Saturday, February 28, 2009

Sunrise


Most mornings I run the country backroads close to where I live. I like running during that time of morning right before the sun comes up. It's still dark, but the eastern horizon is showing just a glimpse of the start of a new day. There is something quiet and peaceful during that time of day. A time when I can be alone with God and myself. He's the best running partner I could have. As I watch the sun come up over the horizon, I am always amazed at the beauty. Every morning it's like I am seeing it for the first time. It reveals itself in so many ways. No two mornings are ever the same. There is always something different whether it be the clouds, or the wind, or the chilling cold that nips at more than my nose. My favorite mornings are those when it's partly cloudy and the oranges and reds and yellows of the sunrise are trying to peek through those clouds and announce their presence. It is so beautiful that I am always asking myself what am I doing running when I should be out here painting this incredibly beautiful miracle before me. So I imposed an excercise on myself. I decided to try to paint the scene from memory. To remember everything I could about it, but mostly to remember only those things that are important to me. After getting myself showered and cleaned up, I went to my studio and did this small painting of what made the biggest impression on me. To His glory!

"Glorious Sunrise" 6" x 8" oil on canvas panel

Friday, February 27, 2009

Breathe


Day one of my first blog. Puttin' it out there. The ramblings of a full-time artist and I do some instructing as well.

I live in Colorado. I've lived here for some 30 years. It's a great place to be if you love painting the landscape. There's plenty here to explore and paint. The opportunities I get when I am alone in the wilderness with my canvas and paints and the sound of the raven cawing and a trout jumping for a bite breaks the silence of the wind echoing through the mountain terrain. It is heaven on earth. The senses are full. Sometimes even on overload. Everything is absorbed. The sun blazing on the back of my neck. The piney smell of juniper trees. The taste of the sweet atmosphere rising from the cool luscious lake. The beauty in every glance. The sound of birds chattering and singing from their tree-top perch. Get that down on canvas. Channel it all through the brush. Share it for all to enjoy and experience.
"Traffic Jam" 12" x 16" oil on canvas