Jesse's Blog

Crestone Needle

2012-01-24T12:44:00.000-08:00

This photo of the painting is crappy, I apologize. I need to retake it. Here is a view of the Crestone needle, one of the 14er's here in Colorado. Years ago, I did a climbing route called the Ellingwood Arete up that long, right edge. Behind the peak is the Crestone Peak and both are mountains up the South Colony Trailhead in the Sangre's. While I have not visited this beautiful area in ahile, I wanted to capture a new snowy scene that was different from all the work I've done about RNMP.

Two more for the GFAF

2012-01-21T07:53:00.000-08:00

Here are two more relatively small but fun pieces for the Golden FineArts Committee to select form. We'll see if they like them and if not maybe I can use one for the USA Pro Challenge race poster.
Looking at both of these, I guess I have accepted the fact that I am a studio painter versus a 'plein aire' painter. The latter being someone who paints outdoors and which i wish i could be. I praise Steve Quiller the influence he is on my painting and use of color and how I wish i could paint with him and Sue again.
I look at the work I'm doing and its strange how my style has shifted with my subject matter... When I paint climbers, and cyclist, I find that I relate more to the abstract qualities of Craig Kosak. Now when I paint more naturalistic landscapes, I use more influence from artists like Mike Svob and Michael O'Toole.
In any case, they are all professionals who have devoted themselves solely to their craft. I, on the other hand, continue to rage war in my head of being a teacher and instilling art in others, and being selfish and wanting to do it on my own.

Timberline

2012-01-03T08:28:00.000-08:00

Still yet another commission that I was able to finish over the break. This piece was done as a wedding present. As i do more and more mountain paintings i seem to get more reactions from them, than any of my other work.

FIBArk 2012

2012-01-03T08:23:00.000-08:00

Another painting I was able to finish while on break. I have to say that without the snow being so crappy, I don't think I would have gotten so much accomplished over X-Mas. This was a piece for the upcoming FibArk kayaking festival in Salida this summer.

Hallett Sunrise

2011-12-27T07:43:00.000-08:00

One more submission for the GFAF. Kind of a sad attempt at a sunrise from an early painting of Hallett as well.

The G and Castle Rock

2011-12-27T07:40:00.000-08:00

The G and Castle Rock in Golden. This will be a piece I'll submit for the Golden Fine Arts Fest in August. I would like to paint this again as i feel theres a lot of potential for more.

snowlight

2011-12-27T07:31:00.000-08:00

Here is a larger version of the painting I did a month ago. This was a challenge in creating--while the first painting was based on photos from a hut trip, this new one required some creative solutions. I really enjoyed the way this ended up and even the mountain in the background worked out great.

2011-12-25T08:52:00.000-08:00

Talking with my friend, Jeremy, last night, he reminded me that i haven't posted many pieces lately. Here is a rather large aspen grove that I finished right before Xmas break. i've been working for a full week now of a bunch of large pieces that sometimes it gets a little overwhelming. I think there are 8 canvases sitting at home right now. I have two commissions, well one commission that should be a really fun landscape, and then the poster design for the FIBArk festival in Salida. And then on top of that I need to create a bunch of work for ideas for the poster design for the Golden Fine Arts Festival.
Be looking for more additions to the blog in the coming days, I've been making some progress with several pieces and will be posting them soon.

chasm lake

2011-11-18T10:34:00.001-08:00

Rifling through a bunch of old 'memories' I found a picture from when my friend jeremy and i went and hiked up to Chasm lake at the base of Long's Peak. This was fun to paint but is rather small, and is one that Lindsay remarked many times that she loved it!

blowin snow

2011-11-09T12:51:00.000-08:00

Here is another sunrise piece of the boulder field looking up at the diamond face of Long's Peak. Not really a challenge for me but a fun exercise in creating the moving clouds and blowing snow

2011-11-09T12:48:00.000-08:00

We had many conversations at home about this piece. The magic of it is when you step back and all of it comes together. Lindsay said that its not her favorite. I enjoyed this first attempt at creating snowy trees and really want to create a larger one.

Sangre De Cristos

2011-10-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

The Sangres have always held quite a wonder for me. I have been a backpack guide in their drainage's, gone mountaineering through their peaks, and even biked along their base. This is the largest piece i have done in quite a few months! It is two canvases that are 30" x 40"!
The funny that seemed to happen with this painting was the speed at which this happened. I had built these canvases from two old paintings from my thesis. (Don't worry, I saved the paintings. Just reused the bars) After gessoing the new canvas, I screwed two long boards to the back for one long (80 inch) canvas. (displaying the boards will come off) My energy and excitement was overwhelming as i got the drawing on the canvas and moved right into painting a dark Phalo blue undertone for the mountains. After adding a yellow undertone for the sky however, my passion for the piece just STOPPED!
There it sat behind my desk for weeks. Oh and by the way I was working on this during my planning and lunch at school when there was a free moment. From time to time I would add a little paint to it--trying out a color. But I never could commit to it! Never once taking the leap into such a huge painting. I don't know really what it was... Perhaps I had lost interest or was overwhelmed.
Parent Teacher Conferences at our school take place after school until 8pm. No one signs up for a conference with the art, music, or P.E. Parents tend to stop in with their kids to see what they are working on, but it really has become a time to catch up on things. Well i had finished with all my lesson planning and prep and i was bored!! The painting beckoned me over.
I think i just got fed up! I went to the back of my classroom where the painting was and just started flinging paint. Massive amounts of Burnt sienna and Titanium white in big globs. I figured that if I failed and it turned out like crap, at least it wouldn't still sit there unfinished. The whole process of spreading and pushing the paint more like oil than acrylic paint. It was such a freeing experience.
More or less the whole painting process and self discovery took only two hours start to finish. What an incredible moment to reflect on.

