Dali's Mustache by Philippe Halsman 1954
"The photographer probes for the innermost.
The lens sees only the surface"
                                                                                                         -- Philippe Halsman

Here's a studio painting I did this morning. I was out before the sun was fully up and saw these trees backlit, just beautiful! Many of the leaves may be off the trees with the snow we're having this evening. 
Hill Trees at Sunrise  7x5"  acrylic on canvas board.  Available for $100.

As promised here is the first plein air painting I did in Estes Park. The first in oil that I've done in a while. It was a wonderful afternoon by the lake. I've definitely got to get out more! I had several visitors come by. Including two buck elks who waded thru the water, (below right). I'm assuming they were taking the short cut to their suite at the Stanley. Also stopping by, was wayfaring photographer Jessica Kraft. That's her in the video below taking some pix of the painting. She's a sweet soul. Check out her work: ​http://www.jessicakraft.com

I took a little painting trip up to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park over the past couple of days. It's the first time in a while that I've painted en plain air in oils. Thought I'd start small, 5x7, and work my way up! Fresh off the easel this afternoon. Mountain Meadows, available for $100. I have one other which I will post later...

Garden Trees   6x6"   Acrylic on Canvasboard

I'm feeling a strong need to disconnect from the news and turn my attention to nature, which is my healing refuge from the makings of human beings who seem to have forgotten their humanity. Besides fall is my favorite time of year! So for the foreseeable future, I plan to spend much more time 'forest bathing' as the Japanese call it. Snuggling in the embrace of Mother Nature. We don't need to travel miles to find peace, we can visit little pockets of sanity even in the city, be they parks, meadows, streams or even galleries! The landscape above, is close to home, a natural buffer with a walking trail near the Highline Canal. It is believed that even looking out the window at a tree, or a picture of a tree, has positive, beneficial effects on our well being.*

* This painting and the statement above have not been evaluated by the FDA   :-) Namaste