DAY 1: A is for "Aspen"

DAY 1 PAINTING: oil on board, 6x6”

A is for Aspen.

 •  Original for sale, 6x6 - $95.00, call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  6” wide -  $24.00

 •  Other sizes and Canvas Gicleé available, contact me to order
    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

All the images in my 31 day adventure are things that start with the day corresponding to the alphabet, and I have probably seen on my 6 acres of property!

DAY 2: "Duke the Bull"

DAY 2 PAINTING: oil on canvas 11”x14”

B is for Bull. 

 •  Original for sale, 11x14 - $395.00, call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  14” wide -  $45.00

 •  Other sizes and Canvas Gicleé available, contact me to order
    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

Once in my pasture, now in my freezer. Since my cow died, I really didn’t need a bull anymore. I only have 2 longhorn steers left. Maybe they will just be my pets. I think they are neat. Thanks Duke for the the great sausage and burger. I will forever remember him as I mount his horns, and remember him in a painting!

I learned about mixing gray, blue and brown to make it look black. No black was used, the bkgd was loose and fun. I think I will to title it... “Duke the Bull”.

DAY 3: Coyote on the Move!

DAY 3 PAINTING: oil on panel 6”x13”

“C” is for “Coyote” 

 •  Original for sale, 6x13 - $185.00, call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  10” wide -  $24.00

 •  Other sizes and Canvas Gicleé available, contact me to order
    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

This and my proximity to the highway is why I have to keep getting more cats. I used to have 17 cats, now about a year later, I am down to only 5 left, I think I will be paintiing some of my favorite cats soon.

I experimented with my palette knife, and making lots of texture. something I cannot do in watercolor. I toned most of the painting in a lime green color. question, is it okay to leave the gesso white as your white, or should you paint white oil paint over it?

DAY 4: Little Birdie Outside My Window

DAY 4 PAINTING:  Watercolor 5x7

“D” is for “Dear Little Birdie” 

 •  Original for sale, Framed 8x10 - $155.00, Unframed - $95 - call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  5x7” wide -  $15.00

 •  contact me to order
    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

(actually D is for Deer (not done) I had to leave town for a hockey tournament, and didn’t get too far on the oil painting so here is my small substitute. Maybe the deer painting will be W for whitetail... Cheers!

DAY 5: Eagles Perching!

Day 5 PAINTING:  Watercolor 7.5x11

E is for “Eagles Perch” 

 •  Original for sale, Framed 11x14 - $395.00, call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  10” wide -  $29.00

 •  Other sizes and Canvas Gicleé available, contact me to order
    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

painted today between hockey games at my friend Bill’s house. Transporting my oil painting make-shift setup is too tricky at this point. Hopefully tomorrow night I will be home in time to oil paint...

DAY 6: Free Ranging Fowl

DAY 6 PAINTING: Oil on Canvas, 12” x 19”

F is for “Free Ranging unFenced Fowl” 

 •  Original for sale, Framed 12x19 - $650.00, call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  17” wide -  $69.00

 •  Other sizes and Canvas Gicleé available, contact me to order
    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

This is the biggest painting I have done so far. It took a few days but my plan was to finish it today. Tomorrow I will be on the road again at “Gallery Northwest” an artists coop in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho. I hope to be painting another little watercolor while there. Hopefully oils again on Tuesday. - Cheers!

DAY 7: Gracie the Kittie!

DAY 7 PAINTING: 10x7.5” watercolor

G is for “Gracie” the kitty...

 •  Original for sale, Framed 11x14 - $395.00, call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  10” wide -  $29.00

 •  Other sizes and Canvas Gicleé available, contact me to order
    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

She was the cutest, sweetest cat I have ever had. I will miss her and her beautiful blue eyes. Unfortunately her mommy never taught her not to play in the highway, and the big trucks don’t stop for kitties.

DAY 8: Hens in the Coop

DAY 8 PAINTING: 8x10 oil on canvas

“H” is for Hunkering Hens...

 •  Original for sale, $245.00, call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  10” wide -  $29.00

 •  Other sizes and Canvas Gicleé available, contact me to order
    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

I have six hens in my chicken coop, and I sure enjoy the eggs they make for me. I was tired today, and I didn’t much feel like painting, but sometimes in life we need to do what we don’t feel like doing... Cheers. 

DAY 9: I is for Iris

DAY 9 PAINTING: Oil on canvas 11x14

“I” is for Iris .... 

 •  Original for sale, $395.00, call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  14.5” wide -  $55.00

 •  Other sizes and Canvas Gicleé available, contact me to order
    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

I had a 6 hour emergency distraction away from painting today. so I tried to paint this Iris quickly. Sometimes having to paint quickly turns out well, not this time. I toned the whole thing green, and painting purple and white over wet green didn’t work to well. I also thought I would try using only one big Brush well that didn’t work. So I wonder why I am even posting this.