2011-10-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

Here it is! The painting that will be used for the Eddyline Brewery's label of their Red Chile Porter!! This is an exciting time. The painting will get scanned and go on a totally black 16 oz. can. The actually painting will hang at the brewery. Then the second stage is creating a 'summer' painting of the same theme for their Raspberry Wheat beer. this one will have a mtn. biker and a bunch of other stuff.

Hallett Peak

2011-10-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

It seemed as though this summer at the Golden Fine Arts Festival, that the only thing people were interested in was landscape paintings. It was all I sold. So i have started to do just that--making more mountain paintings for people to hang over their fire places. Hallett Peak in has been the subject of many of my paintings in the past, but it usually is painted with Flat top peak and in snow.

Pines

2011-10-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pine tree paintings that I recently finished and have been meaning to post on the blog. A few friends that stayed with me this weekend totally mis-took the paintings saying, "one reminds me of it snowing and the other reminds me of Christmas." And although I hated that they said that, I know that if a couple people think that than more will too. It was fun to play with the naturalistic shape of the pine trees with the straight lines of the abstraction.

Helmets

2011-10-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

Two helmets that i finished a couple weeks ago... the first is a view of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco skyline. A little bit of abstraction made this one fun.
The second started as a joke of only using Green, Orange, and Brown in the color palette. This was challenge in itself to use those colors but to also create a fully abstract painting on the helmet which is not FLAT! I was really happy with the results!

Glacier

2011-09-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

Here is a recent commission i just finished a glacier in Alaska. It was a relatively small piece but it was fun to limit the palette of colors and play with the water and reflection of the snow.

view from dream lake II

2011-09-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

I was recently commissioned to recreate an old painting of Dream Lake up in RMNP with a view of Hallett and Flattop peaks. This has always been a place full of memories for me and it was a pleasure to paint it!

2011-09-12T15:58:00.000-07:00

Here is the video of my interview n 7 News the day of the Pro Challenge when it came to Golden! Also big in the news was the hurricane on the east coast.

Eagle Sunset

2011-09-08T08:21:00.000-07:00

here is a quick posting of a painting that i did while at Rainbow Trail family camp this summer. This will hopefully be used to raise money for the Duckett fire that forced camp to evacuate to the Horn Creek facility.

Golden Hotel Banner and GFAF

2011-08-24T11:22:00.000-07:00

Well the day is finally here. Yesterday i got to see the banner with my artwork go up on the Golden Hotel. The talk is that it will stay up for a year or two but definitely be there as a part of the Pro Challenge when it rolls through on Sunday in Golden.

Here is their website.. http://www.gura.com/bannerartists/

The Golden Fine Arts Festival was a great success. I sold several paintings and got a couple commissions. I was honored with 1st place in Painting for my booth. And on the second day the judge returned, and said that i would be the "featured artist next year." So all in all thank you to so many people for making this happen-- my family and friends, colleagues, and other artists.

Dry-Run for this weekend!!!

2011-08-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

Here's us putting up the tent and panels for a dry run for the Golden Fine Arts Festival this weekend! Many thanks to Jody for the tent and Gary for the panels!!

Big News--literally!

2011-08-06T08:54:00.000-07:00

Coming soon... look on the Golden Hotel for a 18ft banner of my painting! This will be in conjunction the US Pro Cycling Challenge coming to Golden August 28th!

Eddyline Mural

2011-07-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

The finished mural the Eddyline brewery's new cannery and tasting room in Buena Vista. The mural is 7' by 12' and all done in acrylic on a drywall support. i know its hard to see, but i love how the mountains and figures all overlap together and you can see the mtns through them.

Mural Project in BV

2011-06-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

I've been given an amazing opportunity to paint a 7ft by 12ft mural in the Eddyline's new cannery and bar on Main St. Buena Vista. The painting will consist of a mtn. biker, kayaker, and climber all mixed in with the Collegiate mountain range in town.
I was suppose to be down there painting right now, but they are still finishing up some of the features in the main room. So the painting will commence on July 5th!!!
I'm very excited for this project and it will be the largest thing I've painted since a mural I did in middle school!!
Hopefully more info and pictures to come!!

My studio

2011-05-24T17:10:00.000-07:00

Here is a good view of my studio in the midst of chaos! There's about 13 paintings in some sort of stage with a couple commissions and a lot of new pieces for my show in a couple weeks! Here is one of those pieces below.

