It has been a while since I have been able to paint. A short list of distractions both good and bad which have kept me out of the paint might include; slot canyon hiking, holidays, hikes, 5K runs, playing with grand children, bike rides, professional conferences, final testing, graduations, home repairs, flooded basement(I am not kidding) the list could go on. Finally I was able to get out and draw and photograph some landscapes to paint. Last week I went to the ridge trail above American Fork Canyon an area where I have painted before on several occasions. This week went up the Squaw Peak trail above Provo and did several drawings in the Buffalo Peak area. I have painted near there before but I was impressed with the location and I plan on working there again soon. I have included a studio study which I made yesterday (July 15th 2010). The main problem I was trying to solve aside from capturing the essence of the place was the mass of yellow balsam root flowers and the texture their very green foliage presented. I think the palette knife helped me capture the “feel” of the foliage. I am still working on ideas from Cozumel and Arches hopefully my schedule will let me squeeze them in soon. Below is a mostly silent video of this painting being made.

Greetings, here is a  time lapse video of me painting a small (11 x 14 inches) color-value sketch. This type of small painting or sketch will help me as I design and create a larger oil painitngs.  One thing I discovered as I made this little sketch of Turret Arch in Snow was an interesting rhythm  created by the alternating snow and sandstone patterns on both sides of the image.  When I create the larger painting I will try to emphasize those patterns. I also discovered a value shift I need to make between the sky and the sun lite  sandstone. Ideas like these are just a couple of the reasons why I like to paint smaller versions of the landscapes I eventually paint large.

I hope you enjoyed this little video. If  you are interested in this little painting or any other works you see here contact me. Check out what I have on Ebay this week.