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
This commissioned work pushed me to try two things I’ve never done before. One, paint a picture of a golf course. Two, paint a city skyline. Happily it was essential for me to play a round or two at Southern Hills to research the scene.
Tough duty!
Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall
Here’s a small painting with a high degree of color tension. It almost vibrates. Here’s why. Red toward red violet tints overlayed with red-orange toward orange color creates two thirds of a dynamic split complementary color relationship. Throw in green and blue green and the crazy color composition is complete. Vivid!
What do you think?
Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall
This decidedly non literal painting was inspired by one of the hundreds of trips I’ve made through Bad Rock Canyon. Sometimes, after I begin a painting the imagery takes me in an unexpected direction.
When that happens I do my best to pay attention and enjoy the ride.
Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall
I’m happy to be back at my home away from home, Ventana Fine Art in Santa Fe. And it is especially gratifying to see red dots on the gallery walls. 10 of the 36 paintings in the show have already been sold and the exhibit doesn’t open until tomorrow!
Join us for the party from 4-6 at 400 Canyon Road. I’d be delighted to see you!
Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall
After weeks of painting small works I’m happy to be back on reasonably sized canvasses! Here’s a 60×48 of the Norway maple trees we planted outside our home a few years back. Red!
Red!
Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall
For those of you who have travelled through the canyon towns of Hungry Horse, Martin City, and Coram this will be a familiar scene. On the way to West Glacier Highway 2 winds past mile after mile of dense lodgepole pine forest with the ridges occasionally revealed through the nearly ever present cloud cover.
My country!
Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall
More homegrown inspiration. When we moved up to Lone Pine hill nearly twenty years ago we started planting trees. Here’s a look at a young Norway maple just west of the group of aspen we put in the north of our house in the area we loving refer to as “the dog yard.”
After a couple dozen recent 12×12 paintings I’m starting to get comfortable with such a small canvas!
Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall
