An Old Fashioned Painting

 

9" x 12" Oil on panel

It is the time of year where an old fashioned cocktail hits the spot in the evening. As I was preparing one recently I took a picture of the ingredients and thought it would make a good painting.

Clearing Ahead

 18" x 24" oil on canvas

Sometimes the road of life has a few curves that seem hard to navigate. I'm thankful today for the passengers with me and the journey itself.

Leaf Burn

11" x 14" oil on panel

I was driving to the local firewood guy to fill the back of the car and stopped to take a picture. I loved the light through the smoke in the distance.

 

Yonder Farmhouse

 

11" x 14 Oil on panel

This is another one fro pictures I took from the Iowa countryside on a beautiful autumn day.

Illinois Sunrise

 11" x 14" oil on panel

I was driving south early one Sunday morning recently and had a hard time keeping my eyes on the road because of the awesome sunrise to my left. I stuck my phone out the window and snapped the picture from which I painted this.

Olde Massey Morning

 

11" x 14"  

Oil on panel, Plein Air

This is one from the Bluff Strokes Paint Out that I participated in earlier this month. I painted this at the corner on Olde Massey Road in Dubuque on a beautiful Monday morning.

One Fine Day

 12" x 24" Oil on panel

Another painting from my recent drive through Iowa on a beautiful, crisp, autumn day. 

Three Silos

 

18" x 24" oil on canvas

I was driving through Iowa and came across this scene. I love the wide open spaces of the Midwest.

Potting Shed

 11" x 14" 

Oil on panel

I was taking a morning walk on an August morning and took a picture of this little shed. I liked the wall in cool shadow and the cool picket fence set among the warm greens.

Crossroads

 20" x 60" Oil on stretched canvas

This is a big painting I've been working on for a while. I don't usually paint this big so it was fun to immerse myself in it over several evenings. My wife and I were out driving in the country on a nice summer morning and I took the picture from which I painted this. I liked the clouds, the distant barn, the roads disappearing into the trees and, of course, the tractor!

Neighborhood Watch

 9" x 12" Oil on panel

It had been raining all day and after dinner it stopped so my wife and I took a walk around the block, and encountered this sky as we walked west.

Summer Clouds

 

12" x 9" oil on panel

Plein Air

I took a day off this summer and spent the day out driving in the countryside taking pictures for future paintings and I stopped to painting this also. 90 minutes standing in a field was a beautiful way to spend a morning!

Quiet Afternoon

 12"x9" oil on panel

My wife was taking a walk in the Funderburg Conservation Area on a beautiful summer afternoon. She took this picture for me to paint and I loved the wispy clouds and the shimmering grasses on either side of the path.

Sunset on Main

 

11" x 14" oil on panel

My wife and I snuck away for dinner on a beautiful summer even recently. On the walk back to the car, I was struck by the contrast between the shadows and brilliance of the setting sun. Isn't that like life; equal parts brilliance and shadows?

Dappled Drive

 9" x 12" oil on panel

We were driving to a farm stand last weekend and my wife took the picture from which I painted this. She knew I'd like the pole on the right, the depth and sunlight/shadows on the buildings. And, of course, that dappled sunlight!

Shasta Party

8" x 10" oil on canvas panel

I was headed out to the mailbox and passed these daisies in our garden on the way, stopped and snapped a picture. Painting it was a fun challenge trying to simplify all the colors and shapes into something pleasing and believable.
 

Barn Shadow

12" x 12" oil on panel

I love what sunlight and shadow can do for an old farmhouse!

 

River Shallows

 9" x 12" 

Oil on panel

Always liked the sound of running water, and it reminds me of time up at the Boundary Waters. I painted this from a picture I found a few years back.

Bruges Commute

 

10" x 8" oil on canvas panel

My family visited Bruges, Belgium a couple years ago, and one morning I was up early (probably looking for coffee and a pastry) and came across this scene. I liked the bicyclist's long shadow on the empty street.

Behind the Square

12" x 9" Oil on panel

Plein Air

I took a couple hours to sneak away and paint outside last weekend. It's always so challenging to paint from life with the changing light, but also soooo enjoyable.

 

Walk in the Park

 

12" x 9" 

Oil on panel

Taking my morning walk last week I came across this scene. Loved the bench near the cool shadows on the warm path. 

