It's Grain my Lord and Flatbed Ford

 

24" x 36" oil on canvas

On our way to Peoria for an early Thanksgiving feast we pulled off the interstate for gas and passed this gem. I loved the cool dark shadows of the backlit grain elevators compared to the warm sunlight on the old Ford. 

Summer In a Glass

 12" x 12" Oil on panel

Nothing conjures summer memories for me more than a Tanqueray and Tonic. A dear friend of mine called them 'Summer in a Glass' and this one is in memory of him. 

I like painting a still life a couple times a year because it helps my observational skills. I especially enjoy painting glass! They always say 'Paint shapes, not things' and painting glass helps me practice this, which I then try to carry over to my next landscape. 

The Other Side of Stop

 

12" x 24" oil on panel

My last painting from Steamboat Spring is from a walk along the Yampa River with my wife and son. As we were walking and chatting my son suddenly shouted, 'Dad, get your camera ready!" He knows I'm a sucker for classic old Beetles since I had a white one exactly like this in college. Would love to get another someday.

Steamboat Station

 12" x 16" oil

Had a bit of a hiatus as we had a wonderful week away at our nephew's wedding in Steamboat Springs, CO. I painted this in-between sessions building frames for 8 paintings I had accepted into an upcoming show. Looking forward to getting back to some new paintings on the easel soon! 

Out to Pasture

 

9" x 12" oil on panel

We stopped for lunch at a brewery out in the country and there was this old tractor parked across the parking lot. I like the composition of of the geometric shapes of the old loading dock with the rusty old machinery out front. 

Simple Summer

 12" x 16" oil on panel

My last painting of the summer. A beautiful, clear, sunny day.  

Keep Right

 

12"x12" oil on panel

In the Shadows

 11" x 14" oil on panel

This is a counterpoint to yesterday's post. After taking the picture of the tree in the sun, (yesterday's post) I drove past the tree and looked behind me. I loved the backlit tree and clouds, and especially those foreground shadow!

In the Sunshine

 11" x 14" oil

This was a scene encountered on a recent sunny Saturday morning. I loved the shape of that tree on the side of the dirt road in the sun. 

The Fifth Beatle

 6" x 12" Oil on panel

My son sent me this picture because I love old VW Beetles. When I saw this this old Beetle in a crosswalk it brought back the most famous image of Beatles in a crosswalk, hence the title. 

Puddle Jumping

 

28" x 22" oil on canvas

Just returned from a European trip ending with a couple days in Paris where we had a lot of rain. Walking out of the Louvre, we encountered this sky and reflections. I loved the colors, contrast and composition of the picture on my phone so I decided to try and paint it. Not my usual subject matter and I found it very challenging which is good for me. I try to paint something different every now and then because it makes painting in my comfort zone seem so much easier! 

Cloud Show

 9" x 12" oil on panel

I was out of commission for a while on vacation and was excited to get home and paint! I forced myself to stay loose on this one and kept myself to 2 hours. My wife took the picture from which I painted this at the end of a beautiful, warm, summer day.

Sunlit Alley

 12" x 9" oil on panel

We were walking around Covington KY recently on a beautiful morning and stopped to appreciate this alley. I was intrigued by the bright brick and plants in sunlight across from the red house and plants in shadow. 

Bygone Blue

 

12" x 12" Oil on panel

We were driving along the Ohio River near Cincinnati recently and this scene made me hit the breaks! Love the blue house in contrast to the orange rusty classic car.

Roadside Attraction

 

11" x 14" oil on panel

My son sent me a picture of this scene from California. He liked the character of the rusting truck among all the green of the shrubs, and he knew I would too! (He knew I'd like the telephone pole too....)

Behind Benton

 

18" x 24" oil on canvas

My wife and I were out in the early evening and stopped at a railroad crossing. While waiting at the crossing, I looked to my left and saw the scene I painted here. I love the contrast between the complementary oranges of the buildings and blues of the sky.

Blacktop Ribbon

 12" x 24" oil on canvas

The day I took the picture from which I painted this was one of those glorious summer days that seem to never end. The sun was low and sinking and catching the silk tips of the acres of corn. 

