I have spent the day working on my Cougar commission. It is pretty well blocked in and I have begun detailing both the Cougar and the rocks. I have begun working on reflective lights back into the shadows of the rock. The stream cascading is also beginning to take shape. The painting is now at a point where I'll have to give it a few days of drying befor progressing any further.

I have finished the Doe and two fawns in the morning Aspens but in asking several people their opinions of that and this painting. THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTED, which is an oil painting I am about decided to enter this in the show rather than the Deer. Would like any other opinions from anyone viewing this. I have only a few days to decide.

SOLD

I have been spending a lot of time on this painting and have it down to maybe two more sittings. I did change a few things from last posting. Deleting and a little addition. Have yet to do a little more detail and value rendering on the deer and the foreground vegetation but am pleased with the composition and lighting. Deadline is getting close to enter this in the show I am painting this piece for but should make it fine.

I have gotten back to work on my cougar painting. blocking in the cougar with color and have begun detailing the rocks behind and on left side. Next sitting will be more work on cat and beginning work on the water. This is the point that becomes a little tedious and mechanical and takes a lot of stick-to-itness.

I spent the afternoon working on the aspens and the spruce tree to the right and the area of meadow and grasses under and behind the right side aspens. This morning Vicki and I have to run over to Jackson with a dinner[lunch]appointment with an artist friend of ours who is there from Scottsdale skiing. It will be great fun to see Devin. Devin is a constant companion artist on my teaching pack trips during the summer and a fine watercolor artist. Her journals and journal art are outstanding.
Will then get back to this painting. I will start working on the deer next and probably finish blocking out the foreground grasses.

I know I had promised to show progressive work some time ago on the cougar painting I had started but had to put it aside to finish some other projects. I am now ready to get back to work on both it and this new piece, June Morning which I am working on to enter in an upcoming show. It is a 20"x30" Gouache watrcolor. Watch it progress, and, very soon the Cougar painting.

This is a commissioned Oil Painting with the view looking down on Bear Creek which is N E of Dubois. Image size is 30"x40". Was challenging but enjoyable to do with the myriads of wildflowers involved. Dominated by blue Lupine and the Wyoming state flower, Indian Paintbrush which is a parasitic flower. I have thrown in some yellow violets and white lousewort.
Now it is-get busy time-on the 3d commission I am doing which I posted incomplete some time ago. BOMBER BASIN COUGAR. I will be posting on days I work on it so you can watch the progress as it evolves.
It is August and I have just sold this painting to a collector from Florida. I think it has found a good home.
SOLD

After a month of painting, I have finally completed two of the three major commission paintings I have been working on. This is a view of the meadows and ranch house of Bert and Leigh Tuckey east of Dubois on the Wind River Reservation. It is a beautiful ranch area and would like to do a number of other paintings from this ranch. This is an oil painting image size 24"x36".
SOLD

This is a small oil painting I have just completed. 8"x16" JAKEYS FORK MULE DEER It is one of the small paintings I work on between the 3 or 4 larger pieces I am constantly painting. It is a diversion from these more demanding paintings and something to do as I await drying time on the larger pieces.
SOLD

Have not accomplished a lot this week as I have come down with a pretty good chest cold and just trying to nurse it and take things easy. Am slowly working as I feel like it on a small oil painting. It is a good day to stay in with the temperature at 16 and snow and wind howling outside.

Finished. This is a gouache watercolor painting 15"x18 1/2". I chose to do a summer scene of Aspens, Boedicker Butte, which is a volcanic peak to the north of Dubois and wildflowers. Thought with the cold weather and snow we have been having this might be a peaceful diversity. In the background is one of my limited edition prints, Mountain Bluebirds. In addition to selling the quickdraw at auction I sold it as well. Also sold an Indian Paintbrush print. My auctioned piece went 2nd highest so must have been a good choice of subject. Is a long way home with rivers to cross and miles to go so we left about 9:30 and were home just befor midnight. A fun and productive evening.

The Riverton Winter Carnival was held this past saturday evening and in conjunction with many events was the Quick-Draw. 25 artists from the region all created a piece of art in a 45 minute time frame which were then auctioned off on a 70-30 split with the artists receiving 70%. It is a fun event though tedious and somewhat stressful for many. I have done so many of these over the years I find it great fun. Here I am nearing the end with final brush strokes. The crowd was great and very supportive of all the artists. There were some great pieces done.

This is a big weekend for us in Dubois. In association with the big Dog Sled race [this is the largest sled dog race in the United States topped only by the Iditerod in Alaska] which has been going on for more than a week Dubois hosts a "Gift to the Community" art show which began several years ago as a means to show the community some of the art being created by our areas top artists. [there are about 6 or 7 nationally recognized artists in Dubois]Most of this work is destined for shows and sales throughout the country and the local folks never get a chance to see what is going on. This is their chance. Here I am posing befor my display. The show runs through the weekend. Tonight I will be going to Riverton some 75 miles down the road in association with the Winter Carnival to participate in a Quick-draw art and auction event with a number of other regional artists. Each artist is given 45 minutes to complete a painting another 15 minutes to frame it and watch their endeavors auctioned off. It is intense and great fun. I'll post my results tomorrow.