New work for the Eddyline show

2011-05-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

The Golden Fine Arts Festival

2011-05-24T14:21:00.000-07:00

I got into the Golden Fine Arts Festival which will be in downtown Golden August 20th and 21st. Follow the link for more info... http://goldenfineartsfestival.org

Right now I have a friend letting me borrow a big tent for the weekend, but is there anyone out there that has any artwork display panels that I could use for the weekend. These panels would need to be large enough and heavy enough to hold large paintings. If anyone has ideas or such let me know!

this weekend's fun

2011-04-25T07:10:00.001-07:00

Quite an excellent weekend if i say so myself!! Its the end of April, and this weekend it was rainy, cloudy and even snowed a tiny bit--Don't worry i still got out and rode Mt. Falcon with my friend Jody. The rest of the weekend was a great chance to dive into some painting and crate some new pieces for my summer at the Eddyline Brewery in Buena Vista.

I think my favorite pieces of the weekend are the two Cams. It has been fun to explore all the drips and stains of these. Since this show will be in a kayak town, I want to have a fair showing of kayaker paintings. Finally the butterflies are a commission and really are quite different from the rest.

Bikes, bikes, bikes

2011-04-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

Writing this post today is the first time these two paintings have been together and they look so alike. I can assure you though, they had separate inspiration! The larger one was really a great opportunity to explore some fresh techniques and play with some textures. I continually find myself inspired by the artist Craig Kosak and his bright, abstract paintings.

2011-04-22T11:47:00.000-07:00

Here is a recent commission I just finished. I apologize for not having posted in a quite awhile.

Long's Peak and the Diamond

2011-03-01T05:48:00.000-08:00

Here is a painting I finished on Sunday--a little longer format than normal. I was captivated by the close formatting and cropping of getting just the upper proportion of the peak and the strong contrast involved. For me, this painting is one of those that sticks with me. I've thought about it long after i finished it and had to get out of bed, turn on the studio lamp, and sit and stare for awhile.

Show at the American Mountaineering Center

2011-02-10T09:46:00.000-08:00

I'm thrilled to announce a new show at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, CO. Here's their blog post..http://bwamm.blogspot.com/2011/02/jesse-crock-thirsty-3rd-thursday.html

Here's whats going on...

Check out Jesse's art at this month's Thirsty 3rd Thursday, February 17th at 5:30pm. Enjoy $2 brews, live music and giveaways, along with free admission to the museum. This Thirsty 3rd Thursday will also celebrate the 3rd Anniversary of the American Mountaineering Museum, which opened on February 16th, 2008.

We are thrilled to have Jesse's eye-catching work on display. Drop by and check it out for yourself. And if you fall in love with a piece (which you probably will), all pieces are for sale and a portion of the proceeds go to benefit the Museum.

Sunrise

2011-02-02T14:35:00.000-08:00

Jeffco public schools is pretty interesting. They canceled school for us yesterday due to the frigid temperatures.(And because of my birthday!) We knew about the closure even before the day was over. Well this was pretty exciting to say the least. I got this idea on canvas before I left school and man did I have fun painting all day while the snow fell!
This is a view from Dream Lake of a sunrise on Hallett and Flat Top mountains in RMNP. This scene and the location have always had a special place in my heart. From childhood snowshoeing trips up to Emerald lake or now with climbing the Dragon's tail couloir or digging snow pits on the upper slopes for an Avi class.

2011-01-19T14:09:00.000-08:00

Well now this must look kinda silly... New Paintings! After all my bitching. Thank you to all you that offered words of encouragement from my last blog. I'm still frustrated and don't really plan on painting anymore climbers and such for awhile... However, I will admit, after writing that last blog about all my frustration and anger, I went and work on one of these paintings here. I'm not quiting painting, i just have to change gears I guess.

The first painting here is of the mountain ridge near Leadville when we went on a hut trip after Thanksgiving. My buddy Dan and I went and skinned around but never found any good ski runs.

The second piece is the iconic Lookout Mountain in Golden. We've recently been having some amazing sunrises and I felt I had to capture that. Funny thing was when I was taking pictures, my camera died--I mean it is R.I.P dead! Any pictures I took were with my phone.

Another year in Ouray

2011-01-10T15:51:00.001-08:00

I walked back in my door tonight and saw an overwhelming sight...All my gear from the fest that needed to be put away. Well another year down at the Ouray Ice Fest has come and gone. We had some great climbing this year--just seemed too short. We had great weather except for the drive back! I need to say a big thank you to the Ice Park director, Erin Eddy, for everything this weekend. Thanks to Gia and Brent for all your help at the table this year! You guys are awesome! I got to have a table this year at the fest and sell my prints which netted some spending cash. I met a cool guy named Keith who is an ice sculptor and who let me carve some ice at the fest. The picture is me trying to make an ice screw.

