Mountain Pelicans

Well, it's been about a month since I last posted an update.  In that time I have torn up one painting and started another.  I was working on a painting from a photo I took at Stanford University, and after about a week I just wasn't getting the results I wanted...the painting was much better in my head.  So, I've changed course and am working on a painting from the photos I took in Yellowstone last month.  During my week in Yellowstone I took a hike one afternoon and discovered a lake outside the park that was very interesting.  Due to a huge earthquake in 1959 a lake was formed where a river was dammed up due to a huge landslide caused by the quake.  Over the years this lake has had hundreds of trees die along the shores.  Prior to the earthquake these trees were thriving along the banks of a river.  After the quake these trees found them selves in 5, 10, 15 feet of water.  Thus they died.  But the good news...because of all the sangs and hidden logs nobody fishes in this area, and the wildlife is fantastic.  I returned to this spot 2 more times while I was there just to sit and watch nature...a spiritual experience.  Each time I was there there were 3 white pelicans paddling in the water on the far side of this narrow lake.  This painting is these three pelicans.  The beauty of this painting is not just the pelicans, but the reflections of the numerous trees in the dead still waters.  This painting is very detailed, as I am wanting to depict each tree, each branch, and then each reflection.  I've been at this painting for almost 2 weeks, and as you can see it's a ways from completion.  I've been working my way across the top of this painting from left to right.  I should finish this top portion in 2-3 days, then the reflected water should be less tedious and hopefully finished in about 10 days....here you go.

By the way, I will get back to the Stanford painting.  My previous painting on this blog, the flamingos was a similar situation.  About a year ago I attempted that painting and couldn't get it right.  A year later better results.  Thanks for coming by, Mark

A Stand of Flamingos

Here you go, painting completed.  Next up...an interesting photo I took of some pelicans in the distance on a wooded pond.

Flamingos

I love painting birds.  A couple of years ago I was at the San Francisco Zoo with my camera.  There was a group of flamingos all huddled together trying to ignore me.  Well, that didn't matter, and in fact with all their heads down except for one, that made for some interesting photos.  Just started this painting two days ago.  Long way to go on this one.  There is some very dramatic and colorful feathering on a couple of these birds...so please return in a week or so to see the changes.  By the way what do you call a "bunch of flamingos"?

A bunch of flamingos is called a "stand"....here's an updated photo...one more week to completion.

Vintage Touring

Just completed the vintage tour bus and landscape.  This was a very fun painting to take on.  In fact I just couldn't put down my brushes yesterday...it turned into 12:30 this morning.  I wasn't done at the hour or should I say the painting wasn't done, but I was.  Anyhow I just really enjoyed the precision of the bus, combined with the looser mountains and landscape.  Not sure if I mentioned in previous post, but this painting is a combination of 2 photos I took.  The bus, and the mountain landscape.
Here you go....

Bus slightly moved, almost complete

Well I'm almost done with the bus.  I moved it up and to the right by a couple of inches - made a big difference in the balance of what will be painted next....mainly the middle background and trees on the left.  I really enjoy the details in painting this vintage auto.  The chrome, the headlights, the grill....lots of fun.  Alright I'm off to finish this bus and move on to background.  Have a great day!  Mark

Yellowstone Yellow Bus

While on my photography excursion to Yellowstone a couple of weeks ago, I crossed paths with a vintage yellow tour bus - so I snapped a couple of photos.  These buses, 8 of them, have been restored.  They originally ran in the park from the 1930's to the 1950's.  The White Motor Company created these buses originally modeled after their 1936 convertible limousine.  Yes, the buses are convertible. 

Anyhow, because I think these are very cool looking, and are such a great contrast to the beauty that surrounds them, they have to be painted.  So, here you go....some of the background is complete, and you'll notice I have penciled in the bus.  I don't like where I have located the bus, so check back in a few days to see where I slightly move it....

Thanks for checking in...Mark

Yellowstone National Park

Who out there has been to Yellowstone Park?  I hadn't been since I was about 8 years old...I remembered nothing.  So last week I flew to Montana to spend the week taking photos in both Yellowstone and also down to Grand Teton National Park.  My hope was to get some painting worthy photos.  Yellowstone is one of those places where if you trip and trigger your camera you'll still get a great photo.

For me, since I'm not a big fan of crowds, I got up real early each day and drove to my photography locations arriving before sunrise.  The idea being to give myself the best chance at seeing wildlife at the breakfast hour.  It worked.  When I arrived home a few days ago and uploaded my photos one of the first photos I took was in the Hayden Valley in Yellowstone at about 5am.  The sun was about a half hour from showing up, but the light was fantastic, and everything was in silhouette.  So, it's my first painting from the trip.  This painting is about as simple as a painting gets for me.  Again because the landscape and trees were in silhouette there is very little minute detail.  Basically the sky was the tricky part.  So, here you go....

Up next...another Yellowstone / Teton subject.  Thanks for checking in....if you have the time - go see Yellowstone!  Mark