October

 October Path, pastel, 12x18, ©Chris Willey

October Ground Cover, acrylic, 12x24, ©Chris Willey

Marr Park is beautiful this time of year. It has beautiful hills covered with reddish ground cover, orange leaves, and dying grass. The weather is cool. The light is gorgeous. This is my favorite time of year to be alive. 

April Weeds, Amped, acrylic, 12x16, ©Chris Willey

I know it is now October and I'm posting an April painting. This was a little plein air study that I was going to paint over, but instead, decided to play with. I liked the spots of arbitrary color. The purple is the color of the weeds in April. I'm sure the farmers hate them, but I adore them.

October Paintings

Cows, acrylic on linen, 16x20, ©Chris Willey

Final redo. I began plein air. Then I redesigned some of the ground movement. I finessed it again, changing the fence line and the movement. finally, I adjusted the contrast and colors. Done. Third time's a charm.

 

October Soy Fields, acrylic on linen, 16x20, ©Chris Willey

In September, the fields were bright yellow. The colors are now golden. The trees are turning orange.

draw-a-thon

Bikini Girl, Acrylic, 30"h x 18"w, ©Chris Willey

Chad's Mom, watercolor and pastel, ©Chris Willey

The Student Artist's Coalition sponsored a 24 hour Draw-a-thon in September. I stayed for 12 hours. I got lots of drawing, but little to show at the end of the night -- other than I feel warmed up for the semester. This was a small watercolor and pastel on gessoed paper. I'm working on another from that event, so stay tuned. 

Fall Paintings

 September Creek, acrylic, 18"h x 24"w, ©Chris Willey

 

Three Oranges, acrylic, 11"h x 14"w, ©Chris Willey

 

Clark & Mitchell, acrylic, 12"h x 16"w, ©Chris Willey

September Soy Fields, acrylic, 24"h x 36"w, ©Chris Willey

Studies

 

Fall Creek, acrylic, 8x10, ©Chris Willey

I love this little study. I'm doing a larger painting from it. I hope I like it as well.

UCM Haybales, acrylic, 8x10, ©Chris Willey

Ten Minute Sky Study, acrylic, 8x10, ©Chris Willey

Small studies allow me to think about the space, design, paint and ponder what elements attract me and what elements will make it to a larger painting. They are no commitment paintings -- just fun dates. And often they turn into great learning experiences and sometimes, little gems. 

Fall Plein Air Painting -- small works of moderate success

 

Cave Hollow, acrylic, 11x14, ©Chris Willey

 

Cave Hollow Creek, acrylic, 11x14, ©Chris Willey

 

Marr Creek, August, pastel, 12x18m ©Chris Willey

July

Frisco Bog, acrylic, 8"h x 10"w, ©Chris Willey

Hanging Lake (Glenwood Springs, July), acrylic, 16hx20w, ©Chris Willey

We took a 3 week vacation to Colorado (all over), Park City, Utah, and Monterey, California.
This was from a hike near Glenwood Springs. It is a mile and a half up to this beautiful lake. Doesn't sound so bad, but it took an hour and a half to reach it. It felt like rock climbing, but the teenagers leaping past me indicated otherwise. I packed my fanny pack with a small watercolor set, post card size paper, and a tiny digital camera. I painted when we made it to the lake. I did another study back in our hotel, and finally, I did this one.