Rocky Mountain High

Rocky Mountain Morning 8 x10 Oil on Plywood

We're just nicely back from a week long holiday in the Canadian Rockies with our kids.  Had a wonderful time snowshoeing and hiking in the mountains and sightseeing in the townsites of Banff and Canmore.  I only had one opportunity to paint outdoors and the result is above.  It was a nice morning but I discovered that it wasn't as warm as I thought it was after being out in the elements for awhile.  There was a pretty stiff wind blowing up the valley, maybe you can notice the shaky knife strokes in the painting attesting to my cold hands!  I plan on doing a few large canvases based on my experiences in those mountains, very inspiring for sure.

New en Plein Air painting

Warm February Afternoon    8 x 10      Oil on Board

I finally had some time and nice enough weather to get outside and paint, boy its been awhile since I've been able to do that!  Found a nice vantage point off of one of my favourite walking trails and painted to my hearts delight.  My long suffering dogs bunked down beside me and patiently waited for us to resume the walk I had promised them.

Crystal faieries

I am   Oil painting on canvas  30 x 60

My wife Crystal commented the other day while we were walking in a splendid landscape of hoar frost laden trees that she felt like she was being watched by tiny fairies hiding amongst the glittering trees and grasses.  I had to agree with her and that walk became the subject of this painting. The gold leaf doesn't show up very well in the photo but it does come alive in the sunlight!