"Summer"

8x10 acrylic on canvas

Its now late summer and the kids are back in school. This small painting evolved more than most. I love the late afternoon light and shadows. I wanted to express a relaxed pace and beautiful color. With fall on the way, this was a nice Segway and warm reminder of another season slipping away!

Near and Far Away. 9x9 Acrylic on linen.



"Up a Creek"

Oil on Linen

Here it is July, and snow that was only four months ago looks 'cool' now that were in the 90's. With summer I can't get enough time out in the field since its easier to paint in warm temps. However I love painting in the winter, never tiring of these highlights and brilliant colors!!

Rocky Mountain Ranch

Once a year I try to get to Grand Lake Colorado in September. From Granby lake looking west I found a wonderful ranch tucked into a gorgeous landscape.
What really caught my attention was this lone cottonwood illuminated against the dark blue mountains.

Wet and Muddy. Woodland Park.

OIL ON LINEN 12 X 12"

WET AND MUDDY!! Near Woodland Park Colorado Late Spring.

 "Hidden Away" 8x7 Acrylic on linen.

I think there is something to be said for turning off the monitor and relying on your own 'voice.' The other day was Cold! 13 degrees cold. Here it is January and I would rather be outside painting. Instead I found some photos about eight years ago from a trip to Grand Lake Colorado and found one of a spring runoff . I used the monitor just to lay out a basic composition and some details and then turned it off. This kept me from stifling creativity by relying on the cameras recording. I found myself working different from the photo.
  The photo looks rather static. You know the comment, 'the picture doesn't do it justice' is certainly true. It does record a lot of detail without much mystery i.e. lost edges, or the way the eye sees flowing water.
I really would rather use photos for reference detail, but rely on actual presence for painting. How about You! 

"Cold Winter Morning" 8 x 10. Acrylic.

Let me know your thoughts.

Small acrylic study at Bear Creek.

"The Happy Apple Farm"
9x12 oil on linen.

A really great place to get the fall feeling. Located down 115 south of Colorado Springs. You pick your own apples off the trees. There are raspberries, blackberries on the bushes ripe for picking, but the blackberry cobbler is to die for!
There was this wonderfully restored tractor sitting there begging for a painting, and who am I to neglect the opp! 

Pastel. Done about twenty years ago. Fun! I need to get them out again.

9x12" Oil on Linen.
"I wandered around for this one. There are some old homesteads east of the Rockies, and I happened down a lonely little traveled road north east of Colorado Springs. An old for sale sign off the main road gave me a license to take a stroll. After all if anyone said anything I could always explain I'm just 'looking'.
Sure enough this old barn was completely hidden from passerby. Nestled in a shallow valley, I set up shop and enjoyed a perfectly quiet and peaceful plein air painting. I hope you Enjoy!

Greg

Looking forward to a small show this Saturday 4:30 to 6:30pm, 26th at Umpire Estate Mountain Roasters.
302 East Fillmore St. Colorado Springs CO. 80907.
"Colorado Reflections" is a group of eight to ten new works in and around the Pikes Peak region.

"Muddy Waters" is a small oil painting, 5.5x9". This was a new stream after historic rains this last July in Colorado. Interesting contrast last summer with wildfires and flooding!
I found this after parking the truck and hiking a little ways in Garden of the gods, Colorado Springs.
All my years here I have never seen so much water.
Been really enjoying oil painting again after going with natural oil instead of solvents.

I have passed this place many times near my home. This day the color struck me and I had to go back and grab the camera. Looking over a bridge gave a birds eye view. White sandstone cliffs in deep shadow contrast with the sky blue reflected in water.
A couple months ago I commented about my interest in acrylics on account of solvents and the hassle and health concerns. Lately I have been painting in oil again. This time I have replaced mineral spirits with vegetable oil. Aside from some adjustment in the way I used solvents, the oil has been a revelation! No more toxic fumes. I use cheap grocery soybean oil to clean brushes between colors and after painting with soap and water if they are going to sit for more than a couple of days. I still use a small amount of walnut oil and turp for painting with. Actually 1/3 triple distilled artist grade turp, 1/3 Damar and 1/3 Graham walnut  oil works great. Now instead of sloshing the vapors you only have the nice linseed oil smell. Its amazing how well the vegetable oil cleans the brush. I use two jars, one for the majority of cleaning and a second to remove the rest. Paper towels to wipe off excess. 
8 x 6" Oil on linen.

"Home on the Range" 9 x 12 Oil on linen.

6 x 8" Front Range Ranch. Acrylic on Linen.

"Sunday Morning" 8 x 12"
What a reward to get away and immerse oneself in the moment. I parked my truck last Spring and started walking the neighborhood in Manitou Colorado. I found cats in the window, dogs on the porch, and this beautiful scene on a steep street. If you live in Manitou there are very few places that are not located on the side of a hill. I love the old porch swing of this 1800's home. The cool gray sky was a great ground for 'juicy' color and nice contrasts!
I listed this on ebay tonight.

Playing with some different perspectives on these old homesteads in a beautiful valley west of Cripple Creek, near the town of Guffey CO.

This was a brutally cold day, I felt for this poor soul out in this. The wind was blowing hard and this structure provided a little shelter.

The more absorbed the more fluid.. sometimes that takes time for me, like a runner warming up for a race. This painting morphed a few times as the direction began to become apparent. Not a spontaneous painting, I worked to hopefully create atmosphere where one can stand there and smell the landscape.