Teasing the Waves

Teasing the Waves

18" x 24"

Oil on wood Panel

Griffin was playing on the beach at New Brighton early this summer. He was trying to get as close to the waves as possible without getting inundated when a breaker hit the beach. I suppose that everyone who has ever visited an ocean has done something similar.

Katie took a picture which captured the action and was the reference photograph for this painting. However for the design I wanted to turn the waves at an angle and have them quartering as they approach the viewer.

Besides the obvious interest in this little boy at play, I wanted to paint the waves and particularly the foam near the shore. It has an interesting action as the waves pull it apart just before they wash forward both breaking the foam and creating more

A simple design and it was fun to paint. And now I'm leaving the ocean and painting a much drier climate.

Campbell

Campbell

Summer 2014

20" x 16"

Oil on sandeply Panel

Rebecca provided me with many very interesting photographs and it was difficult to decide what poses and effect I wanted to work with. And Campbell has been here often this summer so I had the luxury of checking the painting from life.

I wanted to vary the background - making it cooler than the other portrait. I like the contrast between the cool background and the very warm features. The painting also uses different facial details than the other one.

To add some unity to the painting I chose to design a new dress so I could also add some limited color to it. I should have left well enough alone, as I painted the left shoulder about five or six times before I was satisfied.

It has very limited shadow but I was pleased with the result

Thank you Campbell. You are a special model.

Virtue

Virtue

25" x 17.25"

Oil on Sandeply Panel

If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things [Articles of Faith 13]

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

[Proverbs 31]

I got the idea for this painting and it's title while studying some photographs taken by Rebecca.

I see this young woman looking outward and forward into the future.

It seems to me to have a very basic Christian value. The verses in Proverbs  discuss much more than what we usually consider modesty. For example: 

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Virtue seems to encompass basic goodness and a wholesome power that comes from good works. A purity of purpose and character.

It is a quality impossible to counterfeit

The tree framing the girl is also symbolic of the growth and possibility of a small seed nurtured by the gospel and atonement of Jesus Christ

Framed

Soaring above the Beach

Soaring above the Beach

24" x 30"

Oil on sandeply Panel

Gwen and Grant playing on the sandy beach at New Brighton Beach in California. 

On the day depicted there were an unusually large number of sea birds - gulls, pelicans, grebes, cormorants and terns soaring and fishing just offshore.

Perhaps it was seeing those birds or just childlike enthusiasm, whatever - they began to soar or dance in pure enthusiasm with the joy of being in this place.

It was a cherished moment.

This painting was on my easel for about five weeks as I worked it, changed my mind, changed value and sunlight and tried to create a unity of effect. No palette can stay fresh for that length of time so part of the challenge was recreating the palette each time I worked on it after an absence.

Katie Powers took the photo used as a reference for this painting.

I'm especially pleased to capture Gwen's sailing energy and her whirling figure.

As you can see from the dimensions above, it is a bit larger than most of my works in this category.

Henning

Henning

2014

16" x 12"

Oil on sandeply Panel

The original was painted some time ago. It hung in my office for a time and has more recently been in the studio.

After seeing it day after day, I decided to re-work some passages. As a rule I continue to make minor changes in paintings for a week or two after I think that they are done and publish them. Then I don't go back even if I see something off.

In this case I thought it needed a little attention.

This rendition is a little more mellow as befits the subject.

Campbell 2014

Campbell 2014

24" x 18"

Oil on masonite panel

Campbell has chosen to be baptized next month and therefore she is dressed in white in anticipation of this ordinance. White is symbolic of the purity of the atonement.

She is a special young lady and has a very lively sense of humor. 

She is also caring and loving, as befits a disciple of the Savior.

Campbell is a blessing in my life.

Her mother took the reference photo used in this painting.

Cold Water in High Country

Cold Water

18" x 24"

Oil on Sandeply Panel

I have been fascinated by the nuances of painting snow. This painting combines snow with water reflections and massed color.  I like the combination of the cold water with the cool blue elements and the warm color in the rocks showing beneath the surface. I think that is why it seems to work. We know the water is icy cold yet it has a warm hue beneath the surface.

The conifers are a cool element although there is also some warm yellow and red scattered throughout those passages

Jay Moore painted a vertical scene with these elements, I thought that I would try it in the horizontal form, so I reworked the scene.

I think that the receding underwater rocks are more realistic in the actual painting than the photograph. It's interesting how little blue can be put into the sky and it will still look 'real'. The colors lose saturation and definition as they recede. 

The snow and the underwater rocks are soft rounded shapes while the conifers and most of the shrubbery is angular.