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)... 

"SPRING FALLS" New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Spring Falls"

Oil on Canvas

32" x 16"

When the  snow begins to melt in the Sierras and spring finally asserts a dominance over winter the runoff oftentimes creates some very dramatic waterfalls.  They say spring is coming early this year...let's hope so!

"STONE BRIDGE" - New, original oil painting by Mike Callahan

"Stone Bridge"

18" x 24"

Oil on Canvas

This is perhaps one of the most magical spots we visited in Ireland this past summer (though there are many)!  This stone bridge crosses a small tributary of the Owenmore River in Ballynahinch.  Just an awesome place to visit!

"THE OWENMORE RIVER - BALLYNAHINCH" New, Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"The Owenmore River - Ballynahinch"

Oil on Canvas

24" x 30"

I just finished this one from my Ireland series. It's of the Owenmore River in Ballynahinch, Connemara. I was fortunate to complete a plein air study of this when we were there this past July. This is truly a magical place! Painting so much green is a huge departure for me, but I'm really enjoying it and hope you enjoy seeing this work too!

Photos from the field

I just want to report from the field on our plein air art adventure...

We are near Cedarville, California and while the weather hasn't been perfect, we have been having a great time and are getting a lot of painting done anyway...here are some pics...

Me, working out the details on a 16" x 12"

John Youssi proudly standing next to his brand new Soltek Rolls Royce easel! (and a nice little painting I might add)

Ray Freeman glad to be done with this piece so he can get in the truck to get warm! Nice job Ray!

Ron Spears fast and furious trying to capitalize on the sun which only made a brief appearance... he ended up with a really nice piece by the way!

"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!

"OVERLOOK" New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Overlook"

Oil on Canvas 20" x 38"

Hello Friends, Here's a new Tahoe piece I recently completed from an overlook descending to the eastern shore of the lake. 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...

"RIGHT-HANDED LILLIES" New Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Right-Handed Lillies"

20" x 20"

Oil on Canvas

Nearly a year ago I had surgery on my right shoulder and couldn't use my right hand to paint with for a time. I painted some water lillies left-handed and titled the painting "Left-Handed Lillies" Recently, I decided to re-visit the reference material I had gathered from a trip to the mountains and thought I'd like to paint some more of these delightful lillies...of course, this time I painted them with my right hand...Enjoy!

"SEPTEMBER CALM" New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"September Calm"
24" x 30"
Oil on Canvas

This has to be one of the most blissful spots in the Ruby Mountains...it's at the edge of Favre Lake, late afternoon just about when the fish started biting...Enjoy!

"READY TO ROW" New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Ready to Row"
12" x 16"
Oil on Canvas

Fish and Game folks often leave their rowboats locked to trees during the summer so that they are ready for them to row when they come to check the fish populations or whatever their jobs entail. Last year while doing some camping and hiking around some of these great little Sierra lakes I happened upon this one that just looked like it wanted to be painted!...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!

"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!

"ANOTHER DAYBREAK ON THE COLORADO" - New Original Oil Painting by Mike Callahan

"Another Daybreak on the Colorado"
24" x 32" Oil on Canvas
Here's another painting done from the banks of the Colorado River from the trip I took to Moab last year...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.

"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."