Gold Leaf

Working with gold is such a joy. Several years ago I began gold leafing frames for myself, some artist friends and customers. While the demand isn't what it used to be, I still do some from time to time. Recently there has been a little ralley and I've had the opportunity to get into it again.

Gilding with gold dates back to the begining of time. My experience has largely been applying gold leaf to frames and an occasionally on glass or mirrors. Last year I did a mirror with some sandblasting, handlettering and gold leafing. I really enjoyed doing it and was pleased with the result.

With that in mind, I am planning on doing more gold work, primarily on glass and mirrors. I am starting a project doing monograms in gold on glass. My first one will be the letter "S" which is appropriate because it is my initial and also the initial for the name of my studio. Current plan is to gild the letter in gold in a reverse glass method  (which is nothing more than doing it in reverse on the back of the glass) and outline it in black. Clean, simple and elegant. Ultimately I would like to do each letter of the alphabet with each letter in a different font. The size I am going to work with is a 12" square piece of glass with each letter appropriately placed.

Although the first letter will be simple, I will gradually increase the complexity of the letters not only in design but also with sandblasting, glue chipping and inlaying with mother of pearl and or abalone shell.

Should be fun. I'll keep you posted.

Another Desert Sunset

This was a quickie. Although done in the studio from a photo, I painted it as I would've if I had been on location. It is a scene near Wickenburg, AZ. I spent some time down that way a couple of years ago and did a number of plein air paintings while there.

Quick, sure, brush strokes and heavier paint application makes for a fun little oil painting. Just tried to capture the essence of the evening light which I think I did.

This painting is for sale in my studio.

Desert Sunset

This is a painting fresh off of the easel of a view from the Cameron Trading Post on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona overlooking the Little Colorado River not far from the east entrance to the Grand Canyon. There is a wonderful dining room at the trading post that has a beutiful collection of Navajo rugs on the walls. The early evening light just at sundown was spectacular giving everything a warm glow. The orange light was contrast beautifully with the cooler long shadows cast across the desert landscape.

The painting was done on a linen panel that was first toned with a warm burnt sienna wash. The rest of the colors were painted over this wash with the warm tone of the burnt sienna coming through the thin transparent shadow washes. Heavier paint was used on the bright highlights. I just love the effect of the cool transparent darks.

The painting is for sale in my studio.

Evening Light

You know, it's hard to think of a better place to be than the Colorado High Country in the summer. I came across this beautiful scene one day after spending most of the day painting north of Crested Butte along Rock Creek. We were on our way out of the area and the sun was getting low and as we rounded the curve in the road there it was. In one of those sudden panic stops that are common to artists and photographers, I stopped, jumped out and did a quick painting to capture the light. Using that sketch and a photo I took for reference I did this little studio painting yesterday. I really enjoyed doing it as it took me back to a fine summer's day.

This 8x10 painting is available from my studio. Contact me if you are interested.

Taos Pueblo

Here is another little 6x8 oil of some adobe dwellings in the Old Taos Pueblo in New Mexico. The pueblo is a really neat place to wander around and see how the natives to the area live.

I really like the almost abstract quality of the shapes of these adobes.

This little painting is available from my studio. Contact me if you are interested.

Russian Sage

Here is another little 6x8 oil painting fresh off of the easel of some Russian Sage outside a gate in an adobe wall. I did this painting from a photo I took while strolling the back streets and alleys in Santa Fe in the Land of Enchantment. The Russian Sageis a light whispy type of shrub with soft, delicate lavender flowers and silvery green leaves. I call these paintings my little gems. This painting is available from my studio. Contact me if you are interested.

Hollyhocks on the Corner

One of the most relaxing and enjoyable activities I know is to casually stroll the back streets and alleys just off of Canyon Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico on a fine summers day. Around every corner is a visual treat of flowers and adobe architecture. Take your time. Enjoy the experience.

The rich adobe color of this wall, the warm noonday sunlight the cool shadows make for a perfect setting for these Hollyhocks. In the background is a gate in an adobe wall that is trimmed in the iconic blue/tourquois color said to ward off evil spirits. New Mexico is truely the land of enchantment.

This little 6x8 oil was painted is SOLD! Actually my wife really liked it so I gave it her for our 30th wedding anniversary.

Entrada

This little oil I just did is of an entrance "entrada" into the courtyard of an adobe residence just off of Canyon Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is typical of the doorways and entrances in the adobe, southwest style architecture found in the whole Southwest region of the United States. The blue or tourquois paint is used to ward off evil spirits. You see it on the doorway and window trim all over the area. Potted geraniums are also popular and are one of my favorites. This little 8x6 oil painting is available at my studio. Contact if you are interested in it.

Desert Longhorn

This is a little 6x8 oil I just finished. I have been trying to get various effects of light with thin washes of paint. Sometimes I use that in just a portion of the painting contrasting the effect with heavier applications of paint on the main subject such as in the last painting I posted. This painting however is nearly all washes. Through the use of this technique and the warm/hot colors I was able to achieve the effect of a hot sunny afternoon out on an open desert landscape. The silhouette of the longhorn steer and the ground are rather sketchy and blurry helping to develope the effect of light.

This painting has SOLD. Thanks Mark!!

Red Shirt II

This little 6x8 oil is a companion piece to the vertical painting I did a few posts below. It is the same cowboy on the same horse. Placing the horse and rider against the backlit hazy/misty background gave me an opportunity to use the nice blue grey of the horse, the red shirt and the body of the rider as a silhouette thereby creating a effect of light. I purposely left the landscape, foreground and distance somewhat sketchy as it is all secondary information and supports the focus on the horse and rider.

this painting is for sale at auction. You can go here for more information.