Sunset on Mt. Rainier

"Sunset on Mt. Rainier"

8" x 18" (estimated)

I'm on a trip and painting.  I have a glorious view of Mt. Rainier from my deck.

a few days ago..... the clouds moved and I saw it standing there....kinda blew my mind!  I had no idea it was there.  I was so focused on the view of Seattle from across the water.  

Sunset was minutes away.

I scrambled...got set up and then....tried to keep up... with the ever changing colors!  Right when I thought..."This is amazing!  I'm sticking with these colors and slamming it in" then the sun would inch a little further down.....and the pinks started glowing in front of me!  I switched gears...mixed the color I saw and just frosted it on over top....haha. I didn't want it to smear in and make mud.  Sometimes a girl needs a pallet knife to lay it on thick :)

I'm happy with this one.  I'm happy with this whole painting trip!  I have met the kindest people here....so giving and friendly....most feel like old friends that I've gotten back in touch with.

What a nice surprise!  And...I feel my artwork is about to change a bit.

Feels like a pivotal moment for my paintings......I've learned some things that I really needed 

from an artist here on the island, Darrell Anderson.  

(pick on his name...it will lead you to his blog and more information on him and his beautiful artwork)

I thought the plan was to come here and be alone with my thoughts...and just quietly paint.

But.... not the case.  I now know I came here to meet new friends... and feed my mind/ heart with new information for my paintings.  I love when life pulls me where I'm supposed to go.  I don't like making ALL the decisions.  Just point me in the right direction and surprise me!

Thank you for looking ....and reading, lol.

Choices....

6" x 8" oil

I was out in my studio cleaning up yesterday, and I found this painting. The painting below.....in the post before today's, I was painting a sunset on my porch.  Well, after I was done and having a cup of coffee inside my warm kitchen......the last burst of the sunset was lighting the sky on fire.  I looked out the window and it had gotten crazy beautiful!

How could I stand there and drink coffee while a gift was being presented to me?  My set up was all still sitting there......I thought I might have about 5 minutes of that color,  so I got back out there and quickly captured my impression of what I saw.

It's always a choice.  Should I enjoy the beauty in a quiet way, just look, breath...soak it into my mind.

Or.....should I climb inside the beauty...feel it....express it the best I can?  

That's a tough choice.....but I love these little moments.  I had no idea I would be asked to make the choice when my guard was down and sipping my coffee!  and that's how life is....I love it.

That day I asked the universe......"show me how to paint it!"

I'll sit and soak it in peacefully another day :)

First post of the new year......

I set up my painting box on my deck railing....I'm still trying to get comfortable with moving my painting supplies around.  So here I am painting out side but only a few feet away from my studio.  I'll get there....I just can't seem to find a box that is lightweight, fits on a tripod and I can paint small or up to 16" x 20".  This is a great set up for larger paintings, but this Guerrilla painting box is big and heavy.

I want a set up I can travel with....like airports and fits in my luggage kind of traveling.

So, we'll see.  Anyways this was at about 3:00 to 4:00pm in Anchorage, Alaska.  You can see the sun is getting low and by the end of the painting...I'm catching the sun setting.  This time of year it happens fast.  I took pictures and called it quits...but at 4:15 to 4:30 the sky was on fire and the colors were out of this world.... next time.  Today I just stared, awestruck.  As my sister told me the other day....sunsets are God's paintings.  And today that thought came to mind.

Here's my finished painting.  I'm happy.  

I think I'm making some headway on these 

outdoor paintings!

Thank you for looking and reading. 

Alaska sunset

Alaskan Sunset

6" x 6"  oil

We had a beautiful, clear day here in Anchorage, Alaska.

 I knew I wanted to try painting the sunset today, but it was pretty cold..... -5.

This sunset was happening at about 3:45. 

  

So I set up in my yard....close to the house where I could zip inside and 

warm up by my wood stove.  This was quick, but fun.  I like painting outside, maybe next time it will be warmer.

Thank you for looking!  :)

Sunset

Playing around with my paints again....

I still haven't found it, but I'm getting closer.

Thank you for looking!

Sunset

"Sunset"

11" x 14"  oil

Sunset Downtown

"Sunset Downtown" 

24" x 24"  oil

Inlet sunset

Inlet Sunset

I painted this a few nights ago....on my parents deck. 

 They have an amazing view 

and we've been having beautiful clear skies.

The sunset was great!

I gotta say....I'm really loving this painting outside thing!

I've been painting in my studio for years,

funny how I didn't think of this earlier  :)