"TILISCO" - New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Tilisco"

18" x 24"

Oil on Canvas

On occasion I like to take compositional risks and on occasion such risks pay off! This painting will and my previous post, "Buckaroo" will both be featured in an upcoming national show in Missoula, Montana at the Dana Gallery's Icons of the West show. It's an invitational show that I'm honored to have been invited to! If you are anywhere near Missoula, you should check out the show...it opens June 16th and runs through September 1st.

"LOOKS LIKE RAIN" - New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Looks Like Rain"

24" x 30"

Oil on Linen

This painting is painted from some reference shots I took from my High Desert Ranch trip last year. It was very overcast that day, but some dramatic scenery nonetheless. Running into this cowboy named Moe was a huge added bonus!

"SIX OF ONE" - New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Six of One"

20" x 30"

Oil on Linen

Here's my latest painting. I shot the reference for it at the Cedarville Rodeo in August, there was this line of cowboys that I found intriguing. They were waiting to compete, but I thought that changing the lighting and putting them in a different location would give this painting a bit more charm!

"MUSTANG" - New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Mustang"

20" x 16"

Oil on Canvas

This painting was commissioned by a friend of mine as a present for his wife. This is something that I often see out in the Winnemucca Ranch area whose landscape is seen in the background of this painting. You may possibly see more mustang paintings this next year as I really enjoyed painting this one.

QUICK TURN - New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Quick Turn"

18" x 24"

Oil on Canvas Panel

Last spring I went out to Winnemucca Ranch to gather some reference for some paintings and who do I see but my old buddy Dennis McCroskey chasing this little cow around! His activity provided me with this great little shot...I really enjoyed painting this piece; it was a fun one! ...Enjoy!

"OLD WEST" New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Old West"

9" x 12"

Oil on Canvas

I was looking through some of my older reference photos and I decided I wanted to paint a few more of Bodie, probably the best preserved ghost town in the United States...here is a fun little painting of several of those great buildings...Enjoy!

"RUBY HILLSIDE" - Brand New Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Ruby Hillside"
16" x 12"
Oil on Canvas

I can't believe how many great references I'm still working my way through with these Ruby Mountain paintings...I'm really enjoying painting them and I hope you enjoy seeing them as well!

"RANCH HOUSE" - New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Ranch House"
16" x 36" oil on canvas
"This is an early morning view of the house at the Marshall Ranch out in the Winnemucca Ranch area. I painted it from a different view last year for the Winnemucca Ranch show at Patagonia. At any rate, I was intrigued with this view so typical of these old Nevada ranches where years ago ranchers planted rows of Cottonwood trees around their ranches which is not only practical, but impressive as well. Enjoy!"

"COWBOY'S RIB" - New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Cowboy's Rib"
16" x 12" oil on canvas

"This painting is the second to last from the Tule Peak/Winnemucca Ranch series I've been doing...it's called 'Cowboy's Rib' because that's the name of the ridge that we climbed to get to the top of the peak. This is a view looking up the canyon that runs along the rib near the base of the mountain before things started getting really steep...enjoy!"

"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!"

"Valley Floor" - Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Valley Floor"
24" x 30" oil on canvas
"This painting is done from a shot I took on my recent visit to Arches National Park near Moab. We were in a hurry to get back up to Delicate Arch while we still had sun (it was being obscured by clouds intermittently all day) but when we found this spot near the trailhead, I just had to pause to photograph it knowing it would make a great subject for a painting. Enjoy!"

"Tule Peak" original oil painting by Mike Callahan

"Tule Peak"

Oil on Canvas 11" x 14"

This is the only remaining piece that's still available from the Winnemucca Ranch / Citizens for Sensible Growth Benefit show! The show was a near sell out for me! You have one last chance to see this piece as the show is coming down on Dec. 6th. Erik Holland will be at the Patagonia Service Center from 3-6:30 pm tomorrow, December 5th, so if you want to see it or the other great art in the show, hurry over there! The directions are below!
You can see a larger version of this painting by clicking here.


Patagonia, 8550 White Fir, November 29th, 5 to 8:30 pm.

Directions: Take 4th street west of Reno to Woodland ( just beyond Mayberry intersection). Turn left on Woodland and cross the RR tracks. The first right is White Fir. Take White Fir around to just before the Truckee River Bridge, and turn left into the parking lot.

"Winnemucca Ranch Road" - New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Winnemucca Ranch Road"

Oil on Canvas 12" x 16"

I've been busy working on a commission recently, so I probably won't be posting too regularly till after I'm done and on to something else (the commission is a present and I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise!)
The painting shown above however, will be featured in a show and you are all invited to the opening reception this Thursday, the 29th from 5-8:30 PM! I'm sorry for the short notice, the show kind of crept up on me...the announcement with directions follows below -
You can see a larger version of this painting by clicking here.

Press release:

Winnemucca Ranch Art Show
AT PATAGONIA, NOVEMBER 29TH 5 TO 8:30 PM

On a sunny day in October, 16 artists gathered to paint the beauty of yet another area slated for sprawling development. The Winnemucca Ranch and the adjacent Marshall Ranch, thirty miles north of Reno, are soon to be covered with 14,000 homes. This is just the tip of the iceberg of sprawling development schemes that include the Ballardini Ranch, central Storey County, the east Truckee River canyon, the hills above south Reno, and incursions into Washoe Valley. Someday we’ll have to add an extra “D” to those trucks that drive around the area emblazoned with the slogan,” We love(d) this place”.


The “paint in” includes Jean LeGassick, Pat Wallis, Craig Mitchell, Patti Christensen Woodard, Chad Sorg, Tyler Sorg, Ann O’Lear, Ray Freeman, Crystal Harling, Karen Kreyeski, Erik Holland, Carol Foldvary Anderson, Renate Neumann, Brian Amme and Shawna Baker, and Mike Callahan.

Paintings produced ranged from intimate scenes of cottonwoods in full October glory to sweeping views of the valley looking down towards Sparks. Fifty percent of sales will benefit Citizens for Sensible Growth to support efforts in concert with other groups to promote a more sustainable growth pattern. We look forward to making this a yearly event, with a focus on a different threatened area every year.

An opening is scheduled at Patagonia, 8550 White Fir, November 29th, 5 to 8:30 pm.

Take 4th street west of Reno to Woodland ( just beyond Mayberry intersection). Turn left on Woodland and cross the RR tracks. The first right is White Fir. Take White Fir around to just before the Truckee River Bridge, and turn left into the parking lot.

"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.

"Distant Thunderheads" Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Distant Thunderheads"
Oil on Canvas 16" x 12"
Here's another one fresh off the easel. I've been taking a little break getting ready for my show, but now I'm ready to get back at it. I painted this one alla prima in the studio...you can see a larger posting of it by clicking here.

Abandoned - original oil painting by Mike Callahan

"Abandoned"
Oil on Canvas 20" x 20"
This is a painting I just finished. It's of an old building out by Winnemucca Ranch Road which will probably be torn down very soon to make way for some major housing development...who's going to live there, I'm not sure...you can see a larger posting of it and follow along with the painting of it by clicking here.

"Jackrabbit" - Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Jackrabbit"
Oil on Canvas 11" x 14"

Here's a fun little piece I just completed! For more details and progress here.

Daily Original Oil Painting for May 23, 2007 by Mike Callahan

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"Hillside 2"

6" x 8" Oil on Canvas
Click To Purchase

See my larger paintings by visiting: http://www.mikecallahanart.com/

I'm really intrigued by these little rock outcroppings that "grow" everywhere here on this side of the Sierras. The color contrast and light contrast makes for some real great painting subjects if you ask me...Enjoy!