Keith Haller Studio

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July 07, 2007 10 a.m.

LOCATION:

Studio

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

Coming soon. 

INSPIRATION:

I was impressed with how the light from the setting sun seemed to illuminate the prickly pears and made them standout across the landscape in every direction.  My goal for the painting was to capture this effect on the canvas. 

Last Light on the Prickly Pears Oil 11X14

June 09, 2007 9 a.m.

LOCATION:

Faust Park

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

This vintage barn and carriage are on exhibit at Faust Park in Chesterfield, MO.  The park includes a historic village that seeks to preserve the area's vernacular architecture and history.  The early morning sunlight was at a low angle, illuminating the front one-third of the shed floor. 

INSPIRATION:

I was immediately impressed with the pattern of light in this scene.  My goal for the painting was to depict the light as streaked down the interior log wall and then fell across the vintage carriage. 

Under Cover Watercolor en plein air 12X16

June 09, 2007 1 a.m.

LOCATION:

Studio (working from photographs taken at Fairmount Park racetrack in Collinsville, IL on Tuesday afternoon, April 10, 2007)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

It was a wonderful day at racetrack--despite the weather.  A massive and extended cold front had just pushed across most of the country, forcing us dejectedly to dig out our coats and hats again.  Fortunately, however, the racetrack carried on as usual.  Certainly, the sounds were all there:  the familiar bugle cry announcing the impending starts,  the starting gate crashing open,  the hooves meeting turf,  and the unabashed excitement in the voice of the race announcer with the call. 

INSPIRATION:

I was impressed with the sound, drama, and magnificence of horse racing.  It seemed a minor miracle that a man (and a small one at that) could stay atop these animals as they raced.  For this painting, I wanted to capture the thunder of hooves, the speed and strength of the horses, and the large mass of horse and humanity barreling down the track.  The source photographs were taken on a cloudy, windy, and cold day.  I, instead, painted sunny spring weather to communicate the magnificence of racing. 

Thundering Down the Track Watercolor studio 15X22

June 06, 2007 8 p.m.

LOCATION:

Studio (working from photograph taken on Thanksgiving 2005 of the large slough just north of the Jay Martin homestead in Madison, South Dakota)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

South Dakota sloughs in late November are captivating.  The migrating waterfowl of autumn are gone, but they still maintain an aura of life and mystery.  The sloughs twist and turn with the lay of the land.  The slough vegetation (reeds) turns a glorious gold color.  The air is crisp, fresh, and the coldest cold you'll know. 

INSPIRATION:

My goal for this painting was to capture the feel of a frozen South Dakota slough.  In particular, I wanted to depict the heavy autumn sky, the winding nature of the slough, and the vibrant gold of the slough vegetation in late autumn. 

The Frozen Slough Watercolor studio 15X22

May 31, 2007 9 p.m.

LOCATION:

Lafayette Square Plaza Fountain

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

This fountain, located in the plaza, is the heart of Lafayette Square.  It is particularly stunning at dusk.  The fountain sprays are lit from the pool base, illuminating both the sprays and the pillar.  Additionally, large street lamps illuminate the fountain area.  I painted this scene in conjunction with the Lafayette Square Plein Air competition.  This was my second attempt to capture this scene on canvas.  The night before, my friend, Henryk Ptasiewicz, and I had attempted the same scene, but we were both too exhausted to finish. 

INSPIRATION:

I was impressed with the brilliance of the pillar and the other illuminated objects against the gloriously blue night sky.  My goal for this painting was to capture the glow and radiance of the scene. 

The Plaza Fountain at Night Watercolor en plein air 11X15

May 26, 2007 4 p.m.

LOCATION:

Belas Artes Multicultural Center (Lafayette Square)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

This was a rectangular planter set up for a quick paint in the Lafayette Square painting competition.  The artists were given 3 hours to complete their entry. 

INSPIRATION:

I was impressed with the growth pattern of the flowers in the clay pot.  My goal was to capture the flowers jutting every which way out of their container. 

Planter at Belas Artes Watercolor en plein air 10X14

May 22, 2007 4 p.m.

