Back to the easel - Spruce tree study

Back from a short trip and after catching up on house chores, I worked on this small spruce tree study.  It will need some adjustments but it is all part of the practice needed to improve.

Anniversary

Today is the my 21st Wedding Anniversary.  Since we honeymooned in Taos and Santa Fe, we do a Day of the Dead themed cards.  This is not my original design but it is only for my wife and your viewing.  So Happy Anniversary Barbara.

WIP - Part 2 DRGW Narrow gauge engine

So I did a little to refine the background, cleaned up some lines on the front of the engine and I blended some of the snow plow to make it more pleasing to my eye.  Still a lot of work to do.

WIP - Cumbres & Toltec Engine 487

WIP - Work In Progress, I started the narrow gauge DRGW engine painting a year ago.  I did a very basic block-in and got frustrated.  Which happens a lot, especially lately, sometimes you know what and how you want to paint but, it just does not come out right.  This has been my last week at the 9 to 5 job and in the evenings this week at the easel.  I had mother's day and other "honey dos" to attend to so I only got in a little time on this painting.  I started to add the the background and sharpened some of the edges.  I feel like I have a better idea of where I want to go.  This is not a study, but it is an original of my design and is based off a trip on the Cumbers & Toltec Historical Railroad in Colorado and New Mexico back in 2010.  I have lots of sketches and paintings in me, just need the time to put them on canvas.

Sky and tree study - part one

This is the start of an oil painting, tree and sky study.  I have blocked in the sky and will add the tree after the sky gets tacky instead of full wet paint.

Snowy Maple and Beeches Study

I little throw back to winter study, as I worked in the yard this weekend and did not get much done art wise.  I did work on this little study to continue the practice of throwing paint on canvas.

Experiment and Surprise

This is an experiment and a block-in start.  The experiment is I painted this on a smooth hard board so it requires some different brush techniques.  The unpainted white area will be water with a sky reflection.  I will let this half dry and tomorrow night I will work in some cloud color and brush strokes.    We will se if it works, I sort of ran out of time tonight.