Orange Ya Glad, Oil on Linen, 12x16

This time of year I should be painting snow scenes, but alas we have very little of that. There is another painting underneath this one of the exact same subject but mostly in beige and grey. It was painted in the late afternoon just as the clouds rolled in and grayed out any lighting effect worth painting.  As we were cleaning up, the setting sun popped out again giving everything a warm glow. I put a couple of color notes on the painting  and packed it away. The next day, I looked at the painting and the only thing I liked were the color notes, so I redid the painting on top of the grey and beige one incorporating the sunset colors throughout. 

Left Behind, Oil on Linen, 11x14

After a Spring and Summer of incredible floods, we just experienced the driest Fall on record. One of the results is that there is more exposed drift wood in the Mississippi River than I ever remember seeing. This time of year should be all about snow paintings. Last year at this time we had about 30 inches on the ground, which, by the way, also was a record. The little snow we've received so far has melted except on icy patches of rivers and lakes. 

Fog Lifting, 18x24, Oil on Linen

Details shot by Tom Shearer, Duluth, MN

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/tshearer/

Pepin Heights, Oil on Canvas, 11x14

(revised 12/27/11. 12-29-11

This canvas was started on location a few years ago. I don't remember why I never finished it. Not one to waste canvases on unfinished work, I got it out the other day to see what I could come up with working from memory and imagination. This is what I remember. I might have a bluff or two in the wrong place. So be it. This place probably does not exist in its natural state anymore. As I recall, it was all being parceled out for development.

Breeze in the Meadow, Oil on Linen, 16x12

Painted earlier this Fall, I finally got around to fixing a few minor details today. 

Sky paintings are a challenge because the subject is constantly moving and changing. I worked on the bottom of the painting until the clouds and light seemed to be about as interesting as they were going to get and then I attacked the sky with vigor. Afterwords, as I was cleaning up, the setting sun and sky put on another fantastic display but that will have to be painted from memory.

Textures of Autumn, Oil on Linen, 18x24

(revised 12-5, 12-14, 12-29-11, 1-3-12)
(FINAL repairs 2-23-12)

As you can see, I have returned to this painting quite a few times. It's kind of a testing ground for some new methods I am trying out. As I learn more, I add to the painting. At some point one needs to say it's done. It's Done. There, I said it.