Monday, July 30, 2012

Kelly - A Figure Study

Kelly...a figure study
I am still in Colorado enjoying the mountains...
_____________
Here are some locations for a few other workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Line of Scrimmage

Line of Scrimmage__12x24 oil on linen___$2100
Available at Cactus Jack's in Gruene, TX
My longhorn paintings have football titles and images that reflect some of the deep things about the game, teamwork and how football is a lot like life!  There are "holes" in all allegories, but I like the symbolism found in sports...When a Quarterback steps up to the line, he looks around and must be aware of everything, while the lineman focus ONLY on their assignment and timing...I imagine that the other team is across the water and....
_____
Here are some locations for a few other workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Seven Strokes Plus Seven or So

Seven Strokes__another demo/lesson__6x8
A couple weeks ago I posted a Seven Stroke painting. This is a lesson that I teach at my longer workshops. YES, the entire painting is done with just SEVEN strokes, without lifting the brush.  Compare the one above with the one I posted earlier...Which one do you like better? I like this one...it was simpler!
Obviously I did both from my same photo...it's more fun to do on location!
Next week I will be all over southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. Part of the time I will be nailing down our locations for the 2013 workshop there. If you want to start thinking about it, I have the tentative dates set for July 20 - 22...but there will likely be an extra half day...possibly Wednesday, July 23...I can send details on this one in about two weeks, so let me know if you want them.

Here are some locations for a few other workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Monday, July 23, 2012

Sunny One_State 1

Sunny One__state 1__12x16 oil
I saw this scene a few years ago near our farm. Horses do not eat sunflowers, but this one was grazing below the flowers. Every few moments he would come up for air and I snapped some photos that have been reference for a number of paintings. So this one looks similar to another recent one called "Sunny"...
I had to photograph it before I had finished, but I call this "state 1", and you might not notice changes on the finished work....I am delivering it to Taos' Act I gallery TODAY!
.
Before I head back to Colorado, I want to express sorrow about the shooting there in the movie theater. It was stunning to open the YAHOO! front page  recently and see a photo of a church service honoring the victims. In the photo there was a projector with a photo of a victim. it touched me, so I saved it on my desktop...then a friend told me that a mutual friend of our families was a victim...a man named Gordon Cowden....when I looked back at the YAHOO! photo I had saved, it was Gordon's picture on the screen at the church (see below)...He was the first one to have a funeral last week   :(    please pray for these families for a LONG time....


Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Tiny Columbine

Tiny Columbine___2.5x2.5 canvas with a little easel___$60 +shipping
Another little columbine painted from life at our place in Colorado last week....again, God Bless those in Denver area...especially the families directly affected by evil.
During next year's workshop, we will try to find some of these to paint! The area in southern Colorado has many beautiful wildflowers...I will go early to find the best spots! Often there are plenty of columbine deep into our canyon on the rocky walls by the road to the Platoro Reservoir. It is a LONG 20 miles on a bumpy dirt road, but amazing scenes abound!!!  And the famous delicious Platoro Burgers await!!Next week I have meetings to finalize out accommodations. STAY TUNED!
_________________________
Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
August-Fall ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Friday, July 20, 2012

Actual Size

Actual Size___2.5 x 2.5 inches_oil on tiny canvas__$60 includes a tiny wooden easel
Yes, the flower is painted at actual size! I worked from a real little Columbine growing beside our place in Colorado...God Bless Colorado, tonight...
This is the state flower of Colorado, and July is the time to see them.  I painted a couple of these on tiny canvases that come with tiny easels. They are little flower gems! Let me know if you want one!
Sorry I did not get the workshop rolling this year, but next July I will teach in this part of Colorado. I have some great locations lined up for artists who like to paint outdoors. You can let me know if you are interested and I will put you in the list and send the info to you as soon as I finalize things next week...
Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Columbine Dance

Columbinne Dance__6x6 oil on panel__framed $250
This small painting is "committed" to a nice little floater frame. Columbines, the state flower of Colorado, are really at peak in some areas of our canyon this week.
_______________________________________
Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Day's Last Sliver

Day's Last Sliver__6x8 oil__$190 unframed
There was a little sliver of bright light as the storms closed in over the Santa Fe area. I think these are the mountains near Los Alamos, and we were on the way to pick up a couple of our kids in Santa Fe...Love those summer monsoon clouds over the southwest!!!
_________________________________

Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Black Mountain Sparkle

Black Mountain Sparkle__8x10 oil on canvas___Available vvaughan8@yahoo.com
Another night on the Conejos River in southern Colorado....There is a special way I approach painting at night. Actually I have SEVERAL approaches, and I am incorporating these lessons into my current workshop theme. Each workshop includes at least ONE evening paintout, which starts before sundown. See the partial list below, and keep in touch, because I am finalizing details on a few of these SOON!

Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Friday, July 13, 2012

Night Textures

Night Textures_8x10 oil on canvas___$450
We were here for the full moon, and I have been painting every day to present new works for the second annual Conejos Fire House Art Show. I'll be joining the best artists who live in this community, and some are internationally known and collected! We are expecting a nice turnout, but this is still a very "secret" little gem of a show! A community down the road, with BIG homes and full-time residents has jumped on board with the artists and is hosting an Art Walk on July 28...so if you miss this one, come see my Colorado wet paint at the Bear Creek Art Walk...there will be another full moon that week, so I am reserving time to paint it!...ALSO, I have finalized some accommodations for next year's canyon workshop. YOU TOO can paint here with me in 2013! I just need to set a date in July or August...if you want to "suggest" a week, I would love t have your input if you think you can come!!! Thinking late July-early August!!
Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Before the Blue

Before the Blue__12x16 oil on linen panel__$1100, unframed
This full moon rose over our canyon a few days ago. I have spent a lot of time studying to paint the night. I try to schedule all my workshops to include moon features, so that I can teach artists what I have observed about this special kind of light!

Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Monday, July 09, 2012

From His Canopy

From His Canopy___6x8 oil study on panel__for Fire House Show, Colorado
Another one from our drive through Taos on the way to Santa Fe. I painted this in the car, just as we left Taos, headed south...each day we have been in southern Colorado, we have had a little bit of rain, at least!...we are really hoping that since water runs downhill, some of this will end up in Texas soon!!
Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Saturday, July 07, 2012

THe Balance of Clouds


The Balance of Clouds__6x8 oil study on panel___$190 unframed for Conejos Fire House show
We left our canyon yesterday to pick up a couple of our kids in Santa Fe. It was a great drive from our place to Taos, where I left a nice new batch of works with Anita at Act I Gallery.
She has absolutely the BEST gallery in Taos, and YES, I am partial!
After Taos, we took the road to Espanola and Santa Fe, and saw scenes like this the whole way...yes, I painted this in the car...along with a few others...the sky was amazing and reminded me of all the many things that have been written about it ...this title is from the ancient book of Job (37:16)....read it if you have a chance...

Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Friday, July 06, 2012

Moondown

Moondown___6x8 oil study on panel___$190 unframed
The waning moon was about to go down just as the sun made its appearance on the mountain behind our place in Colorado. We are far from fires and it has rained each day we are here. But fire is on everyone's mind, and tomorrow I will go learn about evacuations if something should threaten us here. Our local fire station is now a year old, and they are hosting this meeting....as well as a special art exhibit on the weekend of July 13-14. A few of us "local" artists are bringing in new works to benefit the work of our fire department! Come join in the fun if you are nearby!

Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Thursday, July 05, 2012

La Luna Sobre Conejos____9x12 oil on canvas___$550 for Conejos Fire House Show
Our summer vacations are spent along Colorado's Conjos River. This canyon is remote, yet populated by some of the nicest people one could know! The big "season" is RIGHT NOW....Independence Day, and all of July! This tight knit summer community celebrates the season with cook-outs, and get-togethers where everyone feels welcome. Last year we celebrated the opening of our own little fire department. With Colorado fires on the news, we all are grateful for this, and support the annual events to raise funds for it! On July 13-14 we'll have our 2nd Annual Fire House Art Show, featuring some artists in this canyon....Look up the works of Charlie Ewing, Rick Howell, Jim Gilmore, Pat Haberman, Zella Meeks and ME!...I have been painting the spectacular moon...driving home the other night, I was welcomed into the canyon by this full moon over the Conejos River.
Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Wednesday, July 04, 2012

San Pedro y San Rafael y Sangres

San Pedro y San Rafael y Sangres___8x10 oil study on panel___$350
Yesterday was a full  moon day (Yes, I painted the moonrise, too! I will post that tomorrow)
We ventured from our place in the mountains, out into the San Luis Valley to see the sunrise over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Sangre de Cristo means "blood of Christ" in Espanol.
There is something solemn about that name and this location, settled by faithful people who built this little church...My Colorado workshop is in the planning stages, and This will certainly be one of the places we will paint!
Here are locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Seven Strokes-a Lesson

Stroke Seven__a workshop lesson to paint FASTER__demo $100
One of my usual lessons to help artists paint faster is called "Seven Steps".
The one above was painted in just seven strokes!...REALLY.The image below is the first 4 steps...it's all about planning ahead QUICKLY, mixing color and trusting your outcome! It helps if the class goes step by step with me at first, then they can go off on their own.
I often (usually) grant "mercy" at the end, allowing for a few extra strokes. One time we did "7 plus 17"....this one is "7 plus 5 or 6"

Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!

Monday, July 02, 2012

Sunny Dawn

Sunny Dawn__16x20 oil on linen___available next week Act I Gallery, Taos


Here are some locations for a few of my workshops. email me if you want more info on any of these...
And here is a link to a SPECIAL ONE.
I can't wait to see the water go down the drain BACKWARDS there!
July-August ___weekly__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" 
Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX
2013___New York City, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania...
2014___February 23-March 1___New Zealand

**BE SURE to tell me if you sign up! I like to send things to my students to get them ready, keep them "seeing", and thinking, and talking about it!