Algid and Aloft

"Algid and Aloft"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
I think this is how it would look from the cockpit of a Cessna 172 around 5:13 in the morning as I approach my favorite airport in Colorado. It's a dream, of course, I would never fly a Cessna — at that time of day!  

 I found a little number 2 shader brush in my stash of about 600 brushes that just loves to paint mountains. You may see more of them underneath my skies in the future.

Carol

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Wake Up!

"Wake Up!"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
We had taken turns slipping in and  out of the insanity required to drive through the night. Dawn broke part-way into my shift, and there it was in the distance—the front range. It was no longer dark. No longer the plains. No longer time to be quiet. This had to be shared. "Wake up and get a load of this!" I said to my companion. 

 I love to paint skies. I've done enough of them now to not dread whipping one out on a night when what I'm working on isn't ready to post. Tonight was such a night.

Carol

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The Maroon Bells

"The Maroon Bells"
30" x 38"
Oil on Hardboard
Unless there are changes from my clients, this will be the final posting of The Maroon Bells, two of the "fourteeners" in Colorado. It's been fun to show you the progress as I've painted this piece for them. Thank you for your comments throughout the process. 

Carol

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Work in progress

Work in progress
30" x 38"
oil on hardboard
The Maroon Bells commission piece is progressing nicely.  It's useful to photograph it and look at it in miniature, like this, from time to time, too.  I see things when it's down small that would otherwise be missed.  I also drop the colour, too, so it's shades of grey—useful in checking the values—lights and darks. 

 Carol

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Snow on the Peak

"Snow on the Peak"
16" x 20"
Oil on hardboard
I was in Colorado in September a year ago when we wakened to snow on the Peak.  Pikes Peak acts as an indicator, a harbinger of sorts, to announce the arrival of autumn. 

I was also there in October when I took the photo that inspired this painting. I love the colors of Colorado in the fall. Green is kept to a minimum and I get to squeeze colors from tubes I seldom use in Illinois landscapes, or roses.

Carol

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The Maroon Bells

"The Maroon Bells"
16" x 20"
Acrylic on stretched canvas
It was September, the aspens had changed their green coinage for gold.  The sun zapped orange at the tips of The Maroon Bells and the shadows responded appropriately in an array of violets and purple.  

This is a knife painting I cobbled from a stack of autumn photos of The Maroon Bells peaks in Colorado.  It was a larger painting than I'm used to doing with a knife, but enjoyable.

Carol

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Majesty

"Majesty"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
The sun nestled into a bank of clouds, upstaging the mountains, and snuggled in the downy fluff like a kitten in a basket of tangerine yarn. 

Here's another in my series of skies. I cobbled this one from several photos in my files.  While I still have paint on my tiny Styrofoam plate, I'll probably make one other one to post tomorrow night. I love making them.  Can you tell?  

Carol

Alpenglow

"Alpenglow"
8" x 10" 
Oil on wrapped canvas

When the sun is just below the horizon, a horizontal red glowing band can sometimes be observed on the opposite horizon. Alpenglow is easiest to observe when mountains are illuminated but can also be observed when the sky is illuminated through backscattering, according to Wikipedia. 

This is at Devil's Thumb Resort where I stayed in Colorado.  I was fascinated with the pink light cast back on the mountains after the sun had set.

Carol


Colorado Moon #2

"Colorado Moon #2"
4" x 16"
Watercolor on Arches
The moon shone over the foothills of the Rockies that morning with little regard for the sun. Miss Moon hung provocatively over promontories and points, then sauntered off stage to her... west.  


The two Colorado Moon paintings were commissioned.

Make sure you enter my contest to win one of three 12" x 12" rose paintings. "Burgeoning" sold at auction tonight, sorry.  I hope that doesn't deter you.  See July 8ths post for details.

Carol

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Colorado Moon

"Colorado Moon"
4" x 16"
Watercolor on Arches
It was daylight, yet the moon shone  like an opal, having dominion over towering peaks and valleys alike. 


The question arose after yesterday's post.  What is Arches?   D'Arches or Arches, in "art speak," is the benchmark watercolor paper.  It's handmade, French paper consisting of 100% cotton fiber, and made in three textures: rough, cold pressed (some tooth) or hot pressed (smooth).  It also comes in different weights: 90#, 140#, 300# and 450#.  Pound weight is based on the weight of 100 sheets of 22" x 30" paper. The thinner sheets weigh only 90 pounds, and so on.  


Carol


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Near Devil's Thumb

"Near Devil's Thumb"
6" x 6"
Oil on sheet canvas
Near Devil's Thumb resort is a creek that reflected the sky with passionate resolve. I suppose the fact that the sky cooperated fully in the creek's amusement helped. 


This was done from a compilation of memories—color, edges, texture, shapes and the essence of place. It is different from my photographed pieces in that it was done entirely from the heart, almost like plein air.

I'm happy you stopped by today. Really, I am.
Carol

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Pikes Peak Morning

"Pikes Peak Morning"
8" x 10"
Oil on wrapped canvas
From the overlook near Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs is a view across many miles of uncluttered terrain that begins with scrub oaks, through pine trees, rock outcroppings and the foothills leading up to Pikes Peak.  It's free for the stopping.

This is a study for a larger painting.  I have collected many images of this view, and hope to do it justice some time soon.

This small piece can be purchased on Dailypaintworks.com.

Thank you,
Carol

Colorado Stream

"Colorado Stream"
14" x 11"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas






















I had chased this little stream with my eyes as we drove toward Rocky Mountain National Park. I wasn't about to get out of the car to traipse around the countryside to document it.  But suddenly the road came close enough, and I leaped out and shot a dozen or so.  

That sounded like I was moose hunting, didn't it?  Well, actually I was.  Not with a gun, but my point and shoot camera. Just down stream from here, on the way back I did find a moose.  She was grazing with her calf.  I have it cropped and ready to paint, but haven't begun yet.

This piece is in my gallery on Dailypaintworks.  It's also for sale on their auction site.

Thank you for wading in to say hi.
Carol