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.

Sunset

Playing around with my paints again....

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

Thank you for looking!

Today's plein air painting.....

11" x 14"  oil 

I did some painting along Turnagain Arm, outside of Anchorage, Alaska today. 

 I'm getting happier with my outdoor painting efforts.  It's so much

different than indoor studio painting!!  I'll get it.....just keep practicing!!!

Thank you for looking!

Clouds on my mind again!

Clouds #2

5.5" x 14"  oil

I was very distracted by clouds all last summer.  Size, shapes, mood, color ~ I wanted to paint them,  take photos of them, describe them to people.  I found myself pointing them out to everyone...talking about it to you on my blog.  Then one day, as mysteriously as it came , the distraction quietly crept out of my mind, I don't know when.

Yesterday, it came back.

Last night I had a great view.  The wind was blowing and the clouds were moving and shifting, 

I gave it my best shot and painted a quick as I could.  I finished a couple small studies last night out in an open field.... then I went home, warmed up and went back to take a bunch of photos.

Clouds are so cool.

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  :)

Inlet view

Alaskan Inlet

In the summer this view is creek, grasslands and ocean with the mountains in the background.

Throughout the winter it turns to creek and silt-covered ice chunks....and mountains.

I was so fortunate to have this beautiful scenery in my backyard growing up.....my 

parents house.  I love being near the ocean.  

The sounds, the smells....the wonderful wind and the sight of it feels like home.

  My ongoing plein air experiment..... my parent's deck made for a great spot to try 

it out!  I can't wait till it's alive with color.  I'll try again when the ground comes to life.

Thank you for looking!

Turnagain Arm

This is my favorite road in the world.  I've never seen anything that has 

captured my heart as much as the Seward Highway, heading down Turnagain Arm.

Mountains and ocean together, and the road hugs the edge of where the mountains meet the water. 

It's a beautiful drive.

I'm not sure if anyone else can make out what I was painting, but I loved being out there

and this is what I saw when I painted along the roadside.