I have been working pretty diligently on this Oil Painting, BEAR CREEK MORNING, 22"x28" image size and will be my entry for one of the Purchase Awards at the Two-Shot Show in December. This is the larger award which I won last year so am trying to make it two years in a row. For those who follow my blog you may recognize my love of Bear Creek which is so spectacular in the fall with such great compositions and contrasts of color and value of Dark Spruce and light enhanced Cottonwoods. Particularly in the evening and mornings.

I have just completed this 16"x20" Oil Painting, FIREHOLE FALL and is one of a series of paintings depicting Yellowstone National Park that I am currently working on and really excited about. Its wildlife and scenic wonders. This painting is from along the Firehole River just south of Old Faithful where the Firehole River slowly flows snake like across meadows of golden grasses in the fall. Elk and Bison are abundant here and especially make a beautiful composition and detail to the fall scene.

The Firehole River was named by the earliest expedition into Yellowstone not because of all the hot water flowing into it but because of a Forest Fire that had just preceded the expedition that named it. It was caught in the fires of 1988 but is recovering remarkably and is as beautiful as ever.

I have my new deck and cover pretty well finished thanks to my Gallery Pardner, Tom Lucas who is a master carpenter. This was the project that innocently left me to my present demise. Crutches and all. It is sure a great addition to the studio though.

I have put the finishing touches on this Oil Painting I call, DOWNS MOUNTAIN. It is a 9"x12" Oil Painting and is a view from several photos I took earlier this fall from Horse Creek looking towards the Wind River Mountins and Downs Mountain which is over 13,000 feet elevation and is the location of the northern most glaciers that make up the largest continuous glacial fields in the continental United States.
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I have just completed my first painting since my injury and am amazed at how long it is taking to do art under the circumstances I find myself in. Pretty uncomfortable. We take so much for granted when things are rolling along. It is surprising to me that something as simple sounding as a crushed heel can create such problems. I have several other paintings started but am just happy to be able to post this piece. It is a painting of Yellowstone from some photos I took earlier this fall and thought I would add in the snow. The scene is of the Midway Geyser Basin and I call it "NOVEMBER1 AT MIDWAY". The painting is 12"x24" Gouache watercolor

An update on myself.
Am in Casper again and got checked out yesterday by the Orthopedic Surgeon and said everything is looking good. Will be back in 4 more weeks for more x-rays and another two weeks I get put back to sleep again to remove screws then back to cast. Worst part is I get to put no weight on foot till middle of January so will be improvising a way to get back to painting. Have several ideas but am sure experimentation is in the immediate future. Had to cancel out of a show this past weekend and am trying to figure out how to do a big one first of December.
Thanks for all the e-mails and good wishes from everyone.

I apologize for getting back to my blog after an extended absence.
I had a pretty nasty fall last week while doing a bulding project on my studio and home. Seems I have pretty well crushed my heel and partly crushed a vertebrae. Ended up in the emergency room in Lander and yesterday in Casper where I Have now been sent home to get the swelling down befor probable surgery next week in Casper. I have been told that I can pretty well forget this fall and maybe most of this winter. First bone I have ever broke.

Apparantely I have been given the Kreativ Blogger award from Diane Marshall. Thanks Diane. Now I am trying to figure out how this works. I notice when Diane posted what she was to do with it she had 7 artists to whom she passed it on to. and by clicking onto their names-their blogger sites came up. Guess I don't know how to do that so I will post the 7 names that I feel have been particularly helpful and to who I think have special painting passion for their work.

First I am to list 7 things about myself.

1. My college background is in Biology and Art. Biology in the sense of wildlife habitats and the ecology of wilderness.

2. In my early work life I did Highschool textbook illustration and a College Botony book on Paleo-Botony.

3. I once worked in a print shop doing art layout and design.

4. In highschool I cowboyed and worked in the mountains at a church Camp.

5. I have a wonderful wife, Two daughters, 6 Grand children and 2 Great Grandchildren.

6. I have a great love for my creator and a passion for the life I lead.

7. I am terribly alergic to Peas, Onions and green peppers.

7 of the Blog Artists I have come to really appreciate. Does this have to be only 7?

1.Gwen Bell, who has such great talent and a wonderful means of expressing it.

