Grateful Notices: Trees in Shadow, oil on canvas, 36 x 60 inches

My sincere thanks to the collectors that purchased this oil.

About this artwork:
This painting came from a previous and smaller oil, Winters Evening, a 30 x 30 canvas.
 
I was very intrigued by the upper part of the earlier oil and wanted to do a larger, wider version while pushing the colors further. Starting with the deep purple, it was quickly apparent that this would be a bolder oil and the strong blue overlay made that happen.
 
It’s an unusual composition with the trees emerging from a dark hillside and upward to the iridescent sky, creating a powerful contrast all along the tree-sky edge.
 
This is a high-key color work and this oil was like a horse that wanted to run! I took my time and in the space of a month, a number of subtleties were added a bit at a time, adding interest and complexity.
 
It is one of those simple looking works that has hundreds of moves in it and somewhere in that scene is the tightrope that I was walking the entire time.

New Work: Color in Motion, oil canvas, 30 x 30 in.

 

Color in Motion

Oil canvas, 30 x 30 in.
Private Collection

 
About this oil:
I set out to do a painting with this palette in mind and after considering different landscapes, the idea of clouds was the most appealing choice and it offered the most flexibility.
 
The oil was first laid out with tangerine and yellow and once the shapes were roughly in place, then the fun began. What colors are needed to make the tangerine and yellow more interesting? The best way to find out is by trying out various combinations.
 
The exciting part is when something good and unexpected happens. Once that combination takes a spot on in the composition, it sends out a ripple, raising the bar across the canvas.
 
There were a number of those surprises and it resulted in the addition of layered of blues and purples at the top of the piece. Not only did they provide a nice counterpoint to the warmer colors but they also indicated atmosphere, a big improvement to the piece and something I love to do.
 
Creating paintings is a delightful experience, setting off on a creative journey to what often ends up being an unknown destination. If all goes well, someone will take it home and it begins another life, another journey.

New Work: The Light in the World IV

The Light in the World IV  oil on canvas, 40 x 40 inches   Saks Galleries, Denver   $6650 framed  

With these Light in the World series works, my goal is to have the light permeate every part of the scene. In this sunset, the light is not a sun glaring through the clouds but instead, a luminous scene.

The painting went through a number of changes and as it progressed, I worked to add more radiance and interest. Many foreground changes were tried and rejected until I came upon the idea of a diagonal movement. It worked nicely with the horizontal cloud bands and gave the painting the added weight necessary and more depth at the bottom on the oil. It was a solution worth working for.

Commissions

Bight Patterns    Oil on canvas, 48 X 60     Collection, Columbine Country Club, Denver

Throughout the year, Ken is involved in a number of commissions for a variety of clients, private and public, across the country.

He was worked on sizes suitable for residences and as large as 6 x 18 feet for public spaces. 

His works have also been used in major motion pictures and TV productions.

Email Ken to begin the conversation or call 303-995-1611

6 x 18 ft continuous canvas commission for a prominent East Coast Hospital

Double commission for Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston

For that special and unique artwork, consider Ken for your private and corporate commissions

Collections: partial listing

Hewlett Packard

Coopers and Lybrand                        

Kaiser-Permanente                    

Ritz Hotel, Denver

Four Seasons Hotel, Denver

St. Anthony's Hospital, Denver

Panhandle Eastern                   

National Dairy Board                

Grubb and Ellis, Denver

Marriott Hotels

Holland America Cruise Line

Stanford Cancer Center, Palo Alto

Tufts New England Medical Center

Pinnacol Denver Hospice, CO 

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston

Gaylord Rockies Resort & Conference

    Center Aurora, CO

Vail Mountain Club, Vail, CO

Yampa Valley Medical Ctr, Steamboat Springs, CO

Vectra Bank, CO

Blue Shield

Hitachi

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

Glenmoor Country Club, Denver

Project Energy

  St. John’s Mercy Medical Center,

    Creve Coeur, MO

Rose Medical Center, Parker, CO

Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital,

     Grand Rapids, MI

Magnet Bank, Atlanta

Ford, Harrison Law, Atlanta

Lowry Medical Center, Denver

Town and Country Hospital, Houston

Jones and Keller, Denver

Raychem

Birch Hill Investment Advisors, Boston

Avista Hospital, CO

New work: Sunset Chroma, Purple and Yellow, oil on panel, 24 x 24 inches

Sunset Chroma, Purple and Yellow  Oil on panel, 24 x 24 inches  $2450 framed

There are so many sunsets to see and paint. Lately, I've been thinking about applying a soft, pastel-like palette to a good cloud composition and I finally made one happen. So much of this oil came about it a non-lineal way and that's a bonus.

