CJ Lavoie - artist

Worked on the lower part to emphasize the passageway.

Near the bottom between the trees is an opening where the deer come through into the back yard. Hard to convey with b&w.

Still not in my studio but here are a couple of sketches of the nearby forest.

Recently varnished the last two paintings. Not sure if I’ll do any more before the big move.

If you've been considering buying one of my paintings to enjoy in your home, now might be a good time. I'm offering free shipping and special prices through the end of April. Take a look at those I've posted here (that are not commissions) or on my website (https://lavoie-notes.blogspot.com) and if it's still available we can talk about price. (If you're interested in a commissioned painting, those won't be available again until later this year.)

This is what it's all about!!!

Still one of my favorites, enjoying it in my living room now. Love the way new snow emphasizes the contours of the peak. Can almost imagine climbing up, choosing the route to take, or which way to ski down afterward.

Framed the two recent commissions, one will be ready to ship in a week or two. So grateful for the opportunity to visually dive into such beautiful places. Each one has a story of their personal connection, good memories, big love for the place and time they were there. All the commissions I've done have been this way, hearing the stories about the love behind the subjects. I think about that while I'm painting them.

Glacier National Park commission that I just finished. Beargrass in bloom. Love all the colors in the rocks and vegetation and the sky. I have retained permission to sell prints of it if anyone is interested.

Just finished this recent commission, of Brainard Lake Recreation Area, the lake and the river coming out of it, and the mountains of the Indian Peaks Wilderness. My daughter-in-law has some good memories there and wanted a painting of it. I used quite a few different photos as source material, changing the sunlight, rock patterns, etc to put all the best parts into one scene (yes, artistic license is real!) Now to let it dry, varnish it, frame it, and send it home! Panel is 18 x 24, so click the image to see the whole thing.

Remembering the first time I found this place. On a warm summer day, I had been hiking through a dense forest, and came out into the open meadow to this pretty little pond.

https://cjlavoie.blogspot.com

View of paintings on display at home. I like the cloud series hanging one above the other. The new one of the red pear is fun to have up while it's drying. Seeing the spruce tree from a distance shows up the depth between the branches.

The last time I got groceries delivered I received this perfect red pear. It went into a recipe but before that, I painted this.

I've had more time to paint this year, even though it was kind of hard to focus and concentrate, what with *all this* that's going on... but I wanted to share them here with you. All these were done in 2020 (one is still in progress.) So I guess the year was a little better than I remembered, before putting this post up. I hope you all are doing well and find your own "silver lining" somehow.

A selection of 9 of the commissions from 2020. Thank you to all of you who sponsored these, and everyone who offered supportive comments on my posts. It's been a hard year and it's helped a lot to have your encouragement. Thank you and Happy Better Year ahead!!!

Cheyenne Mountain monochrome painting, a sketch in preparation for larger full color one (sold). I liked the way this turned out so called it done, and began the larger one. I'm thinking it's time for another (in color)!

https://cjlavoie.blogspot.com

I like displaying my cloud paintings up high so I can look up at them, as if I'm outside. Feels good.

https://cjlavoie.blogspot.com

Where the trail diverged, a decision to make: uphill to the clearing, or down deeper into the forest?

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A hazy bright day on the Maine coast, a sheltered inlet, no wind, calm and peaceful. (painted from a photo I took during my visit there a few years ago)

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These framed views of amazing skies have provided escapes from *all this* whenever I pause to let myself go into them. https://cjlavoie.blogspot.com

The morning was bright and clear and the mountains were awesome again. Never get tired of seeing them.

In most seasons I like to sit out back and wake up with tea/breakfast. Last spring I fell in love with the morning sunlight adding a glow to the new tender leaves on the honey locust tree.

Dusting of Snow on the Front Range (Pikes Peak), 12 x 24, oil on wood panel, $550. (includes shipping)

https://cjlavoie.blogspot.com

Peak View Pond at Mueller State Park, acrylic on panel, 12 x 9"

More at: https://cjlavoie.blogspot.com

"North Side of Pikes Peak from Woodland Park", SOLD. Take a look at my other oil paintings that are still available: https://cjlavoie.blogspot.com

Painted from Mueller State Park, snowshoe trail. Now I can imagine crows in the trees, deer peering at me, and wonder which way to go next.

https://cjlavoie.blogspot.com

It's been not just "nice" but very helpful to me during this difficult year, of not getting out much, to have paintings of my favorite places around my house. I can do a little mini escape into the scene and remember the sights, smells, feelings of the places.

Thank you to all of you who shared my Artists Sunday info! I sold one, which is great, and also had a huge number of new people visit my website, which is wonderful! I've taken down the page with the sale paintings, and will be updating the site in the next few days. As always, feel free to message me if you have any questions or comments! Thanks again!

It's Artists Sunday! Time to visit my website and the page full of 40+ paintings that are offered at a very special price today only! (And shipping is free within the US.) Take a look and see if any will be an attractive addition to your living space, or maybe make a nice gift for the holidays.

https://cjlavoie.blogspot.com

CJ Lavoie Paintings in oil, watercolor, acrylic. Drawings in black wax, ink, pencil. Landscapes from sites in Colorado, Washington, Arizona, New Hampshire, and Maine. Locations where the rock formations influence the growth of trees or flow of water, where mountains or rivers lend a feeling of protection or c...

My webpage with the selection of paintings for the Artists Sunday sale (about half price and free shipping) is ready for you to view!
https://cjlavoie.blogspot.com

I'm preparing an online album of paintings to offer on Artists Sunday Nov 29, the weekend after Thanksgiving. I'll be promoting it on various social media platforms, as part of the national event encouraging people to buy original art to give for the holidays. I'm sharing the link to the album today for my friends and family on Facebook, as a preview, so you can see ahead of time what'll be available. In the next few days I'll be adding more info. Here's the link:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/W346EYum4BoeWn9q6

Artists Sunday Nov. 29 - Preview 43 new photos · Album by Carol Lavoie

On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, I'll be participating in the nationwide "Artists Sunday" event. It's like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, etc but for promoting the purchase of art to give as holiday gifts. Stay tuned for more info!

The library posted the painting I made of their bookmobile!

Happy Veteran's Day

Painting thanks to our patron, Carol Lavoie

Here's a recent commission that I enjoyed very much. I was taken in by the charm of little Benny. It was a collaboration of ideas, with song lyrics inspiring a new background from the original source photo. I like the challenge of customizing the painting to bring more love and meaning into the work. (Posting the song lyrics in comment below.)