Van Bibber Park 11x14 oil
What a cute park. Kind of reminds me of Highline Canal only long and narrow.

Painting Red Rocks 11x14 oil
It feels good to be back painting on my own again. The work shop last week has my mind trying to digest a lot of ideas. Now I can start applying those ideas to a painting. This could take a long time. :-)

Here are a couple of pastel paintings produced at the Richard McKinley workshop. Under painting with water color and then pastel on top produces exciting dialog with the painting that helps the painting to glow. While I've got a long way to go before the paintings start to glow like I want them to it is still a way to make the image speak.

Richard McKinley workshop the week of Aug. 15th to the 19th was intense, and I loved every sun baked minute of it. I was so hoping for something that wasn't art 101 and wow was I  happy. Insights to technique, design, viewer psychology, and professionalism will keep me working at this thing called painting for a long time. I was so far out side of my comfort zone that it was like too much coffee, just buzzing to find some stable ground to anchor to. Richard is a wonderful teacher who is informative, entertaining and encouraging. I highly recommend taking his workshop.

WHR Wyoming Hereford Ranch 11x14 oil

Best of Show

Judge Sterling Hoffman awarded this painting Best of Show 8/13/11 at the Inaugural Deselms Gallery Prairie to Peaks Plein Air in Cheyenne WY

Harvey Deselm worked furiously to get the show hung. Dot is a pretty

happy puppy especially when the guests paid attention to him.

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All in all the plein air event was really enjoyable. I met Ginny and Duane Butcher who provided room and board and who are wonderful people. I know I've made some lasting friends. They showed hospitality above and beyond what one could normally expect. Next year is going to be a blast especially with Ginny guiding us to little gems hidden from the highway in WY. I met Dru Robert during this paint out and found a person who has had lots of similar experiences, so much so that we were starting to think we were living in parallel universe's.

Time For A Refill
11x14 oil
Here are a couple of painting at Grants Ranch near Glenrock Wy. for the Prairie to Peaks Plein Air in Wy. What a gas. The first week up in Cheyenne was a get to know the area and then the second week I was fortunate to stay with the Butcher family in Glenrock WY. They are the salt of the earth. The nicest people you will ever meet. Ginny and Duane showed the gems of WY which is the people and the ranches that are tucked away from the highway.

Grants Ranch
11x14 oil
There is so much to enjoy in WY that I am already planning to go back. Can't wait and with hosts and guides like Ginny and Duane the time spent there will produce some amazing paintings.