North Woods Moose sketch

So I did not feel like painting tonight so I picked up the pencil.  This is not an original sketch but it is a sketch for practice.  It was done with a dark lead pencil and is more of a silhouette study.

Jefferson Memorial Dawn with Cherry Blossoms

I finally had enough time off from work to actually do a little painting.  I worked on the Jefferson Memorial Dawn with Cherry Blossoms.  I tweaked the sky a little and I worked on adding details of the Memorial and I added the basics of the backlight Cherry Blossoms.

Snow Geese

Sort of a difficult week at work, I did this card for my son-in-law Spencer earlier in the week.  He enjoys the Water Fowl, both watching and hunting.  The Snow Geese are aa attractive large bird who visit the flyways of the Rockies and East Coast.  They may fly else where but I have not seen them there.

Pine Forest sketch

This is not an design.  I enjoy a fun sketch, which is good calm fun way to close out a Monday.  This is a pencil sketch for practice.

Tidal Basin Dawn - block-in

I started blocking in this scene of the Tidal Basin at dawn.  The Tidal basin has great views of the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument.  After I get the sky totally to my liking I will add the Cherry Blossoms which come from the top left into the middle of the picture.

Washington Monument Nocturne - close to finishing up

I worked this today along with some other things.  I adjusted the transition of the sky.  I changed the light side of the monument (left side) and finally I added more detail to the foliage of the Cherry trees, to include branches.  To finish this up, I want to add a moon crescent in the sky, add highlights to the branches, and make sure I am happy with the foliage edges and details.  Then it will be done.

Canyonlands Twilight

Tonight, I worked on the foreground and the closest bluff.  I will continue to develop the foliage.  Every painting is a process and a work of progress.  I sort of work out the details and figure out the way I want to develop and change the painting as I go a long in the process.

Ponderosa and Fir tree study - block-in

I started this tree study this evening.  I have blocked in the basic shapes and colors of the fir tree in the background and the two ponderosa pines.  I will need to further define the middle tree and add depth to the foliage to give the trees a three dimensional look.

Happy Birthday Kerri!

Today is the daughter, Kerri's birthday.  Her favorite childhood cartoon character was the Care Bear - Grumpy Bear.  This is a pen and colored pencil sketch of Grumpy.

Baby Elephant

I have a co-worker whose wife is having a baby so I made a Congrats card for them.  I figured a baby elephant would fit the bill.  This was done with markers.

Canyonlands Twilight - update

I did not get as much done on this as I would have liked.  I adjusted the sky, clouds, the horizon, and the middle ground.  I will need to work the the foreground and add foliage.  Probably tomorrow.

Outer Banks Aerial View

I tweaked the water, the beach, and then I added detail to the beach dune foliage.  I will change the sky and I will add waves to the beach area.

Devil's Tower - Last touches

I made some adjustments to the sky to improve the clouds.  I made a few small number of highlights to the tower and I made some adjustments to the foreground.

Douglas Fir - finished

I looked at the Douglas Fir and decided to add final details on the branches, foliage, and to fix a little of the background.  I really enjoyed this painting as it was one of those paintings which went together well and just clicked for me.

Douglas Fir - Details and structure added

I worked on adding detail and depth to the foliage and the shadows in the foreground.  I think I will add extra branches and skyholes (gaps) in the foliage.

Winter Homestead - Russian Style

I posted the block-in of this painting some time last year.  It definitely fell in the frustration zone.  I worked on this a little last night and some this afternoon.  It is better but no where I want it to be.  The style is based off a Russian style of Impressionism, which I love but it is going to take some work to even come close to its style.

Marsh Sunset

I had actually started this three years ago, but artist sometimes get a frustration like a writer gets writer's block.  I was not blocked to not paint but a fair amount of my attempts frustrated or annoyed me as I could not get the results I wanted.  I started this year with the goal of painting as many days as possible.  I painted all but two days in January.  I missed six days in February for a vacation.  I am five for five in March.  The point being the daily practice seems to be helping my frustration with painting.  The skills seem to be improving some too.

Washington Monumnet Nighttime

I worked on the Washington Monument tonight.  I adjusted the sky a bit to work the transition to the horizon.  I added the first layer of detail to the Cherry Blossoms, which it will need more layers to give the foliage depth.

White Pine Pencil study

I took a break from oil painting and did this White Pine Pencil study.   Enjoy!

Canyonlands Twilight - Block-in finished

I did manage to get the rest of the canvas covered on this painting.  Now I will make the adjustments  and changes to add the depth and detail necessary to make this more convincing.

Canyonlands Twilight - block-in start

So I did not get far on this block-in of a Sunset Twilight scene from Canyonlands National Park, near Moab, Utah.  I will finish up the block-in tomorrow and then I will get the values and details started.