Half Dome

oil on canvas panel 10x8 inches
I'm satisfied with this, my first attempt at painting Half Dome. Plein air is always a learning experience for me, and I think I'm making progress. A grander subject would be hard to come by. It was a good challenge and just a blast to be there doing it!

Painting Half Dome

I painted in this spot for about three hours today (yep, that's me)...too much fun! I'd post my resulting painting, but there are some changes to be made first. Surprisingly, today I met five other painters and enjoyed seeing what they were doing and visiting with them. It turns out Yosemite is not only a Mecca for climbers and hikers, but painters as well.

Costello Family's Yosemite Valley

oil on canvas 36x48 inches

not for sale

Now for something different. I completed this painting in December as a Christmas gift to our daughter and family. (Their request.) So with this, I went from painting little 6x6s to pretty big! It was a blast. And I had a really good reason to buy a beautiful Best easel!!! The sky is my favorite part. I worked from six good photos Shelly had taken when they visited Yosemite last summer. I give credit to Greg La Rock (a fabulous plein air painter) who taught atmospheric perspective at his workshop I attended last spring. I doubt I would have gotten the depth without his instruction. It's finally dry and varnished, ready for the framer. We all are very excited to see it hanging in their living room. I hope you enjoy.