FATHER AND SON   5 x 7

 

 The silhouette of father and son strolling along a fence-line might bring memories to some, with nostalgia for possibly days-long-ago. The style is simple, with basic blocks of color, but it creates a mood.

YOUNG WARBLER   8 x 10

 

I'm in the mood for a series of little bird paintings, so the bright yellows of this youngster appealed to me. He's barely out of his fledgling stage, but his colors are brilliant. We have a duty to preserve and protect our wildlife, for what would the world be like without the melodic songs of birds among us?

 

LITTLE RED BIRD   8 x 10

 

 An earlier painting of a little red bird sold last summer, and because it was a favorite of mine, I painted a similar one, with only a few minor changes. The expressions on animals can be endearing and birds are no exception. I hope you enjoy.

 

GOLDEN POPPIES IN FIELD   11 x 14

Open fields are alluring, particularly when there are splotches of color from random wildflowers that grow in the meadow. What attracted me to the scene is the row of green trees and brush that grace the hillside. Can you hear the cow bawling in the distance?

BIRCHES   12 x 24

 Birch trees are striking by their white bark and when contrasted against the colored leaves of Fall, it makes a pleasing scene. To emphasize their height and structure, it was fun to paint them vertically. No two trees are alike. I put extra paint on to build up the texture.

PATHWAY   11 x 14

The pathway into the forest is a repeat of an earlier and smaller one I painted in oil. Because that one sold, I thought to try it again in a larger size and using acrylics. Each medium brought its own challenges. I was tempted to have a change of seasons in this painting, but decided against it. There is just a hint of Fall color in the leaves instead.

PRIZE CALF   11 x 14

 

Animals are usually fun to paint, and this one is a commemorative of some of the 4-H projects that kids invest in. There's the joy of raising a baby to young adulthood and seeing the animal develop and increase in stature. Usually a bond is formed between the youth and his/her animal. I like the contrast of blue background against the ruddy tones of the hide; the back-light adds sparkle to the scene.

 

MOUNTAIN CANYON   16 x 20

Know what it's like to come across something you did years ago and think, "I can improve on that"? This was one of my earlier paintings that seemed too flat, with little perspective and much the same color. It was a pleasure to work with it again and put to use some of the tips I picked up this past couple of years of painting. It might still need some additional touching-up of warm colors and shading, but here's an improved version.

AURORA   12 x 16

 In the far north we often see colorful wonders in the sky, via the Aurora Borealis. Sometimes they shimmer, other times it appears as if a curtain is wafting in a breeze. The view is breathtaking when we see these Northern Lights.

FELINE HIDEOUT   8 x 10

 

 

Anyone who knows cats is aware of their love of little hide-away places. Kitties love an opportunity to snoop, and that's what this one has been doing. It was a new trial to try to capture the rough texture of the stones in the crumbling building, but it lends a nice contrast to the shadow of the window and the fur of the cat.

ARMY of GRAPES    8 x 10

 

 

Luscious flavors come to mind when we see the variety of colors and textures in a combination of fruits. This painting afforded me an opportunity to experiment with a selection of grapes in transparency and shading. But then I couldn't stop, thus came the "army." Hopefully someone will select this one to dress up their kitchen.

EQUINE TRIO   8 x 10

 The scene has changed from when we had our Quarter horses, but the beauty of equine form and grace remains in our memories. Horses love to graze in a good pasture and this trio is no different. Catching them to hit-the-trail will be something else. The colors range from sorrel to bay to chestnut.

STAIRWAY   8 x 10

 

The heat from the adobe walls seems to radiate from the canvas. This setting is a long way from snow-covered mountains and fir trees and otter ponds, but I like the abstract effect of the scene and the play of shadow and sunshine.

 

FISHERMEN   11 X 14

 

A quiet morning surrounded by fog and some good buddies should assure peaceful moments, if not some trout in the frying pan. This simple scene was a pleasure to paint.

 

EUCALYPTUS   11 x 14

Backlight effects have their special allure. Shadows and highlights were a challenge on this simple painting, and the scene reminds us of the pungent aroma of the eucalyptus tree.

MOUNTAIN STREAM   12 x 16

The cool rush of water is pleasing after a long hike up the trail. This painting was begun several years ago and then set aside, but getting it rejuvenated added a splash of pleasure to my day. I hope you enjoy.

SUMMER SKIES   8 x 10

 

 

Meadows and fields provide opportunity to appreciate the big sky country for viewing various cloud formations. This is an exercise in trying to stick to basics in painting, to keep a simplified approach.

