Hellroaring Falls

Hellroaring Falls

Oil on Archivally Prepared Panel, 12"x9"

This is a plein air painting.  How exciting to be painting near such a thunderous water fall.  These falls are (guessing) at least 50' tall and only a few miles from East Rosebud Lake.  Some call them the local secret.

Shepard Mountain from Jimmy Joe Campground

Oil on Canvas on Archivally Prepared Panel, 8"x16"

Contact me through  my website (Click here) if you are interested in purchasing this beautiful painting.  

   

This is a painting I started outside on Sunday, March 11.  I drove up toward East Rosebud Lake stopping at the Jimmy Joe Campground. It was a quiet morning and I hiked around for quite awhile listening to the birds of Spring, until I found this spot near the creeks edge. I unloaded the pack, which carries my French easel and began to paint.  After about an hour and a half, when I was totally absorbed in the painting, the wind came up, first taking my cap and then threatening to steal away my painting.  I gathered myself up quickly and made it out before the real winds took hold.  I picked up the painting up this week and finished it.

Hell Roaring Falls #4

“Hell Roaring Falls #4”
22”x28” Unframed – Oil on Canvas

Laura Marie Anderson © May 6, 2007

I started this painting on April 14. I loved the icicles that hung from all the different places and decided to make this painting about the vast size of the canyon dwarfing the falls. Visually they are about 20’ tall, but in the canyon which is much taller they can seem dwarfed. I went back to this spot three different days and then the snow was melted. Today I went back there to lighten up the rocks. In comparison to the bright snow, the rocks seemed very dark but in the house they seemed too dark. I can back this morning and turned my easel so that it was out of the direct sunlight. This made a huge difference. This painting seems to have sort of a surreal quality about it, but I like it.

Upper East Rosebud Lake Falls

“Upper East Rosebud Lake Falls”
10”x8” Unframed - Oil on Hardboard

Laura Marie Anderson © April 29, 2007

Yesterday, after dinner most of the Morledge family hiked up to the head of the lake and saw one large black bear and a goat. The bear was across the inlet and large enough to look like a moose at first. I wanted to have a birds eye view of the lake so I headed up the rocks. On the second level Karl and Riley were scoping for goats. Sam and I continued up. Over the edge of the third ledge Sam stopped. Twenty feet ahead of us lay a goat. The wind was perfect and he had not clue we were there. I didn’t have my camera. Bringing Sam down a level I motioned to Riley to get Karl up there as he had brought his camera. The goat soon took off. Shocked that we had gotten so close he nearly tripped and fell. Anyway, so Karl, his parents and I, went back up again this morning looking for more goats. I brought along my pack so I could stay a the falls above the main falls and paint. It’s about 200 feet from the trail down to this little falls. As the day heated up the water increased and before I left was painting in a fine mist that kept me cool on this very warm day.

Elk Lake

“Elk Lake”
8”x10” Unframed - Oil on Hardboard

Laura Marie Anderson © April 27, 2007

Two days ago Karl, Sam and I made our way up to Elk Lake. We saw 9 goats and found the skull of one dead one. I was planning on going back up and continuing to Broadwater Pond the next day, so I stashed my painting pack we came back down. Yesterday the weather was rainy, so I took Sam to the vet to have his toenail fixed. He’s such a goat he must have slipped on a rock and hurt himself. Anyway, this morning Sam and I headed up to Broadwater Pond with the painting of the same name #2 that I finished on January 23. The rocks in the painting were bothering me and I wanted to see if anything could be done to satisfy myself. Sam ands I walked for about twenty minutes past Elk Lake when we ran into quite a bit of snow. I stashed my painting, which I was packing in a cardboard box, in a trash bag and then under a big rock. The forecast for the next two days was nearly 80, so I figured the snow would melt. I didn’t want to pack that 24”x30” box again, as it was I was feeling more like a pack horse than a painter. Freed up, we headed back to Elk Lake. I was happy to be carrying an extra panel, just incase. What a lovely sunny spot we found. Sam busied himself with a duck. The duck liked to be chased and kept coming back and teasing the dog. Just when Sammy would swim close enough to almost grab him the duck would fly off.

Elk Lake

“Elk Lake”
8”x10” Unframed - Oil on Hardboard

Laura Marie Anderson © April 23, 2007

Looking forward to those sunny blue sky days I went to my computer for a slide show of pictures I have taken. Also, being in the mood to hike and unable to because of the snow, I picked this photo to paint from today.

Trio at Two Mile Bridge

Laura Marie Anderson © April 20, 2007

“Trio at Two Mile Bridge”
12”x16” Unframed - Oil on Canvas

A beautiful day the fog was hanging high in the mountain tops. This is actually a portrait of the middle sister in the mountains that are called The Three Sisters.

Sunset over Shepherd

“Sunset over Shepherd Mountain”
6x12” Unframed - Oil on Canvas

SOLD

Laura Marie Anderson © April 13, 2007

Karl and I drove the snow mobile down to Helen’s and had this wonderful view on the way back.