Sadly none of paintings sold at the show at the Ouray Brewery. I guess there was a misunderstanding about the silent auction. I even saw one guy leaning on a painting of mine!! i mean come on! Looks like we'll try again next year. The live auction was a bit of a drag and the festival painting I did had no bidders--it sold to one of the auctioneers!(thanks mike!) I guess people aren't interesting in art. Its just getting really hard to have all of these paintings and it makes me think no one likes them. I feel like I should stop doing this type of work!

Paintings Published

2011-01-02T17:47:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest issues of Mountain Bike Action and Alpinist Magazine (33) for two of my paintings that were published. Save me a copy if you get one.

skier silhouette

2010-12-16T08:59:00.000-08:00

This is a small painting i did last night just because i wanted to play with blending and try and create a simple silhouette.

2010-12-06T12:53:00.000-08:00

The show at the Ouray Brewery is set up!! If you fins yourself in the area during Dec 4th- January 9th, please go and visit and try Erin Eddy's beer. Mine was the Autumn Saison! There is even talk of auctioning off paintings during the ice festival where any money that is raised beyond the asking price is donated to the Ouray Ice Park.

Gia's Tech Logo

2010-11-23T13:46:00.001-08:00

Here's a sketch i did for Gia's Tech conference she has been working on making a reality.

Walking the Creek

2010-11-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

I'm kinda late in publishing this piece. It is actually hanging at the McFadden Wright Gallery now. This painting sat in my studio for quite some time this fall because I didn't know where to take it. Not physically move it mind you, rather how to finish painting it. I ended up dripping a lot of paint on it, and through those drips I was able to have some fun with the textural quality of the piece.

Screws and other small things

2010-11-11T06:38:00.000-08:00

In preparing for my show at the Ouray Brewery next month, I made a series of small pieces. These will hopefully be a good addition to the spaces between the windows in the main dining area. Check them out... http://ouraybrewery.com/

new pieces

2010-11-04T12:58:00.001-07:00

Here is a second version of kicking into the ice painting that I did for my thesis. I have had many comments about the first one that i created--it also being the only one i sold last year. i worked a lot on how this painting could be more than the first one. I worked with layering the undertones and incorporating dips and splatters into the piece. All the while trying to show the momentum and energy of the boot kicking into the ice.

Denali

2010-11-04T12:54:00.001-07:00

This is my latest commission that I finished for my sister's roommate, Danielle, who is from Anchorage. This was an exceptionally fun piece to do and took me rather a short time. I really don't think a photo does it justice. I used a blending medium mixed with the acrylic paint and i think that really made the difference. I would love to try and make this one on a large scale!!

Ouray Bridge

2010-10-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

Our annual migration to Ouray's deep blue ice cliffs has us start itching for ice at the beginning of October... long before any forms in the state.

During the Ice Fest every year, the main gathering of people and events takes place along the upper bridge. This is where the competition is held and all of the spectators watch from the bridge.

I tried to describe the sheer depth of the canyon and the flowing organic shapes that the ice forms. There is none of the blocks of abstraction that I've used in the past. Instead I dripped layers and layers of thinned acrylic paint down the canvas to create the ice cliffs.

2011 Ice Fest

2010-10-18T13:00:00.001-07:00

Check out the latest issue of Rock and Ice Magazine and you'll see the poster design and painting for the Ouray Ice Fest!

Its time for winter...

2010-10-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

Last night Gia and I took her dog for walk and it was the first time it really felt like we had reached the end of fall. Most of the leaves were past the point of being pretty and there was a deep chill in the air. And you know what that means... ski season is on the way!!

This painting was one that I started at the Bent Gate Mountaineering Ski Party and it was fun to talk with people as i painted the undertones. I wish that I had created more of a sense of height in this piece. Maybe changing the format of the canvas next time. I'm curious to try more skiers as my subject matter; hopefully this will be a good ski season!!

Golden Wheelmen Inspired

2010-10-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

This past summer, I joined my first mountain bike team. It was a nice group of guys that were pretty laid back and enjoyed a beer after the ride. Sadly, I was only able to do a couple races as a part of the team but it felt cool to be a part of something. I'm not sure why I wrote this blog post about the team or included these photos. Maybe something about wanting to find new inspiration...

New cards

2010-09-30T13:38:00.000-07:00

New business cards here we come! Square ones at that!

Golden Kayaker

2010-09-25T14:31:00.000-07:00

This painting has been sitting on my easel for quite some time. I want to say almost a month. I've worked on it little by little but it never became what I saw in my head. I think it still turned out as a good painting and I have noticed how I have evolved in my art since I started painting this series about a year ago. I feel like I have a much stronger perception of my color choices, my compositions, and how to layer the paint in transparent vales and juicy opaques. I notice that I don't like using cheap paints anymore. I rely on Golden Fluid and Liquitex standard body acrylics for much of my work. But somewhere in there I'm still unhappy; like something is missing.

REI BOULDER Sept 22nd

2010-09-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

Howdy Folks,
If you find yourself venturing up to Boulder this week, stop by and listen to an artist lecture i'm giving at 7pm at the REI. i will be talking about all the paintings i created during and after my thesis- rock climbing, biking, kayaking, and more. Come listen to some of the adventures that inspired the paintings.

