Nelia Harper
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  • Portfolio
    • Egg Tempera Paintings
    • Pastel Paintings
    • Oil Paintings
    • Plein Air Paintings
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    • Original Paintings
    • Limited Edition Archival Giclée Prints
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Oil Painting Portfolio

Follow Cow Creek, oil on canvas, 16x20 © Nelia Harper
"Around the Bend" Oil on Panel 8x10 © Nelia Harper
"Fall Glory" oil on canvas panel 9x12 © Nelia Harper
"Across the Pond" oil on panel, 9x12 © Nelia Harper
"Beside Still Waters" Oil on Canvas 8x10 © Nelia Harper
"Fall Afternoon", Oil on Canvas 8x10 © Nelia Harper
"Peace" oil on panel 9x12 © Nelia Harper
"Mescalito" 9x12 Oil on Canvas, © Nelia Harper

Nelia Harper

A contemporary artist with a focus on plein air landscape painting in pastel and oil, and a studio practice in the Old World egg tempera technique.
© Nelia Harper

New Paintings

"Heirloom Beauties", 8 1/4 x16, © Nelia Harper
Heirloom Beauties

Heirloom Beauties was inspired by yet another trip to the Farmer’s Market.  The good folks from Honeyacre Farm devote their loves to growing luscious heirloom tomatoes, meaty, flavorful bell peppers, and solid cucumbers the size my arm.

 

This still life was designed to create a bold statement.  I wanted to work with bright cadmium paint and explore vibrant color. I choose a deep red backdrop to complement the tomatoes and stock for delicate texture to contrast the smooth tomato.

Luckily, I was able to enjoy the models for dinner too!

$375.00 Add to cart
"Rabbitbush" pastel, 16x20, © Nelia Harper
Rabbitbush

While doing some plein air painting on a brisk January day, I came across this gigantic rabbitbush.   It still had several of its colorful blooms. Startled by the sheer size of the bush and enthralled by the sky and frozen pond, I knew this would be my next painting.

I hoped to convey the drama of Colorado’s winter sky.  Will the storm blow in or move on?  I also wanted to create a sense of texture and the feeling of windswept space.  By creating such a large bush, I hoped to instill a feeling of the size and magnitude.  How old is this bush?  What has it seen?  How long will it remain?

$720.00 Add to cart
"Where the Wild Things Grow", oil on canvas panel, 5x7 © Nelia Harper
Where the Wild Things Grow

During a trip up the Cache la Poudre Canyon, I came across this field filled with aspen trees.  Although I wasn’t able to paint it that day, I knew a return trip was in order and soon the opportunity arrived.

Upon my return, the small aspen grove had filled wildflowers.  As I set up my easel and began to paint, I felt as if anything could stumble up out of the river or through the grove of trees.  While it would most likely be a deer, I couldn’t help but think of the children’s book, “Where the Wild Things Are” and my imagination went wild.

oil on canvas panel, 5×7

painted en plein air

$125.00 Add to cart
"Bobcat Oasis", Oil on Canvas Panel, 12x16, © Nelia Harper
Bobcat Oasis

How many times have I pulled on my backpack and headed for a nearby park to hike, think, look and ponder?   Whether I have a lot on my mind, or I just feel the need to get out into nature, Bobcat Ridge Open Space is a ‘go-to’ spot. There, I am free to wander, wonder and ease back into myself.

As I painted this cottonwood against the backdrop of the hogback, I thought of napping under the tree or having a picnic lunch.  I reflected on the number of hikes I have taken through this park, and how it has become an oasis for my spirit, as well as an opportunity to connect with nature and myself.

oil on panel, 12×16

en plein air

$450.00 Add to cart
"Summer Sweetness", 11x15, Pastel © Nelia Harper
Summer Sweetness

Can you feel the fuzz?  Do you smell that sweet syrup of a ripe summer peach? Each summer, I look forward to peach season and picking up fresh peaches from the farmer’s market.  After they grow and ripen in the heat of the Western Slope, they arrive at the market ready to eat.  There’s nothing as delicious as a sweet summer peach on a hot day, especially when the juice drips down your hand…

Pastel, 11×15

Still Life

$425.00 Add to cart
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"Peach Study" 5x5, Pastel, © Nelia Harper
Peach Study in Pastel

I’ve been looking forward to summer and doing a peach study in pastel for a larger painting.  Each year, Morton’s Organic Orchards sets up their fruit stand at the nearby farmer’s market. They begin with cherries that are so deep and dark in color, flavor and sugar that I feel ‘drunk’ after just a few morsels.

Following on the heels of the cherries, the peaches arrive. Clingstone peaches appear first – small and sweet. Then, giant freestone peaches arrive by the truckload, covered in peach fuzz. They line up, ready to be turned into pies and jams and in my case, ice cream and smoothies.

These little orbs of sweetness are surprisingly solid. I wanted the viewer to feel as though they could be picked up and held, as well as eaten.

pastel, still life, 5×5

$65.00 Read more
"Tributary", Oil on Canvas Panel, 16x12, © Nelia Harper
Tributary

I have driven by this area countless times and never knew a gem was hidden away.  We started the day at the break of dawn.  From camp, we drove a short distance from our campsite, and hiked out to see what we could see.  Following what I later learned were skunk track, I fell in love with this picturesque spot.

The sun was just coming up over the cliffs and began to filter through the trees. I listened to the hum and throb of the water, and watched the light shift and change, as I painted a perfect summer day.

oil on canvas panel, 16×12

en plein air

$425.00 Add to cart
You Sing to my Spirit Archival Print
You Sing to My Spirit Archival Print – Cascade Falls

Just as the sky began to lighten, I wound my way up the Thompson Canyon, and bounced over the well worn highway to the Wild Basin turnoff in Rocky Mountain National Park. Meeting other painters, we started up the trail with our 30 pound packs. About a mile in, the trail became steep and covered in snow. We carried on, and the reward was well worth the effort when we reached the tumbling Cascade Waterfalls.

As I painted, I thought of John Denver’s song, Calypso. The phrase, “You Sing to My Spirit” played through my mind as I painted next to the cascade of water.  This larger painting was created based on the plein air study.

This Limited Edition Archival Giclée is printed on smooth 100% acid free cotton rag, natural white, heavyweight fine art paper. As an archival, museum quality paper, this print has a light fastness rating of 100+ years under normal indoor lighting conditions.

The print is shipped in a protective clear envelope with acid-free foam core, ready to present as a gift or frame.

Each print is numbered and signed by the artist.

Size: 9×12 with a half inch white border

Limited to 250 prints.

Larger sizes available upon request.

 

$45.00 Add to cart

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