Winter paintings - 1 revised

Color and perspective. Other people really help me see things I am missing. I revised one of the paintings below - the field was too bright, and the hills in the distance were too high. That's thee beauty of oil painting - things are easy to fix if you don't like it.
I think I will do a larger painting though, from a closer perspective. Especially now since I have a better idea of what I can do to it. Whatever, I just like sitting and putting paint on the surface. I have been out drawing too, so I have some new stuff inside.

Winter Hills near Boerne. Oil on panel, 8" x 10"

Winter hills near Boerne study, oil on panel 4" x 5"

Last paintings of this year - # 42 & 43.

Merry Christmas, and yes, I am still painting

Merry Christmas, to you, my friends, who take time to read what I am up to, and put up with my thoughts and words. And much thanks to those of you who comment every now and then, either on here, through email, or even those who call me on occasion.

This is not intended as one of those "Christmas letters" (thank God we got none of those this year - if I ever wanted to write one, I would have put all the bad things that happened in the letter just to make it real - anyway).  But I did want to mention some things that have happened this year that make 2012 a memorable and turning-point year for Linda and me.

I committed at the beginning of the year to learn about and paint with oils. In 2011, I told my friend, Johny Rosa (who has encouraged and inspired me to continue painting and get better with each one), that I had a goal of 10 paintings this year. I don't know quite how many I actually completed this year, but as I look around my little studio, I count 21 paintings either on the wall, on a shelf, or still drying on an easel. There are at least 4 more hanging in other rooms, I have sold at least 8 more, and given away no less than 7. So there are at least 40 paintings accounted for in 2012. Completed oil paintings....there are several more laying around in various stages of completion, some of which may never be finished because I just don't like the direction they were going, or my style has changed. And that doesn't include the watercolors!

I went from struggling with thin paint on canvas ( a penurious style, according to Bill Zaner), whose colors were slightly thin and dull, somewhat strained in their presentation, and a bit muddy at times - to some rather full, rich and colorful paintings, full of life and texture. My techniques have started to become more relaxed and confident, and I am seeing a new boldness in my use of paint, color, and depth. I spent several hours learning basics from Bill Scheidt, an artist I met through another gallery in town. Bill S. taught me several techniques to mix, apply, and glaze. Not knowing much of anything when I started, I needed to understand some of the basics and learn a few time-savers and tricks.

My trip to Big Bend, and the time I have spent watching, listening, and reading the works of Bill Zaner and David Caton has been the real turning point for my art. No doubt about it. Something changed, like night into day - almost like a sunrise, it happened that quick - the dim morning light in a short time becomes full daylight, and colors change with each second - and then the day exposes all of the full colors. From the evenings spent talking about spirituality and writing limericks, to the early morning watching the sunrise with a cup of coffee and bourbon, my life and painting "DNA" was changed. Bill promised/threatened I would never be the same, and he was indeed right on point. I learned in one morning a completely different way to apply my paint, how to create depth and space, and how to feel the morning and express it on a surface.

I spent time reading Zaner's book on Texas landscapes, and understanding his passion to capture the Texas landscape and preserve its beauty for the next generation to enjoy. The landscape....not a lot of artists portray realistic landscapes any more, so I have a lot of respect for those who can do it well. Bill Zaner and David Caton are two of those people - and I count it a privilege to know them and call them friends.

So what's in store for the years to come? I am working on a 5 year plan to get out of debt, and be selling enough art to allow me to do that full time. Next year, I commit to 50 new pieces of fine Texas landscapes. And I commit to put my heart and soul into each one, to continue what was birthed in me this year.

Thank you again for listening and believing in me, and especially to those that have bought my art this year.

Hill Country Red Oaks #4 of 4, Oil on panel, 14" x 18", last of the series

More Red Oaks

Here is another painting of the little Red Oak grove on the back road home. This is what a stressful day creates. Yesterday was probably the worst day I have had in a long time. I was totally unmotivated and burnt out at work, and I pretty much did nothing except have a pity party all day. It was bad, and I just waited out my time there, waiting to get home. I don't like that Linda works so much, and there is about a 3 hour period between when I get home and when she does. I took advantage of that time to attack a canvas I had prepared. An hour painting always just melts away the stress, and passes quickly. Before I knew it, those 3 hours went by, and I realized 100% of my issues were between my ears. I had nothing to feel bad about, and I decided in that time to change my attitude.
Painting connects me to the beauty within me, and helps me see things in a different light, instead of worrying or feeling sorry for myself. Somehow all that  is wrong is forgotten, and all that is right comes out. Everything I need for peace and a harmonious life is within me, and comes out with the colors of my palette, placed carefully on a surface that becomes my interpretation of what I see.
The music in the background takes effect to relax me, and put me in a different state of mind and space. There is no need for anything else but the quiet and somehow it transcends my circumstances and my pain. In an instant, all is well and right.
So here is the prepared canvas:

Here is the first layer:

 
And finally, the end product - most of which I did "pleine aire" on site.

Red Oaks Grove, Boerne, Oil on canvas, 9" x 12"

I have one more to do in this series - a 14" x 18" with more detail. I am really liking the progression and the colors.

Hill Country Red Oaks

My weekend was pretty full - in a good way. I had a lot of opportunity to connect with friends and family, eat some good food, watch the Christmas Parade in Boerne, and even complete a couple of oils. I still have a canvas that I took time to prepare earlier, but I didn't work on because I wanted to do a couple of smaller ones first.
Out of all of them, I think I still like the simplicity of the watercolor the best. And, the two I did are done with a knife, so the texture and the look is going to be different. I think the bigger one will involve some brush work as well, if not mostly.
Anyway, here are the paintings. This is the first one.

Hill Country Red Oaks, Late Fall, 6" x 8", Oil on canvas

 The second one is on a small board using the leftover paint on the palette.

Hill Country Red Oaks 2, Oil on panel, 2.5" x 3"

And finally, here are the 3 together, along with the watercolor sketch.