Several weeks ago I had about 4000 things to accomplish, so instead I went to the mountains. I hiked Mount Townsend, at least until my fear of heights kicked in (almost at the summit, alas.) It was a beautiful day, a beautiful hike, and it kicked my butt. (20% grade--yowza!) This is an image from that hike. I took more time with this one than I usually do, and really contemplated ...
Read MoreTop: "Atmospheric Perspective,"(after Moran’s “In the Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming”) oil on canvas, 20"x10" Middle: "Romantic Sublime," (after Moran's "Grand Canyon in Arizona") oil on panel, 16"x20" Bottom: "Isle del Walpe," (after Moran's "Sunset, Pueblo del Walpe") oil on panel, 10"x8" Port Townsend Gallery is presenting a Faux Show in the month of October. Each gallery member chooses an artist to focus on, then creates a body of work inspired by that artist. I have spent some time ...
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New work! This is a 60"x48" oil on canvas. The image is from a storm cloud in Northern Colorado last June; not an epic storm, just a pretty one. I have spent much of my life watching these thunderstorms grow over the plains of Colorado. It was very nice of the weather to cooperate during my family visit last June; lovely weather overall and a small thunderstorm. This shows the underpainting (used ...
Read More"Solitude" mixed media, 16x20 on illustration board I've been spending a lot of time walking this summer, particularly through the woods all around Port Townsend. The rhythm of walking, the quietude, the sights to be found: all these things quiet my mind like nothing else can. This piece began as a failed watercolor; it was not very interesting. I added layers of charcoal and clear gesso to the piece which gave it ...
Read MoreSo here is a drawing process for you. I have been experimenting in the studio with drawing effects and have come up with a mixed-media approach that is making me very happy. The final surface is rich with process and almost patina-like effects. I have been very inspired by the work of Larry Thomas in California; he has a series of monumental drawings that are amazing. Johanna and Shirley at ...
Read MoreNew work, done as part of my graduate studies. I have been thinking about trees a lot, easy to do when you live up here. When I was finding myself again last summer, I went to visit my friends in Novato, CA. I spent hours walking the dry California hills above their house, delighting in the isolation, the views, nature above giant tracts of humanity. ...
Read MoreMy new painting is titled "Vessel." I began this piece during my oil painting class, and my students commented on how the under-painting looked like a ship. This was complete serendipity. As I have spent so much time drawing and painting boats in the course of my graduate work, the structure of the boat unintentionally manifested itself into my under-painting of trees. I, unfortunately, did not get a good picture of ...
Read MoreWell I tried, but the the birds have their own agenda. After painting them and drawing them in their little canoes repeatedly they decided they wanted to evolve in the grand scheme of nautical history. They pirated these ships. I am not proud of this, but they are particularly driven in their need to find and claim new migratory routes. Plus these boats are more stylish. The first image is the first pirated ...
Read MoreOne of the series that came about through my graduate work at Goddard College. This entire series is tiled "Manifest Destiny." It is a combination of the academic research I am engaged in, which involves the Romantic artists of the United States in the mid-nineteenth century. What fascinates me about these artists is that they were scientifically oriented, they traveled great distances to create their images, and they were obviously ...
Read MoreNew painting! In fact it is still quite damp... This is from an image I saw several weeks ago. In real life the bay was not nearly as interesting, it was a flat grey day with this random ray of light. The light is what I was after.The bay is different each and every time I see it. Within an hour the light, the waves, the tide, everything changes. I ...
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