Civic Center Big Air off to Venice

Beach, California that is...given as a gift to one of the head engineers on the Big Air project from 2011. I was contacted by the family of the artist with a great proposal, to give this painting as a birthday gift to the one and only Dave McKay. You can see Dave in the Hot Wheels double loop video above, talking about some of the awesome specifics of his daily routine. A real honor to have met Dave, and to have seen his work in the flesh, not to mention get a chance to paint one of his creations. Dave also was involved with the Felix Baumgartner space drop, and surely many other amazing projects I have no knowledge of. 

This particular painting began en plein air, and finished in studio from memory and on location photo reference. Above is the progress from the field, 3 hours working time, and the studio finish which I spent close to 5 hours to finish the painting. Boosting contrast in the values, pushing and pulling the edges, also using a large flat and small filbert to lay in an indication of the elaborate rigging and scaffolding. I eliminated a few elements from the field painting as I saw ways to enhance the composition once in studio. I also added a foreground cast shadow to push the contrast to the focus of the painting, the bright light hitting the ramp entrance high in the sky above the downtown Denver backdrop.

It is a real pleasure to go out in the field to paint, you never know what might happen.

(Photo of progress by Dave McKay)

You might also enjoy:

Cessna Commission 

Cessna Study

Hitch Plein Air 

Eisenhower Commission 

2013 Colorado Plein Air People's Choice Award

was bestowed upon me this year and what an honor! I have been participating in the Colorado Plein Air Festival for six years now, and the great people I have met, places I have seen, and locations I have had the opportunity to capture just amazes me! I cannot say enough about the organization, and the importance of working from observation to hone your skills, no matter what field you have a career in. I was unaware that this award had been granted to me and my painting "View from the clock tower". This painting was created alla prima during the 3 hour "paint-out" held at the historic D & F Clock tower in downtown Denver. 

This location is one that should not be missed, "in the heart of Denver, this venue features five unique floors connected by staircases. Two of the floors offer wraparound balconies (where we set up to paint) offering breathtaking panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains." Excerpt from Clock tower Events, check the website for more info. 

The two awards that I received this year from CPAF are an honor and a privilege to have gained, and a great inspiration as I continue to learn and grow as a fine artist. I want to sincerely thank Chris Serr for her ongoing support and hard work, all the judges and most of all the show attendees for your votes! I am stunned by this outpouring from this years show. Please take the time to visit the links, view the award winners and look into the organizations and events that are held through CPAF and its subsidiaries. Thank you for stopping in to view the work and share in this award with me! Look for more posts soon. 

Engineering, Speed and Construction

                 

are the underlying themes for this series of miniature oil paintings, aptly titled "Hot Wheels Training Facility". In 2011 I had the pleasure of meeting one of the head engineers for the Civic Center Big Air competition that was held directly in front of the Denver courthouse and capitol building. Dave McKay is the engineer's name and we got to talking more as I painted the ramp construction en plein air. We exchanged information and artwork for big air tickets, the good stuff you know. The event went off and it was amazing to see the view from the press area of the big air ramp, check the links for photos. 

Not too long after the Big Air event I received some "Top Secret" reference photos of another project Dave was working on and to say the least it was impressive. These paintings are a result of the "leaked" reference photos, and I am honored to have them to work from. Rarely are these opportunities afforded to an artist. These works were created as miniatures to simplify detail but also in an effort to focus more on the color and design of this 90 foot roll off ramp and the stages of construction. The thing is basically a 90' snowboard big air ramp for the customized tank you see Tanner Foust driving in the videos.

Dave also makes an appearance in the third video talking about the Double Loop stunt he was working on, another Hot Wheels world record attempt. More of Dave's work was witnessed by most of the world as Felix Baumgartner fell from the edge of space.

