Original Art Oil Painting Figurative Interior Still life Abstracted

Fifty Years Later
18x24 Oil on Canvas

Robin and I were best buddies at age 4. We lived on Miller Drive in Lawrence, Kansas. When I moved away at age 5 we promised to stay in touch always. Right.  Right? Well, crazy, but it turns out we did.  We wrote letters, then later, made audio cassettes to send each other.  We did this year after year all the way  through high school, then lost touch.  But about 5 years ago, Robin got in contact with me.  She was living in Austin.  I had lived in Austin in the 80's, and it turns out we had been living there at the same time but did not know it.
Finally, last summer,  I made a trip back to Austin to visit several college friends and while there I looked Robin up.  We met for drinks and appetizers at a wonderful Mexican restaurant overlooking the lake.  We talked and laughed for hours, both of us amazed that 50 years had gone by.  And that we'd actually stayed in touch over a lifetime without having seen each other in all the intervening years.  Funny thing, I left knowing that Robin would have turned out to be a very good friend, had we lived in close proximity.  We had quite a bit in common.  Crazy.

Plein Air Adventures,plein air, Oil paintings,fall aspen ,aspen trees

Plein Air Painting Adventures ( or misadventures)  Story follows paintings below. 

Indian Mountain, 9x12 plein air oil painting

View from Cabin Deck, 9x12 plein air oil painting

Near Basalt, 6x8 plein air oil painting

Plein Air Painting Misadventures

(At least one pretty rough start)

Every fall I take about a week and head into the mountains to paint the gorgeous scenery.

My first painting site on this particular adventure was Kenosha Pass. It was a late afternoon weekday.  Slightly rainy, very foggy, and a little on the cool side. There was nobody up at Kenosha and I drove far into the forest. I hopped out of my trusty ol’ 4 door yellow jeep and began taking photographs. It was lovely. A foggy autumn kind of lovely.

 After about 30 minutes it started to rain more heavily and I began to get pretty wet and cold. I headed back to the jeep but .....my keys were gone! And I'd walked all over the place, including off the trail and into some deep grassy areas. I was locked out of the jeep, cold and wet and had no cell phone coverage. I searched for about an hour and was beginning to panic.  I even started to cry.  There wasn't a soul in sight and I hated the idea of hitching a ride on 285! 

 Shortly after sending up a desperate prayer for help and through divine intervention I am sure, I finally found the keys in a grassy area well off the beaten path.  I made it to the cabin in Indian Mountain and made myself a nice, warm cozy fire in the wood stove. I took off my wet wool socks and set them on the wood stove's mantle to dry.

On the second day of my solo plein air painting trip I hopped on my little enduro motorcycle and tooled around Indian Mountain taking photographs with the brand-new expensive Canon camera that my husband had just bought me for my birthday. I returned to the cabin and set the camera on the motorcycle seat and did a quick plein air painting of some fallen trees outside of my cabin. The painting turned out well and I decided to reward that small success with another quick mo-mo ride.

I love to ride my motorcycle on the dirt roads of Indian Mountain in the fall!  The crisp, cool air, shimmering golden -yellow aspen and the wafting scent of scattered campfires is intoxicating.  How in the world I overlooked this next part I've no clue. But I hopped on the motorcycle and started down the worn dirt driveway when suddenly I heard a grinding, gnashing, awful, crunching sound. I'd sat on the strap of the camera, and the camera swung over into the back tire and was being desecrated by the churning spokes.  Bye- bye, nice, new, expensive camera lens. (Thank goodness the body of the camera was intact, although I was sure at the time it, too, was ruined.)

  Feeling beat up and defeated by my own stupidity I took refuge back inside the cabin only to find my wool socks burnt to a crisp on the fire mantel from the previous night. I could've burnt the place down. 

As far as I recall there were no other major gaffes on that particular trip,  but when I have that many misadventures in a row I tend to get fed up and reign it in. I can really focus and concentrate when I need to, although I do tend to reside most often on the comfortable, breezy, artistic right side of my brain, which can get me into big trouble. Ah, the joys and struggles of the artistic life!

