Pansies & Speed.

Rivers of water and drops of color.

Class demo @ 5 minutes.

More New Life Drawings

2 minute gesture drawings.

Conte Crayon on Newsprint

LIfe Drawings/Totally New

5 minute pose

Fruit Demo

10 minute class demo

Class Demo's

5 minute class demonstrations.

Grand Haven Light

Being surrounded by the Great Lakes

I'm always drawn to the shore for subject matter.

I've painted this light in storms, at sunsets and

in the sun like this.  

It's early spring and the fishermen trying

for lake trout are staying on the sunny

side for warmth.  It's one of the few

red lights on the Great Lakes, that is part of

why it's so appealing to me.  It's always 

peaceful at the shore and causes the mind to

leave everyday stresses behind.

My Impression

The bouquet of flowers

in a glass vase.  I certainly didn't want

to spend a lot of time on details soooooo

I did a quick underpainting with lots of

water and colors melting together.

Then started to add a few details, only

enough to pull it together.  Not

my favorite but not the worst either. 

Gurgling through Red Rock Crossing

This is one of the most peaceful places near

Sedona, AZ.  This only shows a small portion

of Red Rock Crossing, but I was intrigued by the way

the water made it's way through the red rock.

Mesmerizing just to sit and look at.

Winter Reminder

This is a painting near my childhood home.

On this day I was intrigued by the reflections on

the water.  The thin ice from the banks cut a 

pleasing shape as the stream struggled along

under the ice.  I know it's not cold and freezing now.

This is just a subtle reminder that old man winter

is just a snow flake away.

The Munising Clipper

With Grand Island in the distance an old

Great Lakes fishing boat sits waiting for another

trip.  These are the dangerous waters of Lake Superior.

We were on a goose hunting trip when I found this

scene.  I love the texture of the old boards

and the and the subdued color blending.

Near Sedona, Red Rock Formations

One of hundreds of red rock formations around

the Sedona, AZ area.  Being from the midwest this area

was very exciting for me and not the typical landscape.

This was started as a plein air piece and then finished

at the home where we were staying.  Such a variety of colors

caused me to change my entire palette to get what I was

looking for.  Course I was on the constant lookout for 

Rattle snakes.  I found it was hard to paint while

looking over your shoulder and around your feet.

One guide told me he had been hiking the trails for 

26 years and had never seen one.  Ummm I didn't believe him. 

California Roses

On one of my many business trips to California, these

roses always caught my eye as I was coming and going

from the office building where I was working.  Roses for me

are very challenging because of there many layered petals.

Overlap on top of overlap, so beautiful and intricate

all at the same time.  The rest of the challenge is

how the light plays off from the different petal layers

and angles.  Such graceful curves which create beautiful

light and shadow areas.  I don't paint many roses because

of the challenges they present, but I'm usually happy that I did.

Red Rock Loop

One of the most beautiful views around

Sedona, AZ.  There are 5 or 6 red rock

formations visible from different pull outs along

the loop.  It changes with the light and sparkles

in the sun like jewels.  I really enjoyed painting

in this place.  So different from my midwest 

roots.  One thing I discovered about driving around

Sedona, is there are far to many curves in the road

and way to many rock formations to see and admire.

Clay Pots and Roses

This is the way I think watercolor is the most fun.

Fast, expressive brush strokes and colors mixing together

on the fly.  Has just enough expression of the subject

to make it recognizable but yet leave enough of the subject

understated so that the viewer can use there imagination

to fill in the blanks.

Surprise: Pastel from a watercolorist

I bit of a surprise, I occasionally us pastel when

not in a watercolor mood.  This subject was from

a bright sunny fall day.  I was cleaning up in the back yard

and noticed this old crate I had tossed in my junk pile.

There were also some bruised apples that had fallen off one

of our apples trees.  There is also a grapevine that trails along

the fence.  The old light bulb turned on and I decided to create a

junk pile still like.  My first attempt was this loose and rapidly

drawn piece.  I decided to see what you all think.

Impatients/Abstract Impressionism

For me this is the way watercolor should be.

Colors flowing into each other, compliments side by side

and loose quick brushstrokes.  I think the

vignette adds even more character to this style.

