WEST WING   12 x 16

Certain buildings draw feelings from us, perhaps due to memories of events, or what they represent or their locale. There is high activity at this place and often it is a center of activity. It has seen a transition of landscaping over the years, and is a reminder of change even in our lives.

TULIP FOREST   8 x 10

A watercolor approach was begun with this free-form version, but then the paint had to be piled on for selected flowers. The version kept changing as to what my mind saw as the final effect, and it felt as if I was a kid again using finger-paints. Fun!

BRICK ARCHWAY   8 x 10

 

 

The flowers viewed through the mission archway are a different variety from an earlier painting of this scene; also this painting is larger than the earlier version. The scene is at the peak of summer when the flowers are at their best. I learned a lesson doing this painting, and that is to be very careful not to have a cup of tea too close at hand while painting, otherwise the paintbrush gets dipped into the TEA instead of the rinse water. I drank the tea anyway and hoped not to get much cadmium into my system.

"DEMANDING MORE GRUB"  8 x 10

Baby birds can be very demanding. These little guys are as big as their parent, and it seems as if the parent is deciding whether to oust them from their perch in order to search for their own sustenance. Painting the contrasts was a challenge, but I hope it is successful in portraying the moment.

ARAB COLT  11 x 14

 

The features of an Arabian horse are distinct from other breeds. God made the horse an amazing creature, with grace, speed, and strength. It is a joy to reproduce even a small segment of a horse's beauty, whether with paint or pen.

 

OTTER POND   11 x 14

Deep in the forests of the near north is hidden a small pond. This pond harbors otters and geese and has even experienced a passing moose and a family of deer. Neighboring chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, blue jays, and even sandhill cranes fly overhead. It is a peaceful spot and is only one of many on "God's Green Acres."

FLOWER ABSTRACT   8 x 10

Trying new techniques with a paintbrush is challenging. This is not my usual style, but playing with the colors was a good break from the routine. It's refreshing to have a burst of color, as long as we don't have to put on our sunglasses to enjoy it!

CUMULUS CLOUDS   11 x 14

Cloud forms and shapes are ever changing, and can be a form of 'entertainment' as well as a forecast of weather-to-come. This painting was fun as I experimented with shading, shapes, and shadows. Is there ever a painting that an artist doesn't think later, "Something in it needs to be changed. I'll just brush-it-up a bit," etc. Ha! The firmament above reminds us of the space of the heavens, reminding us how puny is man.

TREE TRIMMED  8 x 10

The tree in this earlier fence-line painting was redone. Remember the errant branch that forced its wayward cluster in an earlier post? Well, that's now been remedied and I am more comfortable with the completed product. I hope you are also. Perhaps I returned to this painting because its green meadows are particularly inviting during this time of cold and snow. Lack of shadows from the fence-posts might be the next change. What do you think?

FIRE AND ICE   8 x 10

Abstract forms can be elusive, but it was fun to paint this selection, adding thick gel to build texture on the painting. I debated about entitling the painting "Aurora" but decided no aurora borealis was quite this vivid. It's refreshing to paint blocks of color instead of focusing on minute details within a painting. Who knows? Maybe the next painting will be even more monochromatic.

"ABSTRACT FLOWERS"  8 x 10

Another attempt at abstract representation is turning out to be more of an enjoyment and less of a struggle. The challenge is in knowing 'when to stop' and let the colors speak for themselves. You might not see these forms as flowers, but I would be happy to hear what YOU see in this painting. Thank you.

"SINGIN' THE BLUES"  8 x 10

Music captures many emotions, and it was fun to try to capture this guitarist at his strumming. I like the contrast of blue and gold with a splash of red thrown in.

BLUE ABSTRACT   8 x 10

This abstract I entitle "Which Side is Up?" As a novice with abstraction, I had fun with the paints by applying it with a palette knife to add heavy texture. You might interpret a variety of things in this painting: could it be petals floating downward... or fish floating upward... or what? I hope you like it.

STILL LIFE  Fruit Assortment with Papaya  8x10

Still a beginner in the painting world, I'm not ready to tackle the plein-air approach. At least fruit will just lay there and not move around too much! It remains a challenge to capture the lighting in various phases and render the integrity of the forms and shapes.