I guess maybe it is because “I” can also mean, “I” feel like “I” failed on this one. I guess this also says, I am still better at watercolor than Oils. Cheers.....

DAY 10: Fun in the Snow!

DAY 10 PAINTING: Oil on Canvas 20”x30”

“J” is for “January Snow Journeys” 

•  Original not for sale

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  15” wide -  $55.00

 •  Other sizes and Canvas Gicleé available, contact me to order
    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

This is the biggest oil Painting I have attempted. I am happier with this one. It does help to have more time than I had yesterday. I also painted on white canvas with a drawing of the image. I left the canvas white as white. I did not use white paint on the white. It is my 2 boys. I have always liked this image as a photo and thought I would like to paint it. It will probably be one I keep to remind me what a blessing my boys are, and how much I love them... cheers !

DAY 11: My Kitties!

DAY 11 PAINTING: 7x13 Oil on Canvas

“K” is for Kitties... Kruzin across the driveway

 •  Original for sale, $275.00, call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  13” wide -  $45.00

 •  Other sizes and Canvas Gicleé available, contact me to order

    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

From Left to right, MJ (Stands for Moe Junior, because his mom was Moe) PeeWee, cuz he was kind of a big wimp. He is gone probably to coyotes, and on the right is CJ (Cole Junior) because his uncle Cole was also a solid black cat who I also painted. We Still have both MJ an CJ they are cool cats. Maybe they have learned to avoid the coyotes after seeing their siblings get eaten. cheers.... 

DAY 14: N is for Narcissus

DAY 14 PAINTING: Oil on Canvas 8x10

“N” is for Narcissus

 •  Original for sale, $245.00, call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  10” wide -  $29.00

 •  Other sizes and Canvas Gicleé available, contact me to order
    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

I had these flowers growing in my pasture. I don’t know if they were wild or not. I dug them up to move them where I wanted them in my garden, but then I had them in this basket for way to long, and they all dried out. so now I don’t think I have them any more. Bummer. So now I can remember them in this painting. 

DAY 31: "Intimate Pair"

"Intimate Friends"

Day 31 painting: Oil on canvas 12”x29”

“Intimate Pair”

  •  Original for sale, $950.00, call to purchase

  •  Limited Prints available upon request

  •  Gicleé on paper: 22” tall, $95.00
  •  Giclee on Paper: 17" all - $65.00

  •  Canvas Gicleé contact me to order.

www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

I figured it’s appropriate for the upcoming holiday. I think I might paint this one in both watercolor and oil to see what people prefer. I will make Prints on canvas and paper in several different sizes.

DAY 30: "Aspen Light"

Day 30 Painting:  Oil on canvas 12”x22”

“Aspen Light”

•  Original for sale, $850.00, call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper: 22” tall, $85.00

 •  Canvas Gicleé, contact me to order

      www.finewatercolors.com/contact

Aspen trees in the fall are beautiful. They are a beautiful that I would not mind seeing more of than a week in October. Last fall I went out about 3 or 4 days on a hunt for yellow and orange aspen trees, I found some. I so enjoyed capturing the morning and evening sun in aspen trees. I used up alot of pixels (thank God pixels are free) and took many pictures, literally hundreds of photos of aspen trees to catch the light, the trunks and the beauty of this cool tree that God made. So I had to squeeze one more painting in of these wonderful trees. I keep trying to plant them on my property, but between the moose that eat them, and my lack of watering skills, they seem to not do to well on my property. so now I can see one year-round in a painting ;)   Cheers!

DAY 29: Tropical Sunset

Day 29 Painting: Oil on canvas 8x10

“Tropical Sunset”

 •  Original Sold

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper: 8”x10” , $29.00

 •  Canvas Gicleé, contact me to order
   -  http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

My good friend asked me to paint an image for him, I think it was a special memory for him. So I figured it would work for my day 29 painting. I wish I could say I saw this on my six acres. Now that would be some valuable acreage. Cheers!

DAY 28: "Three little Birdies"

"Three Tweeties"

Day 28 Painting: Oil on canvas 12x20

“Three Tweeties”

•  Original for sale, $750.00, call to purchase

 •  Gicleé on paper: 12”x20” , $75.00

 •  Canvas Gicleé, contact me to order

www.finewatercolors.com

I captured these little birds on my fence outside my living room window. I think I should title it “I think you offended her” or “I think she needs to forgive you” It just looked to me like the birdie on the right was mad at the other birds, and they were discussing the issue.