What do you think?

This was done on Arches 140# Cold Press

watercolor paper.

Tomatoes on the Counter

From the road side stand to the kitchen counter.

Fresh tomatoes for salads and BLT's

Love em.  Also liked the way the sun spilled

through the window at the cottage.

@12 x  15" on Arches Hot Press #140

Beach Umbrellas

This was a very hot sun on Lake Michigan sometime

ago.  I was drawn by the light on the people and 

the color of the water.  The water is painted somewhat

graphically and the figures are more realistic.

This painting is sold, but I still like the image.

Size @ 12" x  18" on cold press 140#

Arches watercolor paper.

Brick Farmhouse

The November wind blew through the field

and trees.  It made a cold and mournful sound as

it awakened winter from it's sleep.  Is there anybody

home?  I don't think so.

After the Rain

The rain had passed but still visible on the horizon.

Along came a puff of wind and out came these two

sailboats.  I painted it without a lot of color and more

like it appeared in a mist.  It was a quick paint, and I 

think turned out OK.

October Illusion

This is a view of many scenes and memories as seen by

my eyes.  They exist but not exactly for this is only

a memory that may or may not be accurate.

Good enough for my eyes.

Apple Study #2

A quick brush of watercolor and black ink

for accent.  Done on Charcoal paper.

Little Island in the River

After painting the little broken dam, I merely turned

my easel and chair and this scene appeared.  Light was still

good and I was loosened up from the first painting so

away I went.  As I was painting I heard some shouting

in the direction of the old dam.  I took a quick look and

two folks in a canoe were attempting to go over the dam

while it was flooded and moving fast.  Needless to say

the paddles went one way, the canoe went the other and

they ended up going over the dam without the aid of

there canoe.  Fortunately they were wearing life jackets.

This  plein air painting took about 45 minutes and was done on 

Arches #140 Cold Press watercolor paper.  Size is about 10" x 15".

Spilling over.

This little rock dam was part of a larger dam.  Neither

are in use anymore.  I liked the way the light played with

the water as in spilled over this little ledge.  Nice spring

day, perfect for a plein air painting.  This one took

about an hour and was done on Arches #140 Hot Press

watercolor paper.  It's about 10" x 12 ".

Geraniums in the Sun!

This is a plein air subject I spotted one sunny

afternoon near an old barn.  Large and small pots

of Geraniums sitting on stone ledges.  The light was 

about to dissappear so I had to paint quickly with a large

brush.  It was painted on Cold Press 140# Arches.

Sunny Backdoor

This is the view that greets us each August.

The backdoor of the cottage we rent, bathed in afternoon

sunlight.  I tried to capture that feel in this painting to keep

us warm in the winter time.  I love cottages, water and

vacations.  I could spend my entire vacation sitting by the 

lake and looking at the horizon while attempting to focus

long enough to read a book

Mystery girl in a yellow T-shirt.

We had taken a break from Steelhead fishing

and were enjoying the sun on the channel wall.

As I looked to my left, this girl appeared out

of no where.  She was too far away to really

see, but the image stuck in my mind.

Dredge it up!

We were duck hunting on Grand Island when I came across this piece 

of reference in 1969.  I photographed it for future use...2007, 

long time to wait.  Hope everyone likes this one.  

I've done other versions, but this is

my favorite.

IF: Going to Seed

Apples by the side of the road, fallen from

there tree, warmed by the late fall sun and

rotting quickly.  The birds, deer and many small

animals find them sweet and soothing.

The Honey Bee's get drunk on the nectar and zig zag

back to the hive.  Seeds from these apples will appear

as sprouts in the spring, miles from this road and

far from our memory.

Transparent Watercolor on Coldpress

illustration board.

IF: A Good Seed

A fine grandson, from a wonderful son.

Well fertilized Oats.  Transparent Watercolor

on Arches Hot Press 140#

Prickly Pear Infusion

Background colors seem to be working.

Old watercolor and pastel...maybe something new.

Big Brush, Little Watercolor

I wish the 6 hour paintings

would turn out like the 

5 minute demo.  

Spring Flooding

Plein Air Watercolor...also after 40 years of painting, this is my first post.