Falling into the Shadow

"Falling into the Shadow"

9" x 12"  Oil on Oil Primed Linen Board

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sheilamarie-littlehorn/falling-into-the-shadow/464166

I set out to paint some red rocks and cliffs. Looked easy enough. But noooo... could not get down even close to what I had in my mind. Twice I scraped that board. Too stubborn to leave I turned to my right and zeroed in on a small intimate spot.
The shadow was slowly edging over the small scene.  See the area up in the top right of the photo. When I squinted down I could see the abstract dark/light so clearly.  I quickly scrubbed it in. The  dark brush, left the canvas white where there was snow and the one tree with rusty orange leaves that have hung on through the winter.

Once I got that in I started in with the large shapes of local color.  Deep purple greys, brownish greys, rusty greys, you get the idea, lots of greys.  I also threw in the flattened ochre grasses on top of the dark ground in the foreground.

I had a few visitors. Granted they had 4 legs and were busily eating but they were kind enough to keep their opinions to themselves.

This is where I was at when I shut it down for the day.

Once I got it home I darkened the darks a bit. I lightened the snow as it looked dirty and
balanced the tree out a bit to improve the design.  See final pic at beginning of post.

Poof! Snow is Gone.

Poof! Snow is Gone

8" x 10"  Oil on Oil Primed Linen Panel

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/523410

So yesterday's post, February Snow, was only painted 2 days before this one. This scene was just to the left of February Snow. It was pretty well covered in snow as well. Not now.

I really wanted to catch it with snow and the wonderful colors in the brush.  I did get there to at least catch the shadows on the back mountain.  Moving fast.  

Another incredible day.  Tons of people biking, hiking, motorcycles and cars.  We're so lucky in Colorado that most of our days are clear with blue skies.  Winters are mild.  Maybe a couple of weeks in zero digits but what's that compared to the whole year.  Nothing!

Photo of the scene and a couple of progress.  I forgot to take a snap of the final on the spot.  You can see I changed the lower left hand corner quite a bit when I finalized.  It was just too heavy, too much weight.  The final helps to lead your eye up into the picture.

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: