100 plein air paintings in 100 days - #77/#78/#79/#80

#77 - "Afternoon on the Bow"
Original Oil 6x8"
For purchase info click here

Sorry I've been M.I.A., had some company in town. I'll post 4 today to make up for it.

10/07/08 (1pm)
I'd like to share a quote from American artist Bill Anton. He says, "Painting outside is essential to growth in an artist. The best artists always address their weaknesses and nothing points these out like working directly from life." (Boy have I confirmed that in the last 3 months.) He adds, "There is nothing better or more fun for the dedicated painter." I would agree with this, but one revision: it's fun when your painting's working.

Robert Genn's daughter Sara once said to me, "The crazy thing about painting plein air with a group of artists is that their mood is entirely dictated by what happens in the next 45 minutes." Indeed it is quite a challenge to stay cheerful and 'thrilled to be outdoors painting' when your painting is going down in a ball of flames. That said, it's the joy when you hit one out of the park that keeps you coming back!

#78 - "Summer Afternoon"
Original Oil 6x8"

10/07/08 (3:30pm)
This was painted directly after # 77, (on the shores of the Bow River) turned in the opposite direction. It was the effect of sun sparkling off of moving water that I was compelled to try and capture.


Note: the next two paintings are the only variance from the 6x8" size I have been using for the project, they are each 3x4". Bidding on them begins at $75.

#79 - "Fairholme in Shadow"
Original Oil 3x4"
For purchase info click here

10/07/ (5pm)
#79 and #80 were an exercise in speed painting. The challenge was to paint the same scene twice and get everything necessary down in 15-20 minutes. I really wanted to try this challenge and I only had one panel left with me, so I divided it in half and painted two paintings on it.

#80 - "Reverse Pattern"
Original Oil 3x4"
For purchase info click here

10/07/ (5:30pm)
What was so cool about this one was that there was a lot of afternoon cloud building up, and just as I finished #79, which had the foreground in light and the peaks in shadow, the light completely reversed, so I got to tackle a whole different story - super interesting!