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.

Off To Yosemite

We spent the day driving to Yosemite National Park. No painting today, so this view out the back door of our Lodge room will have to suffice. I hope to paint tomorrow...and hike! The weather is in the 70's and the summer crowds are gone. I'm so excited to be here!

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.