What Inspires You?

Here is the first painting I ever sold in a gallery. It's a painting of some local kids playing ball on a field in Mexico. Baseball is something that inspires me, and I try to paint what inspires me rather than what I think people will buy. So what inspires you?

Happy Labor Day!

I'm very grateful for a "fruitful" Labor Day weekend spent with family and friends, with time leftover to paint.

Occasionally I'll paint a smaller plein air painting or quick studio study to test a subject matter, and if successful move to a larger canvas. This one was the exact opposite. I started large, and was not happy with the piece, and put it aside for about 2 years. Recently I started it up again on a smaller canvas and was pleased with the progress, and ultimately the finished piece. It just goes to show how important spontaneity and timing is in art. Although developing certain habits and practices are important, it's important for me to not become too formulaic or predictable in my approach.

Oldie but Goodie

I don't have anything new to show, but here's an older painting that still holds up to my new work. It's a painting of the Wenatchee river in Leavenworth, Washington. I hope to get back in the studio over the long weekend, hopefully I'll have some new work to show!

Good Day for a Hurricane

Being still relatively new to the region, I'm really unsure of what to expect when Irene hits us. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time, as I've always loved a good storm. Here's hoping that everyone makes it through this safely, and that we all have lots of inspiring skies to paint when it passes!

Reclamation Project

Here is a painting I decided to paint over. My wife curses me when I do this, but I'm tired of looking at it. Although I was happy with it when I completed it, my current work is so much better. Plus, it's a giant canvas and I have a great painting in mind for it!

Starving Artist

In an effort to minimize the starving part, I took on a new job. The flip-side of course is less time to paint. The balancing act became too difficult, and a great job opportunity was too hard to pass up. The job is actually more artful than many of my past design jobs, so hopefully it keeps me inspired.

I do look forward to painting outdoors more once it cools down, and still painting whenever possible. Above is a painting I did a few years ago, entitled "Willows on Water".

Yellowstone

Here is a painting that I had considered painting over until I was talked out of it. I had a great painting in mind for it, but I guess I need to start buying more canvases instead of painting over everything!