A Place Out of the Sun

11" x 14", acrylic on canvas panel, © 2023
Collection of the Artist

Returning home from central Utah, it was a hot summer's day, and to the side of the road was a respite from the heat—a hollow of sorts when the lowering sun was obscured and the blaze of the sun could still be seen.
    It was fun to paint as I recently and applied a new technique for me—using a palette knife. I had purchased a new one in a recent workshop and had used it in another painting. In this painting, like the other painting, the foliage of the trees were the issue. The knife had proved itself than and could it do it now. It did and the trees came to life in the afternoon sun.

Hobble Creek Glow

11x14, Acrylic on panel, © 2013
Collection of the Artist

My wife and I went on a morning excursion up Hobble Creek Canyon—about five minutes from the house. French easel in hand I found a quiet spot not far from the road where I could observe the morning splendor and the sounds of nature.  Any day painting is a good day.

Bullfrog Basin

8x10, Acrylic on canvas, © 2011
Private Collection

In early June of 2011, Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha Botanical Center, sponsored a paint-out in the gardens.  Artists from all over the city showed up on a beautiful Saturday morning with portable easels in hand and paints at the ready. They each positioned themselves along the pathways to paint that which they found most inspiring. It had been a long time since I had painted plein air, so with some trepidation I set up my French easel and started painting. I soon discovered my folly as Marge deserted me for less intimidating places. I had forgotten mosquito repellent. What made me think that Bull Frogs would live where there were no mosquitoes. They don't! I had paint all over my face as I would swat at the dreaded creatures. Well, I didn't contract West Nile Virus or anything of that nature, but I am not sure that the thicker parts of the painting do not contain encrusted bodies of my observers.

Sunset on the Mississippi at Nauvoo

8x10, acrylic on canvas panel, © 2001 

Private Collection

5x7, water color plein-air sketch with pen and ink on paper, © 2001 

Collection of the Artist

On a visit to Nauvoo, Illinois, we were sitting waiting for the evening entertainment at Sunset on the Mississippi when the sky turned magnificent. I had a small watercolor studio and painted the scene and came home to develop the small acrylic painting above it.

Izatt Cabin

24x36, acrylic on canvas, © 1969

Private Collection

It was painted "en plein air" (outside) and finished in the studio. Because of the size of the work and the environmental difficulties, I could not finish it in the field. That day I got a serious sunburn as a result of painting at the elevation and in the bright sun. When I applied the paint, it would dry almost immediately due to the heat and lack of humidity in Idaho. It is a painting of the homestead cabin of Charles Izatt in Gem Valley, Idaho.

City Creek Tree

18x24, oil on canvas, © 1969
Collection of the artist

A "plein air" piece painted in City Creek Canyon in Salt Lake City as part of a class excursion (it wasn't called plein air at the time; we just went outside to paint). It was painted the same time each morning over several sessions.