The four piece series also includes a fifth larger painting that is still in the works. The overall heavy engineering and conceptual construction inspired me to get these works framed in a different fashion than usual. I turned to my good friend, artist, and metal fabricator Stereo Abstract. Constructed of steel and welded into square frame format, these custom housings are a great compliment and really finish these paintings off with a nice touch. 

These paintings will be on display and for sale in a gallery show near you, stay tuned! 

Thanks for stopping in to view the work!

"Hot Wheels Training Facility 4"

Oil on canvas 

2012

3" x 4" (2) and 4" x 4" (2)

Estes Raven

Some new works that will be in an upcoming December show, more info on this series of works, the show opening, demonstration dates/times, and the online preview. Thanks for stopping by!

"Estes Raven" Oil on board 

Colorado Plein Air Festival 2013 Opening Reception

is this evening at the Denver Public Library's 7th Floor gallery. This year's showcase is sure to be bigger, more diversified and showcase even more artists than the previous years. The Denver Plein Air Festival is known as the country's largest urban event of its kind. As this event has grown it has expanded its boundaries and taken on the title of the "Colorado Plein Air Festival", adding Colorado Mountain Parks and the Lariat Loop as partners while opening the variety of paint-out locations to include areas and historic sites throughout the state of Colorado. I submitted five works to this years jury, and I had one accepted. That piece is shown on the E-flyer, but to see the work in its full grandeur, adorned with a hand made frame then you will have to attend the show and view the works in person, it is well worth it, not to mention the collection of Allen Tupper True works the 7th floor houses amongst many other large scale masterpieces. 

All of the paintings can be viewed through the online preview, and the accepted works can be seen in the professional category. I will post all of my submissions and opening photos in a future post this week. I am excited for this year's showcase, and please to hear that my 1st place painting from the Museum residences paint-out sold. 

DPAAF 2012 Juried Competition

was a great showcase of both new and established Plein air painters. Best in Show and 1st Place was awarded to Jim Beckner for the second year in a row, and his work speaks volumes towards this award.

I was honored to have 5 paintings accepted, and even more psyched to be awarded an honorable mention for "Shapes and Shadows", the first painting I completed for the competition.

I was a little disappointed that I was not able to get out and paint more works, and larger works. It is always gratifying to know that the more painting on location I indulge in, the better my speed, accuracy, and value organization becomes.

These three attributes are only a mere step towards being a better painter, but I hope to push myself, and my ability to be comfortable out of the studio, and working from observation.

Other award winners and the entire exhibition can be viewed by visiting the GTMD.org website. Above are my framed submissions, and my fourth year in a row, (shameless self promo) award winning painting. Framing done by the wonderful folks at Abend Gallery, thanks!

A warm thank you and appreciation to everyone who follows the blog, promotes the work, and takes the time to stop through and see the information in this blog. On this day of thanks I have to extend my gratification to you all, and those who support and (share...hint hint) artists and their careers.

I have new information and platforms that I will be using for promo, process and the like, look for info on tumblr, and Instagram feeds soon. I will still post on this blog but am aiming to split up process steps, and final works in a more meaningful online direction.

Have a happy thanksgiving from me to you!

DPAAF 2011 Opening Show Nov. 15th

The 5th Annual Denver Plein Air Arts Fest opens tomorrow on the 7th Floor Gallery at the Denver Public Library. I am honored and excited to have three pieces in this years exhibition. I hope to see you all at the show. Seen above is a plein air piece from outside Estes Park completed in September.

"Fading Light" Oil on Linen 8 x 10

Four Seasons Finals

Above are the final paintings of the four seasons series that are now destined for South Carolina. Painted from imagination, these were a fun to work through and aim for mood, movement, and overall harmony of light and shadow, I feel it was successful. Excited to see them in their final home, will post final install photos when the pieces arrive down south. I will have giclees available individually, and in sets of four. Thanks for stopping in.

Four Seasons Commission Color Studies

Current commission that I will doing for a long time friend that I am so excited about, these color studies are from imagination and I will be using these to work from for the final four paintings.

