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.

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.