Bow River Banff

Bow Falls in Banff is a big attraction for tourists, and although I enjoy looking and listening to it, I have never been that moved to paint it. The scene off to the right, however, I have always wanted to paint. Yesterday I took a friend who had never seen the falls and the light was just perfect. I really liked the way the light bounced off the side of the mountain and the
contrast of the snow and shadows. While fresh in my mind I decided I would paint it. One smaller one and one huge one. This is my smaller study, 24 x 24  and my under painting for my 4 ft x 6 ft.

Johnsons Creek

Most people when they go to Johnsons Canyon, hike up to the falls. My knees were bothering me that day, so I decided to go the other way and follow the banks of the creek. The light bouncing off the creek and the bank was so illuminating! My wish was to capture that brilliance. This is the larger 30 x 60 canvas based on my earlier study.

Little Studies

Here are two little studies I was playing around with. The paintings didn't take long to do but trying to photograph them took me forever. I'm not sure why, but the colors had a greenish tint to them and trying to correct in Photoshop took me literally hours. I tried outside, my studio, and other rooms and I still don't have it right. My internet on my computer is down and although I can edit, when I download them to the laptop they look so different. I suppose every computer/laptop/tablet screen will vary in color. It's no less frustrating. Soooo much better to see the work live.

Passing Stormy Banff

My other 48 x 72 inch painting. I took some liberties with this one. There were no foreground rocks in my reference photo, and the trees were much taller and hid most of the mountain. The foliage had some color but I just had to pump it up.

The Bank of Vermillion Lake

A very large canvas, 48 x 72 inches. This is referenced from the vermillion lakes in Banff. I struggled with the sky color...blue, green, yellow, pink, stormy, bright? Settled on varying greys with hints of all of the above. I actually stayed away from my usual cadmium's and used a lot more Alizarin Crimson. Still needs a few details and touch ups, but will live with it a few days before coming back to it.

Voiters Flats

Here is my 'study' for a 48 x 72 larger painting. Referenced from a recent outing to Voiters Flats in Fish Creek Park, Calgary. Acrylic 20 x 28 inches.

Two Little Ones

Remember I had all that left or gel mixture in various greys? Well, here are the last two paintings from that day, applying the texture first. The paintings pretty much dictate how it's all going to unfold and it really is a satisfying process for me. These are yet untitled, 12 x 12 ( liking this one a lot...might just keep it), and 20 x 10 (before and after)

Looming Louise

I felt like painting Lake Louise again...must be time for another road trip. Spring is near.
Acrylic 40 x 40

* Made some adjustments...much better don't you think?
Before:

The Transition

As I mentioned in my previous post, I had a lot of greyish gel mixture left over and splattered it on 5 canvases. As I was applying the greys on this one, I realized I really liked a lot of my under-painting and drips so decided to keep them.( and added more as well). As I started to paint, I decided to keep a lot of the initial palette knife greys as well for a looser more abstract feel. I call this , 'The Transition', 18 x 36 inches

Here is another, 20 x 10 inches 'Passage'. Before and after.

Mountain Spectrum

I really like how this came together. A little softer. I mixed up a ton of various greys adding heavy gel yesterday. I had so much left over that I ended up starting 5 canvases! Applying the heavy gel with a palette knife, quite loosely and without any clear concept, other than a waterfall or a mountain, I let them dry over night. the next morning I pick one, and decide what and how I'm going to proceed. I love the creativity and freedom with this method. At this stage they are very abstract. Sometimes I use one or two images of older paintings as a reference starting point, but the painting enviably tells me what to do. 'Mountain Spectrum, 20 x 20, above, is one of these.I will show you more tomorrow.

The one below is a 'finished unfinished' painting from a few weeks ago. 'Mountain High' 18 x 24

Finishing The Unfinished

Lately I've been piling up canvases that are started, and for one reason or another, rejected and set aside. I keep meaning to get to them, either to finish or revamp. Today I decided to tackle a few as they are very distracting when trying to contemplate what to paint for the day...hard to focus on something new. Here are a couple that have more or less been revamped. 'Snow Bank' 18 x 36 and as of yet unnamed 16 x 20 below.

Up The Hill

I haven't walked up there; I'd sure like to, but I don't think it's allowed. I took the reference from the highway, near some sort of small  power station not far from the Banff turnoff coming from Canmore. It's all fenced around that area.If the weather is cooperating, and I catch it just right, it's quite spectacular with the glow of the mountains in behind. Of course I had to pump up the chroma...but the red is there. this is a study for a possible very large painting. Acrylic 24 x 30.

