Texas Sunset

Finally back to pastels! This medium is really my favorite because it is so much like drawing. With oils you have that annoying little brush that keeps me away from the action. With pastels I am on the field in the thick of things. I know it may seem strange to talk like this, but art and the creation of it is a little mysterious anyway. This piece is one of the first pastels I have started and completed in the studio in 2010. It is large 24" x 28" and will be for sale in the May auction at Heritage Art Auction, unless someone wants it now. If you want to see it let me know.

Working Fast Outdoors

When artists, out in the elements, get their easels all teed up, ready to paint, they have to move pretty darned quick, PDQ. As the sun goes up or down, the clouds are always moving, bad weather maybe coming in, insects working for a meal, you get the picture. It is a test of skills: organizational, artistic, patience and humility. I'm pretty good on most of the skills except the last two, patience and humility. I am working hard to acquire a bigger share of these. This painting was done outdoors in the Sandia Mountains outside Albuquerque and required all of my skills. Therefore,I humbly offer it for your viewing.

Palo Duro Canyon - Amarillo Texas

People in the Panhandle of Texas call the Palo Duro Canyon the Texas Grand Canyon. I have to ask, "Have you seen the Grand Canyon?" While this is certainly one of the most beautiful places on earth it is only a fraction of the size of the other canyon in Colorado and Arizona. But yes, it is very beautiful! I painted here with Albert Handel and a group of other artists and produced this piece. The colors are very typical of this wonderful state park. I camped out all week in the canyon alone. It was a spiritual week indeed.

New Mexico Landscape - Sandia Mountains I

A few years ago I took a workshop with Gil Dellinger a professor and painter from California. I chose to work in oils during the workshop. It was held in the Sandia Mountains just outside of town in Albuquerque New Mexico. The Sandia Mountains overlook the city and are beautiful and accessible from my friends Steve and Diana Jackson's house. So it was a very comfortable trip and a pleasant experience. I remember my oil technique was new then and I struggled a bit at first. I have been working hard with my oils for the past couple of years and I decided to re-paint a couple of these Sandia scenes. I am quite pleased with results. Maybe Steve and Diana will let me come back this year and paint these scenes again from life. we'll see.....

Hawaiian Sunset

Over thirty years ago, before Cheryl and I got married, we went to Hawaii for a vacation together. Our hotel in Waikiki was right on the beach. One afternoon I shoot some beautiful pictures from our room balcony. The colors of blue in the water were gorgeous. The range of color was from deep violet to shimmering turquoise. I always wanted to paint this photograph, so with the weather as cold and rainy as it has been here, I decided it was a good time to visit Hawaii, again. Although it is not in person, this mini-vacation is relaxing and fun. Hope you enjoy..

Fall Shadows ~ Grey Rock Golf Club

I have been messing with this painting for a couple of years. Every now and then I drag it out, whip on it a little until I get tried, then I put it back until next time. I suppose we need to be reminded how hard this painting thing is for most people. However, this time I took a different approach. Throwing caution to the wind, I decided to lower my expectations and have a little color fest, what the heck! And I really like the results. So I guess I can leave this one in the light out of hiding in the closet. Poor thing it just needed an little infusion of FUN, sound familiar? Maybe you should relax and have more fun, too.

Edgar Payne ~ My Rendition

Many times artists copy the work of other artists they admire as an exercise, sort of like doing pushups or going to the driving range and hitting wedges for 2 hours. The main benefit that comes from painting someone else's work for fun and practice is you usually end up with a pretty nice little painting. Now I have done this and even sold them to other people but only after I attribute the original artist and make it clear that I have created a rendition of another's work. I have always admired Edgar Payne and I painted one of his paintings for practice. Golly, it was almost like having a lesson from Mr. Payne. Thanks very much, pro!