Blue Day

6"x8" Oil on prepared Masonite

Available at $100.

Most generally up here in the mountains, we miss this atmospheric bluing. It is caused by particles in the air. The air is so pure up here, especially in the morning, that there is no hazy. Today was an exception, so I decided to paint it.

Beaver Pond - Fall

5" x 7" Oil on prepared masonite.

Available at $100.

After lunch I headed up the road towards the mountains. I spotted a place to paint the other day when I had no time. As I passed the beaver pond, it yelled out at me, paint me, paint me, but I was destine to paint my prearranged place. So I continued up the road, climbed over some rocks, and downed tree, to get to my spot. I held nothing for me today. I went back to the pond swearing I'd never do that again. Instead, paint the first thing that moves me.

I set up my paints and began. I had my trusty guard dog with me, my golden retriever, Sam. He will be 2 years old on Jan. 15. I need him as I space out while painting, thus making me a meal for the wild animals, that doesn't even run. ( While alone, I have been startled several times by wild animals - deer mostly, a few gigantic moose, and a bear once.)

About twenty minutes into the painting the beaver surfaced. Sam noticing stepped down into the water and then just stood there, the most patient hunter I know. He surfaced again, but in another spot. Sam stood in wait.

I put some of the leaves back onto the bushes for this painting. The recent snow and wind has almost stripped them naked. When I was down with the painting, Sam stepped out of the water and we walked home. I with a lovely little painting, Sam with visions of himself as the great hunter.

Family of Sugar Pears -SOLD

8" x 6" Oil on Prepared Masonite

SOLD

I got up this morning an pretty much started painting, then I continued that way until the sun went down. It was a good day. I painted two small paintings.

I wanted to paint these little Sugar Pears that some friends of ours grew and then brought all the way out to Montana from Kansas City. So I got up and set myself up to paint them. In my mind I see a Daddy Pear a Mommy Pear and a Baby Pear. The Mom bend over and sort of protecting the little one. Anyway that's where my creative mind went while I was painting this painting. The little family has been split up now and the big bad people of the house ate the Mommy and Daddy. :>(

Snow on the Mountain

6"x12" Oil on Canvas

Available on eBay Starting November 8th,
check back for link to bid

This afternoon the skies went from completely gray to a spotty blue sky. When I walked outside it felt almost warm. This painting seemed to paint itself. I was happy with the medium I used, the brushes and the surface. Some days are just like that.

First Snow

6"x8" Oil on archivally prepared Masonite

Finally, I am caught up. Last night about 9:30 it began to snow. At 4 o'clock this afternoon it finally slowed way down. Still having not figured out blogging yet, but getting closer, I put on my Carhartts and headed out into the snow. Being just under 30, it seemed fairly brisk, but there was no wind, so it was a good time to go out. What a change from yesterday. I wanted to find something special about the day. Heading towards the walk bridge, on the path now covered with ten inches of snow, I passed this willow, still full of leaves and weighed down with snow.

The Scott's Last Day

5"x7" Oil on archivally prepared Masonite

Available on eBay Starting November 8th,

check back for link to bid

Still playing catch up. Yesterday, Sunday, Oct. 8, I walked out of the house and down to the lake carrying with me a comfortable but heavy wood chair. I sat on the shore looking across the lake towards the Scott's. They would be leaving the next day, for the season, so this would be the last day that our United States flag would be flying. During these warring times, it reminds me of how lucky we are to live in the land of the free.

Elk Lake Inlet

5"x7" Oil on archivally prepared Masonite - available at $100.
Please email me if you are interested in purchasing this painting.

Saturday, after finishing the previous painting I continued up to Elk Lake. Since I have painted there before but from the other end I decided this time to paint sitting near the outlet looking towards the inlet. As I neared the end of my painting, thunder started to rumble behind the distant mountain. I packed it up and headed back home. I arrived at home a little wet, but refreshed from a good hike and the fresh rain.

Hike to Elk Lake

5"x7" Oil on archivally prepared Masonite - available at $100.

Please email me if you are interested in purchasing this painting.

This is my first post. As with everything else, it took longer than I could have ever dreamed. I made the commitment to paint these little paintings, but had no idea how to blog. So I am learning. I believe these daily mini's can only improve my paintings. I took this hike on Saturday, Oct 7. About a mile from Elk Lake I stopped to paint this little gem. The weather was cool, the sky gray, but the colors were deep and full of life.