April 25, "Mountain Apple Tree"

Today I was at Lair O' the Bear when I noticed this great apple tree in full bloom. So I hiked down to the creek for a better view and to find a place to set up. I set up the easel and let the painting began.

"Mountain Apple Tree" 8" x 10"

The Apple Tree.

April 24, "Creek Side Apple Blossoms"

Today I was looking around our local area to see if anything was blooming yet. I was delighted to see that the mountain area is starting to bloom. I found this great little apple tree blooming along the creek and deiced to to hang out and do some painting.

"Creek Side Apple Blossoms" 8" x 10"

Hanging out creek side.

April 23, "Bear Creek Falls"

Today I was along the creek when I saw what I like to call Bear Creek Falls, it was looking quite inviting. A warm day hanging around some cool water made for a great day of painting and recovery.

"Bear Creek Falls" 8" x 10" 

At the falls.

April 22, "Table Mesa Lilacs"

Today I had to go to Golden, Colorado so I thought I would check out one of my haunts to see how the color was and boy was I glad that I did. The lilacs framed south table mesa just wonderfully.

"Table Mesa Lilacs" 8" x 10"

April 21, "Monarch Of The Lilacs"

Today I didn't know what to paint or even where to paint. I thought I would go check out the lilacs again, but when I got there I noticed this wonderful large Monarch butterfly just hanging around and ever so gently moving from flower to flower. I knew this was what I needed to paint. I quickly began to paint with the hope that I could move fast enough to capture this delightful sight. To my surprise I had plenty of time, the Monarch of the lilacs had no desire  of moving. So I finished painting had a little chat with the monarch and then left him to the lilacs.

"Monarch Of The Lilacs" 8" x 10"

April 20, "Lilac Pond"

Today was better than yesterday to paint. I actually feel a little better today. My flue isn't as bad as it has been for the past few days, and all the many kind comments and words of encouragement from all of you, my friends defiantly made painting more enjoyable, Thank You!!!

"Lilac Pond" 8" x 10"

April 19, "Barn Side Beauty"

Today was another day of struggling to paint while being sick. I wanted to try and surround my self with something that would take my mind off of being sick and the other problems that plague me. So I went to the lilacs for some relief. The DayQuil also helped but it did nothing for the body cramps. The worst part is every time I would lift my right arm to paint my whole right side would start to cramp. I learned quite quickly what worked for me was to breath out when I needed to put paint down on canvas. What am I doing? Who would be this stupid to paint in these conditions. Thank you lilacs for listing to me today.

"Barn Side Beauty" 8" x 10"

April 18, "Hazy View"

Today was a terrible day for me. I have the flu and everything is spinning and I keep finding myself on the floor with no knowledge of how I get there. I found out that I was  rejected from another plein air show show and I cant seem to get into a gallery to save my life. Perhaps it's just the flu speaking but after watching seven galleries that I was in close in the last two years and now I'm hearing that I'm to expensive, this from people that don't even go to galleries to by there art (Target and WalMart Art Buyers)  I don't know what to do anymore. Perhaps it's just being sick or maybe it's just the bad weather, but after three years of putting my heart and soul into my work I don't know how much more of this I can take. Perhaps it my fault. I wanted to know what Vincent van Gogh went through to create his 1000 paintings in seven years. Now I wish I would have stopped after the first year. I feel as I'm loosing part of me. Oh well, as my Grandpa would say, quit my belly aching and get back to work.

"Hazy View" 8" x 10"

April 17, "Full Bloom"

Today I wanted to once again try and capture some lilacs before they are all gone. So on my drive I spotted a wonderful patch of lilacs in full bloom along the side of a little dirt road. I knew this was the spot for the day.

"Full Bloom" 8" x 10"

April 16, "Barn Side Lilacs"

Today I wanted to try and find some more lilacs to paint. So headed down the mountain to see if i could find something. Well it didn't take long for me to find some great color. i found this nice patch of lilacs next to a really cool old barn, so I knew what I needed to paint.

This place was so nice I think I'll be back for a few more paintings.

"Barn Side Lilacs" 8" x 10"

April 15, " Stormy Sunrise"

Today like most Sunday started with an early morning drive to Denver. I enjoy the drive because I usually get to see and try and capture some of the wonderful sunrises that we have. this one was a little different it was very soft color and was being chocked by the storm clouds, but I loved the color that was there.

"Stormy Sunrise' 8" x 10"

April 14, "Wondering Deer"

Today I had a special visitor painting with me. This young man was out visiting family for his senior year spring break and his aunt thought he might like to see someone paint. Sam is from the Bronx's N.Y. and is quite a nice young man and I thought instead of just watching someone paint that it would be a little more fun if did some painting and I wasn't wrong. After setting up the easels we listened to some music and did some painting. It was a rough day due to the cold temperatures and the heavy clouds that keep moving in and out. At one point this cute little deer deiced to walk through the scene so as fast as I could I put the little doe in and as fast as she showed up she was just as fast was gone. 

Over all it was a great day of painting despite the weather and I think Sam's first Plein Air painting turned out fantastic.

"Wondering Deer" 8" x 10"

Sam and I by our paintings moments before the snow fell.

Sam's 1st Plein Air Painting painting.

