New work in September & October, 2020

Maybe due to wet weather and a few cold nights in September and October, the Ozarks displayed a full palette of spectacular, wild color! I painted plein air some in September. And then, quarantined for four weeks, I painted largely in my studio. Some color-fall paintings are in the works yet this year, after recent hikes for reference. In the meantime, my best wishes to you for healthy, outdoor adventuring and for sweet times of gratitude for and with family in the coming weeks.

Thanks for viewing my new paintings. View all of my work for sale at my online storefront/gallery www.kathealtazan.com.

New work in September & October, 2020

 

Crooked Creek diptych set of 2 paintings
8x10” each  |  Oil on masonite panel en plein air 
https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/kathe-altazan/crooked-creek-diptych-/840700

Little Lake Eureka
8x10”  |  Oil on wood panel en plein air
https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/kathe-altazan/little-lake-eureka/840697

Reflective Pool at Cooper Park
8x10”  |  Oil on wood panel en plein air

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/kathe-altazan/reflective-pool/840705

Destiny
18x24” | Oil on canvas
For more description and to purchase, visit:

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/kathe-altazan/destiny/840708

Colorful Water Lilies
16x16” | Oil on gallery wrap canvas
For more description and to purchase, visit: 
https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/kathe-altazan/colorful-water-lilies/840717

Reflective Water Lilies
16x16” | Oil on gallery wrap canvas

For more description and to purchase, visit:
https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/kathe-altazan/reflective-water-lilies/840721

New work in July & August, 2020

 

While still close to home in July and August, 2020, I painted subjects from nearby Ozark–St. Francis National Forest. Blanchard Springs Caverns in Mountain View, AR are an alive and active, wonder-filled place to observe the timeless power of flowing water, to be humbled by naturally occurring rock formations, and to experience our Creator. A place to rest, to feel centered and calm. A year round spring gushes from the base of the mountain called Blanchard Springs also home to the caverns. The spring is known as the headwaters for beautiful Mill Creek, which with the help of underground springs, creates Mirror Lake. Surging over a man-made dam it results in a spectacular waterfall. An arched stone bridge built by the CCC around 1941 spans Mill Creek.  Info: EncyclopediaofArkansas.net

Closer still, bees buzzed flowers in my garden while I was reminded of traveling and seeing them growing wild along roadsides. Black Eyed Susans and Purple Coneflowers, also known as Echinacea - an herbal remedy, are perennial favorites of mine, reminders of sunny, Midwest summers.

Thank you for viewing my work. View more paintings at my online storefront/gallery www.kathealtazan.com. My best wishes to you for good, healthy, outdoor adventuring.

New work in July & August, 2020

Emergence 

Oil on 18x24 Canvas

Blanchard Spring Creek
Oil on 8x10 wood panel

Mill Creek
Oil on 8x10 wood panel

Blanchard Spring
Oil on 8x10 wood panel

Living Spring
Oil on 8x10 wood panel

Black Eyed Susans
Oil on 10x10 gallery wrap canvas

Purple Coneflowers
Oil on 10x10 gallery wrap canvas

Close to Home

Magnolia Falls II Oil on 11x14 Cradled Wood Panel Overhanging Rock Oil on 12x16 masonite panel Magnolia Falls Hikers Oil on 12x16 masonite panel Oakland Bridge Road Oil on 12x16 masonite panel

Magnolia Falls III Oil on 11x14 Cradled Wood Panel Falling Water Falls Oil on 12x16 masonite panel Pond Lilies Oil on 12x16 masonite panel Lake Hamilton Overlook Oil on 12x16 masonite panel

During May and June, 2020 staying close to home became the norm during the pandemic.  Painted mostly from photographs, these paintings are reminders of former nearby explorations in Arkansas, the Natural State. I painted the waterfalls after hiking in nearby Buffalo National River wilderness areas. The view of Lake Hamilton is from a 2019 spring break trip to Hot Springs, AR. The painting of Bayou de Loutre in Union Parish, LA, though furthest from home, is close to my heart.

Hoping for somewhere not too heavily visited, I ventured out to do some plein air studies in June at the nearby ghost town of Rush and am prayerfully optimistic that traveling will soon become routine once again for painting inspiration.

Clicking on painting titles will take you to my online storefront/gallery www.kathealtazan.com for detailed descriptions of each painting and purchasing information. Thank you for viewing my work. Yours, with my best wishes for your good health. Kathe Altazan

Summer Rush Oil on 8x10 wood panel en plein air

Spring Fed Pool Oil on 8x10 wood panel en plein air

New April work: Scenic Florida

New Dawn south of Memphis, TN Cedar Key, FL Pine Island Beach Park, Hernando, FL Waves at Coral Cove Park  Jupiter, FL Anclote Key Lighthouse Tarpon Springs, FL

Waves II Coral Cove Beach  Jupiter, FL Lighthouse at Jupiter Inlet, FL Rocky Beach, Coral Cove Park,  Jupiter, FL Blowing Rocks  Jupiter Island, FL Anclote Key Lighthouse II Tarpon Springs, FL

My three week painting adventure to Florida in March was abruptly cut short due to the need for social distancing. En route from Arkansas to the Forgotten Coast Plein Air Paint Out event near Appalachicola, I visited family near Tampa and Jupiter and learned the event was postponed. Arriving home to quarantine in Arkansas the day the 10-day event was scheduled to begin, the paintings in this series are “postcard” reminders of my foreshortened trip. Read more about the locations by clicking on the painting title taking you to my online storefront/gallery. Thanks for viewing.

