A Ride on the Earth Oil on board, 11" x 12" $650.00 + $10.00 shipping in US. SOLD This is one of the larger paintings I've been working on recently. Out in the valley's plowed fields, I watched the sun settle below the mountain rim. As a sharp-edged shadow rolled across the valley floor and up the foothills, the higher mountains glowed in their snowy coats for a brief moment, then sank into the darkening sky. I suddenly felt so conscious of the "ride" I was taking on this great turning globe of earth.

Backlit Oil on board, 7" x 5" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. Beautiful old willows line the edges of many fields in this valley. Some were deliberately planted as windbreaks. Some grew spontaneously along ditches and streams, where moisture-seeking seeds found their way. Still others began their lives as fenceposts! Willows are prolific. Left unchecked, they grow dense, and farmers thin them out when they clog ditches or encroach on fields. Sometimes cut limbs find new life--literally-in fencerows. If they are still green when put back in the ground, they will often sprout limbs and grow into new trees.

Quiet Night Oil on board, 22.5" x 30.25" Here's a larger work--not a daily--of my truck in our driveway. We live outside of a very small town. It's pretty quiet in these parts, especially at night with a light snow falling to dampen sound. There's not too many people around to make noise anyway; you're more likely to hear coyotes howling, or the distant lowing of a cow. I just completed this painting and haven't decided what I'll do with it yet--whether it will go to a gallery or show or...? Drop me an email if you're interested in it. Click image to enlarge

Melting Drift Oil on board, 7" x 5" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD

Framed Arrangement

A collector of my dailies from Oklahoma recently sent me a photo of how he framed and arranged three paintings from my brush series on his wall. The 5 x 7 plein air style frames are from Manny's of Denver (style #MH-1G) and the 6 x 6 is from PictureFrames.com (style PL7.) Thanks for letting me share the photo, Jim--the arrangement looks great.

Click to enlarge.

Maybe Spring Soon Oil on board, 5" x 7" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD

Ten Times Six (revised) Oil on canvas, 13" x 11" NFS I should have mentioned in yesterday's post that I considered this portrait a work in progress. At the risk of scaring you off with day two of my ugly mug, I've done some more work on the painting and wanted to post the revised and (maybe) completed version. Most of the reworking occurred in the background/ceiling area. I cooled and slightly lightened the color balance (it's hard to show the exact tonality in the photo) in an effort to create more "air" around the face and make it a more neutral foil. Some of the "brushy" strokes in the background seemed distracting and were toned down. While I love bravura brushwork as much as the next person, it seems whenever I try self-consciously to make "interesting" brushstrokes they end looking mannered and irrelevant. I did some refining with a bit more careful observation of the light fixture, as well as some very slight reworkings in parts of the face. Now I'm going to try to just leave it well enough alone!

Ten Times Six Oil on canvas, 14" x 11" NFS I'm sorry, did I scare you? I'm really not as mean as I look. It's just that today's my birthday--the big Six-Oh--and I'm finding it hard to muster up a grin. I should have done more self-portraits back when I was prettier. Actually, when I think of the few early portraits I did do, I looked awfully stern in those too, in a thick brown hair wrinkle-free sort of way. The somber self-portrait is a pretty solid artist tradition. It must come from staring in a mirror for hours--nobody can smile for that long! Comes also from being focused and deep in concentration. And this is the result--my painting face! Pretty scary alright.

Late Day Glow Watercolor on archival paper, 5" x 7" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD I guess cows in front of a barn is not too romantic, but Happy Valentine's Day anyway.

Aussie Oil on board, 7" x 6 3/8" NFS A recent commissioned painting of a beautiful Australian Shepherd

River Brush Oil on board, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD Like my dad used to say, "The hurrier I go, the behinder I get!" I'm working on some larger pieces and commissions that require time and focus, so posts are going to be a little less frequent for awhile. I'll try to post two or three small works per week. Meanwhile, don't forget the archives--plenty to browse there. And do consider signing up to have the dailies emailed to you (use the simple form at upper right.) That way you'll see the new work as soon as it's posted. I don't share your address with anyone, and it's easy to unsubscribe at any time. I'm glad you stopped by. Stay tuned!

Upshore Oil on board, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. I climbed in my "pretend" RV and drove south for today's painting. This view is looking north from beautiful Torrey Pines State Reserve, near San Diego.

Iced Over Oil on canvas, 6" x 7.5" $150.00 + $8.00 shipping in US. From the same viewpoint as Saturday's post, but a little chillier! I loved the sunlight gleaming on the ice.

From the studio wall

We are too busy mopping the floor to turn off the faucet.

~ Author Unknown


A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers.

~ Chinese proverb


If I had a mine shaft, I don't think I would just abandon it. There's got to be a better way.

~Jack Handy, "Deep Thoughts"

Valley Stream Oil on canvas, 6" x 8" $160.00 + $8.00 shipping in US. SOLD A larger painting today. Catherine Creek rushes down from the mountains and spills into the flatlands of the valley, where it travels in lazy, winding meanders.

January Shadows Watercolor on archival paper, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD Sometimes I get a curious sensation when looking at shadows of objects. Sometimes they seem more real, more alive somehow, than the thing itself. Maybe it's the temporal nature of shadows that I respond to. This young maple appears to stand more or less still. But the shadow flickers and breathes, transforming itself second by second in a steady dance across the wall.