Rather than trying to represent a scene accurately, different color combinations were being tried out. During that discovery process, the moment the aquas and the pale greens combined above the clouds, the oil immediately became much more interesting. I didn't plan on it - I had some aqua setting out from a previous painting session and I gave it a go. A lot of white was added - I figured too much, but it worked out beautifully and led me to use the other pale colors that followed.  

The mauve cloud mass in the center anchors the piece and provides 'shade' and a way to transition to the darker foreground. The entire scene is nicely lit but not too much. After all of the back and forth and sorting through endless options, a soft sunset emerged. 

I'm enjoying this view!

New Work: Last Sun over the Snow Fields, oil on canvas, 40 x 40 inches

Last Sun over the Snow Fields, oil on canvas, 40 x 40 inches
Saks Galleries, Denver    $6650 framed

The last light is setting up a very subtle, but colorful effect. When we really examine it, snow on the ground is much more than just white. Besides, there are so many ways to represent a scene like this.

How about a Delft blue in the line of trees and why not create a predominately purple sky with touches of pinks, greens and pale cobalt?

Once it was done, the piece comes off looking simple but that was not the case with this one. Sometimes it's the austere compositions that challenge me further to try out new ideas. The simple composition is very responsive to small or large changes on the canvas and it dares you to keep pushing things around.

After all of the work and the parade of changes, the gentle calm still comes through.

Grateful Notices: Lake Sunset, Color Dialog and Cloudswept in Blue, two oils on 24 x 24 panels

Lake Sunset, Color Dialog
Oil on panel, 24 x 24  Private collection
Exhibited: Saks Galleries, Denver

For this painting I wanted to do an evening scene without using the typical sunset colors. So rather than resorting to the use of bright, warmer colors, everything is shifted downward. The light is not intense and the palette is predominately blues and greens. A lot of color is in play here but in a subdued way.

In the last painting session I added the glowing highlights to the water in the foreground. The painting was doing well overall but the water was lacking something. Once the lighter accents were added the water began to glow and I was actually surprised at how much stronger it made the painting overall.… A very satisfying conclusion.

Cloudswept in Blue
Oil on panel, 24 x 24  Private collection
Exhibited: Saks Galleries, Denver

As it was the previous oil, I wanted to do another sunset effect without the usual warm tones. The colors here are severely limited to a number of blues and a couple of purple hues.

The upper part of the painting it is intentionally more opaque and dark. The snow field at the bottom is reflecting the light but it still has just enough density to allow the atmosphere in the center section to retreat backward and set up a glow the permeates the entire scene.

It’s a quiet piece, reminiscent of those silent, snow-covered fields, but if you look carefully, there’s always something a little unexpected and electric in the scene.

My sincere thanks to the collector who purchased these two oils.

New Work: Rain Moving Across, oil on canvas, 30 x 48 inches

Rain Moving Across, oil on canvas, 30 x 48 inches
Sorelle Gallery, New Canaan, CT   $5400 unframed 

It is fascinating to observe the edges of rain coming to the ground. Once I began to sketch this out on the canvas, there were some gaps in the land patterns and it struck me to turn those gaps into reflective ponds or marsh areas.

The abundance of reflective surfaces opened up the center of the painting, created more depth and made the rain effect even more pronounced. The dark areas at the top and bottom of the oil help to carry the light into the far distance.

And for good measure, the strong diagonal, other cloud forms and the waterways all point to the falling rain. It's theatre - a stage is set for the rain to make an appearance.

New Work: At the Creeks Edge, oil panel, 24 x 24 inches

At the Creeks Edge
Oil panel, 24 x 24 inches  $2150 unframed
Dominique Boisjoli Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM

This small group of trees in the meadow got my attention. The foreground had a small path running through it and the background was a large line of darker trees. Everything was green and from the start, I set out to create something more interesting.

