Backlit Horse

Backlit Horse

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
9 x 12 inches (L x W)

Break at Breck

Break at Breck

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
20 x 16 inches (L x W)

Break of Dawn

Break of Dawn

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
18 x 24 inches (L x W)
This painting won the Honorable Mention award in the Oil Painters of America (OPA) 2019 Summer Online showcase and was juried into the OPA 2019 Western Regional show. This painting was done from a study and photo I took at the Garden of the Gods Park, Colorado at dawn. It was a glorious scene with the first rays of sunrise illuminating the red rocks, the Pikes Peak mountains in the background and the orange moon starting to descend behind the peaks. From an artist's perspective, I was excited to capture this early morning scene, as it allowed me to explore a range of tonal values to depict the beautiful light, shadows, shapes, and color!

Cruising in Carbondale

Cruising in Carbondale

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
9 x 12 inches (L x W)
A study of a mountain rural vista in Carbondale, Colorado

Foothills of Westcliffe

Foothills of Westcliffe

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
18 x 24 inches (L x W)
This painting was inspired from my visit to Westcliffe which is a quaint little town at the base of the magnificent Sangre De Cristo Mountains in Colorado. As I wandered through this town taking in the many wonderful sights of the simple life existing in harmony with the grand nature around it, I felt overcome by a sense of calm and joy. I wanted to capture that simple, untouched beauty and feel of this place in my painting.

Framed by Light

Framed by Light

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
18 x 36 inches (L x W)
This painting was a finalist at the 14th International ARC Salon Competition I usually like to set out early in the morning or later in the evening on my scouting trips, as I find the light to be quite beautiful during those times. This painting was inspired from a trip to Steamboat Springs, a beautiful ranch town in Colorado. The distant hills bathed in the early morning sunrise instantly caught my eye and I knew that this scene would make for beautiful landscape composition. I came upon this scene quite by accident and I am glad I did. One of the joys of being a landscape artist ... you never know what is around the bend!

Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
12 x 9 inches (L x W)
Sold

Georgetown at Sunset

Georgetown at Sunset

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
24 x 28 inches (L x W)

Headed Home

Headed Home

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
18 x 36 inches (L x W)
My favorite things to paint - Light, Color and Temperature shifts!… Came upon this beautiful evening scene while heading back home from a hike in Estes Park, Colorado.

High Noon Grazing

High Noon Grazing

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
16 x 20 inches (L x W)
This painting will be exhibited at Settler's West Gallery in Tucson, AZ for the WAOW 50th jubilee anniversary and juried art exhibition.

La Veta Cows

La Veta Cows

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
6 x 8 inches (L x W)
Sold

Longs Peak Farm

Longs Peak Farm

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
18 x 36 inches (L x W)

Manitou Sunrise

Manitou Sunrise

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
18 x 24 inches (L x W)

Morning at the Marina

Morning at the Marina

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
9 x 12 inches (L x W)

Spring Awakening

Spring Awakening

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
9 x 12 inches (L x W)

Spring Fever

Spring Fever

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
20 x 16 inches (L x W)

Spring Pastures

Spring Pastures

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
24 x 30 inches (L x W)

Spring Thaw

Spring Thaw

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
18 x 24 inches (L x W)
I love painting the rural landscape and this particular painting was done from a series of photos I shot at Victor, a small mining town located in the southwest Pikes Peak region of Colorado. This area has some great old structures and barns which have a distinct feel and character to them. In this painting, I combined various elements from different photos to come up with an interesting composition. I wanted the focal area to be the beautifully weathered barn but also wanted to capture the clear day and the melting spring snow, the light, and the overall atmosphere of the place.

Sunset Valley

Sunset Valley

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
12 x 16 inches (L x W)

Vantage Vista

Vantage Vista

Aruna Rao
Oil on Linen
30 x 40 inches (L x W)
This painting was a finalist at the AWA 2019 Spring Showcase https://americanwomenartists.org/gallery/2019-spring-online-juried-show.html It is an exhilarating feeling looking down at sweeping vistas from higher ground. Colorado's mountainous terrain offers many such views and vantage points. During a trip to Cripple Creek, a historic mining town in Colorado, I came upon this panoramic view of the town below which was backlit from the beautiful evening light. I wanted to capture the view and the light in this painting.