Tranquil Summer

This is a commission piece that I just finished.  18.5x32 inches, Oil on Linen.

Winter Glisten

A small study, from a winter day on Hurricane Creek. 7.5x7.5". Oil on Linen.

Bear Creek in Winter

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.  11x11", Oil on Linen. 

Summer Forest

12x16", Oil on Linen.  This scene reminds me of the heady herbal sage-like perfume of the sun-warmed wild yarrow that scents the air in the late summer in the high desert chaparral and forest areas of Eastern Oregon.  It also reminds me of the cottontail rabbits that I almost always see when out painting in this area.  

Mountain Road

From a recent camping trip in the Hells Canyon Wilderness. 14x11", Oil on Linen.  Available at Holton's Gallery. 

Imnaha Canyon Morning

A small study painted near the Buckhorn area, on the Imnaha Canyon rim in the Hells Canyon Wilderness. The silence in a location like this is amazing, only the sounds of mountain bluebirds, a few crickets and bumblebees. The stars are dazzling with the total lack of light contamination. It seems little changed from the days when the Nez Perce roamed the area. Sightings: elk, bluebirds, a jackrabbit and a coyote pup.  6x4", Oil on Linen.  

The Crossing

A scene from last winter near Lostine, Oregon.  14x11", Oil on Linen. 

Snowy Hush

11x14", Oil on Linen. 

Winter Sunrise

14x9", Oil on Linen. 

Snow Dusting

16x9", Oil on Linen.  Private Collection.

Winter Stream

This little scene is one that I've attempted to paint several times. I like this one the best so far.  I love the challenge of painting snow scenes because there is no where to hide with design and interesting shapes. 9x9", Oil on Linen. Private Collection.

Winter Patterns

A new favorite.  14x11", Oil on Linen.  Private Collection. 

Spring Majesty

18x10", Oil on Linen. Available at Holton Studio Gallery.

Mountain Stream

Another view of the Lostine River on a smoky autumn afternoon.  Study 8x10", Oil on Linen.  

Wallowa Headwaters

My favorite study of the summer so far.  If I do a larger painting of this one, I will refine some of the shapes, but I'm really happy with the structure and movement of this one overall.  I guess I have to get used to saying autumn instead of summer because the weather has definitely turned the corner this week.  I may try one more angle on this setting before I move on to something else.  Study 10x8", Oil on Linen. 

Last Reach

The last reach of the day; the last reach of summer.  A beautiful evening at the lake and breezy enough for a light sail.  I did feel a little bit like a tourist painting the lake, but the sculptural forms of the mountains are so interesting to me in the last light of the day.  I wish there had been some clouds to break up the uniformity of the sky, but this way the slight shadow of the mountain on the atmosphere was visible.  Study 12x7", Oil on Linen.

Indian Summer

This is the narrow sliver of time when the snow has all melted from the mountains before it starts snowing again.  Painting this study was a little bit frustrating because I was trying a new canvas surface and the paint did not want to stick to it.  It was like trying to spread peanut butter on the top of jelly.  I persevered anyway though.  Study 12x7", Oil on slippery linen.  

Late August Wheat Harvest

I went out to paint a different georgic scene, some hay rolls I spotted the night before, but they had already been picked up before I arrived.  A short distance farther along the road, they were harvesting wheat and the bright red trucks and harvester surrounded by the glowing chaff cloud, the golden field, and the blue mountains, were too tempting to pass up. I usually avoid painting Chief Joseph Mountain because it is such a difficult shape to compose around, and because of its imposing size, and the fact that it seems to have a personality of its own, but today I couldn't resist.  Looking at it from the western end, it doesn't look like such a big lump rising straight out of the flat valley floor.  The truck drivers were very patient and friendly as they drove by.  Study 10x6", Oil on Linen. 

Evening Pond

The smoke was pretty thick yesterday evening when I painted this study, however the winds last evening blew a lot of it away so it is clearer today.  The sun near sunset yesterday was brilliant red from the dense smoke.  It was pretty, but it is nice to not be breathing so much of it today.  We have had at least one night of freezing temperatures and the maple trees have started to bronze already; autumn feels early this year, it isn't even September yet.  Study, 10x7", Oil on Linen.  

Sheep Pasture

I rushed the composition of this study in an effort to have time to capture the quickly changing light.  I'm hoping that my photo reference will be adequate to help recompose it later if I decide to make a painting of the scene.  I was standing on the side of the road in some very tall grass; tall enough that the seed tops of the grass tried to repaint my painting for me in the wind.  I don't think they liked the composition either.  There is also a stream in this scene that I didn't work into it that may be the missing balancing element.  The wind last night blew away much of this smoky atmosphere, so it is somewhat clearer today if I decide to paint this evening.  Study 10x7", Oil on Linen.