Vermont Vista

 8" x 10" oil on canvas panel

This one from a trip to New England a few years ago. 

Curtis Island Light

8" x 10" oil on canvas

 

Winter Sun

 8" x 10" oil on canvas panel

It snowed for the first time yesterday and it inspired me to paint this scene. The white barn is right down the street from us and one winter morning last year I was driving by at sunrise. The blues and pinks in the snow next to the yellows and oranges of the sun on the barns and fence were incredible.

Blue Shade

 8" x 10" oil on canvas panel

On driving through rural MO lately we passed this scene. It had everything I look for in a painting: strong sunlight and shadows, focal point and interesting shapes.

Dry Pumps

 8" x 10" oil on canvas panel

Many little middle America towns are full of classic corner filling stations, but very few have the old pumps like this one. I liked the clean lines and shadows of this one.

Nelson-Atkins Shuttlecocks

 

8" x 10" oil on canvas panel

We visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in KC last September and had a great day. The art inside is impressive, but among my favorites were the Claes Oldenburg Shuttlecocks installed throughout the grounds. They're huge sculptures, 18ft tall, 16ft wide and weigh 5500 lbs. They are colorful and throw amazing shadows!

BWCA Portage

 

8" x 10" oil on panel

I have been to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in Northern Minnesota several times, and it is one of my favorite places on earth. This painting is an homage to all 1,090,000 acres!

Redwoods

 

20" x 16" oil on canvas

My son sent me this picture from a recent hike in California. I knew immediately I wanted to paint this scene when I saw the different warm hues of the sunlight and trees next to the cool hues in the sky and shadows existing together. I loved the composition and the way your eye moves from the path up into the trees. 

Neat

 

12" x 9" oil

I love painting glass, and I've always wanted to try painting a cut glass. The different way light reflects on the various planes of the glass always intrigue me.

Midnight Snack

 

12" x 16" oil on panel

We were in KC a few weeks ago and I managed to get some new pictures to paint from. This one is of a famous local burger joint Town Topic. 

Pairs of Pears

 

9" x 12" oil on panel

I'm a sucker for sunlight streaming through windows and what it can do to simple objects. A glass bowl of pears on our kitchen table was irresistible!

Coming or Going

 11" x 14" oil on panel

We were in Sedona, AZ this past spring and came across this scene on our way to a hike. I liked the warm colors of the truck and surroundings compared to the cool colors of the camper.

Last Light

 

9" x 12" oil on panel

My brother-in-law sent me a photo he took from his drive home after visiting us in July. So much about the photo I loved! The sky, the bright barn sides facing the sun and the glancing low sun hitting the tops of the corn. 

Passing Storm

 

11" x 14" oil on panel

There's been a lot of rain this summer but it hasn't lasted for days, just a storm popping up every few days. The farmers must be happy about all the rain mixed in between days of sunshine.

We were driving home in the late afternoon just after one such Passing Storm, and I captured this scene with my phone. Rich colors, both warm and cool across the landscape!

Burgers Sundaes Cones

11" x 14" oil on panel

I love small town roadside ice cream stands. They are always well lit and prominent in the heart of the town. I especially like them on summer evenings, when it's not quite dark yet but the lights are on. This is the second one I've painted and I think there will be more.
 

Behind the Barn

11" x 14" oil on panel

Passed by this old gem on a summer Saturday morning. 
 

Blazing Evening Sun

 12" x 16" oil on panel

We were driving home from dinner in Lake Geneva and the summer sun was minutes from setting behind some trees when we passed this beautiful white barn lit up by the blazing sunset. 

Woodstock Water

 12" x 24" oil on panel

I am way behind on posting so I will be doing one a day here for a while. This was from my daily walk that I squeezed in right after a dramatic spring rain shower.

House at the Corner

 11" x 14" oil on panel

I take a walk everyday and on a beautiful day recently I snapped the picture from which this was painted. I love the blue shadows on the front and the reflected color on the shadow wall. I'm a sucker for white houses in the sun.

Shoulder Bug

 

9" x 12" Oil on canvas

SOLD

I encountered this bug parked on a southern California side street. I love the lines of the road and sidewalk heading back into space but I really had a soft spot for the white bug. I had a white bug exactly like this one in college and it transported me back and forth from Boston to school in Indiana. 

Daffodil Milk Bottle

 20" x 16" oil on canvas

This scene has everything I enjoy painting: organic shapes, hard reflective surfaces, interesting sunlight and reflections. 

Mi Casamigo, Su Casamigo

 12" x 12" oil on panel

This is the fourth in my 'Distill Life' series, tequila and lime. This was painted at request of the Milward Farrell Gallery in Madison, WI. If you're in the Madison area, I recommend a stop in to see some great art. 

In the Shade

 9" x 12" oil on panel

All the different greens attracted me to this scene. I liked the warm green grass in the foreground compared to the cool green grass in the shadows and on the van. Then there's the warm dark greens in the background.

Stopping for Chocolate

 11" x 14' oil on panel

I never know when I'm going to see a scene I want to paint. I was sitting in Mob Craft Brewing looking out the window and saw this man waiting at the corner. I loved the long late afternoon shadows and bright highlights on his pants and face.

Room with a View

16" x 20" oil on canvas

Sometimes the best subject matter comes from the most unlikely places! This is from a hotel room sunset on a trip to Kansas. 

Go Green

 

11" x 14" oil on panel

Another painting from southern California. I love the composition of the old green pickup, modest houses and background mountains.

Roadtrip

 16" x 20" Oil on canvas

During a visit to southern California recently I came across this classic 1965 VW Beetle and was given a tour of it by the very generous owner who noticed me admiring it on the street. What a beauty! Loved the old suitcase in the trunk!

Bloom with a View

 

20" x 16" oil on canvas

We visited our son and daughter-in-law this summer and took an early morning walk into the city for coffee where I encountered this scene. I loved the bright colors of the buildings in the warm summer sun in contrast to the cool colors of the roofs and sky. Then, of course, I love those those bright red flowers in the window boxes and their long shadows. 

Couple a Pear

 

9" x 12" oil on panel

My wife put a bowl full of pears in in the sun the other days and the soft warm tones of the  fruit were just beautiful compared to the sharp lines of the bowl. I was also interested in trying to paint the reflections inside the shadow of the bowl. 

Top Down Perspective

 

16" x 20" Oil on canvas

Beyond the obvious fact that this is a 1967 convertible beetle, I was drawn to this scene by that deep red side of the car in shadow, with the reflection. Then there's the pop of the hubs in shadow - couldn't wait to paint them. Finally, I liked the saturated red in the foreground compared to warm greens in the background. 

Sunset Alley

 

12" x 16" oil on panel

I encountered this view while walking around a small town in northern Illinois.  A low sun at sunset was casting very warm light, just touching the tops of the walls and accentuated by bright orange siding and cream brickwork. I loved the stark contrast between the warm sunlight and the cool blues in shadow.