Trees
Watercolor
10 x10

Aspens

So I quickly started this painting this afternoon.. I was feeling so frustrated with the oil painting I started a couple days ago. When you're used to watercolor and how fast they dry, well let's just say I was in NEW TERRITORY! I am sadly an impatient painter, so I love how watercolor washes dry quickly. And what's even more sad is that I don't even have enough patience to let those dry! I use a blow dryer to speed up the process!! :) I think I need to work on my patience? Hmm..

Anyway, I had fun with this one today.. I will wrap it up tomorrow. But I love the bright color!

My First Oil Painting!!

I just started my first oil painting! So excited to see how this turns out! It's so nice to move my brush around with freedom! With watercolor I have to plan every stroke! :)

Bighorn Sheep

The Bighorn
Watercolor
16 x 20

I just wrapped it up on this bighorn sheep. I really don't have too much experience when it comes to painting wildlife. I really want to keep exploring in this direction. I do live in the Rocky Mountains after all right? :)

WIP.. Not sure about this one..

I am feeling a little frustrated with this Bighorn Sheep. It's just not turning out the way I had originally envisioned it. But I'm going to finish it up and hope that by the end, I will like it somewhat! :)

Leslie Gulch

Leslie Gulch, Owyhee Reservoir
Watercolor
11 x 14

So this is the Owyhee Reservoir in Oregon. It sits just outside of the Idaho border. This lake brings back memories of long fishing days with my family, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and an ice cold coke! We had so much fun. And if you want to catch tons of fish when you go out, this is the place!

I had so much fun with this painting. I love using color and playing with new ideas. This is the first painting I have done with water like this, and I think I will continue to improve on it as I do more like this. I love the towers I had to work with here. These giant rock formations are breathtaking and the colors are stunning!

Sneak Peek!

I decided to put up a sneak peek of what I started yesterday.. It's different than any of my other work, but interesting and I LOVE IT! :) It's been fun playing around with a different idea, and I'm definitely going to venture into this more often. I will post the whole painting this afternoon! Stay tuned...

Another Painting of our beautiful Boise River!

Passing Through
Watercolor
11 x 14

The North Channel of the Boise River is making it's way through Star, Idaho in this painting. This is one of the many things I love about where I live.. It's such a nice feature to have a river passing through the whole valley. So whether you're out in the country, or downtown Boise, you have immediate access to this gorgeous river.. It is the perfect place for family pictures, a summer evening swim, and it makes for the perfect setting to paint!

Laser is Finished! Yeah!

Laser
Watercolor
18 x 24

Finally Finished

Reflections
Watercolor
16 x 20

I am finally finished with this river landscape. I'm so glad to have it done so I can move on to something a little more fun! :)

Update on Laser!!

I'm getting closer to finishing Laser.. I am thinking of changing up the whole background and forground.. Something more full of color and interest.. What do you think? I would love any sugguestions and opinions on how to make this paint get that wow factor! :)

I'm almost finished..

I am nearing the end with this painting.. Another learning experience for me. There are a few things I would have done differently for sure. Although, I do like this one :)

New Work

I just started this river scene yesterday..

Toscana

Toscana
Watercolor
6 x 12

I just finished up this watercolor of Tuscany. I wanted make this scene even better than the original photograph, so I decided to paint brilliant red poppies on the rolling field.

Reference Photograph (also lovely)

Start of a Tuscan Painting..

I started working on this Tuscan scene. I am working on a 6 x 12 watercolor block.. I have never used a block before and I really liked it today. I didn't have to tape or clip down or anything.. So much more simple and quick! If you haven't tried one of these, you should! Anyway, I should have this wrapped up in a few days.. I just have to fit painting into my extremely busy schedule :)

The Boise River

Boise River
8 x 10

Just finished my painting of the Boise River. I love having a river run right through the middle of town... This is the first of many river paintings.. I need to practice and it's so fun painting something local!!

Update on Boise River

I am getting close to being finished with this one.. I am supposed to put in a sweeping branch coming out the the top right corner.. Makes me nervous, but I'm going to do it!

Boise River

I started this watercolor of the Boise River yesterday. I am hopeful that it will turn out to be a great painting.. I am loving where it is right now.. Wet into wet is my favorite!! :) I will post another update as I go..

River's Bend

River's Bend
Watercolor
5 x 5

Udate on Laser...

He is starting to come to life a little.. Still lot's to do on him and a couple things I see that need correcting as I look at this picture..

My Next Commission!

Here is my first commission for 2012!  And hopefully the first of many many more!  This horse belongs to a friend and his name is Laser.  I'm starting on this one today, and it's going to be an 18 x 24.  So excited!

Olivia Grace

Olivia Grace

16 x 20

I just did this portrait of my youngest daughter Olivia.  I worked on her over the last three days, and it drove me crazy not to do any updates on her!  But I was wanting to just hold off and surprise everyone with a finished portrait!  I can say that it made me get the portrait done a lot faster!

Feels Finished :)

I feel like I'm finished with this portrait.. Just waiting for approval :)

Thanksgiving Morning

Watercolor

5 x 5

Just did this little river scene tonight.  I love to use color.  I think I used just about every single one of my favorite colors in this little painting.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Emily, Possibly Finished..

Emily

Watercolor

11 x 14

Painting this portrait has reminded me why I love to paint people and animals.  There is just something so unique about each expression that really shows individuality, and a distinct personality.  In many cases, the eyes are known as the gateway to someones soul.  It's as if we can go where they have gone, and feel what they are feeling.  I have heard so many people say that an amazing painting or piece of art will make them feel something.  So I am always pushing for that, and making it one of my main goals as I learn and grow as an Artist.

I want to share one of my favorite quotes by an artist who I consider to be exceptional at portraits and figures.  If you have never checked her out, take a look at some of her work!  

With every brushstroke, a personality emerges-- the softness in their expression,
the honesty in their gesture.
Painting a portrait is always more than a painting,
it's a visual representation of a unique soul.... Peggi Habets 

Thanks for reading!  I wish you all the very best Thanksgiving!