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This view of the Yellowstone River was painted when the ice was still thick and covered in snow. The day had a beautiful soft light that emphasized the plum and burgundy tones of the trees, some of my favorite colors in the landscape.

Now here with the last couple of warm days the river is starting to break up and the ice chunks are piling up and causing some flooding.
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Nature is amazing. A few hours after a foal is born he is pretty wobbly trying out his adult-size stick legs but just a day or two later he can gallop and keep up with the band. This one in the painting is a couple of months old so he is doing quite well, even staying ahead of his mother. 

I liked this grouping of colors with the buckskin, the blue roan mare and her smokey-looking foal. I decided to forego details in order to focus on the movement of the horses. I could watch horses running all day long!

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What a wonderful fall for color we have had. This pathway was bathed in the golden glow of the sun shining through the multitudes of cottonwood leaves. The wild grapes turn a rich red and the fallen leaves shine like bright, gold coins in the sunlight. There is that pleasantly spicy scent of wet leaves on the moist morning air and all is quiet and peaceful. No wonder I like autumn!  

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Hay bales abound this time of year in all shapes and sizes and as I roamed around this particular cool, fall morning, my eye was caught by the light hitting the big, round bales. There was a heavy dew, the sky was misty and seemed full of moisture causing the trees in the distance to look soft and faded. It all seemed to make an otherwise unremarkable scene into something worth painting!

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The wide open spaces of the prairie can be quite beautiful and peaceful - maybe a bit lonesome at times. Here this young horse seems content to munch alongside a couple of visiting birds.

Click here for more information.

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Classic cars run in our family. As long as I can remember, my dad has been restoring old cars. A '38 Buick, 50's Cadillacs, even a Bentley. In his early 80's now, and still restoring, he has of late been enchanted with Packards. This one is awaiting it's turn in the weeds for now. The fun for me in painting old cars and trucks is in the rusting colors and the light bouncing off the still-shiny chrome, not to mention the beautiful lines in those classic designs.

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I am trying out some new Terry Ludwig pastels - they are very soft and a blast to use on Wallis paper. They are darker than what I am used to and really help the lights pop out. I also got a set of ultramarine blues which are handy for skies and shadows. It's like Christmas all over again!

We have been treated to several days of foggy, freezing wheather, very cold and very beautiful. This painting is of a grove of Russian Olive trees dressed up in their winter finery. These trees have actually been classified as a noxious weed in Montana and North Dakota, but they sure are pretty right now.
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I think my dad originally inspired me with a love of design, because he was (and still is) always restoring old cars and trucks. His appreciation of the beauty of the lines, the curve of a fender, the fuctional beauty was contagious. So I always liked the looks of these 50's pickups and never pass up the chance to ride in or drive one. Even the door handles and steering wheel designs can not be improved upon. 

This particular one took my brother from Colorado to North Dakota, a 600 mile journey several years ago, without a hitch. Simple clean designs with amazingly simple motors.

And when they reach their final destination and start to rust - the fun begins! Oranges and browns warmed by the sunlight against cool greens in the shadows. Differing textures of painted metal, rust, chrome, glass and rubber tires. Yep, lots of reasons to paint an old chevy pickup. 

This is #17 of  100 for $100.
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I feel like I'm searching for adventure with these small pastels, unknown worlds to be discovered and the smaller format lends itself to that, I suppose because it's a less of a risk? investment? I'm not sure, but I'm finding a braver me within these 6 x 9" boundaries. I'm also exploring a new world of color in the shadows of a backlit subject. In this case, a mule deer, one of three bucks I came upon while on one of my travels through the big, wide, wonderful West.
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#7 of 100 paintings to come. SOLD
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Horses seem to be endlessly curious about their environment. Something across the hills has got the attention of these two.

This is #2 of 100 paintings in progress. For more information click on 100 for $100 Read More

Well, here goes! Like many other artists, I have set a goal of painting 100 small paintings within the next few months. I have no idea where this road will take me, but I am excited and ready for the journey. You can join me by subscribing to the RSS feed for this blog or if you would like to see these paintings delivered directly to your email inbox, go to www.trishstevenson.blogspot.com and subscribe there. 

Painting #1 began with a turpentine wash on Wallis sanded paper and then layered pastels over that. I was intrigued with the many colors reflected within the shadow on the deer as well as capturing the tenseness of the deer's body as it remained alert for danger.

These small paintings (6 x 9" or smaller) are available for $100, unframed and including shipping.


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