#41 - Hustling to Ketchup

6" x 6" Oil on Gessobord
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It's so cold in northern Illinois I had to wait to put in my tomato plants and put one to work as a model. I fully expect this one and his 5 friends will satisfy our bruschetta, & BLT cravings later this summer.

#40 - Just My Cup of Tea

6" x 6"

Oil on Gessobord

It's been a while since I've painted so it was good to get back. I thought I might be a bit rusty so I went with an old standby, our heavy duty kitchen mugs.This is also the first painting I did using Ampersand gessobord. I was somewhat reluctant to try it because I like the way canvas grabs my brush and I was afraid gessobord would be too smooth. I was pleasantly surprised however, and really like the way I was able to move the paint around, and think coverage was maybe even a little easier than with canvas. I'll definitely be using gessobord again.

#39 - Glory Days

6" x 6" Oil on canvas panel

May is my favorite month of the year. No bugs, perfect temperatures, everything coming to life. I revel in the couple weeks when the world pops outside and color is everywhere you look. The first responders in that explosion of color are the daffodils; when you start seeing them you know more is on the way! My wife cut one and put it in a simple vase and I enjoyed painting it, but it was more challenging than I expected. I might try again before they close up shop for the year.

#38 - Tequila Rocks

6" x 6" Oil on canvas panel

A good friend of mine recently vacationed in Mexico and brought back some top shelf tequila. He's been generous sharing it with with me on a couple late nights when we both talked about our vacations in the sun. I painted this for him, sharing my tequila.

#37 - Looking East

8" x 10" Oil on canvas, Plein Air

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A hazy spring morning in northern Illinois looking east. I went out into the country and found a spot where I could see some terrain shift in the distance.

#36 - Seating for Two

6" x 6" Oil on canvas panel
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Last painting from St. Croix, I promise. This was a scene so inviting I snapped a picture and couldn't wait to paint it. My wife and I sat on these two chairs for a little while, soaking up the sun, watching the surf and listening to the breeze in the palm tree above us.

#35 - Want a Lime with That?

6" x 6" Oil on canvas panel

Is there anything better than a cold beer on the beach? A couple weeks ago we sat at a bar on a beach and I couldn't help but take a picture of my beer as it was set down by the bartender. I enjoyed that beer twice: drinking it on the beach and painting it on my easel.