Red Rocks Snow 9x12 oil

Snowy Red Rocks 9x12 oil

Colorado is the place to be for beautiful, crisp sunshine. What a beautiful day. Almost got a sun tan, lol.

 Blackmer Common 9x12 oil

Highline Canal Trees 9x12 oil

Oh, the weather out side is frightful (yesterday) but the temperature is chilly but getting warmer, so let it sunshine, let it sunshine, let it sunshine. OK, so I'm not a very good lyric changer. I wont quit my day job, even though slinging paint isn't exactly a get rich kind of plan. It still beats the, 9-5, rat race, business suit, combat life style, which, I don't miss at all.

Winter Blue 11x14 oil plein air at the Lair O' the Bear

Warm Winter Willow 11x14 oil plein air at the Lair O' the Bear - work in progress

The paint out at the Lair O' the Bear with the PAAC was a wonderful, beautiful day to paint. the worry was for the forecast of rain and snow in the mountains but as usual you can't trust the weather. It could be sunny in the city and snowing in the mountains and vice verse. I kind of over dressed but the cold in the canyon made the coveralls worth while, but the sun made me wish I was only in jeans. A friendly little squirrel kept good company. She would sit on the pick nick bench and watch me paint. Probably waiting for me to drop some food crumbs. Next time I go I will brings some dog biscuits or something.

Jack Frost Lane 9x12 oil

A studio painting from photograph. An attempt to get loose. I just love the stories this style of paintings tell. I think I'll so some more.

Elk Meadow Morning 6x8 oil 

I didn't go painting today because it was so cold and because the garage heater needs to be installed. But I did get to do a quick sketch based on the painting I did last week in a style that has been tumbling around the back of my mind. I am getting closer to that idea. Lots of splashy paint.

Elk Meadow 9x12 oil
Trying a couple of new things. One I mounted smooth linen to 1/4 MDF with Miracle Muck.
I like it. Second, I wanted to start getting back to my roots of abstract painting. Looks like I will need to work a bit harder on that part.

Bluff Lake Morning 9x12 oil
It has been a little while since I painted plein air. A couple of weeks at least. The insulation, dry wall and electrical upgrade to the garage has been a very time consuming. It looks like it is coming together and I can get back the arts routine soon.

still life study sequenceFinishPersimon

Original Composition

toning the canvas

Change the composition

rough in

first color

local color

Persimon 12x9 oil

Audubon Center at Chatfield Reservoir 9x 12 oil

The sun was shining at the house but the clouds and the cold hung in the air at Chatfield Reservoir where the Audubon Center is located. Most of the time was spent on staying warm and having fun with the other artists who showed up. The rabbit brush is hanging on despite the cold and wind. Tomorrow is forecast to have lots of snow. I am glad it held off just long enough to go paint.

Mnt Vernon CC 11x14 oil

 Mayhem Gulch 11x14 oil plein air

Snowy Clear Creek 11x14 oil studio

A couple of pieces painted for the Mt Vernon plein air event. I will be plein air painting there on Sunday Oct 30 from 12:30 to 2pm

Also, a pastel painting demo for the Pure Pigment show in Thornton at The Oz Gallery on Nov. 6th from 2-4pm

Quitting Time (Candle and Glasses) 9x12 pastel

Cindy 9x12 pastel

 S. Platte Park Fall 12x9 oil

The morning started out with the worry of rain and snow in the forecast. The sun decided to make its self known before the weather gets wet and snowy.

Fall S. Platte Park 9x12 oil

So I had time to paint another fall scene.

Fall Confetti 9x12 Pastel

Haven't done a pastel in a while. They are always fun.

 Denver City Canyon Lands 14x11 oil

 Pigeons, 950 Lincoln 12x9 oil

Tell Me Where to Go 16x12 oil

Was just notified that these 3 paintings will be in the Denver Plein Air Show Nov. 15th, from 5-8pm, at the Denver Public Library Show runs from Nov. 15th to Dec. 31st 2011

Pumpkin Patch 9x12 oil

Painted at Hudson Gardens with the PAAC 

The day started out really chilly and I was worried about the

sun maybe not showing up, but it all worked out just great.  Some have mentioned that is difficult to leave a comment. It you are having trouble please let me know at clff@cliffaustin.com This is an ongoing challenge.

