Morning Glory

“Morning Glory”
15”x30” Unframed - Oil on Canvas on Hardboard $1265.  SOLD

Laura Marie Anderson © April 30, 2007

I started this painting last summer, but the water rose up onto the sand bar before I could get it done, so it has been patiently waiting leaned up against the wall. I went down a couple mornings this week and finished the painting. And what a lovely one it is.

Christy in the Canoe

Christy in the Canoe 11”x14” o/c

One day Christy stopped by and asked me if I would like to go out in the canoe. I was right in the middle of painting but it was such a beautiful day I decided to take a break. It was so peaceful out on the lake we made our way around a couple times before she dropped me back at the dock. As she rowed away, I saw a painting appearing before my eyes. The next day I stood in the same spot and started the under-painting for this painting. I found the painting leaning up against the wall the other day and pulled it out to finish it. What lovely memories this painting brought back to me.

Engel's View Morning - East Rosebud Lake

Engle’s View Morning – East Rosebud Lake 40”x52” o/c $5640.
Yellow and peach creeps over the mountain tops early in the morning, once again proving that there is a high price for sleeping in.

This is a large palette knife painting. Make arrangements to stop by and see it.

April Showers

“April Showers”
6”x12” Unframed - Oil on Hardboard

Laura Marie Anderson © April 24, 2007

Unable to stay inside anymore, I ventured outside to paint this afternoon. Before I was able to finish the rain started. I painted until my palette soaked in the rain, no to mention me.

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.

Fogged-in Beaver Pond

“Fogged in Beaver Pond”
11x14” Unframed - Oil on Hardboard

Laura Marie Anderson © April 6, 2007

Another foggy day, no sense staying inside. I walked over to the beaver pond and found this lovely site.

Inlet - East Rosebud Lake

“Inlet East Rosebud Lake”
8”x10” Unframed - Oil on Hardboard

SOLD

Laura Marie Anderson © April 6, 2007

The water was so shallow you can see the colors that are usually in the bottom of the inlet, that rusty color that makes the inlet so special when the green grass starts coming through.

Head of East Rosebud Lake

“Head of East Rosebud Lake”
6”x8”
Unframed - Oil on Linen on Wood Panel
Laura Marie Anderson © December 21, 2006

Change is the only thing that is constant. Yesterday Karl, Sam and I walked up to this spot and it was lovely. Today Sam and I made our way up to this promising spot and as I was setting up decided to place some rocks in my easel in case the winds came up. After about ten minutes the winds were up and I was holding on the to easel with my left hand and attempting to paint with my right. The wind was strong enough to actually blow my hand. This made for some tiring painting.

There up on the granite rocks with the world all to myself, Painter John Potter and his family came by. They are back for Christmas out hiking and taking pictures. It was nice to see some humans out enjoying this beautiful country.

Shortly, there after Karl came across the ice on the four wheeler, pulling the wagon behind him. He wanted to know if I wanted a ride. Not close to being done I declined and he went to cut some wood. After fighting the wind for another hour, I gave it up and descended down the granite rocks into the inlet walking past the beautiful trees that blew over during the November winds. There is yet another large green tree down in the inlet. Change is the only thing constant here.

Technical notes: Medium Gamblin Neo Megilp. The wind was so strong nothing was able to make the paint stay creamy in this cold weather. It was a fight from the first stroke to the last. Colors UM Blue, Cerulean Blue, Cobalt, Yellow Ochre, and Burnt Sienna.

Fall Day, September 10, 2006

“Fall Day, September 10, 2006”
9” x 9”
Available at $175.
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Laura Marie Anderson © December 14, 2006

This is Tuesday’s painting that I painted from a photo but was not satisfied with. I worked on it this evening when I got back from Billings. I am satisfied with it. It was good to paint something with color. Gray today with maximum wind speeds again of 68mph.

Beaver Pond, December 13, 2006

“Beaver Pond, December 13, 2006”
8”x10”
Available at $200.
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Laura Marie Anderson © December 13, 2006

Today I had an appointment in Billings, so no new paintings. However, yesterday I was in the dark so I went to bed early. So I am posting for yesterday and the following painting which I finished today.

Yesterday, I sat in my car while the winds were howling. The beaver pond is tuck in a bit, so with the car window facing opposite the direct wind, I could open the passenger side window and while sitting in the car, painting box on my lap, paint while not freezing to death. Aha! I have learned something new. Anyway about 5pm the trees were bending down from the wind and quite frankly it was getting a bit creepy. Just them a flash of light, just like in a sci-fi movie and this weird electrical noise. That creeped me out completely, so I packed it up and headed back to the house. It was now almost completely dark. I got back to the house, took a hold of the back door, give it a pull and the wind is so strong, for a moment. I thought it might not open. I stepped into the house hit the light switch and there were no lights. I stumbled around in the dark, wondering where I put that lantern, found a candle and call my sweet neighbors, they had power. So I figured I was the only one. I call the power company, Beartooth Electric, and to my surprise within two hours they were out moving the tree that caused that arch of electricity and got my power going. How sweet is that?

