When life gives you lemons, draw them, 11 x 14 inches dry pastels, graphite on paper

"When life gives you lemons, draw them." (Nikki)

"Color! What a deep and mysterious language." (Paul Gauguin)

trees

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First Snow 02

Saturday, June 3rd, 2017


 

First Snow 02, 12 x 12 inches acrylics on canvas

First Snow 02, 12 x 12 inches acrylics on canvas

Entry for The Square Foot Show in Bismark, ND on August 1st – 25th, 2017

 Sold, but a similar one can be created upon request. Please allow 7 days to paint before shipping.

Mt. St. Helen’s Indian Paintbrush

Thursday, April 27th, 2017


 
Mt. St. Helen's Indian Paintbrush, 14 x 20 inches watercolors

Mt. St. Helen’s Indian Paintbrush Washington, 14 x 20 inches watercolors work in progress. The mountain and central areas may need to be darker, but I’m going to set this aside for a few days and come back to it. Lower left detail:

Lower left detail of Mt. St. Helen's Indian Paintbrush

 

Stellar’s Jays

Monday, April 17th, 2017


 

Stellar's Jays, phase 03 work in progress, 18 x 24 inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold press

Work in progress, Stellar’s Jays at Nimkish Lake, Vancouver Island BC, 18 x 24 inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold press. For years I’ve been visualizing a painting that portrays the Stellar’s Jay in various poses, representing general character. My Dad pointed out that Stellar’s Jays don’t usually group this way, which is an accurate view of the broader behaviour that didn’t even occur to me. Interesting! Phase 02 below and detail image – the yellow is masking medium:

Stellar's Jays, work in progress, 18 x 24 inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold press Stellar's Jays, work in progress detail

Normally I don’t outline anything when starting a painting, which works fine with acrylics because it’s easy to change things throughout the process, but watercolors don’t allow for much room for error, especially if you don’t have much practice with them. Wingin’ it usually works for me because I don’t mind failure in exchange for experience, but mapping out the shapes and arrangement lightly in pencil really helps, and confidence is fundamental to painting well.

Smoky Lake Summer

Wednesday, April 12th, 2017


 

Smoky Lake Summer, 14 x 20 inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold pressed premium
Smoky Lake Summer, 14H x 20W inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold pressed premium. 20H x26W inches approximate size framed. This is my favorite summertime memory of Alberta… miles of moving shadows across bright Canola fields and expansive, moody skies. The painting started off without the tree but needed a focal point. Detail images:

  Upper left detail of Smoky Lake Canola   Tree detail of Smoky Lake Canola   Lower left Canola detail of Smoky Lake Canola

Kaniksu National Forest

Tuesday, March 7th, 2017


 

Kaniksu National Forest, Idaho - 14 x 20 watercolors

Kaniksu National Forest, Idaho – 14 x 20 inches watercolors on 140 lb cold pressed. 20H x26W inches approximate size framed. Detail images:

  Kaniksu National Forest, upper left detail   Kaniksu National Forest, upper right detail
  Kaniksu National Forest, lower left detail   Kaniksu National Forest, lower right detail

Clearcut, Tillimook OR

Monday, March 6th, 2017


 

Clearcut, Tillimook OR - 18 x 24 inches watercolors on 140 lb cold press

Clearcut, Tillimook OR – 18 x 24 inches watercolors on 140 lb cold pressed. Framed size 27H x 33W with white mat, white wood frame with crackle finish. Detail images:

  Clearcut 01, upper left detail   Clearcut 01, central left detail   Clearcut 01, upper right detail
  Clearcut 01, lower left detail   Clearcut 01, central right detail   Clearcut 01, lower right detail

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Sunday, March 5th, 2017


 

Multnomah Falls, 25H x 31W inches (framed size) watercolors on 140 lb cold press premium

Multnomah Falls, Oregon – 25H x 31W inches framed size, watercolors on 140 lb cold press premium. Dark sienna brown frame. The white of the falls was achieved by a quick, spontaneous application of matt resist medium, removed after the painting was dry.

Clearcut forest, Tillimook OR

Tuesday, February 28th, 2017


 

 Clearcut 01 detail, watercolors Clearcut 01 detail, watercolors

 Clearcut 01 details, watercolors – work in progress details

Watercolor gestures

Monday, February 20th, 2017


 

 Snow Day, 6 x 4 inch watercolor Poppy Buds, 4 x 6 inch watercolor gesture Day Lily, 4 x 6 inch watercolor

Snow day, Poppy buds, Day Lily – 4 x 6 inch watercolor gestures, no longer than 30 minutes each.

Mt. Walker Rhododendrons

Friday, February 17th, 2017


 

Mt. Walker, WA Rhododendrons, 15H x 22W inches WC on 140 lb cold pressed premium

Mt. Walker, WA wild Rhododendrons, 15H x 22W inches WC on 140 lb cold pressed premium. Details:

  Mount Walker WA Rhododendrons, central left detail   Mount Walker WA Rhododendrons, central right detail

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