The painting was ‘completed’ 4 or 5 times and after each try, I noticed an opportunity to make the oil even better. All of the changes might sound frustrating to some, but the chance for improvement is very appealing to me.

One of the early changes was to convert the path into a creek that made a reflective ribbon, dividing the grasses in the foreground.

The background went through many alterations with each change, more complexity and color intensity emerged. It is easy to overwork these pieces as the painting went forward, I took care to add intricate layers and interest to the trees, not diminishing their appeal.

Finally, everything was made brighter and the colors were enriched. It felt good to put my signature on this one.

New Works: Soft Summer Light and Summer Song, oils on panel 30 x 30 inches

SOFT SUMMER LIGHT
Oil on canvas, 30 X 30 inches $3700 unframed
Sorelle Gallery, New Canaan, CT

SUMMER SONG
Oil on canvas, 30 X 30 inches $3700 unframed
Sorelle Gallery, New Canaan, CT

Summers produce an abundance of green and considerably less color options than a colorful fall provides. The challenge set forth with these two oils was that they would have summer in the title and that they would have to be compelling works, despite the solid green summer fields and trees.

So, what’s the plan? 

When I was a newly-minted painter, I would use the few greens I had purchased and invariably, my works would be too green, too much the same and not very attractive. Greens are a trap for many landscape painters including myself back then, so to be a better painter, other strategies had to be developed as quickly as possible.

In this oil, a variety of greens in muted tones are put into play. The landscape can be awash in green but the overall effect is subdued. The colors are a bit more muted and the overall effect is softer and it allows the other interesting colors to share the space.

Summer just got a bit more interesting.

Completed Art Workshop with Casey Klahn and Ken Elliott: April 2019

Here are photos from the April 2019 Workshop with Casey Klahn and me. Casey and I were honored to work with this remarkable group of artists. A number of new ideas were tried out, new pathways opened and breakthroughs were in abundance. Artists in this workshop were working in oils, pastels and watercolor. There was some serious fun thrown in as well. 

In the Studio, April 19, 2019

Here are some of the oils in progress at the moment.
Back left, 4 x 5
Lower left, 3 x 5
Center, 40 x 50
Back right, 36 x 36

There are a number of puzzles in play here and I'm looking forward to seeing how they all work out. I do like the luxury of having different works to consider rather than bearing down on just one image.

Groups of oils in progress influence one another and better paintings result. It is never a dull day in the studio!

New Work: Summer Sunset, oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches

Summer Sunset, oil on canvas, 36 X 36 inches   $5100 framed

Sunsets create fascinating opportunities for artists and I never tire of them. I use them to play out different color combinations and shapes without the worry of trying to represent a realistic scene.

To start the painting, I first set up the bright orange sky and set them again the darks at the bottom. Instantly, the painting had power, at least in 1/2 of the oil. The upper part needed to be compelling on its own, but instead of continuing with more warm colors, I opted instead to use a much lighter, almost white sky.

The dark and light areas were made more interesting by adding a variety of colors to create depth and  patterns. This is essentially an image of land and sky made with strips of color but to make it more engaging, care was taken to vary the edges on the shapes and all the colors as they move across the canvas. The options were unlimited, and it made for a delightful puzzle.

New Works: Sun on Snow I and II, oil on panels, 24 x 24 inches

Sun on Snow I, oil on panel, 24 x 24 inches

Sun on Snow II, oil on panel, 24 x 24 inches

I have been doing a lot of traveling in snow country lately, particularly in vast, open landscapes with unlimited sky in all directions. The simplicity of these snow covered fields called out for interpretation and I happily took up the task.

As a colorist, I was free to explore the possibilities but I still wanted to keep to a somewhat limited palette. That doesn't mean that the sky has to be blue or the snow is always white, but whatever the result, my goal was for the oils to be stark but nonetheless interesting.

It was a pleasure to sign these and share them with you.

New Work: Cloudswept in Blue, 0il on panel, 24 x 24 inches

Cloudswept in Blue
Oil on panel, 24 x 24 on panel    $2450 framed
Saks Galleries, Denver

Looking out over the snow covered fields, I became enamored of the many of blues in combination. Compositionally, I was looking for something interesting in the stark fields when I noticed that the cloud forms held an array of blues as well.

