Skip to content

Commission, Cat, Correction, Challenge

Someone, let’s call her JL, bought this 8×8″ painting, “Hiking Mineral King” at Kaweah Arts as a Christmas gift for her son.

He loved it and requested a second 8×8″ painting to go with it for his birthday. JL isn’t familiar with Mineral King, so I made a couple of suggestions. The son chose Sawtooth, based on this painting that I sent to JL.

I must have made that one up because there is no such photo. As a result, I spent a big part of a day making it up again, looking at a handful of photos. (The photo on the right does NOT have a waterfall—that is a reflection.)

After this dries, I will work on more details, polishing and finessing. I need to hustle my bustle, because there is a definite delivery date.

Tucker stayed with me for most of the day as I painted.

On the same day, I spent a fair amount of time studying this painting.

Can you tell any difference now? I can, muy poquito.

This painting reminds me of one I did several years ago, one that was definitely a large challenge for me in 2015 (might still be). I just kept guessing, layering, correcting, and slowly improving it. It is now one of my paintings that I am most proud of.

4 Comments

  1. That last one really is lovely! Or maybe I’m taken with it because it reminds me of something my aunt did many decades ago. As I remember it, it was a fall scene, similar fine-leafed deciduous trees. It was painted across a cement wall that was part of a storm shelter in Oklahoma (coolest – as in air – part of the house). Family members napped in that room in the summer. It was probably 8′ wide or better. And the rest of the story…my grandparents who owned the place moved to Washington to be nearer my folks. The house, much of it remodeled from time to time by my grandfather, the stone mason, was turned into a parking lot for a grocery store. They say artists paint to elicit emotions in people. There y’go – you did! Paint on!

    • Donna, what an interesting story! What a bold thing for your aunt to do, because that must have been before murals were so common. And what a blow to have it turned into a parking lot. Thank you for sharing this, and for liking that painting I did of a creek in North Carolina where Grandma grew up. Whenever I struggle with a painting, I will try to remember your story in hopes that the results will touch someone.

  2. Yay, Sawtooth! The beautiful painting you did for me looks very similar; just less road and more wildflowers. I like mine mucho!

    Painting shown at the last of your blog is most beautiful! Is it of a specific place, or just a “wish I were here” location?

    (Hi, Tucker! You look fat & sassy!)

    • Sharon, I called this one Sawtooth #34, but there are many other paintings of your favorite peak that I didn’t number. This one turned out well, thanks!
      The last painting is a creek in North Carolina where Grandma grew up. I did the painting for my Mom after we visited the place together. A cousin warned us to not cross because he said there were poisonous snakes on the property, so Mom and I picked up stones in the creek and just wondered about things (rather than wandered about).


Comments are closed for this article!