November 30, "Early Light"

Today I got an early start and that usually brings some wonderful morning light and today I wasn't disappointed at all.

"Early Light" 8" x 10"

My Early Location.

November 29, "Elk Meadow Light"

Today we members of the Plein Air Artist of Colorado came up to my neck of the woods to paint at Elk Meadow. What a nice day it was, full of sunlight, great colors and a cool breeze in the air made for a wonderful late fall day.

"Elk Meadow Light"

Elk Meadow and My Easel.

November 28, "Sunset On The Sisters"

Finally after a week on the road I am back home and with that I thought I would like to do a local sunset and tonight was a great night  for it. There is a group on mountain tops that are called Three Sisters and they were glowing tonight.

"Sun Set On The Sisters" 8" x 10"

The Sisters.

November 27, "Loudy / Simpson Pond"

While in Craig Co. one must visit Loudy / Simpson Park. It's a great park with a lot of thing to do. Everything from river fishing, tube floating, skating at the ice rink. There is even a few thing to paint.

"Loudy / Simpson Pond" 6" x 12"

A view of the Pond.

November 26, "Willowes In The West"

It was another great day in Craig today. I found some nice willows and the western slope to paint.

"Willows In The West" 8"x 10"

Willows and the slope.

November 25, "Western Slope Sunset"

After Driving from Fort Collins to Craig Colorado I almost ran out of day to paint. Fortunately there was a wonderful sun that came out, but only after a freak micro burst of a snowstorm that produced almost blizzard conditions for about fifteen minuets. But as fast as it blew in it blew out just as fast and left behind some great color.

"Wester Slope Sunset" 6" x 12"

November 24, "Thanks For Giving"

Happy Thanksgiving! What a great way to spend a day, family, food, fun and plein air painting! I wanted to paint something fitting for the day when I came upon a corn field with some pumpkins in it, and I realized this was the spot. What better way to celebrate thanksgiving than with a few of the original foods of the first Thanksgiving. 

"Thanks For Giving" 16" x 20"

Just getting the drawing in.

November 23, "Blessed Sunrise"

Today was an early start. I wanted to try and catch one of the stunning sunrises that we have been having for the past week. The only downside is I need to get up early, and sometimes it hard to get out of a warm bed to go and paint outside before the sun is up. But, I think it was well worth it!

"Blessed Sunrise" 6" x 12"

November 22, "Rocky Mountain Afternoon"

Today I was driving down the back way to get to my house and the view was stunning. Sometimes I forget that all I need to do to find a place to paint is just walk down the road.

"Rocky Mountain Afternoon" 8" x 10"

 View from down the road.

November 21, "My Deer Friend"

As I was heading out today one of my friends came up to me and just wouldn't leave me alone. I must confess I occasionally feed her apples. Now she and her little heard live at our house. I know she likes the apples but sometimes I think she just likes to be petted.

"My Deer Friend" 8" x 10"

I love how she just hangs out. She was just lying down watching me paint her.

November 20 "Ol' Farm Goose"

I went down to a local farm today and that is where I ran or should I say She found me. This big Ol' goose just kept hanging around so I figured it was my sign to pain it.

"OlFram Goose" 8" x 10"

November 19, "Hole In My Bucket"

I have been wanting to paint at the Gates Mansion for sometime and today.... was no exception. But I did get the chance to stand in front of their stunning mountain home and paint the quaint little well that they have.

"Hole In My Bucket" 8"x 10"

November 18, "Cross Country View"

Today I was at Beaver Brook Trail Head. What a wonderful place it is for me. I used to as a kid sit in a park in my home town and daydream about being able to go to this peak and just live there. Now, as an adult I live less than ten minuets away from it and I try to go there and daydream as much as I can.

"Cross Country View" 8" x 10"

The View from my mobil studio. 

November 17, "Sun Set Peak"

 I wanted to paint a sun set today but instead I found a warmly lit mountain side that called to me.

"Sen Set Peak" 8" x 10"

November 16, "Glowing"

Wow! What a scene to come across today and it was just now the road from me. 

"Glowing" 8"x 10"

November 15, "Bending Reeds"

I saw these wondeful reeds today bending in the wind and just glowing. I just had to paint them

November 14, "Green Mine"

I went to Idaho Springs today to do some mine painting. There are some great mine to paint in that area.

"Green Mine" 8"x 10"

November 13, "Driving Into A New Day"

I was out early this morning and I was able to do a quick sunrise.

November 12, "Fall Trees"

 I was a Prospect Park today when I saw this great patch of fall color and light.

"Fall Trees" 8"x 10"

November 11, "Fall Trees"

"Down The Rabbit Hole" 8" x 10"

Novenber 10, "Full Moon Rise"

I try to do a night scene at least once a month. Tonight was an easy one not only to choose but also paint as well. Most nights scenes I need a little extra light but not tonight. The moon was so bright it was easy to see my palette.

"Full Moon Rise" 8" x 10"

November 9, "A Little Prayer"

The title says it all for today. I was feeling a little uninspired and even pondering where this journey is taking me, especially today trying to paint in 20 degree weather. Some days I really feel internally pressured to try and create a great painting instead of just painting. I tell people "My painting style is dictated to me by the scene", hence the reason some paintings look like a different artist painted them, because to me that scene needs to be painted the way it talks to me. Lately I have been forcing a style to the scene and when I force a style to the scene it seams unnatural for me and it can show.
Today I just wanted to paint for fun, so, I jumped into the rolling studio and headed out. After about an hour of looking I was still uninspired. Until I saw this huge barn and thought that would be fun to paint. I pulled up to the barn to check it out and when I got out of the van that's when I noticed I was also at one of our beautiful cemeteries. As I stood there looking at the graves and the barn this warm and inviting little statue jumped out and called to me. "I found my inspiration" I said "A Little Prayer" that is what I need. It also made the woes of my journey pale in the comparison of others. No matter how rough it may be a little prayer can go a long way.

"A Little Prayer" 8" x 10"

My Inspiration.

November 8, "Mountain Side Shadows"

I was a Matthews Winters Park today when I noticed this nice spot of color between the foothills and the prairie grass and I couldn't pass it up.

"Mountain Side Shadows"

My spot of color.

November 7, "Antique White"

I wish I could remember what these plants are called but I love the soft glow that they cast this time of the year. They are a little tough to paint. Trying to capture the softness and yet trying to keep a form can be a little tricky.

"Antique White" 8" x 10"

Painting on the hill.

November 6, "Taste Of Russia"

I was out today when I saw this great spot just full of color and for some reason it reminded me of a something I might see in the Russian wilderness.

"A Taste Of Russia" 8" x 10"

My Russian location.

November 5, "Fall Barn"

Today was a crazy day for me, starting with a photo shoot for a friend of our and her product called After dinner Pants, then it was off to Fort Collins for the weekend for moving. Then I still needed to do some painting but by the time I had a chance to paint a storm had moved in with a fury. Heavy winds mixed with snow and rain made for a rough time painting.

"Fall Barn" 8" x 10"

November 4, "Cadmium Delight"

 Today I thought I would like to paint the afternoon light. The afternoon light has a warmer color to it than a morning light does and it works great when painting the late warm fall colors against the cool shadows of the snow.

"Cadmium Delight" 8" x 10"

My afternoon back lit delight.