Montana Artworking by Cindy Betka

After setting ‘Tomorrow’ aside to let the paint dry, I went back to it. The background and falling rain needed lightening. The technique of scumbling is a good way to achieve what I was looking to do. I used a cool grey mix of undiluted oil paint and lightly brushed over the dry layer in the background. Using that same mix I tinted it with yellow and brushed in the rain and on the trees enhancing the glow. Below is a detail of the area I worked on.

It is always nice to know what is coming, like the snow storm last night, this time the weatherman got it right. We anticipate an outcome, conjuring up a picture in our mind. Then, as it happens, it is not what we expected. I will take different approaches to a painting. To workout a composition I will do a very abstract under painting. From this, the painting’s shapes and images slowing emerge. A colleague of mine suggested I work that in the reverse. Going from a realistic approach into abstraction. The approach was a bit more difficult than I expected. The really nice benefit of this brain explosion was that it empowered the bolder side of me. I went back to look at a few paintings that have been bothering me. Each of these paintings needed something. A good example is this blue heron wading in the water painting was crying for help. I courageously made the stroke of orange. Can say for certainty that it was unexpected. Infusing, 20" X 24" Oil

Overhead The Tree-Tops Meet - Poem by Robert Browning Overhead the tree-tops meet, Flowers and grass spring 'neath one's feet; There was nought above me, and nought below, My childhood had not learned to know: For what are the voices of birds —Aye, and of beasts,—but words—our words, Only so much more sweet? The knowledge of that with my life begun! But I had so near made out the sun, And counted your stars, the Seven and One, Like the fingers of my hand: Nay, I could all but understand Wherefore through heaven the white moon ranges, And just when out of her soft fifty changes No unfamiliar face might overlook me— Suddenly God took me! The forest is constantly changing and renewing itself. The fir trees reach the end of their cycle and with the help of the pine beetle, die off. They start to fall, littering the forest floor. My photos just give you a glimpse of the pick up sticks piles that they form. You never know when a tree will drop. Sometimes a stron...

On cloudy, foggy days such as it is this morning, I revert to computer work. So, here I am blogging one of the paintings I am working on. This painting started out as an experiment in the abstract. It evolved into a landscape from my imagination and actual scenes. I still have the abstract idea if I want to create more of the same; leaving it as an abstract.

It is typical this time of year to get all excited about spring plantings when the temps are in the 50's and the sun is out. Just as the sun goes behind a cloud we have yet another round of 30's and snow. The wave pattern continues through May most likely. The snow is still covering the ground at 7000 ft elevation. There are some spots that are bear ground, but frozen. I tried to rake out the little of the garden that was showing, however, the rake would not scrape the frozen mulch. Such is mountain living. So I bundle up and take a hike through the woods and it is invigorating.

"Hope through the resurrection...' Peter 1:3  

This particular hawk is Hyla. She resides at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson. Hyla is one of many raptors in the Raptor Free Flight. There birds of prey can be observed from behind metal gates while they swoop over head going towards handlers for feed. Hyla is a ferruginous hawk rescued after falling from a nest in Montana. The ferruginous hawks live in a habitat of native shrub land and grassland which is shrinking. A friend of the family took the hawk photos which I used for reference. I used other photos of mine to compose the hawk over water. My aim was to keep with a high key color scheme and, as always, keep it simple. Painting high-key is to hold back on the darker values. I did use dark values sparingly, mostly on the hawk. Still in progress, but close to the finish.