2. Peter Brown another very gifted artist who has wonderful insight and knows where he is going with his art.

3. Liz Holm who has such courage and does the most amazing work with all she has going on in her life.

4. Leslie from Dragonfies. A Photographer who has such a great way of expressing her love of the desert and its creatures.

5. Sheila, the Forensic artist who has such energy in both her life and in her art. It is contagious.

6. Candace Moore, a student who is doing the most marvelous art work and still seems like a true human being. She will be heard from.

7. Holly Bedrosian, Such talent and seems to be a very poised young woman. She is doing great things and is being heard from.

All these folks are an inspiration to me. I could list others but had to settle for 7. And I categorize all these folks in the same category and certainly not No. 1 through No. 7

http://www.silversagegallery.com

At the end of the quick-draw my wife and myself headed for Yellowstone and spent several days there. Research and working with the wildlife were a way of relaxing and enjoying ourselves after the art world of Jackson. We stayed at West Yellowstone and as the road from Madison to Norris is closed we essentially hiked and photographed the area from Old Faithful to West Yellowstone. We did go up the Norris road that was being shunned by the tourists thinking the shole roasd was closed and found the whole region all to ourselves and critters galore enjoying what critters without toursts do such as this Cow Elk and her two fawns enjoying a run through the meadow. I took 445 photos. Elk, Buffalo, Coyotes, Eagles, Geysers,and general landscapes. All great research for future paintings.

Finished and framed. Sorry for the reflections in the glass.

I drew #26 out of 32 artists for placement in the auction. Boy is that nerve racking waiting for your turn and watching a lot of art bidding out way lower than in former years. Guess it is the economy. There was a lot of art less than $1000.00 and that just doesn't happen. Mine went for $1300.00 and what with the bids I felt fortunate to receive that. The artists receive 50% of the bid so still not bad for an hours work.

http://www.silversagegallery.com

well into the hour I am nearing the finish. My painting is of Mt Moran in the Tetons with changing Aspens. I did throw a doe deer looking out from the tree edges. It is a Gouache Watercolor.

This saturday was the annual Quick-Draw associated with the Jackson Hole

Fall Arts Festival that brings all the who's Who artists and collectors to Jackson. The Quick-draw began at 9:30 in the morning and 32 invited artists are given an hour to do a painting of their choice at the end of which those paintings are offered for sale in a well attended auction. Believe me the hard part is waiting your turn for the auctioning of your piece. We have to stand up on the stage and give a little speech then sit back and see what the public thinks of what you have done.

I shared space with Jim Wilcox, nationally known artist from Jackson who runs the Wilcox Gallery. Here we are after the opening bell working diligently away as the crowds look on.

http://www.silversagegallery.com

Heiner Hertling working from a model who posed with his saddle and full cowboy outfit. The kids were pretty impressed with the whole day.

Other instructors were David Rankin and Mort Solberg, watercolorists. Nancy Foreman, Janene Grande and others with expertise on promotion and marketing.

Master artist, John Seerey Lester working on an oil depicting a male Lion.

Wanda Mum, who I have known as a wonderful wildlife artist in past years is working on a Landscape. Another beautiful job.

Jeannie McKenzie, another artist I have known for years is a well known national workshop teacher and here is working on one of her oils. A beautiful winter scene.

Mark Kelso, well known Landscape painter working on a beautiful painting of a waterfall.

The Susan Black Workshops are continuing this week and I thought it would be fun to post some of the instructors who are here this year.
Lee Cable, whom I have known and showed with in shows in past years and even accompanied on a pack trip a few years ago is a favorite every year as his wife, Pam is the head honcho of the workshops.
Yesterday the school had all their students at the Headwaters Center to watch as the instrutors did demonstrations for their and the workshop participants to watch and ask questions. Each workshop participant then took one student and worked with them during the day as a mentor. I think it was extremely beneficial to all involved.
Lee is doing an oil here of one of his horses. He works in Water Oils and does a marvelous job of it.

I have finished my Oil Painting BEAR CREEK SEASON 18"x24" that I have been working off and on for a month now. I love this area in the fall as it is spectacuar with Cottonwood, Aspen, Pine and Spruce that offers such high contrasts.

http://www.silversagegallery.com

I worked on a little gouache painting. It is a pretty neat area and old time ranch that is quickly becoming subject to the elements.