Fall Day, September 10, 2006

“Fall Day, September 10, 2006”
9” x 9”
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Laura Marie Anderson © December 12, 2006

The weather was windy and gray again (40-50mph, my weather station said). In the mood for some color I went through my photos until I came to this one. Since I got a late start on it, I will start with it again tomorrow.

Shannon Creek at Sunrise

“Shannon Creek at Sunrise”
10” x8”
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Available at $200.
Laura Marie Anderson © November 30, 2006

What a beautiful spot this is. No matter what time of day I go by it seems there is a painting there, just waiting to be painted.

The Sun That Thought It Could

“The Sun That Thought It Could”
11” x 14”
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Not for Sale
Laura Marie Anderson © November 27, 2006

When I first saw this scene I thought, “Wow, what an easy, colorful thing to paint.” Not!

I started with a bad support. Some time back I had been experimenting with different gessoes, (the coating that covers the surface that you are painting, so that the oil in the paint won’t hurt the surface and so that the surface acids, for example, won’t hurt the paint.)

This batch turn out extremely slick and with deep grooves in the paint from the brush I used to apply it. After sanding it was still a problem.

I decided not to fight it and to use a stand oil medium (it is self-leveling) and goes with the slick surface. After two rounds with the paintbrush, I decided to use the palette knife for round number three and see if I could actually get some paint to stick. Round four and I was back to the brush and knife. After the boxing match, this is what I came up with. I’m not sure about this painting. But it is the painting of the day.

I got some disappointing news today. My show at the Toad n Willow in Billings, Friday night, December 1st, is for only one night. I am thinking to make the best of it and try inviting as many people as I can think of. It is at 2202 1st Ave N, in Billings, next to CTA Architects. The reception is from 5-9pm. The last show they had there had a great turn out, so I am hoping for the best.

Shannon Creek

“Shannon Creek”
12” x 9”
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Available at $150.
Laura Marie Anderson © November 26, 2006

This is one of my favorite spots when walking the rounds in the morning. Everyday it looks different.
My cold is better, I think. It seems to have dropped back down in to my throat.

Sentinels - November 14, 2006

“Sentinels -November 14, 2006”
8” x 10”
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Available at $150.
Laura Marie Anderson © November 14, 2006

This painting describes the majority of the day, snowing with the sun trying to find its way out of the clouds.

Windy Day

“Windy Day”
11” x 14”
Unframed - Oil on Canvas
Available at $125.
Laura Marie Anderson © November 10, 2006

I started this painting on the 8th, when it was very windy. The wind blows so hard here, it will actually pick the water up off the lake. Today the winds have picked up again, so I decided to finish it.

Autumn Love

(Full Painting)

(Detail of - Moose a 5" tall in Painting)

“Autumn Love”
24” x 36”
Unframed - Oil on Canvas
Available at $1,900.
Laura Marie Anderson © November 5, 2006

Autumn Love is a painting celebrating the mating rituals of moose. As part of their foreplay, the bull stands behind the cow, and then tips his head back so that his horns almost lay upon his back. He then snorts in, curling his upper lip back and rotates his head in an arch from left to right. It seems to be an endorphin inducing practice; the bull intoxicated.
I had the opportunity to sit in a canoe and photograph these two. He was definitely head over heels for this cow, but since she was limping she would have nothing to do with him and just turned and walked away.

Beaver Pond #2

6”x8”
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite Panel
Laura Marie Anderson © October 22, 2006

The beaver has been busy plugging up the culvert that passes under the dirt road. Karl, my husband and Lake Caretaker has been busy removing the dam sticks (literally and figuratively). The ice has started to form. The thin ice skin causes the colors underneath to be opaque. The beaver never showed his face today, probably because Sammy, my dog, was busy fishing. He can stand and wait for hours in the freezing cold water waiting to make his move.

Karl Petersen's Cabin

5”x7”Oil on prepared Masonite Panel
Available at $100.

Laura Marie Anderson © October 19, 2006

I started this painting on October 14th when I had the flu. I just didn’t have enough energy to finish it. I finished it today. A fun little painting.

Windy Sunny Day

16x20" oil on canvas

Available at $800.

The forecast was for 48-50 degrees. I waited with anticipation.

I started this painting on October 10th. The first day for me to miss a painting, but it wasn’t close to being finished. I had to wait for the perfect day. A sunny day when the snow was somewhat melted compared to yesterday.

At this time of the year the sun comes over the mountain and hit the other side of the lake around 9am finally making its way to this side about 11am. By the time the sun made it, the winds had picked up to about 55mph, and the lake white capping for most of the day. About 2:30 the winds died down. I was going to change my position and move myself out more into the sun, but decided to wait for one hour and see if the winds were still down. About fifteen minutes later, gusty winds blew across the lake and the blue waters stirred until long after the sun set.

Also, check out the changes to yesterdays painting. I woke up in the middle of the night wondering if the icicles had fallen of during the course of the day or if I had somehow just failed to paint them in. They were the item that made yesterday special. Our first icicles of the winter.

I looked this morning and sure enough the icicles were still there. Wow, makes me wonder where my brain was. I think the icicles improve it 100%.