Salmon fishing day 2

I have blocked out the major colors for the painting. After this first layer dries I can start filling in values and details.

Thor - Third time's the charm day 2

Working on the Thor painting. Got the new arm outlined, and the face is ready to be redone. As well as placed in some of the basic detail work for Mjolnir.

Thor - Third time is the charm

Started work again on my old Thor painting. I felt like we had unfinished business and this was a good time to finish this piece. I added an ultramarine blue wash over the entire figure to try and bring the colors closer together into a  harmony with the background. And I started the background fresh cleaning it up with a better plan for the lightning. 

Beginning "Salmon Fishing"

Underpainting for the painting "Salmon Fishing". I used complimentary colors for the underpainting. But stayed on the warm scale just using different combinations of red and orange mixed with turpentine.

Who is ready for this bad boy? I know I am. Underpainting done in warm complimentary colors. 

Nothing is more daunting and yet more inspiring then a new clean canvas. However as I always say, the hardest part about painting is getting the paint on the canvas. 

Idaho Falls Temple - Day Two

View of the Idaho Falls Temple from the Snake River. Painted in the style of the post-impressionists. Inspired by Vincent Van Gogh the painting was done using both alla prima and impasto techniques in his style.

"Idaho Falls Temple" 24 x 30 inches - Oil painting on canvas

Idaho Falls Temple - Day One

Started to blend the base of the sky together. Will add stronger accents later. 

Added dark green grass and a black and red mixture for the slope leading to water. 

Worked more on sky and started to add trees.

Started some sky and some color to the base of the temple.

Working on the base of the temple. 

Detail view of angel on top of temple. Done in metallic gold paint. With black shadows and red accents. 

Starting - Idaho Falls Temple

Pre-sketch and underpainting for the Idaho Falls Temple. Done in a post-impressionistic style. The rest of the painting should be done alla prima.

Underpainting done in French Ultramarine

First pre-sketch done with graphite stick

Tetons at Jackson Lake - FINISHED

16x40 Inches Oil painting on stretched canvas "Tetons at Jackson Lake" 

Tetons at Jackson Lake - Beginning the lake

I have completed phase one of the lake. Using a technique that I have not used before known as Alla Prima. Also known as Wet on Wet. It is a technique made most famous by the artist Bob Ross. It allowed me to achieve a smooth and soft blurring of the shapes and color to create a good reflection in the water. 

Tetons at Jackson Lake - Mountains Completed

As you can see I completed the Teton mountain range in my painting. I added the trees, rocks and forest to the last mountain slope. 

Tetons at Jackson lake - Second to last peak

Finished the second to last peak on the mountain range. Painted in the rock detail, variances in green and all of the trees and bushes.

Tetons at Jackson Lake painting - Grass

I applied the grass color for the next two sections of the Teton mountain range. The grass should dry before I start placing all of the rest of the detail on top.

"Tetons at Jackson Lake" painting continued

Moving down the mountain range. We finally start to see some noticeable changes towards green as the vegetation becomes more visible when mountains come closer to the viewer. As well as being able to see individual pine trees.

Tetons at Jackson Lake Second Set of Peaks

I added highlights and shadows to the second set of peaks. It is at this point we subtly start to move away from monochromatic blue color pallet. Starting to move toward the browns and greens that will dominate the next set of peaks.

Details on first two peaks

I added both highlights and shadows into the back two peaks. Withe snow detail and forest silhouette along the slopes. I will have to let the first two peaks dry before I can move onto the next one.

Tetons at Jackson Lake Clouds

Today I added clouds to the sky of the painting. Then I added the base colors for the first three peaks of the mountain range. 

Veronica Painting Frame

I finally got the frame for my Veronica painting. It is a fully archival quality frame with an acid free barrier to stop the painting from yellowing and also has a cloth liner to help protect the painting from dust buildup and other pollutants. Most importantly it is gorgeous and matches the painting perfectly. 

Tetons at Jackson Lake - Sky

I am trying something new with this painting. I am thinning my paint way down with linseed oil. Usually I work much thicker with my paint and if I did thin it down I used Liquin the quick drying medium. So I expect each layer will take longer to dry but my blending should be smoother. And i am also expecting to be able to get some pretty sharp detail with this highly thinned down paint.

Underpainting for Tetons at Jackson Lake

Then I sketched in the landscape with burnt sienna oil paint loaded with lots of quick drying medium.

First I stained the canvas with a mixture of burn sienna and turpentine.

Veronica Blair Pedersen COMPLETED

Completed portrait of my late wife Veronica Blair Pedersen 7/10/1989 - 5/1/2015
It is oil on canvas.
Portrait set in an apple orchard (she sure loved apples with her cinnamon) with a beautiful sunset and flowers. Something very much like we always dreamed of having together. Our personal paradise.

I initially set out to paint a beautiful portrait with her smiling in a light and happy manner. She was a very light and happy person. But I think some of my profound sadness over the loss of her found its way into her face. I decided to keep it this way because I know she in fact would be very sad about how her life was cut tragically short. Right on the cusp of motherhood, her life's passion. She would be devastated by the loss of those precious life experiences she has been denied. And I am sure she would miss me every bit as much as I miss her. I feel this painting has the perfect balance of beauty and sorrow to be a fitting memorial to her. There should be a grand memorial to her, for she was one in a million. Improving and lighting up the lives of everyone she came in contact with. And the world should know how great of a loss it had the day she was killed.

The technique I used to paint this painting was quite lose and experimental. Essentially I just decided to not over think it. To paint with what came most naturally and fluid until the painting felt right. So paint by feeling I did, and it was accomplished at break neck speed. The bulk of the painting being achieved in the span of little more then a week. But I feel it was done right. It feels right, and now I go to find a fitting golden frame for it. 

Veronica Progress Face

I cannot help but think she looks sad. I tried to make her look happy but instead she look sad. But not just any say, sad like about to erupt into sobs kind of sad.

More Veronica Painting Progress

Veronica Painting Progress

Veronica First Layer

I finally finished the first layer of paint for the painting. I have covered most of the background underpainting. I feel I will need to let this layer dry before I can continue the painting. 

Veronica Under Painting

I heard there was a color theory used in oil painting where you use the complimentary colors of your intended colors for the under painting. This is the underpainting of my late wife Veronica where I am experimenting with this technique to see if it really brings more life to the colors in the painting.