Along 89 II

Along 89 II - Oil on Panel - 2.5 x 3.5

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I can't seem to get away from clouds lately, their colors, shape and texture is endlessly fascinating to me! These clouds are from the Utah desert along HWY 89, but lately we've been getting some great ones with our annual springtime windstorms here in eastern Washington State.

OK, I wasn't kidding when I said last time that these tiny ACEO sized paintings look great in mini easels. Here's a shot of this painting in an easel that I rubbed with a craft store gold-leaf wax:

I love this as a little accent for a bookshelf, or for brightening up my work desk! 

Along the Burnt River

Along the Burnt River - 6x6 - Oil on Gessobord

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After my trip through the southwest, I've been in a bit of a rut. Nothing kicks me out of a rut like a good ol' cruise through Google Street View! The Burnt River Canyon is a brief detour off the route my family has taken for as long as I can remember to get to Boise, Idaho. It's a trip we make multiple times a year, trekking south and east on I-84, but I'd never noticed this little side road before. The red willows along the creek were simply stunning!

Winter Path

A Winter Path - 5x7 - Oil on Panel

Well, it looks like my winter denial could only last as long as my stash of summer photos, and that's been running dry. So I'm facing reality and painting some winter scenes straight from the shrub steppe of Washington!

Along the Parks Highway - Another Alaskan Google Maps Painting

Along the Parks Highway - 6x6 - Oil on Panel - Landscape

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Yes. I do love "driving" around Alaska in Google Maps. Yes, I entertained the thought of living there for about 20 minutes, until my husband reminded me about that whole snow thing they have. I can barely take the occasional flurry we get here in the Tri-Cities, so maybe it's better I enjoy the 49th State from afar!

Light over Lake Diablo - Pacific Northwest Landscape Painting

Light over Lake Diablo - 6x6 - Oil on panel

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This was done from a photo I took on our trip over the North Cascades. Greens are such a challenge for any artist, it's a very nuanced color! But I think I'm working with a distinct disadvantage, being from the cheat grass filled side of the state! =) Again, I cannot say enough how important it is that EVERYONE drive this highway at some point in their life. It was simply mindbogglingly beautiful!

Cowboy Trail III - Canadian Landscape Painting Oil on Panel by Melanie Thompson

Cowboy Trail III - Oil on Panel - 6x6 - Landscape

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The final Cowboy Trail painting! I like this one best, I think because I like the way the contours of the hill feel. I'm scouting around now for new views from Google Street View, if you have any favorites let me know!

Cowboy Trail II - Canadian Landscape Painting Oil on Panel by Melanie Thompson

Cowboy Trail II - Oil on Cradled Panel - 5x5 - Landscape

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Bend in a Canadian road!  Another from my virtual trip over the northern border on the Cowboy Trail. Unlike my other panel paintings this one is 5x5 and is cradled to make it 1.5" deep.

Cowboy Trail I - Canadian Landscape Painting Oil by Melanie Thompson

Cowboy Trail I - 6x6 - Oil on Panel - Landscape

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I don't like being all cooped up all day, and gas prices limit how often we can take long road trips. My new coping method is taking tours through Google Maps! Here in the states most areas are still at low quality, but most of I-5, Canada, and Alaska are shot in HD, VERY impressive scenery. I can't wait until Google re-shoots Yellowstone or Yosemite in such high quality.

This spot is somewhere along the Cowboy Trail in Canada, I have two more in the works as well. Someday I'd like to visit and paint it in person!

Hillside Patterns - 6x6 - Oil on Panel - Landscape

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This little gem of a hillside is somewhere in Idaho, near Hell's Canyon. I've been going through a lot of my old firefighting photos looking for good references, and this view from near our base camp caught my eye!

Rainy Dayton

Rainy Dayton - 6x6 - Oil on Panel

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I fell in love with the topography around Dayton, and the overbearing grey clouds provided great atmosphere, despite the wind and rain!