BIRCH GROVE    16 x 24

 Birches are a popular selection for painters and many have been produced with a similar setting. Each one has its own flavor based upon lighting effects, range of tones, point of view, and so on. An earlier version of this painting appeared some time ago, but here is the completed product following suggestions by the friend who commissioned the painting. The stark white is a sharp contrast to the surrounding area, and that is why we love our birches.

SEDONA ROCKS   8 x 10

 

A friend who lives in Sedona often shares photos with me, and I envy the scenery she has right outside her window. The general public is fortunate to have viewing places where they can better appreciate the colorful rock in this area. The paintbrush wanted to make darker shadows and brighter highlights, but I toned down the contrast to avoid too much splash.

 

WARM ABSTRACT   8  10

Playing with the palette knife added fun to this painting. The warm tones are suggestive of leaves or flowers or flames. It's amazing the effect color has on our lives—to cheer or subdue, to calm or refresh.

 

VEGGIE STILL LIFE   8 x 10

A friend requested a still life for her kitchen, so I remade an earlier version of one similar to this veggie grouping. The contrast in colors and textures is appealing, and the raw product is in its best nutritional state.

ROAD TO EXPLORE   8 x 10

Taking a trip into unknown territory is fun, and an invitation to discovery. Seeing the open road before your eyes adds spice to life. This painting is a suggestion of travel into rural areas, wondering what's around the next bend. The middle ground provided a variety of possibilities on what might lay in the valley—fields, homes, forests. Let your imagination select what's around the next bend in the road.

APPLES AND BOTTLE STILL LIFE   8 x 10

 

Requests have come in for more still life fruit, and with many varieties of apples to select from, it evolved to become a medley of fruit. God gave us wonderful flavors and textures and colors in the wide range of fruit available to enjoy.

 

PIANO REFLECTIONS   8 x 10

 

A grand piano and a music stand await the performers. Maybe it's only time for a rehearsal, but this painting suggests a moment of anticipation.

 

JAPANESE GARDEN    8 x 10

A friend requested a small landscape with flowers in it, and the setting provides the main elements of an outdoor scene: rocks, water, trees, flowers. Admittedly there are no mountains or clouds, but this painting was fun to do.

BARNYARD   12 x 16

There's something about an old barn that attracts us to explore and to wonder about earlier days and the activities that surrounded the site. Broken-down fencing speaks of earlier livestock enclosed, and the semi-open doors may harbor leather harness, horseshoes, or straw bales inside. Hang around until sundown and you might hear the coyotes howl.

AUTUMN LEAVES   11 x 14

 Fall brings a riot of color in the forest, and this representation was commissioned to be placed on a sign for a wedding. The pigments reflect the variety of trees in our area during a moment of time.

MAILBOX ROW   8 x 10

 

Go down any country road and you are certain to spot a row of mailboxes waiting for delivery. A single mailbox or a series of mailboxes exhibit a quaint charm to the countryside. I plan on doing a series of paintings that display such variety, recalling the setting and slant of the subjects and how they were nestled together—ha!

 

BUDDIES   8 x 10

 It's fun to see the many types of calf varieties in a typical barnyard or pasture. Strains of Hereford, Charolais, Black Angus, and other types display a wide range of colors, faces, stockiness, and so on. Who could guess how frisky a young calf can be? This painting was to record a memory of what we used to have in Idaho.

GREEN APPLE STILL LIFE   8 x 10

 

 Cylindrical shapes and ovals and circles are appealing to the eye. The contrast in colors and values lends to the dimensional approach, and it was enjoyable to return to a still life after doing figures and landscapes for awhile.

COUNTRY MAILBOX   12 x 16

 

Anyone who's lived in the country knows how important it is to receive mail from far away. Sometimes an excursion to the mailbox brings surprises—either from the sighting of a coyote, or the cry of a meadowlark, or just the pleasure of feeling the warm sun and fresh breezes as you anticipate a letter from a loved one.

 

ROOSTER STRUT   11 x 14

Recent vending in town with the sale of several paintings, revealed that folks enjoy farm animals and whimsical subjects. What can be more comical than chickens or roosters? Chicks are easier to paint than their adult counterparts! This guy seems to have something on his mind and he's scurrying to pursue it.

TIGERS   11 x 14

The subjects of this acrylic painting are 'repeats' from an earlier version painted in oil. I was curious to see how the different mediums might vary in presenting a subject. Expressions are changed from the earlier version of oil, but both mediums were fun to work with, perhaps because of the subject matter.