DAY 27: "Palouse Sunset"

Day 27 Painting: Oil on Panel 6”x12”

“Palouse Land and Sky”

 •  Original available $165.00

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper: 5”x10” , $24.00

 •  Canvas Gicleé, contact me to order
   -  http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

On day 27 I wanted to practice more palouse land and sky.

DAY 26: "Z" is for Zinnias on the Palouse

Day 26 Painting: Oil on Panel 6x10

“Z” is for “Zinnias in the Field”. 

•  Original for sale, $165.00, call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  6”  x 10” $24.00

 •  Canvas Gicleé, contact me to order

    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

This is from a photo I shot just northwest of Potlatch. The last of the alphabet. Now I have a few more days this month to paint. Wildcard days, so I will get to paint things that are not constrained by the alphabet. Here we go.

DAY 25: "Y" is for "Yourself"

Day 25 PAINTING: Oil on canvas 18x24

“Y” is for Yourself.

•  Original for sale, $1,250.00, call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  22” wide -  $145.00

 •  Other sizes and Canvas Gicleé available, contact me to order

    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

Thanks to my facebook friends for suggesting “Y” for yourself. I figured I would take you up on it. So here I am. I don’t really pretend to be a cowboy, but awhile back I put on my cowboy hat (which I never wear, I am a baseball hat guy) and I grabbed the rope which has actually been used to rope up a longhorn to give them medicine. So I said to my son, hey Josh, why don’t I dress up like a cowboy and you take some pics of me for fun, as the following day we butchered 3 longhorns, so It may have been the last chance to play the cowboy part. So I figured it would be kind of a fun one to paint. I think If I ever want to be a real cowboy, I probably need to get a horse and wear the boots. Cheers!

DAY 24: "Extremely Cold and Clear Morning"

Day 24 PAINTING: Oil on canvas 12x26

“X” is for eXtremely Cold & Clear Morning.

•  Original for sale, $950.00, call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  22” wide -  $95.00

 •  Other sizes and Canvas Gicleé available, contact me to order

    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

I was tempted to say X-country, I liked that. I was thinking of saying the skier just went behind the tree. ha ha. ;).  So anyway it is a view out of my living room window. I really like this view of the valley It is also beautiful in the spring when it is all green. Now “Y” for tomorrow. I think I will paint what someone suggested. I have kind of been wanting to do this painting tomorrow, but “Y” didn’t work for it until one of my cool facebook friends suggested it yaaaaa!. cheers ....

DAY 23 "W" is for "Whitetail Bucks"

"Spring Velvet"

Day 23 PAINTING: Oil on canvas 13x19

“W” is for Whitetail Bucks, 3 in the Valley

•  Original for sale, $750.00, call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  17” wide -  $65.00

 •  Other sizes and Canvas Gicleé available, contact me to order

    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

Last Spring, I had the pleasure of capturing some photos of these three nice whitetail bucks in velvet from my kitchen window. I think the one in the middle is non-typical. It looks like he had a bush growing out of his head. I thought they should be painted. The painting was going to be “D” for Deer, but that didn’t work out, so here they are as “W” for Whitetail. cheers!

Day 22: "V is for Volkswagen"

DAY 22 PAINTING” Oil on cnvas 12”x21”

“V” is for Volkswagen

•  Original not for Sale

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  17” tall -  $65.00

 •  Other sizes and Canvas Gicleé available, contact me to order

    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

My son finally got this old 66 vw bug running. I am very proud of him. Now he has wheels to get to school, and ones that he can repair. He is finding out why VW bugs are so popular in warm climates. The heaters or lack their of make for some chilly rides into town at 6:30 am.

Day 13 Painting, "M" is for My Muscle Car

DAY 13 PAINTING: Oil on Canvas 13x19

“M” is for My Muscle Car...

 •  Original for sale, $750.00, call to purchase

 •  Limited prints available upon request.

 •  Gicleé on paper:  15” wide -  $55.00

 •  Other sizes and Canvas Gicleé available, contact me to order
    -   http://www.finewatercolors.com/contact/index.htm

If you dare call it that. It may be the only one I ever own. I am really only a car guy wanna be. I am much better at painting old cars and trucks than I am fixing them. I have this old 1964 AMC Rambler. It is a V8 and it did drive out to my place. The carburetor Leaks gas. It is so close to running. I would love to fix it up, and be able to fart around in it. Drive to church and go on picnics playing old early 60’s music I thought of even upholstering it with colorful longhorn hide, and if I felt real rednecky, I could even mount some horns on the front (if my son would let me, probably not) and even make the horn sound like a cow moooing. That could be fun or extremely dorky. They say, it had a better weight to motor ratio than did the Mustang. So I think it can kind of get up and go. Maybe some day I will find out, until then I will enjoy the painting. Cheers!