"Sonora Pass Study" 6x8 1st painting of the morning

I love painting so many different subjects- everything from architecture to animals to cityscapes to rural scenes- but my true love is pure landscape. Fast-moving, dramatic light on a vista with no human touches marring the view gets my heart beating faster and makes me just have to get out the paints. It seems like recently I've been painting everything but pure landscape, and I've not felt quite as excited about painting as I usually do. So last week, I decided to put everything else aside and head up to the Sierras to re-connect with my true passion. And the Sierras didn't let me down! I got up at 4, threw the dogs in the car and was at the top of Sonora Pass by 6:30. The sun hadn't quite made it over the rim of the mountains, so it was perfect timing: I had a chance to set up my gear and get all ready for sunrise. This time of year, dawn happens in a flash, and you'd better be ready to move fast. I started with a little 6x8 and had paint flying everywhere..as usual, I got too excited and started out too fast. The second painting, a 10x12, was a little more planned out and technically more successful. But there's something about the immediacy and energy of that first little study that I like - it's emotion on canvas rather than calculated painting. Every good painting should be a combination of both, and this trip to the high country reminded me of that.


"Solstice Sunrise" 10x12 - 2nd painting of the morning