Next time:  Looking on the Bright Side of Things

(when tightly wrapped, frozen beef defrosts then explodes inside of your Plein Air Paintmobile (AKA yellow jeep) on a very hot summer day.)

Birds, Bird Paintings, Original Art, Holiday Art Show, Oil paintings, Tracy Haines, fine art, Gift ideas

Below are a few more of the bird paintings I will have on hand for the Holiday Show Dec 5th.
I hope you stop by. Location:  1597 W. Nevada Place, Denver 80223.  I will be there Saturday only from 10-4pm

I am listing these for purchase for those who are interested but cannot make the show.

These come mounted to a black plaque and ready to hang on the wall. ( See the example at the bottom of this page.)

Thank you for looking.

" Poised and Ready" 6x6 oil

Shipping or Pick up

Local Pick up $55.00 USD Shipping $70.00 USD

"What's Going on over There?" 6x6 oil

Shipping or Pick up

Local Pick up $55.00 USD Shipping $70.00 USD

"Good Morning" 6x6 oil

Shipping or Pick up

Local Pick up $55.00 USD Shipping $70.00 USD

"Come on Now" 6x6 oil

Shipping or Pick up

Local Pick up $55.00 USD Shipping $70.00 USD

Colorado artists, oil paintings, plein air paintings,art for sale,

Here are some works from the last few days of the #30paintingsin30days challenge. 

Ken Caryl Towards Deer Creek 16x20 oil/canvas by Tracy Haines
Bid here!

 I find the bigger challenge is not so much in the daily painting, but in all the stuff that follows!  Uploading to  the computer, resizing the photos, then uploading the paintings to eBay,blogs, website and facebook is time consuming.

Deer Creek Valley Barn 16x20 oil by Tracy Haines

Bid Here!

Yesterday,  I was interviewed by the Columbine Courier on this project.  That was fun and exciting and I am also very glad to know Extended Hands of Hope will get some exposure!
Please consider supporting this non-profit group which seeks to help young, traumatized victims of sex trafficking. You can do this by bidding on these works. For the month of September I am dontating 50% of proceeds to them.

A Steamboat Cabin, 8x10 oil on board by Tracy Haines
Bid here!

Benefits of painting daily, oil paintings, #30paintingsin30days, Ken Caryl Valley, Colorado,

I'm halfway through the #30paintingsin30days challenge.  It's not easy; it's a bit harder than I expected.  However,  I've learned a lot in doing this and thought I'd share some of what's helped.

Top 8 benefits of painting every day

1) It gets the juices flowing. 
  Every artist gets in the occasional, miserable rut.  Burn out strikes and the last thing you want to do is get into the studio. I've found that the mere act of laying out the paints, dragging the brush across the canvas,  laying down a base coat of color , is often all it takes to get the inspiration and excitement back.  Ideas flow and pretty soon you can't wait to get to the next painting.  You're out of the rut.

2) Drawing skills improve
It's amazing how much easier it is to lay in a quick and accurate sketch  after several consecutive days of work.  I've found that if a week or so goes by, that initial process is much more arduous, stressful and un-fun.

3) Organizational skills improve
Knowing the time needed to complete, photograph and load up ( to eBay, blog, facebook, instagram and the 30 in 30 site) a piece of art,  one needs to organize not just  the studio and office space, but also  the day and week in general.  Life does not stop when one takes on a daily painting challenge.

4) Self discipline kicks in
No more excuses. No more laziness.  You committed to the project; you just need to get it done.

5) Joy and happiness escalate
Every artist will relate to this.  The artist MUST paint.  She's miserable if she doesn't. He's grouchy if too much time away from the studio passes.    It's interesting.  I find that if I do a lousy painting I'm in a lousy mood.  When I do a piece that works out well, I'm on a near high.  However,  if I put off painting for any length of time, for any reason at all , I'm in a much worse frame of mind than when I paint and have a lousy result. In this way, joy and happiness really do escalate!