Mountain Ridge

2010-09-15T07:03:00.000-07:00

What can i say, I really felt like painting some mountains. I kept drawing this sketch of a ridge line because I liked the contrast it created. The square format was interesting to play with as well.

Trees

2010-09-12T13:43:00.000-07:00

Some simple trees...

New Studio

2010-09-07T16:13:00.001-07:00

This picture really doesn't do it justice. I just took this picture a couple minutes ago because the warm light was really great. This is my new studio in my new condo in downtown Golden. Yes I am a home owner now!

Creede Reception

2010-09-07T16:04:00.001-07:00

Well folks, it didn't get much busier than this sadly enough. This is the view of the gallery space at the Creede Repertory Theater where I had my reception this past weekend. My thanks to Jessie Glimer for helping me get the show and for Teresa for hanging it for me while I was gone. The show looked great! Frustratingly enough hardly anyone came to the reception. I had to buy a bunch of food and wine and Gia and I drank and ate most of it.

This comes at the end of the summer show lineup that I had set up. I have have not sold almost any pieces and its really a blow! It really would be nice to have people want to buy my work. The only money I make seems to be on commissions.

My first painting in a month

2010-08-16T17:22:00.000-07:00

As the title says, I haven't been painting because I just finished up a trip to Alaska with the family and then ripped it on the CO trail. (all 500 miles of it!) Before all that, I was back at the camp I use to work for doing Pewter Crosses with the kiddos. My friend and former boss, has a golden retriever named Roxy. And for a long time I have wanted to do a painting of a golden even though I don't have one. Man, at my next house I swear I'm going to get my own golden! Even having taken this break, I feel pretty good with this painting and being able to pick up my paint brush and get to it. When I started this yesterday, I had it drawn on the canvas a blue undertone glazed over it, but the crazy part was that it only took me 2 hours to finish it. Sweet!

REI Presentation July 20th

2010-07-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

Please come hear Jesse talk about his influence and creative process for his masterpieces on Tuesday July 20th at the Downtown REI @7:00 PM

http://www.rei.com/event/7175/session/8878

Camelot Still-life

2010-06-29T09:07:00.001-07:00

Nothing feels better than gearing up for a route and having a full rack of cams, nuts, and hexs on your harness.

Even though i have not been able to climb this summer, I still think about it often and wait the chance when I have more time to do it.

While working on this piece, it definitely felt like a still-life setup that you might see of a vase of flowers.

Thinking about all these paintings that I have created that involve climbing, kayaking, and biking--I just can't seem to sell them. All my pieces are at a brewery right now in an awesome town which is right next to a kayak play park. Still I can't seem to make a sale.

11 Mile Commission

2010-06-16T11:23:00.001-07:00

Here is my latest piece which was a commission of some fly-fishermen in 11-Mile Canyon. I think when i originally started this piece I meant for there to be a lot less color other than the sunset. It has become a very vibrant piece. I will probably go back and fix that boulder on the right side.

Sea Turtle

2010-06-02T08:15:00.001-07:00

At the request of my friends who saw this piece in my new place and really liked it.

In The Thick of It

2010-06-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

This kayaker represented an accomplishment to me as I moved past my master's degree. The use of color and flow of the water in this piece really make you feel like you're right there. As with all of my work, I play with the interaction of the organic shapes of the environment and figure with the geometric abstraction.

Done at Lunch

2010-05-17T14:18:00.001-07:00

Over the past couple weeks, I have been working on this piece during my planning and lunch periods at school. This is because I no longer have a studio set up at my house.. I guess this really shows how nutz i am. Don't worry, no students were neglected during the creation of this piece.

This painting is based on a recent mountain biking ride at Bear Creek where I got my butt kicked by the other guys I rode with with.

I think I went a little strong with the blocks of abstraction in a way to create a little depth and chaos. I love how the blocks flow over and behind the figure and bike in brilliant aqua green layers. I also enjoyed the ease at which this one was able to be painted.

May 20th Buyer's Night

2010-05-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

Icelantic Gallery

8th and Santa Fe Drive.

Santa Fe Art District Buyer's Night

Thursday, May 20th 5-9pm

I'll be there, if you'd like to come see any of the work i did for my thesis.

First Friday's at Icelantic and Buyer's Night

2010-05-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

It was an exciting night last Friday on 8th and Santa Fe Drive. Lots of family and friends came out to the Icelantic Gallery and saw all my thesis paintings. The gallery itself is sponsored by Tommy Knocker's brewery in Idaho Springs and the beer flowed and the crowds poured into the small space. Around 8pm the band warmed and you could hardly move around. No paintings were sold, but there will be a 'Buyer's Night' on May 20th. So if you didn't get a chance to come down to the gallery, come that night and we can chat about Art!

First Friday's at Icelantic

2010-05-03T07:45:00.000-07:00

First Friday's Reception

May 7th at the Icelantic Gallery 5pm-9pm

on Santa Fe Drive and 8th, Denver.

http://www.icelanticboards.com

Come stop by! The First Friday's is always a fun time!