Daisy Serving Tray

Daisy Serving Tray
10 1/4" x 13 3/4"
Oil on Wood Serving Tray
Laura M. Anderson © January 29, 2007

I am back from my trip to Miles City. I haven't posted to this blog for sometime as I have just been posting to my website. I have been tired, so no day better than today to start posting here again. I will be back another day to update this blog on those that I have missed.

This is for the Carbon County Arts Guild Fund raiser and will be auctioned during February in Red Lodge. This is down the valley looking out over a hay field. I painted it from a photograph and was trying for an impressionistic feel. I have decided to put my Cactus flower painting from November 20, 2006 in their February Flower Show. Follow this link to see the cactus flowers http://www.lauramarieanderson.com/CactusFlowers.jpg

Broadwater Pond #2 - Oil - Day 1

“Broadwater Pond #2” Day 1 - Oil
22”x28”
Unframed - Oil on Canvas
Laura Marie Anderson © January 5, 2007

Today I got started on Broadwater Pond #2. This one will concentrate on that lovely turquoise water. Note the fisherman – Karl and the dog – Sam near the center of the painting. Usually, I take all signs of human existence out of my paintings, but am touched by our ability to share these times hiking while stopping to fish and paint as we do.


Yesterday Karl, Sam and I hiked up to Snow Creek Bridge. Sam led the way marking the trail and Karl followed behind breaking the trail. I brought up the rear fighting with my snow pants trying to get them to stay down over my favorite hiking boots that are not high-top enough. Up past the falls the snow started to get deeper and deeper. We went from 8-10” to about 15-30”. Since fishing in steams is illegal in the winter, it was a short hike. We sat down and shared some peanut butter and honey sandwiches that Sam was kind enough to carry in his pack. He loves peanut butter. And a Frappicino that I slipped into my pocket on the way out the door. A great slushy it made as Karl put some of that fresh snow in the bottle. Karl is always surprised by what I might pack with me on a hike. One overnight hike to Sylvan, a fairly easy break in hike, (about 10 miles round trip and 5000 feet up) I brought along the hardcover book “Rembrandt’s Eyes”, 751 delicious pages, because I was in the middle of reading it. A wonderful book to have to read at Sylvan Lake.


We brought back with us memories and a few photographs in my camera. The photographs wash out so, it is amazing just to make a few color notes, like the green that graced the side of one of the Pinnacles, and then to get home and be able to see none of that green. A wonderful example of why I prefer Plein Air painting.


Since starting this painting with these undercolors, I have decided that perhaps I do paint like a watercolorist and have decided to squash the fear and take out my watercolors and paint two almost identical paintings of Broadwater Pond. One in oil and on in watercolor. A grand experiment with nothing to lose except my fear. I have painted about 4 watercolors in my adult life. I would like to be able to be able to do them well enough to take them to Arch and Froze to Death and… all the really high hikes where carrying an extra ten pounds for oil paint seems ridicules. Normally I carry about 15, unless I carry the French easel for a larger painting, like Hell Roaring Falls #2 and then I carry about 33 pounds. I think with watercolor I could slim the weight down to 2-3 pounds.


Technical notes for the day: Medium for this painting Stand Oil and Gamsol, each day increasing the Stand Oil. Colors, Phthalo Turquoise Blue (B15:4 & G7) Ultramarine Blue, Transparent Red Iron Oxide, Quinacridone Violet, Anthraquinone Red (R177). All transparent colors. Ground two thin coats of Gamblin Traditional Ground rolled on with a foam roller and sanded.

"Broadwater Pond" Revisited

“Broadwater Pond” Revisited
10”x8”
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Laura Marie Anderson © January 3, 2007

I plan to start a larger version, 28”x22”, of this painting tomorrow. I made some changes from the November 11th work day. I am fighting the rocks near the falls in the background. They are so tiny at this point, the size of a pencil eraser and smaller, it is hard to adjust them. I am hoping the values will now work for the larger version.

Day 4 - Finished - "Hell Roaring Falls #3"

Day 4 –Finished – “Hell Roaring Falls #3”
40” x 30”
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Laura Marie Anderson © December 27, 2006

I went back and forth on what to paint today. I wanted to finish my sister’s Christmas present, but also wanted to get this done. The space that I paint in a quite small and cluttered, so moving this painting out became imperative. I started my morning out painting on this painting. By mid afternoon I was signing it and moving it into the kitchen so that I could finish Sally. I am so happy to live so near to this beautiful falls and to think I used to drive into Yellowstone to see something as beautiful as this.

Day 3 - Work in Progress "Hell Roaring Falls #3"

“Day 3 -Work in Progress, Hell Roaring Falls #3”
40” x 30”
Available at ?
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Laura Marie Anderson © December 19, 2006

Lots of hours standing today. I feel this is nearly done. It is starting to please me. I see some things that I will work on tomorrow. All in all a productive day.

There are no new technical notes for this painting. There is a painting process note. Today the weather was spectacular. No wind and that lovely snow fall. The ice is almost solid again across the lake. At this point there is some fine ice skating to be had if the lake keep freezing and nothing changes. HA! Anyway, since I promised myself to make this small painting today and then work on this big one, there was no time for any plein air painting. What a shame. I did get in two nice walks, but many hours outside today would have been pleasant. Next time the weather is pleasant I am going to drop all plans and head out doors with my easel. I found some great new vantage points today.