The clouds were a perfect counterpart to the simple landscape below and more interesting than the fields on their own. It was a very still and quiet day with the sunset just beginning to add the yellows and pinks to everything. With those warm colors added in, the scene came to life, making a place where all of the blues could gather harmoniously.

Video: Dramatic Skies video by Randy Halverson

I love skies and Randy Halverson made a great video that is a must-see.
Ken

Dakotalapse  View on Vimeo

Breathtaking video with views of the skies over South Dakota and Wyoming, by Randy Halverson (3’30”)

From Randy:
Dakotalapse 8K is a compilation of new timelapse I have shot in the last 2 years. It was shot in South Dakota and Wyoming and the first footage I have posted online in 8K.

8K resolution on Youtube

Badlands Night Sky Workshops - Join me this June in the Badlands of SD and learn how to shoot stills and astro timelapse.

Watch for a shot of "Steve" Aurora at 1:52

Available in 8K resolution for licensing.

The timelapse was shot with Sony AR7II, Canon 5DSR and Nikon D810. The D810 isn't quite 8K native, but I think those shots still turned out better than the 5DSR night shots, which are much larger stills.

Photography and Editing – Randy Halverson
Produced by Randy Halverson – Dakotalapse, LLC
Opening Dakotalapse graphics – Luke Arens
Music Epic Cinematic by Eric Dillen, licensed through Audiojungle.net

Thanks to Cheyenne Camping Center for the great deals on the travel trailers you see in a few of the shots. cheyennecampingcenter.com

Contact for licensing footage, shooting rates or anything else.
Randy Halverson
dakotalapse@gmail.com

Follow:
Facebook facebook.com/dakotalapse
Instagram instagram.com/dakotalapse

New Work: Light Moving Across, oil on canvas 36 x 60 inches

Light Moving Across, oil on canvas 36 x 60 inches  $8450. framed

In this oil I'm revisiting the earlier, square versions of this scene. For this painting the clouds and land masses are softer and the light spreads across the entire canvas in a left to right band. All of that glow is supported with a large variety of colors that add to the drama and movement.

When I'm working on sunset images my goal is to make the entire image interesting with each part yielding something more than the yellow light of the setting sun. It's quite the puzzle because I'm insisting on so many different colors outside of the yellow range.

The eye moves around a lot to take it all in but overall, a sense of calm emerges. It's an interesting balance and it took a lot of moves to make it happen. In the studio other canvases are patiently waiting their turn tomorrow.

Video: Blue Skyscape, oil on canvas, 36 x 60 inches

Blue Skyscape, oil on canvas, 36 x 60 inches  $7500 framed
Exhibiting: Madelyn Jordan Fine Art, Scarsdale, NY

In this video Ken describes what makes this predominately blue sunset a success without the usual setting sun effects and offers a strategy to keep this large painting compelling in all directions.  2 minutes

New Work: Lake Shadows, oil on canvas, 30 x 30 inches

Lake Shadows, oil on canvas, 30 x 30 inches  $4400 framed

I have returned to this image of a reservoir. It's a strip landscape and in this case, one with a lot of complexity. The painting is much about bands of color everywhere and a lot of manipulation was done to get them all to work together.

As the painting developed, my desire was to set up an interesting color combinations. In the process of doing so, I began to push the colors further to create light effects and vibrancy. This oil went through a number of changes with each one taking the oil further compositionally and chromatically. The finished work is alive with shimmering colors.

Initially, I had set out to do a more somber scene with a very limited color selection, but when the yellows and blues kicked in, they were too exciting to tone down and spoil the fun. That somber version will have to wait for another day.

Exhibit Opening: Saks Galleries, Denver. Sat. December 9, 2017

Please join me and other gallery artists for this festive Winterfest opening

Saturday, December 9, 10am - 2 pm

Saks Galleries, Cherry Creek, Denver

There will be refreshments, carolers, and an ornament decorating station. This will be great fun and I'm looking forward to seeing you!

HIDDEN SUNSET

Oil on canvas, 60 x 60   sold

More about the oil on this blog

EDGE OF THE FOREST

Oil on canvas, 36 X 36   $5100 framed

More about the oil on this blog