Thesis Reception

2010-04-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone that was able to make it down to Alamosa for the show! It was an epic weekend that only started with my thesis reception and ended with so many stories that will live on for many years. Some of the highlights include a hardback book I was given of images of all my work, stories being retold to my parents of all our college misadventures, and my parents and god-parents coming out dancing with us at the bar! Thank you everyone for all emails, calls, and well-wishes!

Thesis Exhibition

2010-04-15T13:03:00.001-07:00

Morning everybody,

You've been included in this email because there is a slight chance that you might come and celebrate with us in Alamosa on Friday, April 23rd. Gia and i went and hung the thesis show this weekend and boy does it feel great to get all those paintings out of the house.

Thesis Reception

April 23rd I am planning on being in Alamosa around noon and then i have my oral exam at 1pm. After that we'll being chilling at the Sue Patterson B&B until just before the show at 5pm. The reception should run from 5 til 7pm. So please stop by if you can!

After the show we are planning on grabbing drinks and some more food at the San Luis Brewery or the new Pizza Den. And after that who knows...

Graduation

I've chosen not to send out send out graduation invitations because its a waste of paper. However if you would like to come and celebrate, the ceremony isSaturday May 15th at 1:30pm at Plachy Hall on ASC campus. i have to be there at 12:45 and we'll all meet up in the field house afterward. I think we are planning a dinner around 5pm at the new Pizza Den or Caverillos. Let me know if you can join.

Up Coming Events

-First Friday's Reception May 7th at the Icelantic Gallery on Santa Fe Drive and 8th, Denver. http://www.icelanticboards.com/

-Eddyline Brewery-June 4th til July 10th

Sockeye

2010-03-20T18:57:00.000-07:00

Here's a sockeye salmon i just finished on Saturday for my dad for his office. The sockeye is a really curious fish... Not only is it yummie to eat, but when it is time to swim hundreds of miles back to the place it was born, its body changes. It also stops eating, its body changes colors, and its spine begins to arch and creates a hump.

Mt. of the Holy Cross

2010-03-11T20:26:00.000-08:00

Mt. of the Holy Cross is a Colorado 14er most prevalently viewed from the top of the Vail ski area. The deep couloirs of snow form a cross, of sorts, in the spring time. Since completing the paintings for my thesis, I have been consumed with painting mountains in Colorado--I'm not sure why. I chose this mountain not for some religious aspect or because I want to climb it. It just spoke to me and I enjoy having breaking away from the abstraction of present. Letting the raw brushstroke speak for the craggy rock formations and the contrast of shadow and snow. I hope that my personal adventures bring me close to this mountain again.

Already looking towards 2011...

2010-03-11T12:08:00.001-08:00

Here is a glimpse at the 2011 poster for the Ouray Ice Fest. None of the info is correct but that will get squared away in time.

Maroon Bells

2010-02-26T18:06:00.001-08:00

I recently completed a commissioned painting of Mt. Sopris, near Carbondale, CO. This got me on a kick of wanting to continue painting mountains in Colorado. Although I've never climbed the 'bells. I'm drawn to their beauty. Here is an attempt to capture that...

The lone wheel

2010-02-26T17:59:00.000-08:00

I've been quite fascinated lately with some of the mountain bike paintings that I've been doing. This is because of the inherit patterns and geometric shapes in the tires. Here is the newest additions to that obsession. Perhaps I enjoyed making the blocks of abstraction more. The problem with this painting is that it can be viewed from all sides.

Mt. Sopris

2010-02-22T19:04:00.001-08:00

Here's a recent commission I just finished tonight. Even though the picture isn't great, the painting turned out pretty nice.

The Wave

2010-02-15T19:26:00.000-08:00

This was a painting I had started a month ago, and never finished before the completion of my thesis. In all reality, I just don't think I wanted to write about another painting in that damn paper.
As the painting progressed, I found that it became more about the water and the wave, than the kayaker himself. Thus the treatment of the figure is more crude than the splashes of water and blocks of abstraction.
Even though I cannot include this in my thesis exhibition, it will surely show up in subsequent shows like in the town kayaker-crazed town of Buena Vista.

2010-02-15T19:06:00.000-08:00

Well folks, Here's a glimpse into my P.A.T or (Paintings After Thesis) The painting of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a commission for some friend's of Gia who wanted it for their anniversary. As you can see it is quite a change for me in terms of design, style, and composition, but not color. I really see no reason to dull, neutralize, or play with "realistic" colors. It is not because of ignorance of their importance, but rather an attempt to play the complement color. Doing so, one color plays against the other so as to make them appear brighter... wow, ok step off the soap box.
The second painting is one that has been floating around in my mind for quite some time. It is the "Diamond" face of Longs Peak and still a yet unclimbed peak on any route for me. Thus one of the reason's for painting it. Although it has many qualities like the colors and blocks of abstraction, it was not part of my thesis because it was not of a 'person' in the outdoor community. I think I could paint this again and again and still not get it right.

