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:

Helping out the Animal Shelters

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sheilamarie-littlehorn/gunner/440114
 "Gunner"   6" x 6" Oil on Gessobord

I've wanted to volunteer for the longest time at the animal shelter.  Making the time has been a huge challenge.  Over the past couple of years I've made it down there maybe a dozen times to walk the dogs.  But really, I just can't seem to find the time consistently to be there.

On top of that, it is so hard to walk away.  I mean really, these pups just steal your heart every single time.  I just know I'd end up with several dogs and feeling even more saddened that I couldn't take more.

Anyway, I'm hoping that I can first bring awareness to all the wonderful dogs and cats that are available in the shelters.  I know there are special circumstances, ie, allergies, etc. to purchase a
bred dog, but please if the option to adopt is there please open your heart to these wonderful souls.

I will donate 25% of any purchase of my small paintings of dogs and cats.  This is a huge incentive to push myself to paint and I'm learning so much by working on these paintings.

Here are several of the paintings I've finished and posted on www.dailypaintworks.com to date:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sheilamarie-littlehorn/maddie/441499
"Maddie"
6" x 6"   Oil on Gessobord

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sheilamarie-littlehorn/shirley/438904
"Shirley"
6" x 6"  Oil on Gessobord

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sheilamarie-littlehorn/tinker/438440
"Tinker"
6" x 6"  Oil on Gessobord

A Little Girl's Treasure

"A Little Girl's Treasure"   6" x 8"  Oil on Gessobord

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/483285

I’m fortunate to have been able to get into a weekly class taught by Mark Daily.  We’re working on still life right now.  I love the outdoors and the landscape so this is not something that I’m driven towards. But I understand that like figure drawing much can be learned and applied towards my landscapes.

I placed a piece of glass over purple card stock.  The lighting situation was a little difficult as it wasn’t a strong directional light but a light that was overhead and threw shadows in different directions. Pretty challenging for me.

The ornament is one that was given to my grandmother by her grandmother over 100 years ago.  I have several ornaments that were hers that I treasure very much.  I looked forward to spending  the night with her, cuddled up and listening to all her childhood memories that were tied to those ornaments.

Snow on the Course

"Snow on the Course"   8" x 6"   Oil on Gessobord

There's a golf course just down the road from me. It has a lot of colorful willow brush and tons of trees. I trekked over after the snow and caught this scene. 

The reds and oranges in this photo of the painting are a bit saturated.

Coming over Berthoud

"Coming Over Berthoud"   6" x 8"  Oil on Gessobord

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/480335

This is a view coming over Berthoud pass towards Winter Park, CO in the early spring. I look forward to each year I head up to my timeshare. This year I got the added benefit of beautiful light hitting the clouds.

Brilliant Skies

"Brilliant Skies"  6" x 8"  Oil on Gessobord

The colors in this distant storm were mesmerizing. A storm hanging over the line of cliffs, the blues reflecting brightly in the river.  Again, another painting done primarily with the palette knife. Lots of fun!

Orange Days

"Orange Days"  6" x 6"   Oil on Gessobord

I really liked the bright oranges against the super dark background. Tried to keep it loose. I used a palette knife for the majority of the painting.

Mellow

"Mellow"   6" x 6"  Oil on Gessobord

Found this guy on PMP. I switched up the background and changed the design to push the flowers behind him. Fun playing with the background and making the flowers look detailed without detailing. Does that make sense?

Cyan Bowl

"Cyan Blue"   6" x 6"  Oil on Gessobord

I found this beautiful photograph on PMP. I played a bit with color and proportions. Used a palette knife for quite a bit of it. I absolutely love the cyan blue and orange.

The orange color in the photo of this painting comes across a slightly more saturated than what is actually represented in the painting.

Tuesday Afternoon

"Tuesday Afternoon"    6" x 6"  Oil on Gessobord

Hiking on a Tuesday afternoon, peaceful and beautiful with the fall colors. This fly fisherman caught me off guard. I didn't see him as I walked along but heard his line as he cast out into the reflections of the trees.      

               

 

Kountz Lake Sunset

"Kountz Lake Sunset"  7" x 5"  Oil on Oil Primed Canvas Board

So many beautiful sunsets to be seen at Kountz Lake in Belmar Park.  Kountz Lake is one of my favorite lakes and great that it is not far from where I live.  There are lots of wildlife, birds and waterfowl.  Several walking paths will take you around the park and lake. 

The trees, bushes and the bird atop the tree were silhouetted against the sunset.  I can’t find any reference to the name of the bird.  I think it’s an egret.  There’s a tree that sits in the lake that is leafless. Dozens of these birds perch upon it.  It’s cool but a little eerie.

Squeezing in a Quick Run

"Squeezing in a Quick Run"   7" x 5"   Oil on Oil Primed Canvas Board

Early morning and this gal looked like she had a million things on her mind as she passed Violet and me.  She was wearing a bright pink top, pink shoes and to top it off, beautiful auburn hair.  The sunlight reflecting on that auburn hair gave it an orange cast.   I loved it all against those blue shadows.