The Cathedral

(from the flat files)

This scene is a contrast in values, textures and colors.

The contrast between the Cottonwoods on the left and the

pines on the right. The dry creek and it's sun baked surface

leads the eye in and Cathedral Rock in the background hovers

over the entire scene.

15" x 20" on Arches 140 lb. watercolor paper.

From the Flat Files

As you will see, I tend to procrastinate.

I few days ago I was looking through my flat files

and discovered a stack of paintings with no matte

and left to linger in the drawer. You ask, how can an

artist do that? Easy, really easy! Sometimes I just feel

like painting and just don't take the time to mount, matte

and frame finished pieces. Part of the problem is being

retired with no real sense of urgency on most days. Years

of stress and deadlines are the main culprit. When painting

begins to feel like a job, I tend to back off completely

for long periods of time. Heck, I like the outdoors, I like yard

work. I have a list of projects that will take me through the

rest of my life I'm sure. We travel a fair amount, we have

8 grandkids, we have a pool with 8 grandkids in it.

Last but not least, I like to relax.

So, to ease the pressure of blogging, (pressure?) I present

the flat file lost art discovery. Let me know what you

think. I'll let you know if I slip in a new painting.

Hope you enjoy.

A Light Up Ahead

The Big Sable Light.

Sits quietly at the end of a 2 mile service road perched

on a rise over looking Lake Michigan.

Very late in the fall of the year, I stopped for a look. The

wind was howling and it was cold. Sun hanging low in the

sky with about 2 hours till sunset. Wasn't sure I could make

it there and back before dark. Not really fond of wandering

around in the dark in a deserted state park in early November.

I hustled up the road, (well lets say I walked at a quick pace)

and hoped the light would hold until I got there. About a mile

out I could begin to see the top of the light. As I trudged along

it grew in size and shape. It's an unusual black and white

color style, at least unusual for Michigan.

I kept thinking I could hear things rustling along the trail but

nothing was ever there. Just the wind. As I rounded the last

hill the sound was deafening from the huge waves as they roared

ashore. It was a strange feeling standing there on a deserted

stretch of beach looking at a lighthouse that was empty.

I did a few quick sketches and took a few photo's and got

the hell out of there. It was dark by the time I got back to

my car. Ironic I guess, standing there in the dark with

no light up ahead.

Wind from the West

Pale Blues

Mission Pt. Flats

In the 90's and early 2,000's the waters of the Great Lakes

were at a very low level.  This area around Mission Point

Peninsula turned into a muddy, rocky flat that went out from

the shore at least a quarter of a mile.  Rocks and other discoveries

were exposed for the curious to explore.  I was most interested

in the distant light reflections.  The foreground didn't come

together until I decided to drag a damp large flat wash brush

down through the entire foreground.  This muted it enough

so as not to attract attention away from the middle ground

reflections, seagulls and trees.  Hope you enjoy.

Oldie but Goodie

Just going back through old pieces and found this 

little piece from long ago.  I've always like pen and ink.

I think I should explore this technique again.  The subjects

are Daisy Mums.  Watercolor and pen & ink.

Small version of Red Rock Crossing

Post card size painting of Red Rock Crossing.  I painted

this several times to send to friends.  It was a great 

exercise which helped with the completion of the final

painting in a larger size.  It was posted earlier on this

blog.  (See post on September 5th. 2008)

Little Creek

In the middle of a cool damp forest, ran this quiet

little creek.  From one place to another but with no

particular destination.

Small plein air painting done very quickly because

of fading light.  Arches 140# cold press watercolor

paper.

Crisp Fall Morning

You could here the geese over head and the whisper 

of there wings as they arrowed across the horizon.

The crisp air and brilliant colors create a feeling

of satisfaction and delight.

This is a small plein air piece from several years

ago that I've never posted.  I know it's not fall but it

felt like the right time to bring it out.

Wild Rooster

Kauai is known as the garden isle.  After a typhoon many years ago it

became rooster island.  The typhoon spread chickens and roosters all

over the island.  Now when you drive around there are roosters everywhere.

You can always get a wake up call on Kauai.

Duck Pond

This is a plein air piece.  I was standing on a tiny bridge

crossing the creek that led into this pond.  Ducks

every where.  In the reeds, in the pads, quackers

all over.  I was drawn by the large tree in the back

ground acting as a dark center piece above the pond.

I've kept this painting in a drawer, I've never 

really cared for it, but it's beginning to grow on

me.  Sometimes things need time to resolve and

become clear.

Thunder on Jerome

 

I was driving just south of Sedona, AZ.  The sun was 

still shining on the Pinion pines next to the road.

Providing a perfect backdrop was a storm crossing

the mountains near the town of Jerome.  This little town

clings to the side of the mountains.  One block of houses

and the road switches back on it's self.  Now your looking

at the roof tops of the houses you just passed.  Jerome

in it's hay day was a booming Copper mining town.  The

remnants of that past are still visible.  The slag from the

mining is toxic and contaminates the ground.  During

those days the governor of AZ built a house there in Jerome.

Now it sits by itself on a contaminated parcel of land.

Today the town is a buzz of interesting little shops.  One 

I found was very unusual.  They sold nothing but 

Kaleidoscopes.  Large ones and small ones.  

I spent hours going through and looking at the 

unusual patterns created by all the 

different ways of making a Kaleidoscope.  

Cool.

Bobbers Glory

There was an old wooden sign nailed to a post on the

dock. It said Bobbers Glory. Underneath it said

Snapping Turtle. As I sat there painting this scene I was

thinking that Bobber probably was a myth. After about

an hour I noticed this huge mass of moss and seaweed

floating up from the bottom. As it got closer I realized that

Bobber was no myth. This was the largest Snapping Turtle

I had ever seen. At least 2 ft. from nose to tail. A turtle this

size could easily take a mans hand off at the wrist if you

got to close. I had an apple core and tossed it in the

water in front of his nose. In a split second he had slashed

the apple into shreds. That was not what he wanted.

He was staring at me. Don't go near the water!

Faces in the rocks.

Let's play a little game.  See how many faces you

can find in the rocks.  Takes some imagination

and thought.  Currently I've found 18.  No, really I did

find 18 ... imagination, remember.  See if you can top

that number.  Thanks for playing.

Frozen in the river.

Favorite red rock view.

This was the view from the house we rented in Oak Creek.

I couldn't believe I would see this everyday for two months.

Attempt ... Shaken Not Stirred

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.