The Last Thesis Painting

2010-01-24T16:34:00.000-08:00

"Kickin' Up Dust" is the last painting that I will add to my thesis. I have set a deadline for the end of the month to be my stopping point for painting and have until Feb. 22nd to complete my paper and I'll be done--mostly.
This painting sat in my living room for a long time... I struggled with how to complete it successfully. I'm really happy with the result and I don't think the picture does it justice.
Now that it's finished, it feels funny... There's no way that I will stop painting or posting my work here. I have to much I want to paint!!! This just means that I don't want to write about it anymore.

Ice Fall

2010-01-19T07:40:00.000-08:00

This is the first thesis painting created after the Ouray Ice Festival this year. The fest seemed different this year because we didn't have to usual large group of people. Plus the weather was really warm! I had a chance to do something that I normally don't get to do on a day in Rocky Mtn. where we are on an alpine climb. I got to shoot photos from above the climber-- looking down. This created some really fun angles to play with as I sat in my harness, locked off from a Grigri.

The painting entitled Ice Fall is inspired from climbing we did in Ouray and how climbing in the box canyon you always need to be aware of the ice falling in the small space.

Moonlight Classic

2010-01-19T07:33:00.001-08:00

I have recently been commissioned to do a painting for the guys who do the Moonlight Classic bike ride. Its a costumed bike ride through the streets of Denver. This year I get to have the honor of my artwork being the poster, banner, etc! I think that the moon is my favorite part in this painting because I don't seem to do very many things that are traditional or super realistic. Look for leaflets and the posters later this year.

Waiting Their Turn

2010-01-12T19:19:00.001-08:00

I really feel that this painting represents the next phase in my work. The painting of the two kayakers and the water creates a depth that I have not been able to achieve with the other paintings. Then adding a certain amount of abstraction on top of the figures and background ties the two together. The limited color palette and split-complement color combination have made this a piece that I keep coming back to. Last night I turned off all the light and crawled in bed and then immediately had to get up and head to my easel for another look.

Last post of 2009 "Striped Pants"

2009-12-31T15:22:00.000-08:00

Seeing how I've been a slacker lately, I thought that I would try and get two posts in before the end of 2009. This is the latest painting that I just finished for my thesis after taking a break to work on some commissions and celebrate the holidays.
Everyone who has seen this painting while I've been working on it has asked me the same question..."Was that person really wearing those striped pants?" And in fact he was...my friend John was the subject in this painting, and yes folks, he does have a pair of pants just like those. John has been the subject in a couple of my paintings and it is always so fun to watch him climb because he makes it so effortless. The oranges, yellows, and reds are inspired from a trip to Indian Creek last year. Sadly, in doing this thesis I am faced with the ironic fat that I am painting a lot of the time the things I don't get to do as frequently. Alright, alright i did go up to Vail two days ago and ice climb with Dan. Thanks buddy! I have a final deadline that I have to stop painting and wirting for my thesis--Feb. 22nd. We'll see what happens in 2010!! Thanks for reading!

ASOLO Boots

2009-12-31T15:08:00.001-08:00

I thought that I would share a recent project that I did with my friend Jason from ASOLO. This is the second pair of boots that i have done for him as an auction item through the company ASOLO. These are a pair of their new Evolution boots that I have painted on for the live auction at the Ouray Ice Festival next week. All the money will go to benefit the park and the great things they do there. They will also be auctioning off the two paintings I did for the posters for this year's 15th anniversary.

Fib Ark Kayaker III

2009-12-04T12:52:00.001-08:00

It feels strange that it's already December and I'm almost half way done with my thesis and all the time and effort put forth in completing it. I really am very thankful for Gia and all the patience and time she has given me... knowing that I had to devote so much time to doing all this. She really has been a saving grace for all this... Thanks G!
On that note she told me she didn't like this one. I gotta love an honest opinion! I remember talking about this one on the way out from our hut trip and how I was going to use orange as the primary theme and all the analogous colors around it. I am very much a fan of Craig Kosak's paintings and am inspired by his techniques. This Kayaker is proof of that. I used thin washes of black to overlay a lot of the oranges and then washed them away. Definitely a cool effect! I think the most exciting aspect of this painting is the silhouettes behind the main figure--it gives the piece a lot of depth.

Boots

2009-11-16T19:44:00.000-08:00

Back in the saddle after a couple weeks off from painting... Gotta say that this painting was a bit of a struggle and still doesn't feel good even as I write this. Its not that its bad or anything, I just feel outta touch with it. I'm waiting to see what my professor says about all of these painting--six total I think and who knows how many more before my next critique with him. I hate doing my thesis from afar. I get no feedback and feel lost. Not that i need approval from the pieces, but direction. Hell I'm paying for it! Ah, its just frustrating thats all. Tell me what you all think of this piece.

Leadville Reception

2009-11-04T13:12:00.000-08:00

Directions to the Timberline Campus

The reception for my Leadville show will Nov. 13th starting at 6pm and a slide show around 7pm. If you don't know how to get to the campus, google address below and the reception will be in the...
New Discover Academic Center Building

Hope to see you all there!