April 13, "Afternoon Walk"

Today I was at O' Fallen park painting a nice little path way when I had someone walk up behind me and to my surprise it was a fellow artist that I have admired his work for year. His name is Tom Newsom, is is know as the Santa Claus painter for Celestial Seasonings Tea and many other  companies and books as well. He was out walking the trail, so we visited for a minute and he was on his way. I don't normally look for scenes to paint that have people in them, but, today I had to put Mr. Newsom in as he was walking away and on his way home. 

"Afternoon Walk"  8" x 10"

The Walk Way.

April 12, "Lilac Walk Way"

Wow, I cant believe that everything down the mountain is in full bloom and as I was looking for something to paint this lilac bush was glowing and I had to paint it.

"Lilac Walk Way" 8" x 10"

The little walk way.

April 11, "Down Town Navedaville, Colorado"

Today I wanted to go to one of the old ghost towns of Colorado. It didn't take lone to find one close to the house. Navadaville is a cute lille ol' ghost town near Central City with just a few buildings left. It made for a great day of painting.

"Down Town Navedaville' 8' x 10"

"Navedaville"

April 10, "Quick Sunset"

Today I was in Gilpin County waiting to paint the sunset. I was at the top of one of the mountain ranges waiting to paint the sunset and hoping to get a break in the cloud cover that was beginning to build. Fortunately for me the clouds held out but the sunset was a very fast moving one tonight.

"Quick Sunset" 8" x 10"

The Sunset from the ridge.

April 9, "Fence Top Delight"

Today I was in Morrison, CO. a little town that I paint in quite a bit, especially now that the tree are a bloom. I love all the different shades of reds and whites that the crabapple and cherry trees have. I cant believe that spring is here in the Rocky Mountains already.

'Fence Top Delight" 8" x 10"

April 8, "Longs Peak In Bloom"

Happy Easter! Today I was along the front range in Ft. Collins when I drove past this little farm pond and was memorized by the color reflecting off of it. So with out hesitation I unpacked the easel and painted the farm pond.

"Longs peak In Bloom" 8' x 10"

April 7, "Ft. Collins Governors Manor"

Today I was in Ft. Collins visiting family and couldn't believe how everything was in bloom. I as where a nice spot might be to paint and I was told to go to the Governors Manor. Even though it was closed I had a great view from over the fence. What a beautiful place it was and i look forward to going back when it's open.

"Ft. Collins Governors Manor" 8" x 10"

A huge Crabapple Tree.

April 6, "Blooming Bridge"

Happy Good Friday. Today I was looking for some color. Ever since the other day when  I noticed that all the cherry trees, crabapple trees, tuples and even lilacs are starting to bloom I have been aching to paint some spring colors. So when I past this bridge I knew this was a good place to start.

"Blooming Bridge" 8" x 10"

The "Blooming Bridge"

April 5, "Around The Bend"

Today I wanted to paint the creek and I was lucky enough to find just the right spot. This is a little spot on clear creek that I have painted one other time. I love the combination of a cool river, warm greens and the rocky peaks, what a great scene to paint!

"Around The Bend" 8" x 10"

Me down by the creek.

April 4, "Crocus and Snow"

Today I was going to head out to paint when I noticed that in my garden the crocus had bloomed. This is a wonderful sight to see in the mountains. It means that spring is just around the corner. I love when this hardy little mighty mite of a plant pushes it was through the snow to embrace the late winter light. I can't wait to see the entire garden in bloom.

"Crocus and Snow" 8" x 10"

My Crocus.

April 3, "Creek Side Crimson"

Today I almost ran out of day light to paint in. I had such a late start to the day that I had only around an hour of what could be called light. So I frantically headed out to find something to paint and fortunately it didn't take long to find a great spot on the creek with some fantastic color for such a gray day.

"Creek Side Crimson" 8" x 10"

Down by the creek.

April 2, 'April Snow"

Today I awoke to my surprise to... snow! After a week of warm weather this took me a little by surprise but what can you say it's Colorado it can snow any day.  So today I thought I would try and capture a little of the late winter snow.

"April Snow" 5" x 7"

April 1, "Boodle Mill"

Today I was up in Central City to paint a few more of the mines but instead I found this old mill that I couldn't resist painting.

"Boodle Mill" 8" x 10"

The Mill.

March 31, "Echo Down The Valley'

Today I was up around the Mt. Evans area when I noticed this patch of great color. I was looking down one of the valleys that has a wonderful view of Echo Peak. I was intrigued by the contrast of the warm winter grass and changing willows and the cool of Echo peak.

"Echo Down The Valley' 8 " x 10'

March 30, "Argo"

Today I went up to Idaho Springs to do a little painting. I have been wanting to paint a few of the gold mines that we have in the area. I have painted a few of the other gold mines but not the Argo Gold Mine until today. It's such a land mark for the area and today was a great late winter day to hang out at the local little park and paint the Argo mine. 

"Argo Gold Mine" 8" x 10"

March 29, "Beaver Lodge"

Today I thought I would try my hand at the beaver dam again. I was hoping to get a little shadow but the way the dam sat and how bright it was everting was a but washed out looking. This made for a challenging time to find any color. It was almost a limited palette painting today. This is the joy that I find in painting plein air, that each day is so different form the next and there is always something to challenge oneself. 

"Beaver Lodge" 8" x 10"

March 28, "Clear Creek Beaver Dam"

Today I was along Clear Creak when I saw this beaver dam. This is something new in this area.   Last spring a pair of beavers was introduced to a little area on the creek and they sure have made themselves at home.

"Clear Creek Beaver Dam" 8" x 10"