As I head to Black Tie and Blue Jeans this evening, which is a fundraiser for the hugely talented Great Falls Symphony, I thought I would send out this poster for their last big party of the season, “Gourmet of the West”. I will be doing a painting, to be sold that evening. Not this cowboy, probably a regional landscape… I hope to see you at one of these events!

#greatfallssymphony, #blacktie&bluejeans, #gourmetofthewest, #lauriestevens, #lauriestevensart, #landscapepainting, #westernart

Many painters, myself included, are attracted to the “has-beens” as subject matter – old broken down cars and buildings, rusty things. The sagging structures, rusting or flaking finishes on these beauties, often found in equally interesting surroundings are all eye candy for a painter! They’re so much more interesting that clean lines, right angles, perfect paint jobs! As art can often be about story, these relics are rich in that regard!

“Out of Commission” is an oil, 18″x24″.

#oldtruck, #landscapepainting, #classicvehicles, #lumbertruck, #fineart, #oilpainting, #figurativepainting

Getting into the Booth Western Art Museum show Making Their Mark: American Women Artists has been high on my list, and the competition was fierce. But yay -I was accepted! My painting, “Mourning Dove” will be heading to Cartersville, GA. for that show, which runs from May 27 – August 23, 2020. I’m thrilled!

Mourning Dove was the pen name of Christine Quintasket, a Salish woman born in 1884 in Idaho. In 1904, she enrolled in the Fort Shaw Indian School in Montana. She witnessed the 1908 roundup of the last free-ranging bison herd, an event that had a profound effect on her. Her novel, Cogewea, the Half-Blood, (1927) was the first known published novel by a Native American woman. It explored the plight of the mixed blood (or “breed”), who lived in both white and Indian cultures.

Mourning Dove is oil and metal leaf on board, 36×24

Deer, obviously, and especially Mule Deer are some of my favorite subjects. I enjoy their graceful presence and beauty. I especially like painting the does, and avoid the widely popular subject – the trophy antlered bucks. I prefer to focus on the essence of the animal, and not their trophy potential.

As hunting season is upon us, I hope you hunters will take pause, treat these beings with respect, and appreciate the ultimate gift they may give you.

“Looking Together in the Same Direction” is oil and metal leaf on board, 16×20.

#muledeer, #metalleafpainting, #muledeerdoe, #oilpainting, #wildlifepainting

Walk in customers can put a damper on dedicated studio time. But it’s hard to not welcome these two – my regulars, and my favorite audience!

#mystudio, #artstudio, #horses, #quarterhorse, #bestcustomers

I’ve been painting some still lifes lately and am really enjoying doing them. They too are “painted from life”, but without the hassle of dragging your equipment outdoors and dealing with the elements, bugs and changing light during the plein aire painting process.

Painting from life is so important, as you see much nuance of color, light, shadow and depth that is lost in a photograph, even with today’s great technology.

Tangerines and Sunflowers is an oil, 12×16.

#stilllife, “studiopainting, #sunflowers, #tangerines, #oilpainting

In the north country where you have memory of what winter can be, summers are especially appreciated by both man and beast. This mallard is enjoying a beautiful summer day in a favorite place, a lily pad cove.

Sweet Summer is an oil, 11×14, and will be for sale at the Coeur’ d Alene Gallery’s Miniatures by the Lake Show on September 21, 2019.  

Mallard, #lilypads, #waterscape, #Coeurd’AleneGalleries, #Coeur d’ Alene, #Idaho

Many deer share this home place with me, and I never seem to tire of painting them. I loved the lost and found aspect of this subject, as the late light of day did it’s best to camouflage the subject. Ah, but for that last bit of light.

“Twilight” is an oil, 16×20

#muledeer, #mulie, #sdoe, #oilpainting, #wildlifepainting, #landscape, #wildlife

For some reason these old vehicles call out to be painted. This one was no exception. I played up the blue and orange dynamic, and was interested in the dormant line of trees behind the truck. I tend to like landscape subjects that offer good, level horizontals, as does this. I often exaggerate that as well, feeling that the horizontal is important in tying the subject to the ground.

Out to Pasture is an oil, 18×18.

#oldtruck, #landscape, #autumn

I can appreciate this painting more now, a month or so past our Winter From Hell. The five weeks of very cold temperatures and lots of snow became too much here! This scene is not near home however. It’s on the west slope of the Tetons, near Driggs, ID.

Winter Comes Early is an oil, 12×16.

#winter, #Idaho, #snowscene, #landscapepainting