Yosemite in autumn

Last week Elke and I took a quick trip to Yosemite to take some photos of fall colors in the valley.  We weren't disappointed.  So, up next is a painting from that trip.  El Capitan from the Merced river.  I've been working on this for a few days, so not much to see....if you return in a week should see some yellows and golds...

thanks for coming by...and get to Yosemite if you can...it's always beautiful.  Mark

Hey...just 5 more minutes

Never did get the elk to look straight ahead again.  So....a slightly unfinished work.  Here it is.

Up next is Yosemite in autumn.

Answering a question...

I'm often asked, do you paint outside from live settings?  The fancy term is: Plein Air.  From the french impressionists of the 19th century who painted outdoors or in the "open air".  But I digress.  My answer is always the same...no, I do not paint plein air, but instead I paint from photos I take or clients take from live settings.  The reason is, as you might be able to guess, is my style and technique is to pay a lot of attention to details.  And these details take me on average 3-4 weeks to put on "the canvas".  So for my next painting I am doing something a little different...I'm creating a painting from 3 different photos I took in Yellowstone earlier this summer.  This painting has the purpose of expressing the difficulty I would have if I were to try to paint from a live setting....that being trying to keep things relatively still for a good amount of time.  I will be titling this painting something like, "hey just 5 more minutes".

As you can see this is early stage development.  The canvas on the right will be the profile of the elk that I am attempting to paint - almost completed.  Keeping the elk looking straight ahead is the chore!

La Noche - Cuenca, Ecuador

La Noche....night in Cuenca, Ecuador.  This painting brings back many fond memories....for me, my purpose for painting.  What fond memories do you have that should be memorialized in paint?
I have laid out my next painting...if I don't mess it up it will be kind of a humorous take on painting outdoors.  Please return in a few days to see where this is going.  Thanks for checking in....Mark

Cuenca New Cathedral

Cuenca , Ecuador is a city that Elke and I have taken a major liking to.  On one of our trips there I photographed what's known as the "New Cathedral".  Started in 1885 this beautiful cathedral who's real name is Cathedral of the Immaculate Reception was built to replace the "old Cathedral" which was started in 1567 and had become too small for the growing city.  These two cathedrals face each other standing opposite at either end of Parque Calderon.  Parque Calderon is the center of Cuenca in the historic district.  What excites me about this painting is the variety of colors that exist even though it is a night photograph.  On this particular trip we were there a couple of weeks before Christmas, so the parque was full of food booths which added additional light and colors.  It's great to do a painting that brings back fond memories...I've been working on it for about 10 days, and have another 10 or so to go...

Untitled

Just received the email with my photographer's digital image of the 3 pelicans.  Maybe I hadn't mentioned before, but every time I complete a painting prior to taking it in to get framed I have it photographed.  My photographer is also the person who does my Giclee prints.  So, anyhow, the photos of my work when they are completed are better then the ones I take with my cell and upload here while I am creating.  I'm having a hard time naming this finished painting, if you have a recommendation please pass it on...here you go...

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