LOCATION:

Vin de Set Restaurant (Lafayette Square)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

This bar resides on the third and top floor of a gutted-rehabbed, old brewery, the Centenial Malt House.  The décor of the bar is very dark.  The walls are vintage brick, and the original wooden beams and pillars remain and are a rich chocolate brown.  Though only modest in height, the building is the tallest structure for several city blocks.  As a result, the view out of the large north-facing window is almost all sky, a very unusual occurrence from a bar.  The window also attracts attention because it contrasts with the dark décor to a large degree. 

INSPIRATION:

My goal for this painting was to capture light entering through the window, flowing through the shelves of liquor bottles, falling upon the bar, and subtly impacting the rustic, dark bar. 

A Saint Louis Bar (Vin de Set) Watercolor en plein air 10X14

May 22, 2007 11 a.m.

LOCATION:

The Victorian-era home at 2340 Park Avenue

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

This gorgeous interior is the dining room of the Victorian-era home at 2340 Park Avenue in the Lafayette Square Historic District.  Early afternoon light was pouring into the dining room from the south-facing window.  I painted this scene in conjunction with the Lafayette Square Plein Air competition. 

INSPIRATION:

My goal for this painting was to capture the light I saw.  The light entering the room created a stunning picture.  The tall victorian windows allowed an abundance of sunlight in, and the overall quantity of light in the room was magnified by the bounce of light off the hardwood floors and rich dining room furniture. 

Park Avenue Interior (2340 Park Avenue) Watercolor en plein air 10X14

May 19, 2007 4 p.m.

LOCATION:

Lafayette Square Plaza

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

I painted this scene in conjunction with the Lafayette Square Plein Air competition.  The artists were given 2 hours to complete a painting of the business district.  The fountain and the activity around it fascinate me. 

INSPIRATION:

My goal for this painting was capture the late afternoon sunlight falling upon the plaza, fountain, and a young woman reading a book.  Lafayette Square residents like to spend time at the fountain and meditate on life.  My wife, Penny, posed for this painting.  She likes to read. 

An Evening at the Plaza Watercolor en plein air 10X14

May 19, 2007 9 a.m.

LOCATION:

Planter on Park (2234 Park Avenue)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

This planter adorns the entrance to a very elegant home at 2234 Park Avenue in the Saint Louis Lafayette Square neighborhood.  The early morning light was falling across the scene, from right to left. 

INSPIRATION:

The sidelight hitting the dark planter casted it perfectly in its setting.  The handsome dark shape of the planter was accentuated by the sunlit porch, and the front door in the distance created a second interesting dark shape to which the first could be tied.

A Planter On Park (2234 Park Av) Watercolor en plein air 10X14

April 27, 2007 6:30 a.m.

LOCATION:

Klondike Park (Augusta, MO)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

The sun was just peaking over the horizon as I stood at the Klondike Park overlook.  I was participating in the annual plein air art event in Augusta, MO. 

INSPIRATION:

There were only a few clouds in the sky that morning, even though the forecasters had predicted cloudy.  The inspiration for this painting was to capture the morning light on this Missouri River cliff. 

Sunrise Over Klondike Park (Turkey Vulture Point) Watercolor en plein air 12X16

March 27, 2007 7 p.m.

LOCATION:

Shaw Nature Reserve (Gray Summit, MO)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

This magnificent magnolia tree grows beside the north entrance to the Bascom house.  This painting was based on a photograph of the tree taken on April 12, 2003.  The magnolia blossoms are white and pink color, and in sunlight they shimmer.  The blossoms are fairly large in size, 3-4 inches tall and wide.  Even though the tree is typically covered with blooms across its full heighth and width, the tree is a semi-transparent.  Small passages of background color and light can be seen behind it. 

INSPIRATION:

The inspiration for this painting was the shimmer of the light pink magnolia blooms in the sunlight.  My goal was to capture the shimmer as well as the transparency of the tree. 

Shimmering Magnolias Watercolor studio 12X16

March 24, 2007 2 p.m.