GOD'S WORD, A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS   12x16

Commissioned to paint a representation of the Bible with a lighted candle was a challenge, not for the Bible, but for the candle light! There's a combination of stylized work and realism. A variety of textures was a challenge, and I intend to practice on a few metallic items in the future.

MEMORIES OF LAKE HURON   20x24

This painting was commissioned by a friend who had a couple of old photos of her childhood days at their "cottage." The shoreline and a few trees and a flowerbox and the angled pier were pieced together, with other memorabilia added via memory of earlier days. Try painting a picture as it is described to you via words, and determine how close you might arrive at what their image sees in their mind.

MISSION ARCH WITH FLOWERS   5x7

I really enjoyed painting this from my photo. It is a companion piece to the double arches on an earlier post. Painting the bricks and textures and lighting was a challenge to my neophyte brushwork, but I am pleased with the results. Maybe the flowers need a bit more drama?

MISSION ARCHES   5x7

This painting is from a photo of a California mission. I love arches and the painting allowed exploration in detailing the bricks and mortar and the contrast of tiles with shadow. Next time I will change the color of the flowers in the foreground. Ha!

FENCELINE  8X10

Breaking away from shadowy backgrounds, it's refreshing to paint an open field with clear sky in background. Open meadows and verdant pasturelands remind me of places in California and Washington. The tree gave me trouble and I tried to make it non-uniform and then overdid it with a wayward branch that refused to be covered up. Oh well, live and learn as we explore our world of color with brush strokes.

PEN and INK HORSEHEAD

There's no color in this sketch I did many years ago, but it was fun to capture the texture and shadings of the horse. You can see the Arabian influence in the features. Using pen and ink is greatly different from brushstrokes with paint and color. Such a world to explore with art that a lifetime cannot begin to touch on all the possibilities of artistic expression.

RED BIRD   5x7

This little bird was a joy to paint. I'm finding a preference for zeroing in on subjects, putting the focus on one item and finding drama in the setting. Animals are a challenge to capture and fun to portray.

ATTITUDE   (paper demo)

The youth's face is a classroom exercise, the subject observed in a magazine. It makes me realize the need for knowing the principles involved in cool shadows and warm skin tones. This subject may be one I try again on a canvas, focusing on various elements and correcting what's viewed here.

BEAR COUNTRY   8x10

I've ridden trails in country like this and was always fearful of running into bears. It happened a couple of times, and fortunately the black bear took off away from the horse. This painting is reminiscent of Montana and I can almost hear the call of birds in the distance.

JESUS' FACE   9x12

Painting His face was a special experience. The Christian bookstore provided a business card size portrayal of Jesus' face, and it is a favorite to many of us. With inspirational music playing in the background, the painting of skin tones and expression brought me closer to Him. Perhaps His skin tones were really darker and His coloring more dusky. Whatever, the painting was a joy to do.

STILL LIFE  NASTURTIUMS   14x18

Flowers are not an easy thing for a beginning painter. I love the nasturtiums growing in my yard, but to portray them on canvas was a whole different matter! These are a bit bigger-than-life, but the color harmonies are pleasing and remind us of God's creative power.

SHEIK MUSINGS

 This painting was done in a class setting with a deadline looming. The clock was ticking away. I enjoy painting figures and like the shadow effects. I wish I'd used a canvas; it's only on paper.

BIRCH TREES   16x20

The character of Birch trees is interesting and challenging. The final painting resulted in much greenery, but the photo does not portray that. My friends have it in their collection and they are satisfied with the sunlight streaming in. Maybe there should be more contrast in the foliage?

TIGER CUB

It's fun to make figurative paintings. Here's a young tiger painted quickly during a class setting. Every student had a different version of his pose and expression. There's a striking contrast of stripes against the burnished glow of his fur. I hope to do more of the 'suggestive' portions in the painting, leaving some edges unfinished.

ROCKS and WATER  5x7

Rocks and layers of strata have subtle blends of color. Contrasted against lake and forest, there is an interplay of light and shadow. I shot many photos at Killbear Park, and enjoy selecting elements that impress me.

ABSTRACT   8x10

My first abstract has lots of color and it probably breaks all the 'rules' for abstract paintings. This is a small portion of an attractive fabric and I wanted to capture the colors and rhythm. I asked some young people what they saw in it. One said, "A parakeet," and another said, "a lady's shoe." Frankly, I see a fruit salad. What do YOU see?