 100N and Main St Moab UT 9x12 oil sold
This afternoon painting came in 2nd at the quick paint at Moab UT

 Afternoon at Arches N.P. 9x12 oil near Moab UT Painted very quickly, there was a lot of atmosphere that afternoon.

 Aspen, Arches N.P. 11x14 oil The morning light just made these trees glow and they are not Aspens, but they reminded me of CO Aspens

 Fisher Tower Moab UT 11x14 oil had to paint this in 2 sessions and of course the light was different,

Windows, Arches N.P. 11x14 oil sold this painting came in 5th in the over all competition and sold on  auction night

Another beautiful day in Colorado. Jean Widman graciously invited PAAC to paint at her house up near Look Out Mountain. It is just gorgeous up there. So this is titled "Look Out Mnt" 9x12 oil. She said that the deer and elk often visit her here in her back yard. They weren't around today, but to be careful of the mountain lion that is said to have 2 cubs with her. That is why I stayed on the porch. :-)

10/8/11 pastels 9x12 

How much fun can you have? These sketches were done at the Art Students League for the Pastel Society of Colorado. I had the good fortune of demo-ing the different kinds of grounds a pastel painting can be painted on. Five same sketches were done on different grounds, UArt, ArtSpectrum pastel ground on Masonite and Golden Acrylic Pastel ground on hardboard (MDF) and smooth cotton canvas from Raymar. The emphasis was on fun. When was the last time you got to just play with the materials. We learn so much faster when we play.

Turkey Creek Aspens 9x12 oil
Peter Heineman, artist and friend, invited the PAAC group up to paint at his home in Cripple Creek. It was the perfect timing as the weather man forecasts colder temperatures and cloudy skies this coming weekend. This nice little spot is on the way up the driveway to his house. Many artists chose this area for good reason. It is a glowing little gem of a scene.

Blue river 9x12 oil
PAAC Paint out at Silverthorne at Barrett Edwards place. Painting in
the morning fishing in the afternoon, what could be better.

Mt Vernon 8x10 oil
Noel Custer who lives up by Mount Vernon invited PAAC to paint at her property. Wow what a gorgeous location to paint. Wish I could stay all day. There are so many spots to paint.

 

St Elmo Aspens 12x9 oil

Business Award Colorado Mountain Plein Air Festival Salida

What great weather during the CMPAF in Salida/Buena Vista CO. What made it even more fun was that I caught some fish in the Arkansas River. Last year I kicked myself in the rear for not taking my fishing pole. Have two addictions satisfied (painting and fishing) made the trip really worth while.

 

Fertile Ground 11x14 oil

This painting was created the week before when the stamping of panels was getting started in Salida. The day after was a bust because of the wind and clouds and threat of rain hampered the painting sessions. It was probably my mood that did me in and not the weather.

 

Smyth Fishing Lease 9x12 oil

Here is the bluff above the Arkansas River where I caught a fish. A little brown went for a Blue dun and made my day.

Paint out at Bergen Park with the Pastel Society of Colorado. Watercolor under painting with pastel finishes. Fun stuff. Cool and unfamiliar at the same time. This is definitely out of my comfort zone.

Paint out with PAAC at Clear Creek. Back to oils and chasing the light again. Clouds and sunshine were making for an interesting painting. Decisions I started out with were not the same as the ones I finished with. Oh well. It keeps me on my toes.

Castlewood Canyon Plein Air

Today at Castlewood Canyon, the weather was rainy in the morning and so I tried to express that here. Something simple, just to get some paint on the canvas quickly. As always, the Colorado weather is great. By Noon-ish the temperature got warm enough to take the jacket off.

Kat's Place 12x9 oil
Victor CO, Brush Rush, Quick Paint Winner
Just back from Victor CO and the paint Victor Celebrates the Arts En Plein Air. What fun that little town is. Population aprox. 400. But opening night it seemed like a lot more people were there. I met the nicest people. Some artists from Colorado Springs and some traveling artists and a few Denver artists. We all had a good time. Even got to meet some patrons who were truly nice people. I think next year will be even more fun.

Today's paint out was at Silver Plume. Not many showed up because it was raining. It was an easy drizzle so we painted anyway. Hardy folks these plein air painters. Fun fun fun. If you have never painted in the rain I suggest you try it, as long as it isn't raining hard. Its good fun.