LOCATION:

Shaw Nature Reserve (Gray Summit, MO)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

This cluster of magnolia trees was found at the Shaw Nature Reserve, down the hill and west from the Bascom house.  I visit the reserve often, especially in the spring.  I had never seen such magnificent spring color as I did on this day.  Typically, some magnolia trees fail to bloom much, but this year I saw trees blooming full in every direction.  The daffodils were especially plentiful this year as well.  The late spring created quite a show when it finally arrived. 

INSPIRATION:

Sunlight on the spring bloom was the inspiration for this painting.  The sunlight's affect on the magnolia trees was spectacular and presented a painting challenge that I could not resist.  Because magnolia branches are a bit wild and uneven, sunlight falling on their form creates a very interesting light-value shape.  The sunlight striking the daffodils was fascinating as it made them glow with color. 

Spring Bloom at Shaw Nature Reserve Oil en plein air 6X8

February 11, 2007 10 a.m.

LOCATION:

George Washington Statue Lafayette Park

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

This statue of George Washington resides at Lafayette Park in St. Louis city.  The day was cold, but tolerable.  The sky was slightly overcast, creating a sky that was somewhat lighter in value than one on a clear day.  Conversely, the diffusion of light slightly darkened the earth values.  I have been studying values lately, learning that a black object in sunlight is likely lighter in value than a white object in shadow.  When I compare the value of the sunlit side of black base to the shadow side of sea-green base, I see that the concept holds true. 

INSPIRATION:

I enjoy painting the bronze statues found throughout Saint Louis, particularly in winter.  This statue especially caught my attention on this day because the President's Day holiday was coming soon, and the sculpture captured George Washington's likeness extremely well.  I was intrigued to attempt to capture his likeness in my painting.  This view of the statue appealed to me because the row of Victorian homes in the distance aptly placed the statue in its home, Lafayette Square. 

President's Day Watercolor en plein air 12X16

January 20, 2007 10 a.m.

LOCATION:

Studio (working from photograph taken at Faust Park)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

This log cabin is at Faust Park in St. Louis county.  The park includes a historic village that seeks to preserve the area's vernacular architecture and history.  The structures include a variety of building and architectural styles, spanning a period from 1840 to 1888.  The Missouri Plein Air Painters visited the park on Aug 14, 2005.  The group paints at the village at least once a year because of the interesting structures and the beautiful period-specific wildflower gardens found there.  On weekends during the summer, historical reenactors in period costume provide tours and perform a variety of demonstrations in the village.  Early Sunday morning, I found an arrangement of wild flowers on a secluded picnic bench, likely assembled by a reenactor the previous day.  The arrangement seemed abandoned and simply left for the enjoyment of passersby.  I couldn't resist moving the vase to a bench in front of an old log cabin. 

INSPIRATION:

The drab, gray log cabin made a superb background for the brilliant orange-red wildflowers.  I was also intrigued by the contrasting nature of the subjects: the fleeting wildflowers compared to the permanence of the log structure.  Lastly, the log cabin and the wildflowers meld together well as both depict Americana.  It is ironic that the piece unintentially turned out to be an abstract rendering of the American flag. 

Log Cabin Arrangement Oil Studio 12X16

January 7, 2007 10 a.m.

LOCATION:

Brunjes Farm (Washington, MO)

SUMMARY OF PLACE:

Aware of my interest in painting cows, my wife's co-worker, Susan Brunjes, invited me to paint at her father's farm near Washington MO.  The farm is a magnificent example of a Missouri farmstead.  The day was overcast and chilly.  The drizzle of the previous evening was tapering off that morning, but a small bout of it still struck mid-morning, forcing me to paint under a bushy, young cedar tree.  As I walked to my location, the cows assumed that I was bringing food, and walked up the hill towards me and stopped at what apppeared to be their normal feeding spot.  I was fortunate that they did this, because it positioned them perfectly in the landscape. 

INSPIRATION:

Growing up, I walked across many cow-laden Missouri fields.  The opportunity to paint one was quite nostalgic and inspiring.  With this painting, I attempted to capture the gentle tranquility of a Missouri farm field on a damp, overcast winter day. 

Missouri Cows Oil en plein air 12X16

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