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!