Keith Haller Studio

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December 14, 2006 6 p.m.

LOCATION:

Norton's Art Gallery

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

For the opening of a holiday art show, Mary Norton of Norton's gallery invited me to paint for the entertainment of the visiting patrons. Since it was a holiday event, I decided to paint a holiday subject.

INSPIRATION:

The shape and color of the poinsettia petals always capture my attention. Concurrent with the opening, Mary hosted a wine-tasting event and graciously offered me a glass. Forturnately I chose red and then had no other location to rest the glass, other than beside my subject. The dark wine red provided a perfect counterpoint to the subject and contributed well to the festiveness of the piece.

Poinsettia And Wine Watercolor studio 12X16

December 10, 2006 8 a.m.

LOCATION:

Visitor Center (Castlewood State Park) Ballwin, MO

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

It was a brisk morning at the park. The temperature was just below freezing. Snow from several days earlier was still plentiful. Only a few devoted runners, and walkers were present in the park, making this popular city park even more quiet and peaceful than normal. The primary interest for this painting was the visitor center located at the park entrance.

INSPIRATION:

The inspiration for this painting was the warmth of Christmas. Walking through the snow that morning, I was feeling quite in the Christmas spirit. Everything looked like Christmas to me. As I surveyed the landscape, this beautiful old structure at the end of a snow-covered field, appeared to be a home awaiting Christmas visitors. The subject also appealed to me from a technical perspective. I was intrigued with the variety of edges present on the structure. The edge of the roof snow next to the roof was a very defined edge, while the structure's edge overall was almost completely lost in the background wood. I felt confident that if I successfully captured the edges, the painting would depict a country home at Christmastime.

Home for Christmas Watercolor en plein air 12X16

November 19, 2006 2 p.m.

LOCATION:

Studio

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

I constructed a still life of onions and garlic in my studio.

INSPIRATION:

Onions are superb painting subjects. For my still life, I chose a red onion as my primary interest. Next I selected green onions because their color complimented red well. And lastly, I included a head of garlic because it fit in well with the onions, both in color and theme.

Onions And Garlic Watercolor studio 12X16

November 4, 2006 3 p.m.

LOCATION:

Norton's Art Gallery

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

For a live demo at Norton's Art Gallery, I constructed a fall still life, consisting of mums in a copper pot, and pears.

INSPIRATION:

For the demo, I visited the grocery store to find interesting still-life items. The most appealing subjects were the golden-colored fall pears. They were fresh and abundant, and their color was very eye-catching. I am continually fascinated with how the sun's rays add rosy pink color to the fruit skin exposed to the light. No other fruit or object fit as well with the pears as the burnt orange-colored mums.

Fall Pears Watercolor studio 12X16

October 29, 2006 2 p.m.

LOCATION:

2006 World Series Parade (Saint Louis Cardinals)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

As the parade arrived at the stadium, the afternoon late streaked directly down the parade route, highlighting the entrants. Leading the parade was the Budweiser Wagon with a Dalmation riding atop. Over two-hundred thousand fans lined the streets cheering their team.

INSPIRATION:

Joy in Mudville.

World Series Parade 2006 Watercolor en plein air 12X16

October 28, 2006 11 a.m.

LOCATION:

(Saint Louis)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

I arrived late at the quick paint contest at the Saint Louis downtown riverfront. I had only 2 1/2 hours to complete my entry. Fortunately, a wonderful painting subject (barge jumble) caught my attention after several minutes of surverying scenes up and down the river. It was a glorious fall morning, and I was very happy to be painting. I stood under the poplar street bridge. The wind was howling there. I suspect it sent me to the doctor a day later (please pass the Zithromax), but it was worth it.

INSPIRATION:

I was fascinated by the barge decks, where numerous unidentifiable objects lay in a helter-skelter jumble. The only objects for which I could idenfify a purpose was rope and an old tire (bumper). Aren't they grand? What character they add to the Saint Louis riverfront.

Barge Jumble Watercolor en plein air 12X16

October 05, 2006 8 p.m.

LOCATION:

Studio

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

I constructed a still life of several garden vegetables given to me by my parents, Dick and Lee. Like clock-work, they harvest radishes, onions, and sweet potatoes from their garden in fall, and they graciously give me some every year.