6) Business improves
You are not going to sell what you do not paint.

7) One learns new techniques
Particularly when doing daily paintings of smaller works, it's easier to try out new techniques, new subjects, a different palette or perhaps a different support.  Because the piece is small, there is less of a risk of wasting paint or other supplies. When you stretch yourself, you grow, and it's much easier to do this when painting small and often.


8) Overall artistic growth happens
Try it and see. Log your first painting and check it against the 30th.

A Valley Day, 5x7 oil on canvas panel.  Bidding in progress now on eBay!
bid here

50% of proceeds from the month of September go to Extended Hands of Hope Colorado!

Thanks for your support!

still life paintings, small art, #30paintingsin30days, oil paintings, Tracy Haines, daily paintings

Diet Root Beer,  6x6 oil on Gessobord
Bid here!

This is day 13 of the #30paintingsin30days challenge.  I like this challenge for many reasons.  
Tomorrow, I think I will post some of the benefits of taking a project like this on!

Meantime,  please consider helping in the fundraiser for Extended Hands of Hope- the non profit anti- sex trafficking organization I have been posting about.
You help when you bid for these pieces on eBay;  50% of proceeds during September will go to that group.

#30paintingsin30days, floral paintings, Botanic Gardens, oil paintings, Tracy Haines

Day # 8 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge! 

Today's painting was done en plein air at Denver's Botanic Gardens.  What a gorgeous day it was- perfect weather and unending material from which to paint.  It was amazing to see so many other artists out there today. Several groups were there including Plein Air Artists Colorado, Golden Triangle Plein air, and a class from the Art Students League. Seemed like about 40-50 painters and lots of curious onlookers!

Botanic Gardens is a 10x10" oil on 1" stretched canvas.

It is sold unframed and is up for bidding on eBay now until 9/15/15.
 Bid Here: eBay bidding for this piece

Below is an edited black and white version.  I like to drop my painting into photo editor to check the reading of the values; especially when I use bright colors, which can be deceiving.  The values MUST read, and be interesting, or the painting does not work, regardless of how nice the color might be.

50% of proceeds from the 30 in 30 challenge this month, September 2015, got to Extended hands of Hope. Pass the work and please bid! 

If you are interested in my Ladies Fall Artists' Retreat, please see post from August 31 for details.

paintings of flowers, oil paintings,original art,#30paintingsin30ays,Colorado, Ken Caryl

Day # 7 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge!

This is also a fundraiser for  Extended Hands of Hope, a non-profit organization that helps underaged victims of sex trafficking who have endured tremendous abuse. Please lend your support by bidding for this piece on eBay.  A full 50% of proceeds from the 30 in 30 challenge go to this organization.

Ken Caryl Flowers
9 3/4 x 12 oil on 1/4" board
Sold Unframed
Bidding starts at $ 25.00 Bidding ends 9/14/15 around 5:45 mountin time.
Bid here

fundraiser sex trafficking oil paintings for sale daily paintings landscapes Colorado

Deer Creek Road 8x10 oil/panel

Price determined my you!

Click here to bid:  eBay bidding

Day #4 of the 30 paintings in 30 Days Challenge!  This piece is from a scene I often pass as I drive to Deer Creek Park to hike or run.  The views along this lovely winding road are spectacular all year long, but particularly in the fall and spring.  And the winter! (Summer too) 
 Well, all year long.

Since I will be painting and posting daily this month, I have decided to place these paintings on eBay. In addition,  I thought it would be nice to put this month to good use and try a fund raiser.  50% of sales from the 30 in 30 paintings will go to help support a budding new operation: Extended Hands of Hope.  This local ( Colorado) non-profit organiziation seeks to help underage girls who have experienced extreme trauma through the horrors or sex trafficking. 

You may read more about this organization here:  Extended Hands of Help

Thanks for your support!

oil paintings landscapes,trees,Colorado landscapes original art daily paintings 30 paintings in 30 days

Day # 3 of 30 paintings in 30 days!

