The two final paintings in my Pacific coast series

"The Coast is Clear"

Oil on Paper

18" x 24"

This my fifth Pacific coast painting...and here is the sixth:

"Crash"

Oil on Paper

18" x 24"

These paintings will be exhibited soon and I'll let you know the details in a future blog post...

(click their titles to view these at a larger size) 

"RHYTHM OF THE SEA" New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Rhythm of the Sea"

Oil on Paper

18" x 24"

I'm really loving the surface properties of the Arches Oil Paper and I've painted another Pacific coast piece.  I've titled it so because as I was painting it, I realized that I was applying my strokes rhythmically and the result was a feel of movement in the water (or so it seems to me anyway)... 

"NEAR THE SUMMIT" New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Near the Summit"

Oil on Canvas

18" x 24"

Here is my latest piece painted from reference shot in the fall near the Mt. Rose summit late in the day. I was really captivated by the late afternoon light hitting the tops of the trees as well as the subtle ambient light on the shaded rocks and snow... 

"SECRET COVE 3"- New Original Oil Painting By Mike Callahan

"Secret Cove 3"

Oil on Canvas 20" x 38"

Here's another Tahoe piece. I shot this reference about this time of year two or three years ago. I'm still qute taken by the beauty of the lake here, so I just had to paint it again. Enjoy!

SECOND YUBA RIVER STUDY - New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Second Yuba River Study"

9" x 12"

Oil on Canvas Panel

Here's the second painting I did down by the Yuba river a couple of weeks ago. This was a great little spot where we painted in the late afternoon light. A beautiful fall day! ...Enjoy!

'YUBA RIVER STUDY' - Brand New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Yuba River Study"

9" x 12"

Oil on Canvas Panel

I recently had the opportunity to get out and paint on a simply gorgeous day down along th Yuba river with a friend of mine. This is the first of two little paintings I did that day...I'll post the other one next week.

This is how I began, just sketching in my composition...

It can really help your concentration if you hang your mouth open like this (as long as there aren't too many bugs buzzing around!)

...and here we are just about done...

"TAHOE ROCKS" - Brand New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Tahoe Rocks"

9" x 12"

Oil on Canvas Panel

I recently did a studio demo showing how I approach painting rocks and water. What a better way to demonstrate that than with Tahoe, its great rocks and clear water?...Enjoy!

"HIGH COUNTRY REFLECTION" New Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"High Country Reflection"
12" x 16"
Oil on Canvas

This is probably the last one I'll do from my Ruby Mountain trip for now...I really was intrigued by this little mountain stream bed, so I thought I'd paint it...Enjoy!

"UP LIBERTY PASS" new original oil painting by Mike Callahan

"Up Liberty Pass"
36" x 24"
Oil on Canvas

The Ruby Mountains in Eastern Nevada are often referred to as 'Nevada's Rockies'. Parts are mighty rocky, I can tell you that much! This is another painting from the backpack trip my son and I took last September. We were heading back out of the wilderness area when we met up with this outfitter going in to pick up one of his clients. At close to 11,000 feet, and having already travelled several miles that morning, it kind of made me wish I had a horse!

"GRAEGLE CREEK CATARACTS" New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Graegle Creek Cataracts"
Oil on Canvas
24" x 30"
Last spring I took a trip up to Long Lake and the snow was really starting to melt...the water coming down Graegle Creek was just blasting over these falls and I've wanted to take the challenge of painting them for some time now! Enjoy!

"SECRET COVE #2" New Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Secret Cove #2"
Oil on Canvas 24" x 30"
Here's another painting of the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe...it's the second new Tahoe painting that is currently featured in a 'Tahoe' show at the Truckee River Gallery thru December 21st. If you get a chance stop by and see the show; I was at the reception Saturday night and there's a lot of great work in this show!

"SPARKLIING SHORE" - New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Sparkling Shore"
Oil on Canvas 24" x 30"
Here's my latest painting of the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe...it's one of two new Tahoe paintings that will be featured in a "Tahoe" show at the Truckee River Gallery from December 3rd thru December 21st. If you live nearby, please mark your calenders for the reception on Saturday, December 6th, from 4-7p.m.

"LONELY AT THE TOP" - New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Lonely At The Top"
12" x 16" oil on canvas
"During last summer's trek to the top of Tule Peak, I was intrigued by the tenacity of the Juniper trees that grew on the rock outcroppings near the peak. This is one of those lonely, ardent strugglers. Even though it is only at about 8,000' in altitude, it's close to 4,000' above the valley floor a mere three miles away! Aside from snow, I have no idea what water it may ever get, and it has to grow in near constant wind. I guess that explains why there are so few of these up there at the top!"

"Dogskin Peek" Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Dogskin Peek"
12" x 24" oil on canvas
"This is Dogskin Mountain with the spring's last dusting of snow on it peeking out behind the foothills a few weeks ago. I just loved how the sun kept highlighting certain features as it broke in and out of the clouds early one morning. I've tried to capture it here for you...enjoy!"

"THE STILL, RAGGED EDGE" - new oil painting by Mike Callahan

"The Still, Ragged Edge"
20" x 24" oil on canvas
"This is a shot of the Southeast side of Long Lake as seen late last fall. I was taken by how the still water contrasted with the ragged edge of the shore with its sharp rocks and broken trees...enjoy!"

Last Week's Studio Demo

Untitled - Studio Demo 02-03-08
16" x 12" oil on canvas
"I painted this piece from the many reference shots I have of Tahoe. Actually, the participants of the demo chose it; I gave them a choice between two. There was a great deal of interest in how to paint water and the clear waters of Lake Tahoe gave me ample opportunity to demonstrate."

"Trickle" - New Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Trickle"
Oil on Canvas 10" x 8"
I went on a hike earlier this year in the desert and we came across this little stream early in the morning...a little trickle really, but it was the only water we crossed the whole trip...If you would like to see a larger posting of it, along with a step-by-step of the painting of it, click here.

Along The Colorado - new plein air oil painting by Mike Callahan

"Along The Colorado"
Oil on Canvas 12" x 16"
Here's another one from my recent painting trip to Moab. Painting this was absolutely blissful, standing there in perfect 75 degree weather in the shade with the Colorado River gently flowing by!...If you would like to see a larger posting of it, click here.

"Canyon View" new plein air landscape by Mike Callahan

"Canyon View"
Oil on Canvas 12" x 16"
I just recently went on a trip to Moab and was able to paint this plein air piece up in the Arches National Park ...You can see a larger posting of it by clicking here.

"Tenacity", brand new oil painting by Mike Callahan

"Tenacity"
Oil on Canvas 14" x 11"
I was out on my lunch break taking a walk a couple of weeks ago and I was struck by the light raking down over these rocks and a tenacious little bit of rabbit brush growing up out of the smallest crack blooming like it was a big bush, so I just thought it would make a great painting. What do you think? ...You can see a larger posting and a step-by-step demo of how I painted it by clicking here.