INSPIRATION:

My dad is proud of all of his vegetables, but he particularly beams about his radishes. As well he should. They grow the traditional round red variety, and a long white icicle type. White is Dad's favorite. Mine is red. While painting this still life, I think I ate about twenty of them. The inspiration for this painting is the natural beauty of my mom and dad's red radishes.

Dick And Lee's Radishes Watercolor studio 10X14

Aug 13, 2006 11 a.m.

LOCATION:

Tower Grove Park (Saint Louis, MO).

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

It was Sunday, and I was painting with the Missouri Plein Air Painters. Our location this week was Tower Grove Park in Saint Louis, a favorite location for the group. Mid-August in Missouri can bring cooling temperatures, but not on this day; it was still quite hot. Painting on location necessitated finding a view from the shade. The park was alive with visitors, many of whom wanted to visit the ever-present, resident three ducks. The three have been there for many years. Their coloration is quite mixed. The largest is white and gray. The other two are white and brown, and brown and black. The pool in the center of the park, is the most popular location in the park, and the goings-on of the duck trio attracts a lot of attention there. Every waddle they make is watched.

INSPIRATION:

I was inspired to paint this famous duck trio in this beautiful park setting. For me, it sings the tune "Summertime in the Park".

Summertime in the Park (Tower Grove Park) Watercolor en plein air 12X16

July 22, 2006 2 p.m.

LOCATION:

Sunflower field off Country Road# 220 (Clarksville, MO).

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

I was participating in a Sunflower Paint-Out in Clarksville, MO. It was a beautiful mid-summer day in Missouri. A cool front had moved through the day before, making it quite pleasant outdoors. The sky was half sunny and half cloudy, with little chance of rain. The clouds were puffy and billowy white on top, and purple-gray on the bottom. The group of artists with whom I was painting had located a sunflower patch in the countryside. The patch lay on top of a hill about 150 yards uphill from a country gravel road (#220). Between the sunflowers and the road lay a stunning alfalfa patch in bloom. The blue-violet flowers were quite fragrant. With my tall rubber boots on for protection (from chiggers, ticks, snakes), I made my way through the knee-high grass to the rear and east of the patch, disturbing one small rabbit and one large black snake. From my eastern vantage point, all the sunflower heads (eyes) seemed to be looking at me. The sun was striking the sunflowers partially from the rear, making the sunflower heads appear very dark in value.

INSPIRATION:

I was inspired to paint the band of bright yellow sunflower heads with the "dark faces", stretching across the landscape, growing under the beautiful northern Missouri summer sky.

Northern Missouri Sunflower Field Oil en plein air 9X12

May 29, 2006 8 a.m.

LOCATION:

National Historic District of Lafayette Square (Saint Louis, MO).

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

I was participating in the 1st Annual Lafayette Square "en Plein Air Competition". The morning was mostly clear, only a thin veil of high clouds were present. A slight breeze made the air quite clear. I was facing south on Park Avenue, looking towards the Lafayette Square fountain. The popular eatery, Sqwires, was directly behind the fountain, providing a dark backdrop for the water spray heads.

INSPIRATION:

What attracted me to this scene was predominantly the shapes of the objects in my field of view as highlighted by the early morning sun. The fountain is a spectacular shape and quite unique. Likewise, the building shapes in the background were very appealing, as was the shape of the the flower garden in the foreground.

Lafayette Square En Plein Air Competion 2006 #4 Oil en plein air 9X12

May 28, 2006 10 a.m.

LOCATION:

National Historic District of Lafayette Square (Saint Louis, MO).

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

I was participating in the 1st Annual Lafayette Square "en Plein Air Competition". The morning was clear and hot, unseasonably so for a Memorial Day. I was looking north, a few houses down from the attractive flower pots in front of the home at address #9 Benton Place.

INSPIRATION:

My inspiration for this piece was light. With the arrival of first heat wave of the year, I was drawn to the sun's affect on the landscape.

Lafayette Square En Plein Air Competion 2006 #3 Watercolor en plein air 11X14

May 22, 2006 6 p.m.

LOCATION:

National Historic District of Lafayette Square (Saint Louis, MO).

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

I was participating in the 1st Annual Lafayette Square "en Plein Air Competition". The afternoon was clear and cool, quite pleasant. I was looking east from my vantage point in front of the victorian home at address 1532 Mississippi Avenue. The late afternoon sun was striking the west side of upright structures, showcasing these two flower pots interestingly.