Colorado Mountain College-Timberline Campus
901 South Hwy 24
Leadville, CO 80461
(719) 486-2015

http://www.coloradomtn.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=2935482&pageId=3605834

MTB 2

2009-10-31T13:43:00.000-07:00

This painting is inspired by a quick trip down to good old Monarch Pass for a ride along the Continental Divide with my buddy Jody. Lots of snow along the crest and at times things got a bit interesting riding. Thirty five miles brought us back to the car via the Rainbow Trail and Poncha Pass.

Kayaker 2

2009-10-28T10:42:00.000-07:00

Snow Day! An extra early phone call brought the great news that Jeffco public schools had canceled school in the anticipation of the snow. What a great day to paint! i just finished this one and watched the snow fall. I was worried last night that this piece would be too flat and dull compared to the dramatic mountain biker.
This was a fun challenge-- posing the wavy, organic lines of the water with the grid lines of abstraction. I like the figures almost too much to abstract them beyond recognition. I'll probably never completely alter a face or body like Picasso did in his work. Did you know "Picasso" was his mother's last name. His father was Ruiz.

Ouray Logo

2009-10-23T06:32:00.000-07:00

Well i got a bit of sad news yesterday that my none of my logo designs were chosen for the ice park. I have not seen what the winner's design looks like yet. I'm not upset or angry, but just a little sad. And still very humbled by the amazing opportunity I have to do the poster for the fest! Given a choice though, i would have chosen number four!

Mountain Biker

2009-10-21T05:43:00.000-07:00

Crested Butte Mountain Biker

This is the newest in a series for my thesis that attempts to describe the outdoor community and more extreme sports. I am still trying to break away from creating just climbing paintings. And also trying to learn new and interesting ways to abstract them so that there is a compositional interplay between the background and the subject.
This piece was painted from a trip to Crested Butte with my buddy Dan. We stopped to wait for a friend and i snapped a few shots for reference photos. Dan has been in a couple paintings before and so has his soon to be wife, Cindy. They actually own two of my pieces.
I am pretty happy with the result of this painting even though I think I almost feared working on it. I constantly struggled with what direction to take it and would dance around and paint little areas at a time. In the end I like the piece and love how the tire turned out!

Rock and Ice Magazine

2009-10-14T17:40:00.000-07:00

The first of two posters for the Ouray Ice Festival was printed in the December 09 issue of Rock and Ice Magazine. They are doing to two posters this year for the 15th anniversary of the fest. I'll be taking both paintings down to Ouray in January for the live auction. All money will go to benefit the Ouray ice Park.
It looks really weird, something with the formatting that happened at the magazine. Here is what it looks like in poster format... All thanks to Brandon. i am typing this tonight and sitting at my computer with the canvas for the next ice climber right besides me.

Slackliner

2009-10-12T18:30:00.000-07:00

Here is the newest one that I have finished in the ongoing series for Thesis. i really don't have much to say--I wish I could just paint and not have to write about all this! AHHH!

Fib Ark Kayaker

2009-10-01T15:53:00.000-07:00

Here is most recent painting that I finished last night. It was fun to paint a somewhat new subject matter. I've been going to the Fib-Ark Festival in Salida for many, many years and it's no wonder that I eventually did a painting of a kayaker. Hopefully more to come in this crazy process of my thesis work.
I bought 3 new canvases on my way home tonight; funny because I went in only looking to buy one! I wonder if I will have any room in my apartment with all the paintings once I'm ready to show for my thesis?

New Pieces

2009-09-28T07:14:00.001-07:00

Here is the beginnings of three new pieces that I am working on for my thesis-- a slackliner's feet, a kayaker at the Fib-Ark Festival, and a Mtn. Biker. All of these pieces are part of the continual "branching out" from just climbing paintings that I have been doing. Each is also slightly abstracted to connect the background to the subject and introduce a little geometric alignment to the organic nature of it all.
The day i took this picture, I wrote about how much I love this stage in my painting process. It is the point where I have added the magenta and phalo blue washes to create the dark values. At this junction I am always so leery to take the painting further because I love the strong contrast with the white canvas and strong darks. You can't see it, but I also added molding paste to each of the pieces to hopefully have some fun textural effects later on... more to come.

John's Commission

2009-09-21T09:50:00.001-07:00

I love this blog! Such an easy way to share things! Now i just have to invite people to see it and get people to comment on it!

Here is John's Finished Commission! I haven't done a painting this large in quite a while. It was a challenge!

Grad Critique

2009-09-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

Thunder Storms, Cheap sub sandwiches, Jeeter (gia's dog) sitting on my lap as I drove,and listening to the third Twilight book on CD were the things that brought us down to Alamosa for a late night Grad Critique with my Professor Gene last night.The critique went well--short and intense but good and just a desire to get back and get into the studio. Gene showed me some of his new paintings on light-boxes---wow!!

I wish i could describe the feeling that i get when there is a painting in my head and i have to get it out and onto canvas...

Here's a recent commission that i am working on for my friend John. I triptych (3 panel painting) that is going to hang in his new straw-bale house.. Tell me what you think!!

2009-09-18T12:44:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new Blog! This is an attempt to stay connected with everyone with paintings and commissions that I am currently working on!! Check back frequently for more news!
jesse