Celebrating Light in the Western Landscape by Season
“Pat Carney has been my good friend for about 35 years. She is a retired high school teacher and, while teaching, earned her PhD in history. As a multitalented woman, she has been an artist since drawing on the chalkboard in elementary school. She specializes in landscape painting in oil, both on location and in the studio. While many of her paintings depict Colorado scenes, she also takes her gear on trips throughout the States and abroad. Her work has been selected for exhibits of the American Impressionist Society, Oil Painters of America, and Salon International. She shows locally at Framed Image in Denver and Creative Framing in Louisville. It is an honor for me to present a few of her delightful pieces on my website.”
“In this collection, you can see my efforts to depict the effects of light on the landscape. Painting is the means of expressing my feelings about the effect of light and color variations which attract me. I look for a visual spark along with a personal connection to a subject. An impetus could be the drama of light and shadow or the richness of color evoking a mood. I try to entice my viewers to see the beauty and sense of place that drew me to paint a subject, so they too will be engaged by the natural world. For more images, please visit PatCarneyFineArt.com.”
“Springtime in the Rockies” 8” x 10” oil painting
In this painting near Frisco, Colorado, we see some vegetation greening up while the mountain peak remains snow covered. Spring weather is unpredictable with a mix of wind, rain, and snow, but eventually the harsh cold gives way to warmer days and leafing trees make a comeback.
“Nearly Spring” 12” x 16” oil painting
Traces of winter can remain long into Spring in Colorado. In this scene from Pella Crossing, I was attracted to the contrast of snowy peaks against the dark blue mountain. Neutrals of trees and grasses support the bright complementary colors of blue sky and water against the orange rushes in the foreground.
“Morning Fog” 16” x 20” oil painting
It is unusual for Colorado have fog but it can create a different mood for a painting. The overcast light saturates the colors of the grasses with deep greens, blue-greens, and reddish tones to present a quiet, unimposing landscape.
“Spring Green” 6” x 8” oil painting
I always look forward to seeing the earliest greens of Spring. It seems to take forever for the first buds on the trees to appear, and yet the foliage fills in quickly once started.
“Aspen Grove” 8” x 10” oil painting
After exploring several possibilities for an aspen study at Golden Gate Canyon State Park, I decided on this scene. I liked the pattern that the trunks made against the dark background of foliage.
“An Avalanche of Flowers” 18” x 24” oil painting
An avalanche of snow and ice creates space for new growth when open to sunlight. Colorful wildflowers subsequently fill the hillside to provide an inviting display
“In the Countryside” 9” x 12” oil painting
Fortunately for me, the city leaders in Boulder set aside Open Space beginning in the 1950s. These lovely properties offer a variety of pastoral scenes such as this barn with flourishing cottonwoods against the mountain backdrop.
“Canyon Falls” 9” x 12” oil painting
Painting along water feels several degrees cooler during the high heat of summer days. I found this quiet corner along South Boulder Creek in Eldorado Canyon State Park.
“Golden Chamisa” 11” x 14” oil painting
A sure sign that fall is on the way is when the chamisa bushes bloom. I really look forward to their sunny yellow-orange color right before the trees start to turn.
“Morning Fog on the Prairie” 24” x 30” oil painting
One of my favorite places to paint is Konza Prairie in the Flint Hills of Kansas. In the fall, the grasses glow with a lovely orange color in morning light, even with slightly foggy conditions.
“Autumn Glow” 12” x 10” oil painting
The temperature outdoors during the fall is so pleasant for painting and hiking. Beautiful color is on display in Rocky Mountain National Park.
“Autumn Serenity” 22” x 28” oil painting
I was drawn to the tranquility of the water and the contrasts in the foliage near Cascadilla Creek near Glacier National Park. In overcast light, the rocks and undergrowth along the shoreline added subtle colors to the brightly saturated aspens.
“Snow Patterns” 9” x 12” oil painting
In this light-filled scene from Wild Basin in Rocky Mountain National Park, wispy willows form pleasing patterns of cast shadows across the snow while directing your eye from part to part. The rich color shifts evident in the shadows are due to the reflective quality of snow that mirrors any hue in the surrounding area and the sky.
Chamisa” 10” x 12” oil painting
In this engaging backlit scene, smooth mounds of snow adorn the top of the chamisa, contrasting with the rough wiry stems below.
“Winter Echantment” 12” x 16” oil painting
I love to paint snow. It changes the landscape in dramatic ways by transforming an ordinary scene into a magical world of bright white with snow mounds and ice crystals. Without snow, winter would be just cold.
“Moonrise” 16” x 24” oil painting
The moon rises here during the “blue hour”— the time just after sunset. Lighting is diffused and shadows play less of a role in the composition. Mood is enhanced by cool color notes giving a sense of the serene.