INSPIRATION:

My inspiration for this piece was the red geraniums amidst the various green shades of the home and its surrounding landscaping. The light and shadow pattern cast on (and behind) the pots from the late afternoon sun was also fascinating.

Lafayette Square En Plein Air Competion 2006 #2 Oil en plein air 9X12

May 20, 2006 8 a.m.

LOCATION:

National Historic District of Lafayette Square (Saint Louis, MO).

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

I was participating in the 1st Annual Lafayette Square "en Plein Air Competition". As this was my first painting for the event, I felt quite charged. The morning was cool and clear. I was looking south from where I stood in front of the victorian home at address 1834 Kennett Place. The early-morning sun was only slightly peaking through the dense tree cover of the old neighborhood.

INSPIRATION:

This large, old flower pot fit perfectly in its location, Lafayette Square. The lush begonias planted in the ornate container appeared royal, matching well the wealth and stature of the original inhabitants of the historic district.

As I was participating in the Lafayette Square "en Plein Air Competition", my goal with this painting was to depict not just a flower container, but one that resides there. It seemed to me that this flower and container shape could mostly fill and dominate my canvas and yet the remaining elements of the painting (dark wood door, tall entry steps, and mauve exterior walls) would successfully place it in Lafayette Square.

Lafayette Square En Plein Air Competion 2006 #1 Oil en plein air 9X12

May 11, 2006 9 p.m.

LOCATION:

"Santa Maria sopra Minerva", formerly "Temple of Minerva" (Assisi, Italy).

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

I visited Italy with my brother in April 2002. On this day, we were visiting Assisi. The hilltowns of Tuscany and Umbria are an artist's delight. Every sight line provides a wonderful painting subject, typically centuries-old architecture surrounded by well-tended gardens. In this particular view overlooking the town, stunning blue-gray olive trees lay immediately in front of me, and further back and down the hill, the Minerva tower reaches skyward.

It was a glorious spring day. The air crisp and clean. The trees were springing forth, and purple flowers dotted the hillside.

INSPIRATION:

Assisi is special to me as it holds great significance to my Christian faith. When a child, I greatly respected and admired Saint Francis of Assisi. I was impressed with the adult that was kind to animals, and my favorite church hymn (to read and sing) was a prayer of peace attributed to him. My inspiration for this piece was "Peace".

      The Peace Prayer of St. Francis

      Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
      where there is hatred, let me sow love;
      where there is injury, pardon;
      where there is doubt, faith;
      where there is despair, hope;
      where there is darkness, light;
      and where there is sadness, joy.

      O Divine Master,
      grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
      to be understood, as to understand;
      to be loved, as to love;
      for it is in giving that we receive,
      it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
      and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

      Amen.

Peace Watercolor studio 14X14

April 1, 2006 10 a.m.

LOCATION:

Northeast corner of Lafayette Park (Saint Louis, MO).

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

It was a clear, beautiful spring day, nary a cloud. The forsythia bushes and daffodils were in full bloom, along with light-pink flowering trees. Lafayette Park is the oldest park west of the Mississippi. The park is located in the National Historic District of Lafayette Sqare. It was once the home of Saint Louis's most wealthy and influential citizens. The park is surrounded by Victorian homes and gardens.

INSPIRATION:

On this day, I went looking for forsythia. Their characteristic yellow is a common sight in Missouri in early spring, and I wanted to capture the color before it was gone for another year. I have always wanted to paint forsythia under a purple, threatening, spring sky because of juxtaposition of complimentary colors. Sadly, on this day there was not a cloud in the sky. Much to my delight, in this view, a large, untrimmed forsythia bush lay nicely in front of the silhouetted bluish-purple shape of the Victorian homes on the park's east side. As I was looking east in early morning, the row of homes along Mississippi Avenue in the distance appeared dark blue.

Forsythia in Lafayette Park Oil en plein air 11X14

March 20, 2006 10 a.m.

LOCATION:

Forest Park, just east of the Grand Basin (Saint Louis, MO)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

It was a fairly common March day in Saint louis, way too windy and far too cold for the last day of winter. Just thinking about it gives one an ear ache. The sky was overcast, with few discernible clouds. Still, the distant form of the Chase Park Plaza hotel was modeled by light. The incessant wind obliterated water reflections in the narrow canal leading to the Grand Basin. The popular park had relatively few patrons as the windy, cold weather made for an uncomfortable visit.

