Hi everyone, I've decided to add a link to my blogspot here, instead of trying to keep up two blog sites, as I was previously doing. It was confusing for visitors and time consuming for me. So now in an effort to make things as easy as I can (for both of us), you can click on the above link to be taken to my latest paintings and posts. I try to give more info on why I painted a piece, as well as my thoughts on painting, and the day to day workings of an artist's studio.

Thanks for looking and remember you can click on any image you see while there for a larger higher resolution version. Why not take a moment while there and post a comment. I'd love to hear from you.

Steve

Hi All, this is the official start of my artist blog and I'm so glad you found my site! Thanks for taking the time to visit and read my ramblings. Mostly what I'd like to do on this page is share with you some of my painting adventures. As many of you know who venture outdoors to paint, the one thing there is plenty of (besides bugs and wind) is stories, so I'm hoping to talk to you about where I was when I painted a particular painting, what I was trying to do (as opposed to what I actually did), or some story that happened to me while painting. Occasionally, I participate in shows around the country or art related events, and I will share with you some of what happens there. I'll be posting photos along with my ramblings so you can follow along. I'm hoping this will be more of a conversation, so join in and let's get to know each other and what your thoughts are too. The Artist/Collector community is a tight knit one and I'm looking forward to getting acquainted with all of you.

I call this painting Spring on Partridge Creek. I did it on location May 19, 2007, not too far from my home in Minnesota. At a size of 20"x16", it's the biggest plein air piece that I've done to date. I didn't paint it any differently than any other outdoor piece, I just used bigger brushes (and maybe had to step further back to see the values and shapes). One of my goals is to continue to push my comfort zone, by painting progressively larger plein air pieces. While I worked on this one, the only people I saw were in canoes. They would shout words of encouragement to me as they paddled by. At least I think they were encouraging me, I heard them yelling and shaking their paddles at me.  It always seems that when a painting is going well, you never have people stop to watch. It's only when you're struggling with one that the crowd gathers behind you. I  think it must be God's way of keeping you humble. Ha Ha.



I love getting out to paint Minnesota in the Spring. After our long winters, (even though they haven't been as long or as bad lately), Spring is a time I just can't spend in the studio. Luckily, I have an understanding wife!



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Happy Painting!