit to paint.  So many different values and colors of grey.  Compare, compare, compare, geez.

I originally planned on producing one or two paintings a week, posting on DPW, donate 25% to the rescue.  I'm starting to get so busy with other paintings and working on getting out to plein air more that I think I'm going to have to commit to just one a week.

All paintings can be seen at:    sheilamariestudio.com

Sneak Away

"Sneak Away" 

9" x 12"  Oil on Oil Primed Linen Board

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/507701

I'm lucky to live close to these red rocks.  They frustrate the heck out of me.  I just can't seem to get them down on the canvas the way I see them in my head.  These are closer but I've got a lot of work to do yet to get where I want to be with these.

I showed up around 9:30 am, about an hour later groups of teens were all over them.  I'm thinking they probably sneak out of school and head on over.  The area of course covered with cigarette butts and beer cans.  Hopefully the beer cans are from weekend parties!

Some progress shots.

The view:

Got to get my rear in gear!

"Edge of Ken Caryl"

 

 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/507540

9" x 12"  Oil on Gessobord

One of my goals this year is to participate for the first time a plein air event.  The guild I belong to,

Littleton Fine Art Guild,will be hosting their 2nd annual event June 2nd and 3rd.  I'm on the planning committee and will be putting myself out there.  Yeeks!

With a new puppy last year I didn't spend any time painting outside.  Over protective mom for sure, I just couldn't bring myself to leave her by herself for more than a couple of hours.  Finally I've got myself weaned to leaving her for 5 or 6 hrs.  Enough time to actually drive a short while and paint a couple of hours.

So, this week with the awesome warm weather I've been able to paint several days and I think I can get in at least another few days before the end of the month.  I'm focusing on working several days a week outside.  I'll do it out of the car if I have to.  I've just got to work on making faster decisions and painting more quickly.

When I remember :) I will take progress shots.  I get so caught up it's easy to forget. 

The view: