View From Above

The 3rd day of the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration is a "free" day, ie:  you can paint any where in Park County.  I wanted to paint the South Platte River from an over look.  But, I had to peak through the trees.  This kept me moving back and forth in front of my easel.  The painting sold during the opening Friday evening.

River's Bend

River's Bend
plein air oil  12" x 9"
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$395.00 + $10. s/h

Day 2 of the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration was another great day!  We painted at DM Ranch.  Here is information from their site:

"The DM Ranch contains three miles of the South Fork of the South  Platte River and associated riparian corridor, a globally rare plant  community, and large meadows that support livestock and hay crops. A  historic survey revealed that 17 structures on the property qualify for  listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The ranch is now  available for public fly-fishing, by reservation only, at South Park Fly Fishers (DM Ranch). 

Conservation easements held by Colorado Open Lands encompass 612  acres of open space comprised of montane grasslands, willow shrubs, and  mixed forest that support a rich diversity of wildlife, including big  game and migratory water birds.

Funding for the conservation easement was provided by Great Outdoors  Colorado, NAWCA, the Colorado Wetlands Initiative Program, and the Park  County Land and Water Trust Fund."

My first painting was along the South Platte River.  I loved the bends and curves of the blue against the willows.
(I might have to re-photo this one..the colors are just a bit too light.)

Old Bristlecone Pine

Old Bristlecone Pine
plein air oil  14" x 11"
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$395.00 + $10. s/h

Earlier this month I participated in the annual South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration in Fairplay, CO. I love this celebration and go every year.  It's a 4 day event where artists paint at ranches and different locations that the committee arranges throughout Park County. Or, you can paint anywhere nearby.  We have mountain property in South Park.  So, for me, I love seeing local ranches and close by locations that I don't know about.

The first day of the event we painting at Bristlecone View Ranch.  We painted there several years ago, so I knew that I wanted to paint one of the old bristlecone pines.

There are three closely related species of bristlecone pines one of which is the:

• "Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata) in Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. The most populous species; capable of forming closed canopies and, unlike the other two, is commonly cultivated."  (according to wikipedia)

All three species are long-lived and highly resilient to harsh weather and bad soils, (which definitely describes South Park!)   The oldest bristlecone is more than 5,000 years old making it the oldest known individual of any species.

(more from wikipedia:)  "Bristlecone pines grow in isolated groves just below the tree line, between 5,600 and 11,200 ft (Fairplay elevation is 9,000 feet) elevation on dolomitic soils.^[4] The trees grow in soils that are shallow lithosols, usually derived from dolomite and sometimes limestone, and occasionally sandstone or quartzite soils. Dolomitic soils are alkaline, high in calcium and magnesium, and low in phosphorus. Those factors tend to exclude other plant species, allowing bristlecones to thrive.^[8] Because of cold temperatures, dry soils, high winds, and short growing seasons,(again, great description of Fairplay)  the trees grow very slowly. Even the tree's needles, which grow in bunches of five, can remain on the tree for forty years, which gives the tree's terminal branches the unique appearance of a long bottle brush."

Back Alley

Back Alley

plein air oil  12" x 9"

SOLD

Back Alley was the last painting from the recent South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration.  It was my "quick draw".  In many plein air events, the last morning is a quick painting.  In this event the paintings had to be done along Front Street, the main street in Fairplay, CO.  Or, in my case the Front Street alley also counted.

In a quick draw you have a limited time to paint....we had 2 hours, from 10 - 12.  Then, the paintings are turned in framed and at 1:00 an auction begins.  I've painted in the event for 5 years, and have scouted out the many locations along Front Street every year.  Front Street is about 7 blocks long.  I thought that I wanted to paint an alley scene.  When I saw the sun light on the buildings and trash can I knew I'd found my spot!  

The picture below was taken at 11:00, or halfway through the quick draw.  It's a fun event.  It makes you look, simplify the shapes, concentrate and paint!  The profits from the quick draw benefit the South Park Food Bank.

Log Cabin Door

Log Cabin Door

plein air oil 10" x 8"

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I love painting doors.  I've painted doors in Mexico, Santa Fe, here in Colorado, Italy.  I love their character, their stories.  I wonder who walked through these doors.  What stories do they tell?  This door is at High Plains Ranch in Jefferson, CO.  This ranch was part of the recent South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration.  

Below is a picture of the whole cabin.  Most of the time while I was painting it was bright and sunny. The ranch was homesteaded in the 1870s by a family from Sweden.  I wonder about the trip from Sweden to the Colorado mountains.  What adventures that family must have told!

Pond Reflections

Pond Reflections

plein air oil  12" x 9"

SOLD

Earlier this month I participated in the annual South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration in Fairplay, CO. I love this Celebration and go every year.  It's a 4 day event where we can paint at the ranches and different locations the committee arranges.  Or, you can paint anywhere nearby.  We have mountain property in Park County.  So, for me I love seeing local ranches and close by locations that I don't know about.

One of this years locations was Warm Springs Ranch.  It's a former huge, working ranch, which now has several areas of houses and miles of open space.  It was beautiful!  This was one of the many ponds on the ranch.

Barn Door

Barn Door

plein air oil  12" x 12"

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$395.00 + $10. s/h

This painting was done the last day of the recent South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration, Fairplay, CO  during the "Quick Draw" on the final morning.  For a "quick draw" you are usually limited to an area in which to paint, in this case Front Street or the South Park City Museum.  Also, you are limited to time, we had from 10:00 a.m. to 12.  We were allowed to walk around scouting a location from 9 on.  This barn is in the museum:  a street of old western buildings from around Colorado which have been moved to this outdoor museum.

I try to do a value study before I begin a painting.  That way, as the light changes I can use my study as a reference.  Because of the 2 hour time constraints, I did a very quick study (as you can see here.) Because of the study I realized that the center of interest, the stable rails in the light, were almost right in the center of the piece.  That became noticeable when I drew in my 1/3rd lines.  So, (in my head) I cropped the door, moved the light to the right, and the center of interest was now on the 1/3rd line and not in the middle.  All of that took me about 5 minutes, but saved my painting.  

On The Ranch

On The Ranch

plein air oil  12" x 12"

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$345.00 + $10.00 s/h

The 2nd day of the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration we painted at the Platte Ranch.  This was a really fun day for me as this is the ranch we used to take our children to to horse back ride when they were little.  The ranch owner has since passed away, but I shared memories of him with his daughter.  

It was sunny and misty in the morning, windy in the afternoon, and rainy by dinner time.  We spent the whole day on the ranch.  One of the great things about this plein air event is that meals are all provided.  They're delivered to us when we're out on a ranch, (or elsewhere).  This night there was a huge ranch barbecue for artists and guests.  And a wonderful cowboy singer!

Below The Dam

Below The Dam

plein air oil  12" x 9"

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$295.00 + $10.00 s/h

This is the 2nd painting from the recent South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration.  The last post was painted from above the dam and Montgomery Reservoir.  For this one I was below the dam.  I love the fall colors.  It is so wonderful to paint near a stream or river and hear the sound of the water while painting.

'46 Chevy -- Quick Draw from the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration

'46 Chevy -- Quick Draw from the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration
Oil  10" x 10"
$195.00 + $10. s/h

This Chevy truck is my Quick Draw piece from the last day of the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration earlier this month in Fairplay, Colorado.  For the Quick Draw you could paint anywhere on Front Street including the old, historic buildings in the South Park Museum (which, if you're ever in Fairplay is an incredible museum!)  I was all ready to paint in the museum and waiting with my supplies by the entrance when a local drove up in this Chevy and parked it right where I was waiting. I decided it was a great subject matter.  Painting old trucks is so much fun!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Pikes Peak Studio Tour this weekend!  It was a great event!  It's motivating to sell work, see old friends who always offer kind words, and meet new artists and possible future clients.  Thanks to Julie at Summerland Gardens for her continuous support.  Here's a couple of pictures of the Upstairs Gallery/Studio taken just before the tour:

Loafing Shed -- Day 3, Painting 1 South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration

Loafing Shed

Day 3, Painting 1 South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration, Fairplay, Colorado

Day 14 of the 30 in 30 Days Challenge

Oil  12" x 16"

$295.00 + $10. s/h

Day 3 of the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration started out very cold and rainy.  At about 10,00 feet you have to be prepared for all types of weather.  So, instead of standing outside in the mist to paint, I set up inside this loafing shed.  I was protected from the elements, but had on a hat, a hoodie (with the hood up over my hat), and a jacket.   I loved the way the cloudy light filtered in between the wood and the bit of a view out the livestock window.  I took artistic license with the floor of the shed.  When I drew it in slanted, it just didn't read well, it looked like my perspective was way wrong.  So, I made the floor and roof a little straighter.  

Gray Afternoon -- Day 2, Painting 2 South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration

Gray Afternoon

Oil  11" x 14"

Day 2, Painting 2 South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration, FairPlay, Colorado

Day 12 of the 30 in 30 Challenge

After lunch, delivered to us out at Bartle Lakes, I went into Jefferson to paint.  Jefferson isn't much more than a cross roads surrounded by ranches.  I thought the barns on this ranch made a great painting.

Every afternoon of the plein air event we turned in 2 framed paintings to the gallery in Fairplay at 4:00.  I think I worked on this piece from about 2 - 3:30, then drove the 20 minutes from Jefferson to Fairplay and framed the piece from the back of my car.  Luckily I had framed my morning painting right before lunch.  Every day was fun but hectic!

I'm contemplating making changes to this painting as it's a bit gray....of course, it was a gray day!  I'll think about it for awhile.

Morning Reflections -- Day 2, Painting 1 South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration

Morning Reflections
Day 2, Painting 1 South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration
Day 11 of 30 in the 30 in 30 Days Challenge
Oil  12" x 12"
$295.00 + $10. s/h

On the 2nd day of the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration we went to Bartle Lakes, a privately owned ranch and family run fly fishing operation near Jefferson, Colorado.  There was incredible scenery with high alpine lakes, ponds, trees, trucks, boats.  I could have painted there for days!

Below is my set up in the woods near one of the ponds

I started with the pond reflections first, as I knew these would change with the afternoon weather  (rain and clouds) coming in early.

Then I put in the blue/gray sky before it got even grayer.

In The Kitchen -- Day 1, Painting # 2 South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration

In The Kitchen
Day 1, Painting # 2 from the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration
Day 7 of 30 in the 30 in 30 Challenge
Oil  10" x 10"
$195.00 + $10. s/h

Here's the finished painting that I posted the other day.  This is in the kitchen of Buffalo Peaks Ranch, Fairplay, Colorado.  As I said, it was so windy and hot that I had to find a cool place to paint.  I loved the light coming in the back kitchen door of the ranch house.  I love plein air painting, but sometimes you just have to go with the flow!

Open Corral -- South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration

This is a plein air painting that I did this morning at Buffalo Peaks Ranch, Fairplay Colorado.  I'm participating in the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration.  Buffalo Peaks Ranch is one of the oldest ranches in Colorado, built in 1859.  It's being restored as a retreat and library.  I have no idea how old this corral is or when is was built but I love it's age and all of the angles as it falls apart.  I hope it gets repaired, too.

 You can see that it's a pretty open range up here!  Fairplay is at 10,000 feet elevation which makes it chilly in the morning and hot in the afternoon!