Breckenridge Lamp and Trees

Here's a small one I did for this month's Virtual Paintout.

Breckenridge Lamp and Trees
9" x 12", oil

Rocks and Water

This was about fours work this morning. Another wonderful spring day in the mountains. Talked to bunches of people today.

Rocks and Water
20" x 16", oil. plein air

Pines Along the Blue River

Did this one this morning just above the Maggie Pond where the Blue comes in. The most incredibly beautiful morning here.

Pines Along the Blue River
16" x 20", oil, plein air

French Street

Did this one in gale force winds today on the corner of Lincoln and French Streets in Breckenridge. I had to hold my palette down numerous times. And if you look closely at the painting in real life you'll find a little dirt mixed in with the paint.

French Street
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Runoff

What a glorious day it was today! I stood by the Blue River in downtown Breckenridge to add this to my ever growing river series. Something about standing, painting, listening to the water, that's calming to the soul.

Runoff
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Abandoned on Main Street, Breckenridge

Worked on this one on location today, until I got snowed out, again. Finished up in the studio. Not the best pic of the painting. It looks a little curved at the bottom, but really isn't.

Abandoned on Main Street, Breckenridge
16" x 20", oil

Edge of the Dredge Pond

The sun has finally made an appearance. Not a cloud in the sky all day. Wonderful day to be standing in a gorgeous spot for a few hours.

Edge of the Dredge Pond
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Blue River #3

Springtime in the Rockies. The sun came out twice during my four hour painting time today. It also snowed hard twice during the same session. Still having fun!

Thanks for looking. Including a pic of my setup.

Blue River #3
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Finally Spring in the Mountains?

Don't bet on it. Still in the 30's and 40's here in Breckenridge. Had 7 new inches of snow for closing day of the ski area today. It did warm up enough that some pseudo-green grass showed up next to this old building I painted this morning.

Peeking Through
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Kate Ellick

Kate Ellick was 61 years old when she was arrested for being homeless in Australia. She never had a family, or anyone to help her. She was sentenced to three months in prison. This is her mugshot.

I did this drawing over the last two days in my studio during Open Studio hours. Hope you like it. Thanks for looking.

Kate Ellick
20" x 16", charcoal

Aspens in Wind

This one was a bear to work on. Wind gusts kept me hanging on to my palette and the linen panel a lot of the time. But things like that are what makes this so much fun.

Had an Open House at the Tin Shop yesterday. It went really well. Lots of visitors.

"Aspens in Wind"
20" x 16", oil, plein air

Aspens

Had fun painting this one today. Talked to a lot of people. Weather is great.

Aspens
20" x 16", oil, plein air

Blue River #2

Here's a quick 2 hour painting from today. Had to get back and open the studio by 2 p.m. Made it by the skin of my teeth. I like where this one ended up though.

Blue River #2
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Edwin Carter Museum

Painted this one in blowing snow this morning. I had to stand my palette upright in the lid of my paintbox to try and keep snow from accumulating on it. By the time I finished I could barely see the paint tubes in the bottom of my box. Snow and icicles on the beard.

Edwin Carter Museum
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Barney Ford

Did this portrait this afternoon. This is Barney Ford. He was an escaped slave who prospered and became a prominent entrepreneur and black civil rights pioneer in Colorado. In 1880, Ford became the first black businessman in Breckenridge when he opened Ford’s Restaurant and Chop House. My current studio is next door to the Barney Ford House which he and his wife lived in for many years.

Also including a couple of pics of the snow we're having right now. We're supposed to have up to a foot tonight.

Barney Ford
16" x 20", charcoal

Father Dyer Methodiat Church

Did this one this morning. The building is the Father Dyer Methodist Church in Breckenridge, CO. Father Dyer was the Snowshoe Itinerant Preacher. Back in the day when there was no other way through the Rocky Mountains, he used snowshoes and skis, 12 foot planks, going from mining town to mining town, delivering mail and preaching the Word. He planted this church in Breckenridge in the 1880's, I believe, which is still going strong today.

Father Dyer Methodist Church
16" x 20", oil, plein air

Blue River #1

Here's today's outdoor painting effort. This  is my first full day in Breckenridge, Colorado. Here for 5 weeks as Guest Artist at the Tin Shop in the Arts District. I stood by the Blue for about three hours painting this one. Hard for me to judge the colors in the pic on my laptop. I'll check it out after dark and adjust if need be.

"Blue River #1"
16" x 20", oil, plein air