The Locals

Speaking of trains - this was Cody's favorite; a little beyond his budget, and as he pointed out, a diesel locomotive, when he would prefer a painting of a steam locomotive . . . . I'll get right on that.
"Commuter"(11"x 14"), was painted one morning while the locomotive sat in the station before heading out on the daily run from Alamosa to Monte Vista. This painting sold to another train lover just last week.

To the right, "Little Red" (9"x 12") was an unusual little engine, and only in the rail yard for a short time. I painted it on a beautiful day last March and it sold out of Earthwood Gallery in Boulder.











All these pieces were painted en plein air and depict areas around the Alamosa rail yard except for this one "Cold Storage" (9"x 12"), done one late afternoon at the tracks in Monte Vista. I remember it being very cold.

For awhile there was the coolest yellow diesel locomotive in the yard, and a red crane that I was so wanting to paint - and I did - in the rain, and I wasn't dawdling.
You can see, at the bottom, where rain drops have lifted my acrylic under painting.
At the time, I thought "Storm at the Railyard" (12"x 16"), was about the craziest painting I had ever done but it went on to win 1st Place at the "Trains, Planes, and Automobiles" Show at the Cloyde Snook Gallery and I was especially flattered when it was purchased by a railroad worker.


This last one (14"x 11"), on another rainy day, was actually my first trip to the tracks in Alamosa - to paint. It was purchased for the collection in the SLV Regional Medical Center.
So that is my train "stuff". Of course, not every attempt;
I've had my share of bombs and wipe offs. I hope I am getting better; sometimes it doesn't feel like it, but I will keep going back.