Alaska – Page 2

Big Bear Update

October 20, 2015 by alaskanraven

I have a New Big Goal. It excites me. It is daunting and a little frightening. I’m not even sure how it will be accomplished but the thought of it thrills me.

I want to paint BIG polar bears.
My first thought was to paint a large bear on the outside of my house. I may still do that but right now I am focused on creating large 6′ x 4′ panels.

I’ll need to use my big brushes. Claude Monet used to tape his brushes to long tree branches so he could stand back and paint his water lilies. Hmmmm.

I need space. I’ve cleared many things out of my studio. I am ruthless with all the stuff that accumulates.

My goal may take a year to accomplish but it is a good challenge.

I recently completed a 4′ canvas with a large bruin luxuriating in the snow. My bears are growing larger and larger with daring brushstrokes. I’m pushing the color to portray the wildness. I’m eager to see where the pursuit takes me.

I’m still painting bears that are a more traditional size. I may even do some mini ones just to keep things interesting.

My big bears won’t be living on standard canvas. I’ve discovered a new fabric this summer that I am experimenting with right now. I’ll share more about this development later.

"Polar Energy" 24" x 36" — “Polar Energy”
24″ x 36″

Moving forward. He’s coming right at us. I love the interaction of the colors and the feeling of electricity in the air.

"Arctic Extremes" 24" x 18" — “Arctic Extremes”
24″ x 18″

The deep dark cold contrasting with the warm sunlight and warmth from the polar bear’s body is the subject of this painting. He must generate warmth to fight off the arctic temperatures.

Refresh, recharge, restart

September 6, 2015 by alaskanraven

Time for change.

Time to get rid of things that are not being used. Move things around. Set things up differently. Turn the studio inside out, upside down and totally reorganize it. Just like hitting the restart button on a computer.

Change invigorates me. Find a better way to store and access my tubes of pigment. Stack things differently. Try out a different palette. Find a new container for brushes. Change creates more room in the studio for my elbows and larger canvases.

Time to paint.
Explore new ways to paint my polar bears.
How to paint wildly to capture these fascinating animals?

Layers and layers of paint. I apply more color until a bear emerges out of the pigment. This bear rests but is ready to take action. I focus on their strength and power while I work. Their immense presence. Shape the form with color and emotions. Motion and movement with more color. I want these bears to breathe!

Bears roam around in my studio.

"Up Close" 10" x 8" oil painting by Raven — “Up Close” 10″ x 8″ oil painting by Raven

"Patience" 12" x 24" oil painting by Raven. This painting can be seen at Stephan's Fine Arts in Anchorage, Alaska — “Patience” 12″ x 24″ oil painting by Raven.

"On the Move" 10" x 8" oil painting by Raven. Brighter colors, shorter brushstrokes. It is all about motion and color and more color. — “On the Move” 10″ x 8″ oil painting Brighter colors, shorter brushstrokes. Motion and color and more color.

Going backwards to go forward

April 20, 2015 by alaskanraven

Climbing up the riverbank reveals the remnants of cabins. Each one whispers a different story. Carefully placed logs sink into tundra.

Where should I paint?

A winding path takes me to each home and deepens my understanding. Empty homes. Cherished memories were dust on the windowsills. A mischievous wind carried hints of laughter and joy. But inside the cabins are only cobwebs and dust. It must have been hard to leave this beautiful place when airplanes replaced riverboats in the 1940’s.

We only traveled seven miles down the Koyukuk River but our boat took us back a hundred years. Gordon Bettles chose this site in 1896 to establish his trading post during the gold rush. It was as far as the old riverboats could navigate.

One of the buildings catch my attention. My friend reminisced, “We used to come here on snow machines in the winter and danced all night”. The General Store appeared to bow in acknowledgment. The dance floor had been removed but the old weathered walls held onto memories of festive days.

Her story made my choice of subject matter easy. I firmly plant my easel in front of the General Store and spill all the contents of my bag onto the ground. Paint tubes, palette, brushes, water, clips, mosquito repellant, sunblock. I went right to work. Old bottles peek at me from the windows. I study the weathered sheet metal and signage. Fireweed dance in the breeze along with the golden birch leaves. A perfect day to soak up local color and paint wildly on a sunny September day in Old Bettles.

Spending the day here made me feel close to the people who had lived in Old Bettles. I don’t know them by name but I feel a kinship from spending time behind an easel in the shadow of their homes on the Koyukuk River. I share that connection with you.

Near & Far

December 7, 2014 by alaskanraven

Near & Far is the title of my show hanging in Well Street Art Co. It is a collection of thirty paintings that represent my work over the past year.

The opening reception, Friday evening, December 5 was a fun celebration. Many paintings were purchased. They will be going to their new homes soon. I am very grateful to my patrons for their support. I am honored that my work brings them joy.

Near and Far are words with meanings that flow and change. Places that are near to the heart may be far from reach. Seasons change making the familiar unfamiliar. Brushstrokes of color bring a far away experience back to the present and make it alive. Distant memories are brought close again with reflections of light color and texture. Relive the moment.

Here are photos of a few of the paintings in the show while it was being hung. Take a “walk” through the gallery with me.

I put together a program to share my feelings about each of the paintings. If you drop by the gallery, be sure and pick up a copy.

Beaver Dam

May 23, 2014 by alaskanraven

I drove thirty nine miles out of town this week and did an oil ‘sketch’ of a pond and beaver dam. Painting is a great excuse to sit quietly and enjoy the landscape while surrounded by bird songs and watching ducks float by. The light kept changing as the sun hid or came out from behind the clouds. I was intrigued by this beaver construction but didn’t get to see the architect that day.