Green Light

12" x 12"  oil

Winter......cold......slush.......traffic......

Right about now,  I'm looking forward to spring, and this painting 

gives me no comfort. I can hold onto that bit of sunshine on the side of the semi, 

mentally soak it in and feel the warmth....or not.

Just trying some new ways of putting color down, and keeping myself 

from zeroing in on little details. 

Sheltered

"Sheltered"

8" x 24"  oil 

A parked train down at the ship yard, downtown Anchorage.

The abandoned buildings, parked trains, big old trucks... they are so cool down there!

This will be a great place for plein air painting this spring.  

This train and it's huge black tanks, was gorgeous. 

I'm learning the art of not explaining so much and letting the viewer finish the details.

I have a real habit of trying to say and show everything....

In art and in life.... less is more.  

Thank you for looking!

Line Up

"Line Up" 

16" x 40"  oil

I love city paintings.  I like the idea of trying to create a beautiful painting from the ordinary.....maybe finding a visual eyesore around town, and using it as my subject.  What if I could create something beautiful from something not so wonderful?

 This is a first of what I hope to be a new series of paintings.   

I do love rusty metal things...I have seen some beautiful con-ex containers around town....faded, sun damaged colors...rusty hinges and seams.  Ahhh....kinda amazing really.  A little graffiti and I'm in heaven.  So there, now you know my new mission!

Thank you for looking!  

Tuesday night life drawing sessions....

This is a drawing from last night's session.  Fun evening with a nice group of artists!

Tuesday nights there is a open life drawing session downtown Anchorage, AK.

We meet at 6:30pm and draw until 8:30pm. Come and draw with us! 

AT.... International Gallery, 427 D St.  

Tuesday nights 6:30 - 8:30pm

We would love to see you there, no expertise required, all levels welcome, bring $15 and your own materials. (If more than 5 people attend, the fee goes down to $10!) (UAA students only have to pay $5!) Please try to arrive before we start. See you there!

1970's motocross boots!

Okay....I'm showing you paintings from the past year, give the blog something to look at while I experiment on paintings in my studio.

These are some seriously great boots!  Do you know what attracted me to them?  Yes....the metal shin guards and metal buckles.  Tarnished metal, paired up with old worn leather......it just doesn't get any better than this!  Kinda has a Mad Max flavor don't you think? 

I have a painting in mind for these, but this was a fun warm up for something else down the line.

"Old Flame"

"Old Flame"  

oil painting by Marianne Elson

I painted this vintage blow torch a while back.  I love old metal stuff!  I don't know why.... I just gravitate towards it....a moth to a flame.  If I was in an antique store, and on the shelf in front of me was something metallic and rusty.....and right next to it, was an intricate porcelain vase.  I would zero right in on the metal thingy.  I'd have it in my hands in no time.  Why is that?  What is it about old chrome...rusty tools....and tarnished silver that lights my heart on fire?  I have a small collection of old blow torches....I don't know why.  I just love them.  I love the smell, the touch...the sight, and they don't need to be in great shape....I actually prefer that whatever it is...is old and dented.  It needs to wear it's history.  

Secretly....if I walked into some old farmers garage or barn, my head would spin.  I'd be trying to take it all in at once.  That's an idea!  What if I took my oil paints and easel..... planted myself in some guys old garage and painted for a whole weekend...drag a bunch of canvases with me.....eat out of pizza boxes, Chinese take out and just paint any metal car part, old bike wheel, old metal springs...any treasure I laid my eyes on!  That sounds like heaven to me....

On the flip side.....I have a real thing for polished chrome too.  Old cars, motorcycles and trucks....chrome bumpers, dash gauges, door handles, light assemblies...trim.  LOVE IT.

And don't get me going on vintage toasters and kitchen appliances......  Okay, enough!  I'll stop.  

I could go on and on, but I will show some restraint.