From the sketchbooks...

Top: TA Ranch in northern part of state in fall. (Water color pencils)

Middle: Out north of Rexburg. (Colored Pencil)

Bottom: Looking through shady timber to sunlit meadow and willows. (Water color pencils)

Love the HP scanner - now I'm able to mobilize the sketch books in a whole new way - making thumbnails for larger studies, portfolio use and possibly making prints on heavier paper to which I'll add a little more brush or colored pencil work. One friend sells his raw prints for $25 each and they look great - each is unique.

Latest installment of the Parade

Lightened the distant shadows a bit, added a few more high lights, etc. Changed the road a bit. Give me some ideas what to do next.
Andrea said Corbin had just given her his soggy rice crispy treat - strange that the whole picture hangs on something so trivial. I thought she was eating one herself all this time.

More refinement on the parade scene

The Narrows

This is a quick acrylic study for a larger painting on down the road. The Narrows is the link between the Upper and Lower Valleys in Star Valley. The Salt River meanders through and the hills seem to come close to the banks. There was a herd of buffalo pasturing in there when I was a kid. In high school I worked at the Silver Stream Lodge just to the left out of the shot. The Cafe burned down a few years ago, but the cabins are still there. To the right was the neatest short cut to Turnerville. We found that it's now closed- another casualty to wealth.

Painting -Step 7

A few more highlights and low-lights added. I'm satisfied with the sky and most leaves, sunlight on road... Now working my way down the painting adding more layers. Funny how you start to make judgments as the project ages. It's always rolling around in the back of my brain while I do other things. Makes me think a lot about the kids and their families etc. Almost like having company. This represents the end of 2 days work. I hope it will feel finished in 2 more days.

Painting Step 6 Are we there yet?

It's starting to take shape - really a life of it's own. Several corrections to make even though it was gridded out, the flag, for instance is lining up with the tree trunk - very bad - no tangents allowed. The skin is coming - but needs more work, etc. How much expression do I work in? I want to keep it loose....hang on for the ride...what do I tell my kids? Acrylics are very forgiving - paint over it!

Painting Step 4: Whites and warms