I have just a few adjustments to make, and then I’ll sign this one. Edit: you are now looking at the updated and final version. Thx!
128 Corn
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Tag Archives: big sky
R16 and 270th. Dallas County Sunrise.
I’ve been driving around the surrounding farmlands this summer and fall, taking photos of future paintings. I just got around to facing, and finishing this one, after starting it a month ago, and being intimidated by the light in it.
12 Sheep
It’s rewarding to knock of a small painting of, say, 12×16 but, I’d like to increase my production of larger paintings such as this one. This is still a work in progress and I’ll only fix a few small details.
Flock B
Farm life subject matter is something not to be overlooked in Iowa. In fact, it’s a challenge not to consider when looking for striking compositions here in the prairie.
Dallas Country Grain
“ I’m seeing the ball really well right now.”
To quote, and borrow a phrase from baseball, I’ve got 10,000 hours invested in getting to where I can execute this sky and palette. If you go out early in the morning and look, meditate, on the color in the atmosphere, you will soon see that, starting at the horizon, all six colors (the three primary, the three secondary) are there. Follow me: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet. From bottom to top. So fun to paint. Enjoy.
East of Adel
I am beginning to drive around the state of Iowa more often, scouting for those special places that may be painted in the early or late light of day. This was a barn just east of Adel, Iowa that I found interesting enough to sketch out. The light, however, is the thing I am after.
“F¥CK, Turn Around.” More appropriately, “Proceed with Caution.”
Trying to build a remuda of skies. This is a rather precarious one we often see here in Iowa.
Iowa Fields
The fields of Iowa have been in the news as of late. For us Iowans, we live, every day, with the idea that, if you build it, they will come.
Gray’s Lake Plein Air sketch
This year, in many ways, is a moving year. One major change in my orbit is to get outside and paint more plein air. Here is a little one hour sketch, in order to begin to stretch the plein air muscles.
River Walk Center Street
Three night paint out in Des Moines, in association with Mainframe Studios, Salmagundi, and the Polk County Conservation, began at the Lauridsen Skate Park downtown. This was my Friday night entry.
Lost Creek
I’ve lived in the State of Colorado twice in my lifetime. Loveland Co. for one year in 1975, before returning to Iowa to attend University. (ISU.) Then again for six years throughout the late 1980’s in Colorado Springs Co. I knew the state well and, often miss the open range feel of the West.
Morning Walk revisited
I painted this very view only a week ago at 12×12. Here is a larger version. I enjoyed the sky and clouds from this vantage point during an early morning rain shower skirting by to the east.
Morning walk
This is a work in progress of the walking bridge that spans Grays’ Lake in Des Moines, Iowa. Currently tacking up a bit so I can add the rest of the bridge structure and railing. Stay tuned for final.
Iowa Summer Storm
Clouds have inspired me lately and, there is every color in the sky. Ultramarine, Cerulean, Viridian, Yellow Ochre, and Alizarin are all used, though very highly tinted, with Titanium White. This, excluding Burnt Umber, is my entire palette.
Calf under Viridian Sky
Something about this little calf I can’t let go of. My attempt, however, was to capture the ethereal quality of the summer Iowa air and landscape.
River Bend
18 x 24 oil on canvas
Exalted
8 x 24 oil on panel
Countryside 111
12×24 oil on panel
Two Pines
11×14 oil on canvas
Iowa Horizon
20×24 oil on canvas – private collection
Anticipation
11×14 oil on panel
Stable Mate
18×24 oil on panel
Sapphire Day
12×24 oil on canvas – private collection
“Fields”
16×20 oil with knife on mounted panel
“Arteaga Range, Coahuila”
9×12 oil on paper – private collection
“Untitled Seagull Study on Bay”
24×30 oil on panel
“One Night in Oskaloosa”
9×12 oil on paper
“Small Town Twilight”
9×12 oil on paper
“Hogback Bridge Study”
9×12 oil on paper
“Forty Four”
One more pass at this needed and coming soon. Stay tuned for final draft.
‘Forty Four’
9×16 oil on panel
“On the Park Point bridge”
9×12 oill on panel – private collection
I have been fascinated with the aerial lift bridge since seeing it for the first time over seven years ago. Now that we have been spending our summers on Park Point, I have finally gotten around to approaching this marvel as subject matter. I am so taken by it that I intend to keep painting the bridge in all available light. This little jewel turned out to my liking. I hope you enjoy it too!
“Aerial Lift Bridge II”
11×14 oil on panel
“Aerial Lift Bridge Duluth”
8×10 oil on panel
Canal Park Duluth
9×12 oil on panel
“Gathered Cotton”
18×24 oil on panel
A knife painting of a typical summer Iowa day.
“Orilla Highway”
8×16 oil on panel
One of my favorite areas just south of Des Moines to study the Iowa landscape.
“Floating in a Most Peculiar Way”
16×20 oil on panel
“Warren County Road”
20×24 oil on panel
I went driving around Iowa on Memorial Day looking for cattle. I only found clouds.
“The Loner”
16×20 oil on canvas – private collection
So I have been combing the central Iowa landscape looking for those special little places in that special early or late light. Low and behold this day presented a nice little jewel of a moment.
