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.

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.

Sierra Foothills

Sierra Foothills
Painting No. 15-E-12
8"x 8" oil on linen panel

A painting of the pinion pines and sagebrush that surround Indian Creek Reservoir in Alpine County, California.

High Country

High Country
Painting No. A-1-12
Forestdale Divide, Alpine County, Ca
8"x 10", oil on linen panel
January 27, 2012

This is a small studio painting based on plein air paintings of this area.

Forestdale Divide

Painting No. 132, Forestdale Divide
Alpine County, California
6"x 8", oil on linen panel
September 20, 2011

This spot is located along the Pacific Crest Trail, near the road at the Forestdale Divide. It's really different painting at high altitudes, the air is thin, the atmosphere is desert-dry, and the weather is constantly changing.

This painting was entered into the 2011 Markleeville Fall Plein Air Event.

Bunkhouse Deluxe

Painting No. 128, Bunkhouse Deluxe
Sossa Brothers Cow Camp, Alpine County, Ca.
9"x 12", oil on linen panel
August 14, 2011

I took off for Ebbett's Pass in the hope of finding a stream or lake to paint but nothing was catching my eye. Then I came around a curve and noticed the bunkhouse just off the road, I couldn't resist.
It was probably built in the early 60's when steel and aluminum were constructed to last forever. Now with it's after-market wooden screen door, smoke stack and sagging porch it probably doesn't see much action except for a few brave cowboys in the fall.

Faith Valley

Painting No. 119, Faith Valley (study for larger painting)
Alpine County, California
12"x24", oil on canvas
July 18, 2011

I've been pondering since last week if I should do a larger painting from this location in Faith Valley. So I went up there on Monday, took some photos and did this large study. The wind was blowing 10-20 miles per hour....I'm not joking! I found some large boulders and anchored the legs of my tripod. Good news was the mosquitoes had a hard time landing on me. During my 2-1/2 hours I was expecting a bear or deer to walk out in front of me, but no luck.

Raymond Peak, Late Spring

Painting No. 112, Raymond Peak, Late Spring
Alpine County, California
6"x 8", oil on linen panel
6-26-2011

Raymond Peak was named in 1865 for the mineral examiner Rossiter W. Raymond. It's peak elevation is 10,023 ft above sea level, with rocky volcanic composition and surrounded by lower, rolling, pine covered mountains. The Pacific Crest Trail passes to the east and north of the peak and is probably still covered in 3 feet of hard packed snow as of late. Getting the chance to paint in these mountains is just another reason why the Sierra's are such a wonderful mountain range to explore.

Sierra Afternnon, with Hawkins Peak

Painting No. 111, Sierra Afternoon, with Hawkins Peak
Alpine County, California
8"x 6", oil on linen panel
6-25-2011

Last weekend my wife and I stayed in a campground outside of Markleeville, California. This was the same campground where my grandparents brought my brother and I each summer and we would stay for up to a month back in the early 1980's. The terrain is a small bowl shaped valley, surrounded by low hills on all sides.

These pine trees with the slight hint of the south slope of Hawkins Peak was the best composition I could find. I painted in the early afternoon, concentrating on adding additional detail of the tree's branches and varying the shades of shadows within the fading forest.

Sierra Sunrise

Painting No. 107, Sierra Sunrise
Silver Peak, Alpine County, California
8" x 6", Oil on Linen Panel
June 17, 2011

On my way to a week long plein air class in Markleeville, I pulled the truck over and painted this scene just after sunrise. The weather has finally decided to warm-up and the painting opportunities abound.