Through The Lines

"Through The Lines" Oil on Canvas, 5" x 7" Study for a larger work, thanks for stopping by.

Constructive Destruction Digital Capture

"Constructive Destruction", DPAAF 2nd Place 2010, 15.5" x 12.25"

Recently recieived my digital captures back from the wonderful folks at Colorline. Chuck and his wife Teresa always produce a fine product for artists of all genres. Look them up or follow the link below.

Colorline Digital Printing, Fine-Art Printmaking & Graphic Design

Cessna departing Studio

In February, I had completed this commission of a Cessna 182, this is a quick mobile photo of the piece on its way out the door of the studio to the collector, digital capture will be posted at a later date, but for now you can see the finish has many of the qualities of the Study I posted about earlier, and many that were more spontaneous as the painting was taking form.

Previous DD Arts: Cessna 182 Commission

Trackside on 38th

This is a study created from reference and a sketch, across the tracks near 38th you can get a interesting play on atmospheric perspective. There are a few intermodel bases, oil cars, and a lone boxcar or two, all made for an interesting arrangement to me. Larger pieces are in the works from these studies.

"Overcast Trackside 38th" Oil on canvas, 5 x 7

Wyoming Chilled Express

All apologies for the lapse in posts, I am heading out of town for a music, art and all around jam down south, and have been moving to a new apartment and putting extensive fabrication work into the new studio, which is looking incredibly sharp......stop by for second Saturday this weekend, I wont be there to see you but you will enjoy the open studios.

Here is a piece that was done as a study, sold to a collector, and now is being pruned into a larger work. More on that and many other works in progress, which I know I have to keep you up to date on.......more from Texas later bloggers.

"Wyoming Chilled Express" Oil, 6" x 8"

Lost Big Air Progress

I realized I did not post any progress photos from the Big Air plein air piece, and I have a photo of the piece at about the two hour mark. Hope you all enjoy, and follow the link for more info about this event.

Related Link from earlier post: Denver Big Air Plein Air

Cessna 182 Commission

8" x 10" Color study in oil for a larger commission, utilizing multiple reference shots to create color and composition key. Look for the final piece soon, or possibly just a detail shot based on what the client whats to expose of the final image. This was painted on a double-primed canvas mounted to gator board, definitely going to be using more of these, thanks so much Chris!

3 Portrait Pochades

Quick post for today, here are three quick oil sketches on miniature boards. In order of appearance from L to R, oil sketch from sketchbook drawing, MLK oil sketch from photo reference, and Yoda oil sketch from observation and photo ref. These are all studies for larger works, palette used was Titanium White, Cad Yellow Light, Alizaron Crimson, and French Ultramarine on 2" x 2 3/4" miniature canvas boards.

Works in Progress

These color studies are for works in progress at a larger scale, wanted to post these as a preview of things to come. I utilize color studies quite often, although there is a great post on Petar Mesildzija's blog that approaches the topic from his working point of view, I find it relevant and interesting because it talks about steps of the process that may or may not be necessary to each painter depending on his or her comfortability. I have worked in both regards, but feel the work benefits from as much preliminary problem solving as possible. Quite possibly Petar is just so damn good at what he does these steps aren't necessary for a painter as talented as he.

Petar Meseldzija Art: Another Tolkien Interpretation

.... I wish I could go fishing

Fishing on Friday sounds great, however I am painting in the studio, so I will post one of my favorite little fishing holes located in Nederland. This piece was completed 90% in plein air, and 10% in the studio. Wish i was shoreside throwing a line.....but maybe next weekend.

"Nederland Fishing Hole" Oil on canvas, 8 x 8

Back to the Easel

What happens with zero visibility, negative temperatures, and the sun deciding to shine through and battle with old man winter? You get this type of amazing high key play on light and color. This painting is a study for a larger work in the making.

"Windblown", Oil on canvas, 5" x 7"