The Susan Black workshops are in full swing this weekend in Dubois and I was invited to go out with them the other mornig to do a little pleine aire painting. It was cold and about finishing time began raining but was great to be with other artists and to watch some of them work. Here is Heiner Hertling giving instructions to one of the workshop participants. There were about 15 of us that showed up this morning to paint the barns at the Wagon Box Ranch. John Seerey Lester had a group of folks just over the rise above.

I entered this painting in the State Audubon Show in Lander, Wyoming and have won 1st place in Oils with it. It is 24"x32" Oil Painting that I call the HUNTER AND THE HUNTED.

After finishing the vignette I decided to do an oil painting using the full bodied Bull that I used in my watercolor. I added a couple of others and being in my cloud period I threw that in for a background and have come upo with this 11"x14" Oil Painting. It must have been a pretty good idea as I sold it off the easle befor I was half finished with it.
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This is a commission vignette that I have completed for a client in Michigan. It is a watercolor and is 11"x14"

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Saratoga is an interesting little Wyoming town very similar in a lot of ways to Dubois, my home town. Was also once a thriving logging community with ranching and recreation as side ventures. Logging is now gone leaving it to ranching still along with some Dude activity and outdoor recreation. River Float trips are a big thing for fly fishing in summer with snowmobiling and cross country skiing in winter. The town does have a hot springs with a pool but most impressive are two 18 hole golf courses. The Saratoga Inn, a resort kind of place and the Old Baldy Club that have huge CEO style homes along with bungalow rentals that are frequented by who's who in America at different times. It is not uncommon to find Movie Stars and World celebrities flying in to town in Lear Jets to take in a few rounds of golf. They are seldom seen by the general populace as it is a rather well kept secret about who is in town and when.

http://www.silversagegallery.com

Finished and framed up. I don't know about the mat I put on it but am stuck with what I thought would work and had brought. Several other artists were painting out on the sidewalk in front of the gallery.

The fellow in the black Cowboy hat standing is Steve Moulton who is from the Moulton family that have the famous, most photographed barns in the world with the Tetons in the background. Steve is a wonderfully talented singer [cowboy songs-not western but cowboy]His wife is a writer and has been in our gallery talking with my pardner, Tom Lucas about filming some more movies of him with his Indian Craft work. I ended up with one of Steves C D. It is great music.

I chose to do a landscape gouache paining of Aspens from a sketch I did the day befor in the Snowy Range. The colors are not this far along but I have an Artistic Liscence that allows me to push things a little.

We even got some hiking in. My wife, Vicki waiting for me to catch up on the trail above Long Lake at the foot of Medicine Bow Peak

This past weekend was the Miniature Show and Sale in Saratoga, Wyoming at the Blackhawk Gallery. We were there for several days of fun and work as we spent saturday along with other gallery artists painting the town and area for a special showing of those paintings. Friday night was the reception for the miniature Show and saturday all the artists gathered at Patti Lufkin's,[gallery owner] ranch for a cookout. She sure knows how to put on a feed and her hospitality is out of this world.

My wife and I did take some time out to drive up into the Snowy Range where I shot this photo of one of my favorite areas, Lewis Lake.

My good friend, Les Llefevre, arrived last night and so I had him on the trail today for Jade Lake. It was a good vigorous hike and a beautiful area to hike in.

I have gotten back to work on this painting I started several weeks ago and had put aside to get some commission work done. 18"x24" Oil.

My finished painting ASPEN. Oil 8"x10"
http://www.silversagegallery.com

I have begun this 8"x10" Oil of an Aspen. Interested in the light on the tree trunk and leaves. We'll see how it progresses.

I have been working on some photo-realist type of paintings and have just finished this of a Copper Butterfly[there are many varieties of Coppers]sitting on a rock along the backwaters of a little stream. It is an 8"x10" Oil Painting.

http://www.silversagegallery.com

I continue to spend quite a bit of time in the mountains[research?]and for the second time in the last two weeks I hiked into Lake Louise, about a 6-7 mile[round trip]pretty physical hike so I am getting my exercise too. Will post this hiking adventure probably in the next week as I find time to do so. It is a pretty fantastic hike with waterfalls galore and this as the end of trail reward.

