Descending Ashtray

8″ x 13″

Oil on panel

The painting is of a place in Zion National Park in Southern Utah. The park was absolutely beautiful. I actually climbed out to the peak in the center of the painting. It was a crazy hike, with 2,000 ft. drop offs on either side of the trail. One the most amazing places I have ever been to!

I have been working on this painting on and off for a couple of days. And I am kind of developing a love/hate relationship with it. On one side I am really happy with where it is going (it is still a work in progress), on the other side I feel rather lost in the detail. I need to find more clarity and unity within the painting. I am going to work on it some more. I just wanted to post it to maybe get a fresh perspective on it.

This is a field easel I have been working on. I attached the camera mount piece to the wood easel. It clips in and out of the tripod very easily. The idea was to make it as simple and light weight as possible, yet sturdy enough to handle a canvas that is 21″ high.

Everything folds up small enough to fit in a backpack or bike bag. Very cheap too. I could probably make all the components to attach to any tripod for $30.

8″ x 13″

Oil on panel

8″ x 13″

Oil on masonite panel

This is a painting study from memory. I was driving home yesterday evening and saw the most interesting sky. There were some low hanging dark clouds and the sun was dropping almost to the edge. The contrast between the clouds and the sun created a bar of light. It is hard to describe and even paint but this is my attempt. Nature still proves to be more awe inspiring!

(I invented the field. I wanted something more peaceful then the junky stores and traffic of Army Post rd.)

13″ x 21″

Oil on Canvas

This is a painting I have been working on this week. It is inspired by photograph that my friend Ryan O’meara took of a landscape in Aruba. I was really drawn to the trunk of the tree. I like the way it is so twisted and spiraling around itself. Ryan said the tree had grown this way from the constant coastal wind blowing in one direction.

(After)

This is the same painting after I changed the sky. Can you tell the difference? Do you think it is better then before?

(Before)