Maine Light

 

11" x 14" oil on panel

The next best thing to sunlight falling on the geometric shapes of barns and silos is lighthouses and keeper's cottages! I am planning on painting this one bigger.

Early Tulips

12" x 12" oil on panel

 I was out taking my daily walk and passed this house. I liked the glancing sunlight on the wall behind the colorful red tulips and bright green grass. The trees were a challenge since they were just budding out.

Cruise Wave

12" x 24" oil on canvas

I painted this from a photo I took last autumn in Iowa. I liked the white frame house in the sunlight on the curve in the road. However, when I painted it, I thought it was a bit boring so I added the Amish. Then I added the biker, then the wave. I think its a little more interesting now.

Controlled Burn

       

 9" x 12" oil on panel

My son and his girlfriend were driving across Kansas recently and they witnessed this burn in the distance at sunset. He thought I might like to paint it so he snapped a picture. He was right!

Frog Hunt

 

11" x 14" oil on panel

This was painted from a very (small) old snapshot of my sons when they were young and catching frogs in the pond in the backyard. 

Oncoming

 

6" x 12" oil on canvas

Coming home from some time up north and found ourselves on this dirt road. Loved the lighting and ghostly buildings on the horizon.

Morning Drive

 6" x 12" oil on panel

The reference picture for this one was from the same morning as the last painting. It was a beautiful, clear morning.

Quiet Morning

 22" x 28" oil on canvas

This one is a bit of a departure for me. I was going for quiet desolation on this one and spent a lot of time on the sky. I was shooting for that clear, blue, wide open sky you get on cold early spring mornings.

Shady Lane

 9" x 12" oil on panel

I pulled this one off my phone to paint from in an attempt to escape March weather. I am looking forward to those clear, bright warm summer days when you can drive through the countryside with all your windows down.

Abandoned

 10" x 8" oil

I took this picture of an abandoned barn last summer. I liked the sunlit driveway with puddles leading to the red barn. 

Spring Sprouts

 9" x 12" oil on panel

Its almost that time of the year when green shoots appear in long rows across wide brown fields. 

Rock Chalk Jayhawk

 12' x 12" oil on panel

My son went to the University of Kansas and ever since there is no other team we cheer for during March Madness. (Other sons and my wife and I went to schools that are not usually in the tournament.)

Food & Liquor

 

11" x 14" oil on panel

We were out on a sunny Saturday morning after a snowfall and came across this scene. I loved the long shadows and the depth down both roads.

River Beetle

 6"x12" Oil on Panel

My first car in high school was a blue 1967 VW Beetle exactly like this one, but it worse condition! I paid $300 for it, and drove it for a couple years before I upgraded to a 1969 VW Beetle. 

Winter Reflections

 11" x 14" oil on panel

We were out on a sunny Saturday morning after several days of snow and clouds, and came across this sunlit building reflecting off the wet pavement. I thought it was good painting material because of the contrast between the geometric building and the abstract reflections in the pavement.

Morning Walk

14" x 11" oil on panel

A few years ago we were in Bruges, Belgium and I got up early and went to go find some coffee. The early morning light was hazy and I loved how it cloaked the old buildings. 
 

Summertime

 

9" x 12" Oil on panel

Winter Sunrise

18" x 24" oil on canvas

On an early morning December morning, my wife and I drove to a conservation area to take a walk. Upon pulling into the parking lot, we were greeted with this sunrise.
 

Autumn Dusk

 11" x 14" oil on panel

I painted this scene a few years ago and decided to repaint much darker. I liked the original but I used a faulty varnish on it and the surface did not age well. 

Runaway

 

12" x 12" oil on panel

The title, and message, of this painting is NOT to runaway from your troubles into a martini! 'Runaway' memorializes the green olive that fell off and is rolling away from the glass. 

Winter in the Park

 12" x 12" oil on panel

I was out taking my morning walk and took this picture at one of my favorite places in the park. There's a big stand of pine trees on the left so it smells great, and a bench to sit and look at the pond on the right. I never sit though. 

East Church Street

 8" x 16" oil on linen panel

I was out running errands around town one morning and took this picture when the sun came out. First time in days!

Next Stop, Woodstock

 22" x 28" Oil on canvas

On a recent November morning I was catching an early train to Chicago and was stopped in my tracks by the sunrise.