Spring Hay, Draped

Spring Hay, Draped,  oil on gessoboard,  6 x 6", 
$150, Ready to frame,  free shipping

Spring Willows

Spring Willows,  oil on board,  6x8",  $200 

ready to frame, free shipping

Spring Hay

   The greening of the landscape this time of year is a discovery for me.  The colors of winter in Montana were very different from Maine.  All winter the muted colors of the landscape were livened up with those yellow orange trees that I still have not been able to identify. (A species of willow?  Too wide to be cottonwoods.  I'm asking around and will find out soon. ) The willows along creeks were pink red orange magenta depending on the light.  Winter fields were ochre straw beige or white with snow.  And all these contrasted with the black shapes of the angus cows, blue mountains, pink mountains with snow at sunset.
      But now spring.  The black angus shapes now have smaller versions among them - calves!   Fields are becoming yellow green. Those red willows are turning yellow-ochre green.  The bare cottonwoods are now leafing out with yellow beigey green of the newly budding leaves.  The light is different, too.  I have to get up very early or be out there between 8 and 9 in the evening to get those long shadows I like.  At these high altitudes - nearly a mile high - the mid day light blows out any shadows and color saturation disappears.  There is usually a haze in the atmosphere but it's not air pollution.  The air is clean here and it's too early for forest fires.  I'm appreciating those days with scudding clouds that give shadow and contrast to the landforms below them.

                                           Spring Hay - Blue,  oil on board, 6 x 6"
                                                 $150,  free shipping ready to frame.

Wow!

I am thrilled that the 30 Paintings in 30 Days project was such a success.   Of the 31 paintings I posted  29 have sold,  plus two more sold in the show at the Lewis & Clark Library.  I was able to write a check to Prickly Pear Land Trust for $700.  
I thoroughly enjoyed the month and now that it's over feel like I have all this time on my hands.  It was a busy month.  But,  onward.   I'll spend the next few weeks working on some large oils for the landscape show at Mary Tomas Gallery in Dallas.  The show opens April 4th.  Here are a couple just finished.  

 Landforms,  oil on canvas, 24 x 48"

Grainfields, oil on canvas, 24 x 48"

Final 30 in 30 Painting

This is the last painting in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days series to Benefit Prickly Pear Trust. 

 The remaining paintings will be for sale at this special price of $100 through the weekend only.  

25 Paintings have sold!  Thank you all!

Into the Light #3,  pastel on board,  6 x 6"

$100,  ready to frame,  free shipping

30!

This is not the final painting!  I will post one more since I removed the abstract painting that I posted early in this process.  So, to have an even 30 Montana landscapes I will post the last one in the next day or so.  Stay tuned!

Winter Cottonwoods, pastel, 5 x 7"

$100,  ready to frame, free shipping

#29 - Almost There!

Day 29 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  I'll post one more tomorrow. 

 I have thoroughly enjoyed this venture for so many reasons.  First, it has served to focus my painting. The painting has to be done and posted daily.  It hast to be small.  It will be either oil or pastel.  It will be a Montana subject and if possible, the Helena area and if possible an area that Prickly Pear Land Trust has acquired or is working on acquiring for public use.  These  parameters lighten the load of decisions I have to make each morning in my studio and makes it easier to get to work.

   In addition,  it's been fun to post them and get immediate feedback from  people seeing them on Facebook, Daily Paintworks, my blog and website.  I've enjoyed meeting new friends and feeling a shared value of these beautiful locations.  I feel more in touch with other people in the Helena area who are actively using the land PPLT has preserved - skiing, mountain biking, hiking, or just enjoying it as part of our common landscape. 

Buyers have spanned the continent from Maine and Massachusetts to California and many in the Helena area.  I expected support from Montanans but am surprised by the buyers from the east coast and California who signed up. So thank you all!  

Mt. Ascension, Winter,  pastel, 6 x 6"

$100,  ready to frame, free shipping