Below Mt. Sneffles in the San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado.
Moving to the High Country
A commission I did for the Western Colorado Woolgrowers.
4th of July Morn
This is a plein air watercolor I did on the morning of the 4th of July. I was camped up on the Uncompahgre Plateau in Western Colorado. The morning dawned with a heavy fog that slowly lifted as the sun warmed the air. It was amazing how long it took for these watercolor washes to dry in the high humidity …
After the Rain
The scene is looking east toward the Cimarron Range near Ridgway Colorado just after a cooling summer rain shower. The painting is framed in an 18kt gold hand leafed frame with linen mat, 18kt gold hand leafed fillet and museum glass. I personally did the gold leafing on the frame and fillet. Original framed 15 x 20 watercolor by Mike …
Black Canyon Snag
A scrawny evergreen snag hanging onto the cliffside in the Black Canyon National Park. I used washes in oil to create some of the texture of the rock walls and then applied a heavier brush stroke on top of it to enhance the look. I was very pleased with the overall look of this painting. The Black Canyon of the …
Black Canyon Cliff Hangers
Hardy fir trees hanging onto the cliffs of the Black Canyon National Park. I have painted for the Park Service here for nearly 20 years now. The Black Canyon is difficult subject matter to capture with brush. The light is constantly changing from morning to afternoon and the canyon walls change with it. Black Canyon Cliff Hangers is a framed original 24×18 …
Evening Showers over the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Another original oil painting in my series on the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park capturing a summer evening rain shower passing over. The canyon walls are visible through the thin virga veil of rain. I’ve painted for the Black Canyon for over 20 years. This a framed 18×24 original oil painting of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison …
“Color in Willow Swamp”, Mt. Sneffles, San Juan National Forest, Colorado
The golden color of the aspen trees in Colorado in the fall months, beginning in September are a feast for the eyes. This scene is in what is locally called Willow Swamp in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado with Mt. Sneffels in the background.. The fence seen here is called a “worm” fence because of the way it “wiggles” …
Gateway Palisade, Colorado
Gateway, Colorado is in the western part of the state near the Utah border. It is somewhat remote and wild, just the way I like it. John Hendricks, of the Discovery Channel, has built a magnificent facility here, along with a world class car museum that is open to the public. This painting, Gateway Palisade, done from the grounds of the …
Chasm View Black Canyon of the Gunnison
This is a plein aire painting I did on the south rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park at the Chasm View overlook. There was a railing there to prevent the unwary from falling over the edge and I was right against the railing. In fact I was so close that I let a brush slip out …