Aspen Afternoon

Aspen Afternoon
Painting No. 7-G-12
6"x8"
oil on canvas

Afternoon light filters down through the trees in Hope Valley as another hot summer day draws to a close. As I paint in the meadow, I hear a small herd of cows with bells around their necks graze up in the shadows. Nice day, no mosquito's.

Outdoor Painting Workshop Aug 10-11, 2012

OUTDOOR PAINTING WORKSHOP

August 10-11, 2012

The Nature Conservancy, Genoa, Nevada

Cost: Free to the public

Class size: 14 students

Email to reserve your spot: james@jamesmckew.com  

This is a workshop for persons interested in learning basic techniques for oil painting outdoors. We will meet indoors on Friday night, Aug 10 from 6-8:30pm for a presentation, hands on exercises and a demonstration painting. Saturday morning Aug 11, 8-12 noon, we will be outdoors on the Nature Conservancy property for a quick demonstration painting then the students will try their hand at 2-3 paintings as time will allow.  Students are required to bring their own supplies. Email me for the PDF flyer with detailed information.

A Walk in the Woods

A Walk in the Woods                                 Painting No. 5-G-12

12"x12" oil on canvas board                              

Long afternoon shadows are cast along the forest floor last night along the Tahoe Rim Trail in the mountains above Lake Tahoe. This is a great place to unwind after a hot day in the valley.

Buckeye Creek

Buckeye Creek                                                  No. 13-F-12                                                   8"x10"                                                                  oil on canvas board                                                 Mid-afternoon shadows and reflections along Buckeye Creek in the Eastern Sierra Mountains. This was painted during our recent camp out.

Trail to the River

Trail to the River                                           Painting No. 12-F-12                                            oil on canvas                                                           Last weekend my wife and I camped at Buckeye Creek, along the east slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This was a grouping of trees close to our campsite.



High Meadow

High Meadow
Painting No. 10-F-12
12"x12"
oil on canvas board

From the same location as "Elders of the Forest", I painted this evening scene of Faith Valley and the surrounding mountains. As the sun was setting; I noticed the addition of a warm glow on the distant mountain. I added just enough color to suggest the warmth without ruining the atmospheric effects of the distances.

Elders of the Forest

Elders of the Forest
Painting No. 7-F-12

During the Markleeville Plein Air Festival I came across these stout trees that overlooked Faith Valley California and decided to try and capture their steadfast strength and beautiful patterns in the exterior trunk.