Tree Line

 11" x 14"

Oil on panel

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We were driving country roads on an early Friday evening, the sun was still high and the farm field had that hazy brightness you get on a warm afternoon. I loved those trees going back in space so I pulled over and trudged into the soybeans to take a picture.

Country Drive

 6" x 12" Oil on panel

Was on a drive in the country last month and snapped a picture. Love that barn and open fields!

Growing Shadows

 9" x 12" Oil on panel

The sun is setting to my left and the shadows are making their way across the field. I love that time of day and the long shadows you can almost watch the move.

If God Invented Shadows...

 12" x 12" oil on panel

...it was to better emphasize the light. -Pope John XXIII

Always a good reminder when life serves up more shadows than light. 

State & Lake

 20" x 16" on Stretched Canvas

My wife sent me this photo and I was drawn to paint it because of the coolness in the sky and buildings compared to the warmth of the various lights on the street. Then, there's always those awesome reflections that I made myself wait to paint last!

Take a Left at the Pole

 

8" x 10" Oil on canvas panel

This little vignette contains everything I look for in a good potential painting: 1) Strong focal point (the dirt road). 2) High contrast, 3) Significant depth,  4) Little to no reliance on fussy detail. 

Take Me Home

 

Take Me Home

9" x 12" Oil

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My wife took this picture on a drive through the country. I loved the bright little white cottage among the dark trees. I also liked the shadows on the road.

Full Stop

 14" x 11" Oil on panel

We encountered this scene on a very cold, clear day in January. I liked all the variations of white of the snow and the farm buildings in relation to the vibrant blue sky. My favorite part, of course, is the little pop of the red stop sign! 

White Shed

 14" x 11" Oil on panel

Loved the backlit clouds with the backlit white barn. Also liked the monochrome buildings behind the lush field in front. 

Behind Mass Street

 12" x 9" oil on panel

We were out to dinner with our son in Lawrence, KS and had outside seating in the back. The sun was low and setting and I could see the orange glow from that brick wall from my seat so I ran out to the alley. I loved the interplay between the purples and blues in the shadows with the bright orange of the brick and reflected in the windows. And, of course, I love those puddles!

Lauderdale Sunset

20" x 16" Oil on canvas panel

We spent a long weekend down in Florida and I took the picture I painted this from on our first night as we climbed the stairs to our room. It was a beautiful, warm evening in December and we weren't in Illinois!!

 

Kentucky Dawn

 24" x 30 oil on canvas

We were driving home from Huntsville and founds ourselves on backroads in Kentucky very early on a bright, crisp morning. 

Northwind Perennial Farm

 8"x10 oil on canvas panel

SOLD

Looking forward to warmth and green plants growing again. This is from a trip to a Wisconsin nursery last summer.

Path to Pickets

12" x 9" oil on panel

We were taking a walk in the Old Town neighborhood of Huntsville and walked by this scene while the shadow from the right was almost touching the house on the left. I loved the composition but wanted less shadow so I made a note to walk by an hour earlier tomorrow to get the picture I wanted. Fortunately, I got a sunny day too!

 

Huntsville Alley

 14" x 11" oil on linen panel

We were so fortunate to spend a couple weeks recently in beautiful Huntsville, AL. We stayed in the Five Points neighborhood and took quite a few walks because the weather was unbelievably beautiful. I've always liked neighborhood alleys because they often lead someplace interesting, and their narrowness means good shadows. This one from Huntsville is a great example.

Wayne's Lanes

 12" x 12" Oil on panel

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My wife took this picture one fall afternoon. I not only liked the composition, but also enjoyed the challenge of painting the old black car in front of the dark shadow area under the awning. 

Evening Stroll

 11" x 14" oil on linen

We were riding bikes on the bike path around East Dundee last summer and passed this beautiful house. I loved how the sunshine and shadows fell on the white frame house. 

Extended Parking

11" x 14" oil on linen panel

I painted this one from a picture of a backstreet in Woodstock. I took the picture because I liked the shadows on those old doors, and the interplay between the organized background and the crispy old truck. 

 

Bleak Midwinter

 10" x 8" oil on canvas panel

A walk in the woods this time of year can be just as beautiful as any season. I love the contrast of the dark woodland and white snow.

Red Pumps

 9" x 12" oil on panel

One from a Tennessee trip a while ago. Loved those shadows! 

Walk in the Woods

 9" x 12" Oil on panel

This time of year makes me yearn for green trees and warm paths in the dappled sun.