 

 BIRCHES   16 x 20

 

 

This forest of birches is yet unfinished, awaiting final suggestions from the individual who commissioned the painting.

 

PEAR DUO   8 x 10

 

What's better than fruit on a hot summer day? It's fun to paint forms and shapes and mold them with colors and shadows. Composition can be a bit tricky, but the little grape appears as if he is introducing himself to the big guys. Ha!

 

FAVORITE CAMPSITE   11 x 14

Returning to acrylics after several paintings with the oil medium, reminded me of the qualities of a quick-drying paint. The setting is a favored campsite for many years. The tree might be noted as: "Bent but not broken." Is this not the way it is with our lives sometimes?

TIGER CUB AND MOM   11 x 14

Animals are fun subjects to paint, and this subject was a joy. Varied expressions arise from individual animals and we appreciate the bonding that family members have. This oil painting was done in little over an hour, and it encourages me to select them and other animal subjects again.

CONCH SHELL   8 x 10

 

 

Many years ago I purchased this conch shell along a beach in California, and enjoyed holding it in my hand, feeling its gnarled and pointy surfaces, and the weight of the shell. Its oddity in nature belies its beauty and speaks of the great variety we find in the created world. Painting it in oil was a challenge; I spent more time on the background than on the shell itself.

"PATHWAY EXPLORING"  8x10

 

 

Can anyone resist the curiosity of exploring pathways in a park? My photo on a bright sunny afternoon captured this setting, and I experiment with oil again, rendering the gnarled wooden fence in sienna tones as it led into the forest.

"COOL OF THE EVENING"   16 x 20

 Mountain canyons beckon to the hiker, camper, or photographer. A wayside retreat is captured in oil, a new medium for me and one I anticipate experimenting with occasionally.  Working wet on wet brought surprising results since I'm used to the more quick-drying action of acrylic. More lessons learned as we experiment with color.

FLOWER MEDLEY   8 x 10

Taking another stab at abstract style, it's fun to mesh vibrant hues in a riot of color. Experienced painters might cringe to see my results, but it continues to be a growing experiment to portray subjects as if seeing life through half-closed eyes. Ha!

"SEASIDE VIEW"   7 x 9

Simplicity attracted me to this scene. It could be anywhere from the California shores to somewhere in Europe. I wish I was sitting on the hillside right now, just listening to the breakers on the shore.

"GREEN VASE"   8 x 10

Feeling dispirited and ready to pack away the brushes for awhile, I'm glad I chose to try once more to doing a still life. Inspired by Qiang Huang's work, I made a composite which provides a variety of colors and contrasts. It's plain and simple, but it's also amazing what a couple of hours with a paintbrush can do to revive the spirits!

POND MUSINGS   8 x 10

After all the detail of the earlier painting of Main Street, it is a relief to be able to play with color in a more broad expanse in this abstract. Monochromatic themes are a favorite of mine, and this painting is reminiscent of a macro effect on the back pond. Just outside the frame of the scene is a lily pad and a few reeds. Ha!

"SPRING SONG"   5 x 7

Winter lies heavy upon the land in some areas, yet we know that somewhere the birds are singing and plants are responding to new life. Who does not love the song of a Robin, or to watch its hopping across the grass? This small painting was done while the snow blanketed our area, but we know Spring is just-around-the-corner.

CANOE EXCURSION   8 x 10

Canoeing in a peaceful setting is a special experience. To paint this during a snowfall was particularly pleasing. Obviously I used a photograph that had captured the moment; I could almost hear the birds singing despite the snow building up outdoors.

WINTER DAWN   11 x 14

I applied blue to the color of the snow initially, but then it appeared as water; so several coats of various colors later, the snow still carries the tones of violet originally intended. Nothing looked right until I added the fence in the foreground, and that helped put things into perspective. Another touch of humanity is evident by the barn in the middle-ground. Each painting provides valuable lessons to a beginning painter!

SELLER OF HATS   5 x 7

 

A handy way to carry things is not limited to our arms or backs. This young girl of Mexico is displaying hats for sale by wearing them on her head. Painting a smaller size canvas is a welcome change, although tending to the details remains a challenge.

FLOWER MACRO   8 x 10

Piling on the paint with a palette knife helped to define this painting. Great blocks of color can be applied with a simple swoop of the knife. Shapes and forms mutate at will. Perhaps you see something other than flowers in this painting?