Marshall Noice

The three ash trees we planted in our west pasture are now a brilliant yellow! They’re always the first to turn color in the fall.

A week or two ago the foliage was a gorgeous shade of blue green. Like in my painting.

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

There’s something about populus tremuloides that I always find inspiring. I suppose that’s why we’ve planted dozens of quaking aspen on the land around our home over the years.

The trees look great anywhere but I find them especially beautiful against a stand of Norway maples that have dressed themselves in their fall colors.

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

There have been occasional barns, houses, and cows in my paintings but this is the first bridge that has snuck into my composition. Madison River fly fisherman might recognize Lyons Bridge, six and a half miles upstream from Windy Point.

About as pretty as stretch of river as can be found anywhere.

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

I confess I have an addiction. I simply can’t resist buying any tube of red paint that I’ve never tried. Over the years I’ve acquired quite a collection.

Painting this fall scene I had a chance to use a dozen or so from my prized stash of red! I like it!

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

Here’s a stalwart old barn just south of my studio. I hesitate to guess how many thousands of times I’ve driven by the place! Still standing. Still a home for cows!

It’s kind of nice that not everything is rapidly changing here in the Flathead valley.

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

On the search for inspiration and new subject material today. I believe this stretch of the Madison River does the trick!

I’ll show you the painting before too long. Stay tuned!

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

I’m fascinated by the way the vertical lodgepole pines break up the landscape. The regularity of the trees at the edge of a stand of pines creates a decidedly geometric composition that I never get tired of depicting.

Interesting to me!

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

Sometimes inspiration can come from the simplest things. Like a leaf changing color. In my art making practice I’m constantly attempting to maintain a quiet, open mind, respond to what I’m seeing, and not overthink the process. It’s easy to second guess decisions when I’m in the thick of things. But I know from experience that my first impression is almost always best.

Think it, do it. Mantra!
Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

Here’s a small painting typical of the work I’m inspired to do this time of year. Maybe it’s the warm weather that nudges me in the direction of cool colors every summer.

I think blues and greens must be my artistic antidote to a heat wave. I’m not exactly certain why, but I do know it always happens!

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall

Sometimes less is more. As is the case with this very simple small work. Inspired by the landscape along the Highline, Highway 2 in northern Montana, it has a strong sense of place for me.

Even on a diminutive scale Montana is “Big Sky Country.”

Let’s keep in touch,

Marshall