Last Light

Last Light, 20 x 24 oil on canvas
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This is a larger version of a plein air study I posted back in December, depicting Lake Travis at dusk.  I will be showing it and other recent work in April, along with that of Julie Davis and our friend and mentor Laurel Daniel at the Davis Gallery here in Austin. I'm excited to be exhibiting with these two and very appreciative to Laurel for inviting us to hang our work with hers at her spring show.

Last Light

Last Light, 6x8

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The plan this day was to paint a beautiful Texas sunset over Lake Travis. We had a fabulous spot at the property of our wonderful and generous Plein Air Austin co-member, Lynn. Since I happened to arrive a few minutes late, however, and with every moment so precious, I decided to take the easy way out and paint the pretty, indirect light coming off the water facing north. 

It turned out to be no bargain. The subtle light and color shifts (which, like the actual sunset, were still constantly changing) were more than enough to demand all the focus I had. The exercise was valuable, however, and certainly one that bears repeating and continuing to learn to see and render such subtle, yet powerful differences.

Krause Springs Cactus

Cactus On The Rocks, 6x6

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The site of last week's PAA paintout, Krause Springs is about thirty-five miles west of Austin, not far from where the Pedernales River feeds into Lake Travis. Our summer sites are invariably near water, so we can cool off before, during or after we put the paintbrushes away. This particular day, the forecast was for a high of 105º, so it was absolutely necessary to take a dip in the 72º spring early on to keep cool while painting. I chose this rocky, cactus-laden outcropping partly because it offered nearby shade and also a variety of textures, colors and values.

Holding Back

Holding Back, 9 x 12

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This painting was a long time in completing. The subject is from our last Plein Air Austin paintout of April, at Mansfield Dam. I blocked in the main shapes and colors and not much more while on site and hadn't gotten back to it until today. I think I knew I had a big challenge ahead of me to make this complex structure both believable and compelling. Overall, I'm happy with how it turned out and something close to elated to have it behind me.

As The Sun Sets, A Lake Rises

A Lake Rises, 8 x 10

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Thursday evening, a few of us from the Plein Air Austin group painted the sunset at the beautiful home of Lynn Cohagan, which overlooks Lake Travis. (Next time, I want to paint her house. It's SO beautiful).
Thanks to more frequent rain in the last two months, the lake is finally starting to fill back up. It still has over thirty-five feet to go to reach its normal level, but we're glad it's heading in the right direction, for a change.

This is my first attempt at painting a sunset, but since Laurel was painting close by, I wasn't as intimidated by the task as I would have been, had such fool-proof help not been so readily available.

More, Please

More, Please, 10 x 8

The paintout this Wednesday was at Lake Travis. We had to take cover early under a gazebo, but it was worthwhile just to watch the rain approach and sweep down the lake. The storm lingered long enough to bring the temperature down to 72º, for a couple hours, anyway.