Trees around Palisade have begun to get better color setting in. I am thinking that the bigger (autumn) painting ought to be an afternoon scene. Less Palisade light due to sun’s orientation, but lots of purple shadow to set off warm leaves. Challenge will be tree grouping – construction in foreground – disguise with leave drop. "October Glow" 40×32 oil on board SOLD Painted lone autumn tree last. "Autumn Tree" 7×8 oil on board SOLD
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I have been back several times into the Utah Canyon. There are so many views. So many gnarled trees and rocks. It looks like a garden of the gods. I spent a magical sunset tonight! Everything was cast with an amber orange dominate tint. Fiery Clouds – got some great photo reference. "Ambers of Autumn" 32×40 oil on board SOLD
Bright sunny morning for a ride. Took lots of shots. A friend of Lee’s, Aimee Waters went with me. We found a petroglyph rock along the trail. I could spend hours looking for these things. A nice deer and snake. I imagine that this valley is filled with drawings. We went to an old school house, then all the way back to the trails end. So
remote, beautiful views at every turn. Now my second trip, I am energized by Gateway. It is so inspiring. I cannot believe that someone has dropped me into this canyon – and I get to paint whatever hits me. I have offered the property right of first refusal on the sketches that I paint on these research trips. TAG has indicated that he wants them all. Needless to say, that adds to the excitement each time you set up to paint. Like Taos or Santa Fe, this could be a significant place for artists to pour out “the love” of painting from life. Aimee has gone back and I have stayed on to paint the old school house. (journal drawing) Great subject with Autumn stand of trees, but, I like this view but I will loose the lighting. So I will paint something with some red rocks in background. Flat light today. Color is leaves are brighter back in the canyon. Started one piece, too flat, so I shelved it. Will check photos to see if it can be fixed. "Gateway Seasons" 9×12 oil on board SOLD Wow there are some great leaves. The plateaus are so blue due to cloud cover. There are some good colors in the sky, even at midday. Oh ya, saw a bear this morning! Clouds have given way. This is a trip of sunsets! I have seen some good ones. Sublime view – dark shadows – direct lighting on trees – wood is white – silvery highlighting. Could be a nice view, especially if you pumped in the reds of last light. “Sublime” is to evoke the full spectrum of human feeling and emotion, from fear, to elation and peace. It is important to celebrate the untouched look of this landscape; lone and dreary, stormy, turbulent, illuminated and magical. Sunset is as much a feeling as a visual experience. So fleeting… After the first flop of the day I was not sure I could get a good painting today. The silver light kept me going, and I am so glad as I really like the feel of this sketch. "Autumn Grandeur" 6×12 oil on board SOLD It has those turning leaves, the sky was really moving – thought it was going to rain. (titled painting) The river has like no paint on it – I love when that happens. Painted a sketch for Fall Fest Festival (journal drawing) It sold. Lee Bowden grabbed me (General Manager) and we took an awesome 4 wheel ride. We chased the sunset back into Utah. The colors in this country are fantastic, 6-8 minutes of a land on fire! I was so taken by what I saw that I did a memory painting back in the room 9 digital camera helps give clues). I was really happy how it turned out. "Chasing a Sunset" 6×12 oil on board SOLD
Going back into Utah tomorrow as Lee has given me the 4w to use. Drove back into Utah. The canyon light is spectacular! Did a painting this evening that I really like now (I thought it was not going so well, as I had to paint it so fast). When I got back to the room I was surprised (helps not to critique a painting in the dark). (fig 9 “Evening Colors”) "Evening Colors" 8×10 oil on board SOLD
Backtracked up Unaweep Canyon – spectacular – more color than I have ever seen! Purples blending to reds. Classic golden cottonwoods. They are so on, fully turned, and no drop of leaves. Spent the day just shooting color. Love this scene! "Autumn in the Unaweep" 32x40 oil on board SOLD
Early mornings are the best way to start at Gateway. I drove in late last night, so I could not see anything. I was pleasantly surprised by the color in the trees. A fair amount of gold, and green hanging on. I like when a single tree has a mix – turning from green at the bottom, to gold at the top. "Autumn Palisade" 7×8 oil on board SOLD
The gold makes the sky so blue! |
Dix Baines“I am drawn to the things which speak to the senses; the light and atmosphere of landscapes, the impressions of a moment or place, and the spirit of nature and of people. It is important to me to strive as an artist to paint a variety of subjects and to paint each equally well. I paint often on location, or from life. Whether researching sporting life images, landscapes, or places from abroad, painting directly from the subject is essential to capturing the impression of what I see.” -DIX BAINES Archives
November 2016
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