In the mood for painting Seascapes

Depoe Bay, Oregon

Portland Head Light, Maine

New work March & April

Crooked Creek Yellville, AR Rivercliff  Bull Shoals, AR

Little Rush Creek   Rush, AR Redbuds on Hicks Creek Wisteria on Hicks Creek

Arkansas’ cooler winter months are favorites for hiking and exploring. Though most trees are bare, cedar and pine display lively greens. I’m drawn to the movement of crystal clear waters as they dramatically carve paths in the landscape. In recent weeks I was glad to be outdoors painting colorful blossoms with spring greens as their backdrop. Read more about the locations by clicking on the painting title taking you to my online storefront/gallery. Thanks for viewing.

New studio work: Fall scenes

North Fork of the White

Fall on Mountain Top Drive

Hike to Glory Hole

Wildflower Meadow

I had a request from a collector for a painting in a 12x16" size to hang alongside a similar painting he purchased from me in November. So I painted a few fall scenes for him to choose from. I photographed these scenes on beautiful fall days in 2019 as I was plein air painting, hiking, or scouting for plein air painting sites. Read more about the locations by clicking on the painting title taking you to my online storefront/gallery. Thanks for viewing.

New work: Plein air in winter

Forest Path on David's Trail | 8 x 10 | Oil on masonite panel
Winter arrived to the Ozarks in January, but was kindly and provided several fine days for painting outdoors. Enthusiastic about getting outdoors, this forest path dappled with sunlight provided inspiration on a winter's day. David's Trail east of Mountain Home AR is maintained by and for enthusiasts of an active, outdoor lifestyle.

2nd Street Tree | 9 x 12 | Oil on canvas panel
This old tree in my neighborhood begged me to paint its portrait and I obliged. I have a generous neighbor, who thinking I might be homeless when I walked up with my rolling cart of plein air painting supplies, offered me help, a ride, or at least 5 bucks. I may have smiled the entire time I painted this "happy tree."

White River at Bull Shoals Dam | 9 x 12 | Oil on canvas panel
Mid-January provided an indescribably beautiful day for painting outdoors. While wind driven cloud patterns offered to provide subject matter for several spectacular paintings, I painted these and their reflection in the fast moving waters of the White River just below the Bull Shoals dam.

Winter Day on the White | 8 x 10 | Oil on masonite panel
An 80 degree day on Groundhog's Day provided the incentive for a plein air excursion to paint along the White River in Cotter, AR at the Roundhouse Shoals turnoff. Legend has it that since the groundhog did not see its shadow this February 2, we'll have an early spring, fine for painting outdoors.

These paintings are offered for sale at my online gallery www.kathealtazan.com

New Artwork: Historic Mill Series

Painted Bluff Pool

In November, 2019, with the intention of spending the day plein air painting, I revisited four of five historic mills in Ozark County Missouri within an hour of where I live. Over a hundred years ago, in the midst of relative wilderness, grist mills fed by crystal-clear waters were community centers and sites of rural commerce. Through restoration and innovation, some still are. 

Rockbridge Mill

Before I arrived at Rockbridge Mill, I was attracted to first paint water from Rockbridge Spring pooling beneath an overhanging painted bluff along Spring Creek. The aquamarine pool also attracts trout fishermen. 

The mill building was painted later in the studio. Though milling ceased by 1950, Rockbridge Mill is still the heart of a thriving community, the site of a resort, restaurant, and trout hatchery. The dam across Spring Creek survives.

I stopped and took a few reference photos for a studio painting at Zanoni Mill, once reknowned for its overshot mill wheel. The mill is visible from the highway but no longer open to tourists. Formerly renovated as a bed & breakfast, it is now an event venue. 

Zanoni Mill

Next stop was to set up and paint the verdant spring that once powered Hodgson Mill, now a popular spot for tourists, picnics, and photographers. The mill still houses the old milling machinery but Hodgson Mill products are ground in a modern facility nearby.

Hodgson Water Mill

And finally since I was losing light, I photographed Dawt Mill, the last operating mill in Ozark County Missouri. It was once powered by the North Fork of the White River which still runs crystal clear and remains a favorite of fishermen and canoeists. Currently offered onsite is a canoe livery, restaurant, lodging, and outdoor entertainment. I returned a week later to paint Dawt Mill en plein air.

Dawt Mill

With one mill remaining on the five-mill tour, I referred to photos for painting Hammond Mill in the studio. A rear view of the mill is depicted here with a washed out creekbed, a reminder of its vulnerability to flooding, and a historic sidewalk clock as a reminder of Hammond Mill's former vibrant commerce.The mill was recently restored as a private residence.

Hammond Mill

The mills are impressive and their surroundings a never-ending source of inspiration for hours of plein air painting beside beautiful, clear-running creeks and rivers of the Ozarks. 

These paintings are offered for sale at my online gallery www.kathealtazan.com in the folder entitled  Mill Series 

For photos and further appreciation of these historic mills:

The Mills of Ozark County by Phyllis Rossiter for “The Ozarks Mountaineer”

Historic Grist Mills at Ozark County Missouri Chamber of Commerce

“Daytrippin” photoblog by Brenda Nelson

Rockbridge’s Rainbow Trout and Game Ranch visitor and Google maps local guide Heather Werhmann

Hammond Mill Remembered by Ed Fillmer of KY3’s “Ozark Life Online”

Info and additional photo reference:

The Mills of Ozark County by Phyllis Rossiter for “The Ozarks Mountaineer”

Historic Grist Mills at Ozark County Missouri Chamber of Commerce

“Daytrippin” photoblog by Brenda Nelson

Rockbridge’s Rainbow Trout and Game Ranch visitor and Google maps local guide Heather Werhmann

Hammond Mill Remembered by Ed Fillmer of KY3’s “Ozark Life Online”