Buttes

Spring Buttes, oil 12" x 24"

Haystack Butte, Summer, oil 9" x 12"

Summer Storm, acrylic 8" x 10"

I don't have to go far from home to find dramatic scenery!  Looking South there are a series of buttes:  Gray, Haystack, Juniper.  Sometimes I sketch, or take photos for studio paintings, or even set up my easel outside for plein air as in "Haystack Butte".  (When weather allows).  Most summer days are clear and hot, but occasionally a storm rolls through.  I went for a walk during a clear break on a day with rain, thunder and lightning to get photos of the dramatic clouds, and the storm caught up with me on the way back!

 

Day 26

Red Ridge, Madras, oil 10" x 10" canvas $125

Somewhere outside of Madras, on the way to rock hunting at Richardson's Rock Ranch, the sharp angle of the red ridge contrasts with pale gray green sagebrush and desert foliage.

Central Oregon

Traveling north through Central Oregon last summer, we turned off a side road with a sign that read "fish hatchery".  We never did find the fish hatchery, but we did find breath taking scenery in a quiet place overlooking the Deschutes River.  It seems like a place worth looking for again.  I painted "Deschutes River, Maupin" in oil, from one of my photos, on a 10" x 10" canvas.

Smith Rock

This second painting of Smith Rock is a tighter composition focusing on the sharp fortress - like rock. It's really hard for me to imagine scaling such a vertical plane, but some people walk on the wild side! Smith Rock 2 is 12" x 12" on gallery wrapped canvas.

Good Earth

I've been working on this painting of Smith Rock in Terrebonne ("good earth") since a brief but wonderful visit last October. The river and paths lead me back to explore the fantastic fortress-like rocks. At first the high desert geography seemed too dry and brown to my eyes, but the warmth of sunlight contrasts with cool shadows and the clear air reveals strong forms.