Friday, December 1, 2017

Autumn

Some oil paintings from October and November:

Late-blooming roses.
Autumn Roses, 9 x 7" oil on linen/birch.

A stem of sumac leaves, with the light shining through them.
Sumac Leaf, 7 x 9" oil on linen/birch.

Gathered hickory nuts from the woods.
Hickory Nuts, 8 x 8" oil on linen/birch.

A little study of autumn color, fields and pastures, and a few grazing cows.
Green and Golden, 5 x 7" plein air oil on linen/birch. October 17, 2017.

A blue-sky day along the river. Painted in Alma, Wisconsin.
6 x 8" plein air oil on linen/hardboard. October 19, 2017. Sold

Followed by a cloudy one. Painted in Brownsville, Minnesota.
On the River, 6 x 8" plein air oil on linen/hardboard. October 20, 2017.

In a week's time most of the leaves in the woods were on the forest floor instead of in the canopy.
9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/hardboard. October 25, 2017.



Falling snow and sleet softened the view of the landscape and heightened the color of the green moss and the dark trees in the woods.
10 x 8" plein air oil on linen/birch. October 27, 2017.

There is a particular row of pear trees in the orchard that always turns beautifully red in the fall. I broke off a few twigs before a hard frost robbed the leaves of their vibrant color.
Pear Leaves, 12 x 12" oil on linen/birch.

First snow. It didn't stick around long, but it was beautiful while it lasted.
First Snow, 8 x 10" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 1, 2017.

Another little still life of things gathered in the woods.
Oak Leaf and Acorn, 7 x 10" oil on linen/birch.


The last of the nasturtiums, which had been kept through a few frosts outside already.
Nasturtiums, 8 x 8" oil on linen/birch.

A quick study of the oranges and greens of a cold November evening.
7 x 10" plein air oil and linen/birch. November 9, 2017.

The old frame of a barn along a country road.
9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/hardboard. November 12, 2017.

A study of the familiar sweep of the south-side fields on the home farm. The cold weather has changed the greens, softening and dulling their hues.
Windswept Fields, 9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 13, 2017.

 And a little study of the fields and woods to the north. The colors at dusk.
5 x 7" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 13, 2017.

 A sunshine day in a field of hay.
7 x 10" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 18, 2017.

A day to give thanks. One among many.
7 x 10" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 23, 2017.

Despite a stretch of warmer days, a little bit of ice remained on the shaded edge of the pond.
9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 27, 2017.

 After keeping out during most of the deer hunting season, it was good to get back down amongst the trees again.
7 x 10" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 28, 2017.

One more painting for the month of November. I knew just where I wanted to paint, and went there directly, but I didn't stay there after all. The old draw of the woods kept me wandering and meandering through the trees and up and down hill until the shadows were long and there was only just enough daylight left for an attempt at capturing this little group of birch trees.
10 x 8" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 30, 2017.