After The Tree Farm

8"x 10"
acrylic on masonite

Out in the Hillsboro, Oregon countryside, a favorite seasonal tradition for many is to go to the tree farm, find the perfect tree, and stop at McMenamin's Rock Creek Tavern for one of their fresh brewed ales, a hearty meal, and a roaring fire in a down-home, log cabin atmosphere. The history of the Rock Creek Tavern dates back to the mid 1920's when it started as a small country store. "Bombed in the 1930's, closed up at the end of the '60's, run over by a car in the late 1990's, and twice destroyed by fire over its 80+ years, and yet, here Rock Creek Tavern stands...". Thank goodness! Cheers!

Fall Trees

5"x 7"
acrylic on masonite

The color of the leaves on the trees and the light is glorious this time of year! I have been taking pictures and stopping to look and appreciate at every opportunity.
Click on image for larger view.

Bear Painting Process

I thought it might be fun to show the process of creating a painting for a client. I wish I had thought of it earlier so that I could include more steps, but here's what I have. This is a 5"x7" painting "sketch" for the final painting that will be 36"x60". This step is critical for me to work through the color and composition on a small scale and it allows me to give the client a good idea of what their painting will look like.
This is a picture of the final canvas in progress. I did a wash of yellow ochre over the entire canvas and then drew the bear in charcoal and blocked in the dark areas with burnt umber. I'll post more pictures as the painting progresses!