Monday, March 9, 2009

Sand Dunes Exhibit 2009

I had to submit my images to the Denver International Airport for a show they are sponsoring at DIA in the fall featuring the Sand Dunes. I painted the above piece last January and got just a smidgen of the dunes in it. As I look at this painting it's amazing how much I can recall about the day; I had tried to get as close to the east range as I could and then- ran into a locked gate- there is nothing worse than going for miles, thinking that you are finding a great new solitary spot and then WHAM- there's a locked gate. So I just stopped and painted there, it was also very cold- slightly breezy in fact- you just can't remember those details when you take a picture.
No, this is not a plein air- I painted it in the studio before I got sick; I might have shot this a little dark and I think that I will want to do some adjustments to this- later....

I did this painting quite awhile ago but I still like it-- I took off on the Medano road and at the tire air filling place, I caught this great view- the Sand Dunes are so quiet in the winter since there really aren't too many visitors so it's great if you are searching for the peaceful solitary scene. I submitted these today - since today was the deadline- nothing like waiting until the last minute.....

5 comments:

delsquared said...

The first mountain range is very nice. It's a good 3d type effect of the mountains coming out at you.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Killer sky in the middle one of the three. The "not plein air" one.
How's the kiddo?
EW

Susan McCullough said...

Well Eldon, the kiddo is doing much better than I am-- I took him to the doc and got him some antibiotics and thinking that I was getting over it- I didn't really ask for anything for me. I've decided that maybe I better go back so I'm going to the doc today- this stuff hangs on forever!!!

Susan McCullough said...

Thanks Rob,
I really like the mountain piece too; and even though the colors are rather muted, I just felt like I was in the zone while painting it.

Patrick Myers said...

Hi Sue,

Your colors are getting richer and richer, and your paint more and more expressive...at the same time your observation is growing keener.

The mountain piece at the top of this post, even though it only has a "smidgen" of dunes in it, is of the mountains of Great Sand Dunes National Preserve, so it absolutely can be considered for the show. The prominent saddle shaped mountain in the painting is Cleveland Peak, one of six peaks over 13,000' in the national preserve, all part of the dunes watershed.

Have a great trip to Europe! All artists benefit from studying our painting heritage there. At the same time, it helps us see how distinctly "American" our work is.

Blessings, Patrick