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.)

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!

Winding Its Way

Winding Its Way

plein air oil  9" x 12"

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$295.00 + $10. s/h - normal price

$221.25 - holiday sale

This is another plein air piece from our summer trip to Salida.  This one's also along the Arkansas River, but not in a shady spot.  The umbrella certainly keeps my canvas and palette in the shade, but I was hot!  

The holidays are almost upon us.  For November and December I'm having a holiday studio sale.  All of my paintings are 25% off with free shipping.  Many of my paintings can be seen on my Daily Paintworks site, or scroll back through my blog.  Email me about any paintings that you would like and I'll send you a Paypal button with the reduced price!  Thank you!

River's Everlasting Flow

River's Everlasting Flow
plein air oil  9" x 12"
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$295.00 + $10. s/h - normal price
$221.25 - holiday sale

This plein air painting was done this past summer in Salida, CO.  Salida (population more or less  5500) is about 3 hours from Colorado Springs.  The Arkansas River runs right through downtown Salida adding a wonderful feel to the town.  There are regularly kayakers, fisherman, rafters, etc using the Arkansas.  We did a float trip one afternoon.  There are lots of galleries and studios in the downtown as well.  I love visiting Salida.  It sits in a beautiful agricultural valley.

It's wonderful when I can set up and paint in a shady area!  And I really like listening

 to the waters' music while I paint!

The holidays are almost upon us.  For November and December I'm having a holiday studio sale.  All of my paintings are 25% off with free shipping.  Many of my paintings can be seen on my Daily Paintworks site, or scroll back through my blog.  Email me about any paintings that you would like and I'll send you a Paypal button with the reduced price!  Thank you!

Curving Waters

Curving Waters
Oil  10" x 8"
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$195.00 + $10. s/h

I painted most of this piece (I added a few highlights later in the studio) on a recent morning in Tarryall, about an hour or so west of Colorado Springs in the mountains.  I don't think that you can ever stand before a river and not feel a bit in awe.  Rivers are like old souls or older loved ones, they seem calm and comforting but underneath they are strong and powerful.  Rivers are both terrifying and beautiful;  just look at Mother Nature in a river.

I have painted many river pieces.  They are challenging, as the subject in front of you doesn't pose well.  But their light and dancing sparkles and vast, contrasting colors draw me in.  Many artists paint rivers, as do poets write about them and singers compose and sing of them.  For many, rivers are a bit religious, and not just for baptisms.  As Bob Dylan said: rivers are "Just like God, the river is deep and mystifying, cleansing and strong, ceaseless and never-ending. It makes you wonder why anyone who lives within 20 miles of a river goes to church to pray."

Meandering River

Meandering River
plein air oil  16" x 12"
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$495.00 + $10. s/h

This piece was done in September in South Park as part of the Plein Air Event.  For people who live in locations with "normal" rivers this one is pretty small!  I loved the blue water against the blue mountains!

Polished Boulders

Polished Boulders
plein air oil  12" x 9"
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$295.00 + $10. s/h

This is the second plein air painting done last month in Eleven Mile Canyon.  I like zooming in on little areas and giving the viewer a close up look at what I saw.

Tree Reflections

Tree Reflections
plein air oil  10" x 8"
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$195.00 + $10. s/h

One day last month a group of plein air artists went to 11 Mile Canyon, about an hour west of Colorado Springs in Lake George, to paint on the free state park day.  I had expected it to be really crowded, but found only a few fisherman and some picnicers.

If you google 11 Mile Canyon you'll find out that:
"Eleven Mile Canyon Recreation Area is located below the dam of the Eleven Mile Reservoir near Lake George in the southeast corner of South Park.  The narrow, dirt road traversing the canyon used to be the old Colorado Midland Railroad bed before the dam and reservoir were constructed.  Unlike the reservoir area, which has an open basin and rangeland type topography, the canyon itself is forested, lush, and rocky.  Eleven Mile Canyon cuts through the plain holding the South Platte River in its rocky bottom.  As the river is unleashed from the dam above, it twists and crashes against huge boulders lining the canyon floor.  A canopy of large trees provides a screen of shade that floats across the canyon with the moving sun.  Eleven Mile Canyon is an unexpected paradise."

Looking Up The River

Looking Up The River
plein air oil  10" x 8"
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$195.00 + $10. s/h

This is the second piece that I painted on The Frying Pan River.  I love the almost abstract, loose quality of this one.  River water is constantly moving and changing color depending on the weather and sky color.

Cool Water

Cool Water
Oil  12" x 16"
$295.00 + $10.s/h

I really like the movement and constant light and color change that you have in a river, creek, or any body of water.  I don't get the chance to paint a lot of "big" bodies of water, as our rivers in Colorado are pretty small.  But, even small bits of water have fun, challenging changes.  I think that the title could refer to the actual temperature of this mountain creek or the temperature of the color of the water.

And, I'm happy to say that this piece was one of Daily Paintworks "Picks of the Day"!  Thank you Daily Paintworks!

Music Of The Water

Music Of The Water

Oil 9" x 12"

$195.00 + $10. s/h

This is another piece from one of Colorado's creeks.  I love the motion and movement of water.  When you're out painting, or fishing, the babels and harmonies of the water can be mesmerizing.  Thus, the title:  Music Of The Water.

Up The Creek

Up The Creek
Oil 8" x 6"
$100.00 + $10. s/h
SOLD

This is another little piece from the same fishing and painting day on the western slope as the last post.  We were near Paonia, Colorado.

Here's the work in progress and my friend fishing off in the distance, up the creek.

Dancing Light

Dancing Light
Oil 6" x 8"
$100.00 + $10. s/h

The week before last was a fun week.  A friend or ours from high school came for a visit (actually, she and my husband go all the way back to the same grade school.)  After a few days here in Colorado Springs, we headed over the the western slope (for those of you who don't live in Colorado, that means on the other side of the continental divide) to her in-laws ranch.  It was a great visit!  I got to meet Chief, who I painted in January.  Click here to go to the painting of Chief.  I also got to meet the young couple who own the painting.  That was really nice.

While on the ranch my husband and our friend went fishing and I painted by the side of the creek.  I loved the way the reflections, light and ripples seemed to dance across the water.

This is the view from where I painted.

I took a break and turned my easel around to critique the painting from my resting spot.

Here are the happy fishermen!

Relaxing and Tranquil

Relaxing and Tranquil
Oil 8" x 10"
SOLD

This little river is just outside of Vail, Colorado.  And, I'm happy to say that this painting just sold at Summerland Gardens.  I'll have to run over there with a replacement!

Early Fall Morning

Early Fall Morning
Oil  9" x 12"
$195.00 + $10. s/h

This is about the same spot as the painting I posted on September 23rd.  There's a spring that bubbles up out of the ground making the soil spongey and soft.  The water then flows to meet up with the South Platte River.  I love the warm fall colors.  I think it's my favorite time to paint.

Near Tarryall

Near Tarryall

11" x 14"  Oil

$295.00 + $10. s/h

Tarryall is a little less than an hour west of here (Colorado Springs.)  We were up there for a gorgeous fall day.  I loved all of the reflections of the sky and rocks in the river.

South Platte Valley

South Platte Valley
11" x 14"  Oil
$295.00 + $10. s/h

This little valley is tucked away by the South Platte River.  Occasionally when there we see a few other people, usually fly fisherman.  But more often than not we're the only people around.