Sunwaptas Splender

 My large  36 x 60 inches Sunwapta Falls. Hopefully this time the falls don't look like snow.

Sunwapta Rocks

I was trying to find a different angle to paint Sunwapta Falls ( near Jasper ). The problem was all the water to the left and running off the page. To stop your eye from leaving, I allowed the light from the falls to come back in the painting and hopefully the direction of the water flow will keep you in.

Funny how one little innocent comment can alter my momentum and give me pause. This comment was made about my study " I thought it was a waterfall for a second". No harm was meant but it really made me wonder. Do my waterfalls really look like snow instead of water? Now that ugly self doubt was creeping back in.

I decided, well, maybe this one and some others, do look like snow to some people and maybe I still need to work at it. It is my goal to always improve and get better. I gave my 'snow' more attention in the larger version, but found myself getting too tight. So for now, I'll let the viewer decide and keep plugging away. 'Sunwapta Rocks', acrylic 24 x 36 and 'Sunwapta Rocks Study', 9 x 12.

Rundle Rumble

Here are a couple smaller mountain scenes. 'Rundle Rumble', 20 x 30 and a yet unnamed painting, 18 x 24.  ( still tweaking these ). My tree/red series is on hiatus for a bit while I replenish my mountains for Mountain Galleries. I had a great weekend at the Banff location selling 5 paintings! Thanks MG!

One Scene, Multiple Paintings

Often I will come across a photo or a scene where multiple paintings are a possibility. Such as the case with this one. I have already painted two, and have plans for two or three more. Just a little bit of tweaking, stretching and/ or color adjustments. The two above are 36 x 36. Below is the original photo and the excerpts that can I feel could make decent paintings.

Winters Spark

Acrylic 40 x 40 inches. 'Winters Spark'
The jury is out on this one. Maybe because I was getting too 'literal'. Maybe it is too cold; too busy? In any case, I will hang it on my studio wall to observe for a few days before making any major or minor adjustments.

Only In My Dreams

Although it is very important to reference from your own photos, once in a while you come across a photograph that really resonates with you. Such was the case with this photo....it really was calling my name. Elias was gracious enough to grant me permission to paint from his wonderful photo. My intention was not to 'copy' but be inspired. Although this mountain range is not in Canada, I wanted to create the impression that it could be in the Rockies. I enjoyed painting this, and it came together so quickly it even surprised me. acrylic 40 x 40 inches. Elias photo below:

Winter Gold

Winter Gold Video  A little time lapse of my process on You-tube.

Falling Along The creek

In keeping with my red mood, here is another painting loosely based on a photo I took along Fish Creek in Calgary. I liked the contrast of all the fallen leaves and brush against the cool creek. acrylic 36 x 36. Reference photos below.

The Alteration

I didn't intend for this painting to turnout as it did. For two days it's been the most frustrating yet exhilarating experience I've had in awhile. A jumble of emotions from high to low and back again. I wish I had started taken pictures of this painting from the beginning. I wanted a predominately warm painting but more than half was cold snow. Although I liked what was happening in the sky, I could feel myself tightening up. Self doubt was creeping in. As I so often do when in this state, I start to experiment, play and force myself to dive right in and quickly lay down 'stuff'. In this case, taking out some snow and adding some reds and bringing some trees forward. Still too tight. I started taking pictures from here on to see if I could see things on my computer. Obviously I ditched the reference photo way back, and started to really enjoy the process. I keep thinking warm vs cool, less detail, find my focal area, and find a place for the eye to rest, but mostly, to be bold and just see where it goes. I was much more satisfied after adding the greys and eliminating unnecessary  'things'. I'm not sure I'm done with it yet, but satisfied for today. Acrylic 36 x 48. Below are a few of the transitions with the final painting and my reference photo.

Sunrise On Lawerence Grassi

Mountains are familiar territory to me....sunrises are not. Also, back from a little hiatus, I'm finding myself tightening up. I'm not to concerned though...paint, paint, paint and then paint some more and I'll loosen up. Good time to paint this cold winter month. Here are my sunrise attempts, 'Lawrence Grassi' acrylic 36 x 36. I just noticed my drawing is a little squished to fit my canvas...it's still recognizable though. My reference photo below, and below that is a commissioned piece, 24 x 48.