Art is Elementary, Moab Utah

Let me tell you about something wonderful.

Today I had the opportunity to attend the opening of an art show that exhibited the works of students from Helen M. Knight Elementary School in Moab, Utah.
Make no mistake, these young students demonstrated a well rounded and logical approach to art that made me stop and examine each work in-depth. The stunning use of color and imagination was so refreshing that it made me jealous and exhilarated at the same time. To see young minds expressing themselves in pastel, oil, pencil and wire form was a true treat to the senses, both for me and the parents of the students.
During the opening the students taught art classes in the upstairs hall at the Dead Horse Point State Park Visitors Center. I had my first lesson in pastels from a young lady who had a passion and exuberance for the medium that was infectious. My appreciation for the local pastel scene grows with each new artist I meet, and Moab has a number of quality pastel painters. Special thanks to the two teachers I know, Bruce Hucko, HMK Art Coach, for his ability to impart a serious and deliberate approach to art into these young minds, and Fourth Grade teacher and pastel painter Sarah Hamingson for doing a wonderful job of hanging the exhibit.
The show runs through February 28, 2013.

Canyon Light in Moab, Utah

Canyon Light
Painting No. 1-L-12
36" x 36"
oil on canvas

This is my latest painting of the rock formations around Moab, Utah. It's based on plein air field studies and a few photos of the area. This is also my first studio painting from the new adventure of leaving my old life and starting a new one here in Utah.

Here's a view of a portion of the studio-gallery space I will be in beginning in 2 weeks. It was a hassle moving everything I own across 2 states in the middle of winter but I made it and nothing was damaged in the move.


Under Construction

Under Construction

I was comparing art with a fellow painter when it struck me that perhaps others would be interested in seeing the underside of my paintings. This is my current work of the rock formations north of Moab, Utah. As some of you know, I'll be relocating there within the next 6 weeks. So I'm working on larger paintings for the gallery.

Ok, to start off I used a very light purple for the base wash, I usually lay down a warm wash but this felt different. Also, I spent a considerable amount of time with the composition. The exact placement of the main rock, the background cliffs, the foreground trees (not yet painted) and sagebrush arrangements (only rough shadow areas visible). Every detail gets scrutinized on a large format drawing pad with Prismcolor markers usually weeks ahead of production.

The palette is based on a plein air sketch from October's "Plein Air Moab 2012" event. The canvas size is 36" x 36". I went with the square size because it carries a neutral feel, meaning that it isn't bias to horizontal or vertical lines. Also, square equals strength and stability.

Have you every heard of gathering all the remaining leftover paint from your palette, mixing them up and saving it in empty paint tubes? I used this warm grey mix as a base color for all the shadow areas (only shadow areas exist at this stage). The grey has a unifying effect on the overall painting.

I've also decided to change my technique up, by painting the entire scene as in total shadows, then I'll come back in at the end and begin to detail the rim light as being in the sun.