INSPIRATION:

This scene initially appealed to me because it seemed to be a very representative image of Forest Park (Saint Louis, MO), spacious park grounds backdropped by city architecture. In particular, this view provided a view of the stately Chase Park Plaza hotel on Kingshighway boulevard, just east of the park. However, as I stood there (painting en plein air), it became obvious that the dominant adjectives on this particular day were windy and cold, and that is what I ended up painting.

Last Day Of Winter Wind (Forest Park) Oil en plein air 8X10

February 26, 2006 10 a.m.

LOCATION:

Bee Tree Park (Oakville, MO)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

It was a fairly bright morning. The atmosphere contained a lot of moisture, but no clouds were in the offing. This scene is Illinois river bottom at rest in late winter. My vantage point was the top of a high Missouri bluff on the western side of the Mississippi river. More specifically, I was situated on the eastern courtyard of the Nims Mansion inside Bee Tree Park. I was looking east and south over the bottomland. The distant hills (Valmeyer Mountain on the left) were silhouetted by the bright eastern sky, and light was striking the distant farm on its north front.

INSPIRATION:

Even in the winter, Illinois farmland exudes life and fertility. My goal for the painting was to capture the blessing and fruitfulness of this farmland amidst the common brown and gray of winter.

Illinois Winter Watercolor en plein air 12X16

February 12, 2006 9:30 a.m.

LOCATION:

Bee Tree Park (Oakville, MO)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

It was mid-morning, and a snowstorm was bearing down on the landscape before me. The photo of the scene does not nearly describe the vigor of the falling precipitation. The snow was entirely unexpected, but was quite welcomed by my fellow painters and me. My vantage point was looking northeast, slightly south and west of the large mansion inside the park. The "Nims Mansion" is uninhabited presently, but was originally the estate of a wealthy riverboat captain. The home sits at the top edge of the river bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. The wind was blowing strong. To keep the snow from spoiling my watercolor painting, I clung to the side of the tree opposite the wind. The temperature was less than ideal for watercolor painting as each new watercolor passage froze on my palette.

INSPIRATION:

What first caught my attention was the abundance of warm color in the scene, even though I was inside a cold (temperature) snowstorm. The sky was a warm gray-brown, and therefore so was the landscape. Likewise, the stonework of the large mansion in view brought abundant warm color. Additionally, the value contrast of the white snow backdropped by the dark-stoned mansion was interesting.

Snowy Morning At The Captain's Mansion Watercolor en plein air 11X14

January 15, 2006 2 p.m.

LOCATION:

Castelwood State Park (Ballwin, MO)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

The early part of the day was cloudy, and at mid-afternoon the clouds started to clear slowly. My vantage point was looking west, towards the clearing sky. A small amount of sunlight was falling on the landscape. The reflections in the water depict blue sky in the west.

INSPIRATION:

The beauty of deep creek pool caught my attention. This was an especially deep, still one. The bright reflections from the blue sky in the west were especially noticeable in the dull winter landscape.

The Deep Pool Oil studio 11X14

January 8, 2006 2 p.m.

LOCATION:

Castelwood State Park (Ballwin, MO)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

It was a unusually warm day in early January. High, thin clouds stretched across most of the sky. Light was scarce, and shadows very faint. Being the middle of winter in Missouri, the deciduous trees were barren. This is a very typical Missouri creek. Gravel extends across its full width (60-80 feet). Very little vegetation sprouts and survives in the creek bed as the gravel is typically 2 to 6 feet deep. On the outside edge of the creek, deep pools form sporadically. The pools form (wash out) in the Spring during high water conditions. During the dry season, these pools are the only sign of water in the creek. Missouri creek gravel is quite light-colored.

INSPIRATION:

The light-colored creek bed caught my attention. The light form meandering back and forth in the valley was quite interesting.

Missouri Creek in Winter Oil en plein air 9X12

January 2, 2006 Studio

LOCATION:

Studio

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

I constructed a wine and cheese still life in my studio.

INSPIRATION:

What made this scene appealing was the combination of earthy colors.

Wine And Cheese Oil studio 12x18

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