This is the second rendition of Sleeping Indian Pk. 18"x24" Oil Painting. Viewed from just a little further south of the first view.
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I worked pretty hard all weekend to finish the two Sleeping Indian paintings that I have been posting. Here is one of my renditions of this beautiful peak over in Jackson Hole. 18"x24" Oil Painting

Also worked today on my other rendition of Sleeping Indian. I am still not that happy with the way some things are going and late this evening I began completely changing the trees in the mid forground.

I have begun painting in Oil using liquin as a medium

I was a little concerned about just what my client wants in the painting I am working on of the Sleeping Indian from over in Jackson Hole that I decided to do 2 of them with the same cloud theme. This view will be from a little further away than the other painting I am working on. In other words I have droped the skyline. I have finished the underpainting with acrylic so it is pretty rough looking at this point.

I had this little fellow and his mom come by for a visit last night. They were very cooperative in letting me get some good pictures. He should end up in a painting in the not too distant future.

gkeimig@dteworld.com

I have gotten back to work on this 18"x24" Oil on canvas. I have a lot of folks asking about it in the gallery as I have it setting against the wall near where I am set up to paint. With that much interest in it I guess I had better get it finished.

gkeimig@dteworld.com

I have begun working on my commission work that is piling up during the summer. This is a piece that I am doing in Oils of the Sleeping Indian from the area of the Gros Ventre[pronounced grow vont]River in Jacson Hole. I have used Acrylic on Ray Mar canvas and am just beginning to work Oils into the sky. I am still a little unsure how I want to treat the foreground so that may cahnge as I get into it. This painting is 18"x24"gkeimig@dteworld.com

Another view from the airport of Lava Mountain and the continental divide.

Yesterday it turned cold and was rainey during the NODS Show with reports of snow in the mountains. Sure enough this morning our growing season is now over as it was in low 30's in town with scattered frost and snow in the mountains. I shot this pix from the airport above town of the Pinnacles west of town sporting a coat of white. Togwotee Pass had several inches of the white stuff. Our growing season this year was 5 weeks. Not too conducive for growing tomatoes.

Yesterday was the annual Dubois Nods Show which is a fundraiser event for people who need help in our small community. NODS is Needs of Dubois. Silversage Gallery takes part in it every year with a booth display and Tom Lucas and I do a quick-draw painting which is then auctioned off at intermission time during the main show which is a singing artist brought in just for this event. A Chuckwagon Dinner is part of the event that folks pay to attend. It is held in the Headwaters Arts and Conference Center here in town. Performing rtists in the past have included Ian Tyson [of Ian and Sylvia fame during the Folk era][and one of my all time favorites]], Don Edwards[western Cowboy singer[a great one]] This year it was Gary McMahan, a Cowboy singer and poet who is famous for his song, The Old Double Diamond , performed and made famous by Ian Tyson and Chris LaDoux. Pictured here is my quick-draw painted from a photograph I took the other morning at Brooks Lake[see my Outdoor Adventures blog]It auctioned for $350.00 which I gave all proceeds to NODS. It is image size, 12"x20" and is a gouache watercolor painting.

The morning light show included some fantastic rainbows at sunrise. This one against the Sawtooth Range of LaBonte Creek.

While in Douglas this past weekend for my show I did a little early morning trip towards Laramie Peak where I worked for the Forest Service summers during college and used to fish as a teenager. It was an incredible morning with spectacular storms, clouds and Light effects on the mountains. Here I caught the sun in all its glory catching the hills in light with Laramie Peak in the background.

My finished Quick-Draw painting.

http://www.silversagegallery.com

I have spent the better part of last week in Douglas, Wyoming at the Pioneer Museum Western Invitational Art Show that kicks off the Wyoming State Fair. It is a great little show put on by the Museum that I have been involved with since it first began about 30 years ago. They are a marvelous group of people that really know how to do an art show. Here I am doing the saturday afternoon Quick-draw which I took top money in. It was purchased by the Andersons. Mr Anderson is the speaker of the House in the Wyoming Legislature. I think my Laramie Peak Painting has found a good home.

Just had to post this phenomenal rainbow from behind our gallery this evening. About as spectacular as they come. My camera lens on wide angle was still unable to capture the enormous bow that stretched completely from ground to ground in a beautiful arc. A second rainbow just above was nearly as well defined but had disapated by the time I got my camera and got out the back door.