Coyote Trail by Tracy Haines
16x20 oil on wrapped canvas
$400.00, unframed

local pick up or shipping

Shipping within USA $430.00 USD local pick up $400.00 USD

I am very much enjoying this challenge.  A theme is developing too:  paintings in and around my home in Ken Caryl.
If you are interested in painting the Colorado mountains in the fall, take a look at the information from the August 31 st post on this blog and sign up!

Thank you for taking the time to view my art!

oil paintings Colorado mountains and streams snow Breckenridge fine art

                                                       Winter at Matthew Winters Park
                                            16x20 oil on stretched canvas by Tracy Haines
                                                       $400.00 Framed  (gold plein air frame)

local pick up or shipping

Shipping within USA $430.00 USD local pick up $400.00 USD

Winter at MWP above was completed in the studio after I had done a plein air study on location.  I love doing winter scenes, partly because I just love to paint with blue!

Well, my studio re-organization project is coming along nicely.  On a whim,  I decided to paint two of the walls with a warm, neutral gray.  I think I like it, but will live with the color for a bit before putting things back in place.  Want to make sure it does not leave the studio too dark.

I have been a bit under the weather all week with a re-root canal proceedure that has not gone as smoothly as in the past.
I'll spare you the details, but suffice it to say, I shall keep this post shorter than usual.

If you are in the Breckenridge area July 24-26, please stop by the Breckenridge Main Street Art Festival.

Until next week........

How to get started in pastel painting, youTube videos, oil paintings birds cardinals

Greetings!  Oh Happy Day! 

If you are new to painting in pastels or would like to get started, I just launched my first teaching video which covers materials for painting in pastel.  These videos can be seen on YouTube under Tracy Haines Fine Art. 

 (In the last post I wrote out materials that were discussed in the video for your convenience. )

Fresh off the easel:

I love the attitude in this little guy! Just look at his body posture.  Cardinals, especially, seem to convey attitude in the way they hold themselves and stare you down. This one is a 6x6 oil on Ampersand Gessobord and is mounted on a black 8 1/2x 10 1/2  plaque, as shown. It's ready to hang.
$ 95.00

In my next video I will demonstrate how I do a pastel painting on sanded board. Stay Tuned!

Today's Quote:

I heard this while listening to Lesli Saeta on the podcast, Artists Helping Artists:

" You get one chance in this world to enjoy every day and if you don't enjoy it it's your own fault, when the day's done. The more I do the better."   So true!  I love that.


Today's Studio Tip:

Once you have laid in the foundation of your painting and you are at the point when you can put the left brain to bed and start using the right side,  listen to a podcast of Artists Helping Artists.  I have learned to much listening to these fantastic, free and information-FILLED podcasts and love that I'm multi-tasking.  If you don't like to listen and paint at the same time, then try downloading these to an i-pod or from your smart phone while you walk or jog.

The podcasts are about an hour long, so you can knock out a 2-3 mile walk and get exercise!  Again-multi-tasking! 
:)

Below is a preview of some new styles of painting I am trying out.  I will be unveiling these at the next Summer Art Market June 13 and 14th at 2nd and Grant in Denver, booth # 6. Please stop by!

Aspen a'Glow is a 30x40x2" mixed media ( charcoal, pastel and acrylic) painting on gallery-wrapped- style Birchwood. Sides are painted black and it is ready to hang!  $ 1200.00  Free shipping

Have a wonderful, beautiful, joy-filled day and be sure to enJOY every minute of it!

Avoiding Artist Block

This is a recent underpainting using bold strokes of bright color.

One thing I have discovered that is tremendously useful for me as an artist is to leave the studio at the end of the day with something that is in progress.

All of us suffer from the occasional artist block. Or, maybe we are not exactly blocked, but we just can't seem to get to work.  We get busy, but the business is a cover up: we are procrastinating and we know it..... and it's an uncomfortable feeling.

Having a work in progress seems to lessen those times for me.

Field of Poppies

8x10 Oil on masonite

$ 35.00

I have a poppy plant in my garden. Just one. I would love a field of poppies to call my own.