Day 2 -Work in Progress - "Hellroaring Falls #3"

“Work in Progress, Hell Roaring Falls #3”
40” x 30”
Available at ?
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Laura Marie Anderson © December 18, 2006

I’m almost proud to say that I took the weekend off. The house has been in need of a cleaning and getting some things put away. I’m sort of a scatter girl.

I put in almost full day on this painting today. It seems to be coming along nicely. Tomorrow morning I am planning on painting a small painting. I’ve come across something I just can’t resist. The “almost a full day” is because it was a windless morning, so about eleven I went for a walk taking pictures hoping to come upon one that would serve as this years Christmas card. Although it was a lovely walk, the pictures were less that I hoped for, so I planned on going out during the sunset however it seemed to drop away without any color today. Perhaps tomorrow the opportunity will avail itself to a shot that sings of Christmas Time at East Rosebud.

On the technical end of this painting: I’ve added Viridian Green and gotten rid of the Burnt Umber. My medium now until the end of this painting will be Gamblin, Neo Megilp with poppy seed oil to slow down the drying process. Today I put 1-12 parts poppy seed/Neo Megilp. I have mixed up the medium for tomorrow already, it will be 2-12, and each succeeding day one more part oil, keeping with the fat over lean oil paint. This makes with archival. I have been concerned with archival since I before I was first commissioned to paint portraits. Who would want a portrait that would chip, peel or crack off the board or canvas in 5-10 years? It is always best for a artist to make works that will out live them and since I am planning to make it to at least 100, I best know what I am doing. I am taking these notes, because this is what is said to be archival. If in 50 years I find my painting not up to snuff, I’ll know what to blame.

Day 1-Work in Progress - "Hellroaring Falls #3"

“Day 1 - Work in Progress, Hell Roaring Falls #3”
40” x 30”
Available at ?
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Laura Marie Anderson © December 15, 2006

This is a work in progress. I have two completed Hell Roaring paintings. Both plein air, (painted on location), one is a 10”x8” the other 24”x18”, the first painted with a brush, the second with a palette knife. They can be seen by following this link: Hell Roaring Falls

I am going to share some technical notes here, for you and for me. I gessoed this hardboard with an acrylic gesso applying it with a foam roller. I then lightly sanded the board. I love the texture this provides. It is soft yet has some tooth about it. I then toned the board with Burnt Sienna and turpentine. When toning I use my brush dipped in turpentine to pull out the whites by wiping off the color with a rag. I then started the under painting in Brunt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue, touches of Cadmium Yellow and Phthalo Turquoise Blue. I put in the darks and then put in the under color with the lights. I used a medium of ½ turpentine and ½ Galkyd, by Gamblin. I covered the surface, so now I am stopping for the day. My plan is to take this painting to the Falls next week and place it on this great easel my dad made for me. It was made exactly for this purpose. The wind shouldn’t be a problem there as the area is well sheltered, let’s hope the temperatures don’t drop dramatically.

East Rosebud Lake Falls

Old
New- Not Finished
“East Rosebud Lake Falls”
8” x 10”
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite

Laura Marie Anderson © November 20, 2006

I painted this painting this past summer. It had to be the most boring painting. Since I have a cold, my energy is drained and it seemed easier to try to fix than to start from scratch. I changed the color scheme thinking I could go with the complementary colors, blue and orange and purple and yellow. Still it was a boring painting. I tried adding this goat. I got the best pictures to work from this fall when I came upon three goats. They were bright white from a recent rain and fat from a hardy summer. I would like to add some yellow to the fur but the paint is to thick and wants to blend with the blue/purple color underneath. I will leave this painting again for yet another day. As for today, it remains unfinished.

Broadwater Pond

“Broadwater Pond”
10” x 8”
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite Panel
Available at $150.
Laura Marie Anderson © November 11, 2006

This is a plein air painting that I started on August 18 and finished today. Broadwater Pond is 4 miles up the trail from here. It seems to be nothing more than a wide spot in the river, but it is crystal clear and a wonderful turquoise color. Without seeing it these colors in person they are hard to believe.

Lost Peaks

"Lost Peaks”
9”x12”
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite Panel
Available at $175.
Laura Marie Anderson © November 1, 2006

I was in the house working on another flower painting. After an early lunch, I noticed how lovely it looked outside. The sun was shining and the atmosphere was as clear as a clean sheet of glass. The lake is already freezing over and so far, since we haven’t had any wind, it looks like there will be some great ice skating this year. I decided to bundle up and go out for a walk, in spite of the temperatures nearing 10 degrees. I had on my darkest sunglasses and yet it was still incredibly bright out. I walked around the lake, past the beaver pond and about half way down to the Links, when I decided to turn back and get my paints. I followed some wonderful moose tracks back toward the house around the lake side of the lodge and then down the road, right in front of our house. I decided to go down canyon a bit and try to paint the Lost Peaks, as I call them. Lost Lake is right behind the peaks that are on the right side of the painting. I hope you all enjoy. Back to those flowers tomorrow.

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.

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.