REACTIVATING

We'll be entering new images and posts over the next few days.  It's simply resolving to become more active in this mode.  For those of you who have 'stuck with us' we really hope you'll submit any comments and suggestions.  Thanks for checking in.  Dan and Judith

Gene's Mares

This is a quickie effort from today. About 45 minutes spent out in the wind in a hooded sweatshirt hunkered up against one of our sheds in the backyard. These horses live next door ( we live right on the edge of our small town. ) Of course, the animals don't know enough to stand still and that makes for a challenge along with all the other attendant plein air obstacles. But, it is to be considered a learning experience and it's especially good to be getting out now that the weather is beginning to warm.

Alley Shed

Two approaches to the same subject ~ I'd done a quick pen/pencil sketch in this alley last summer in the early morning light. The knife painting is 8x10 and the other is 5x7.

Icy Lake ~ Plein Air

It isn't usual for us to be out

for any plein air activity

during winter months but we've

had some fair weather on

a couple occasions. This

frozen, small lake is just

three miles from home. I

did add the trees back in the

studio. It's 8x10 oil

South Woodlot

This is definitely just a WIP and I intend to finish it today. I spent about 2 1/2 hours yesterday ( 11 Sept 11 ) in our woodlot where we gather our firewood. It's located two miles south of our home. The setting is strewn with downed trees as well as new growth in all sizes and shapes. The huge fallen cottonwoods have accumulated over may years but they're too large to handle for firewood use unless heavy equipment could be used. We don't have that ! This is 9x12 oil on canvas board. Palette; CYL, CYD, CRL, ALIZ, ULT and Permalba White. Dan

Sodbuster Barn

I've recently begun working more with gouache
in order to be more familiar with its properties
for winter studio work. There are many similarities
to oil but the quick drying time takes some time to
get accustomed to, I think. This decaying barn
was located just a bit north of the South Dakota
northern border into North Dakota. It's near the
site of a semi-annual Sodbuster Festival where
out-dated farming methods are displayed. Most
work is done using real horse power! Since I
painted this scene, the building was razed and
burned. That has become almost a pattern in
my quest for the old and worn. Churches and
farmstead buildings have disappeared in the
wake of being recorded on canvas. There is a
sadness in it but no solution. Only to keep
at whatever subjects appeal to us and they do
seem to have much appeal to landscape painters
everywhere.

September 2011

Time just plain gets away from us. Blogging takes time!.......for sure.......and it's time we ought to spend standing before our easels. BUT.........since we do find that following the blogs of others can be of help and inspiration we do hope to get back into some regular additions. As our winter approaches we also have determined to produce some plein air oil sketches to use as reference after the cold chases us indoors. We hope our followers haven't completely abandoned us. Stay tuned. Dan and Judith