On the Move Oil on board, 4 7/8" x 9" $200.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD This is a bit larger painting for today. I enjoy watching the cattle in the pastures around our house. They seem to have a daily routine, hanging out in different parts of the field at different times of day. When they move, they all go at once. I just heard on the radio about a new study that claims grazing cattle always tend to face either magnetic north or south. So now I'm going to have to start watching for that. And you thought I didn't have anything to do.

By George, I think I've got it! Here's Ellie chasing the frisbee.

Ellie Oil on board, 10" x 8" NFS The dailys are a little less frequent lately, as I continue to work on larger works and commissions. Here's a recent commissioned piece--an exotically beautiful Ridgeback Hound named Ellie. Ellie lives in Oklahoma and apparently has a passion for frisbees. Among the photos her owners sent me for reference was a short video of Ellie catching one. I'll try to post it on the blog, if I can figure out how to do it.

Homegrown Oil on board, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. I picked these from our humble little vegetable patch. And humble it is-- just a couple of tomato plants and a few cucumbers and peppers. But it has been a long time since we've planted a garden, and I had forgotten the thrill of harvesting something nurtured with one's own hands. I knew these had to be today's painting.

Straw Stack Watercolor on archival paper, 5" x 7" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD For me, haystacks have always had an architectural presence. I helped build quite a few of them when I bucked bales as a kid. It was hot, dusty, sweaty work, but it was a satisfying feeling to complete a well-constructed stack. However, these days I'm perfectly content to just paint them from a safe distance.

Alley Fence Oil on board, 5" x 7" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD This is the view across the street when I leave my studio in the evening.

Afternoon in Cove Watercolor on archival paper, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD It's the curse of the artist--you can never go "off duty." Wherever you go you're always seeing something to paint. Tuesday afternoon Brenda and I drove over to the small town of Cove, Oregon to get takeout from the drive-in restaurant (good burgers.) As we're waiting at the window, I start noticing the beautiful sunlight and shadow patterns on this interesting house. Cove is a lovely little town, definitely life in the slow lane. The other day I saw two girls pull up to the same drive-thru window and place their order...on horseback!

Ocean Waves 20 Oil on board 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD Though there will likely be more at some point, I think this is going to be the last of the Ocean Wave series for awhile. I want to do something else--not yet sure what. Of course that's one of the pleasures of daily painting--making it up as you go!

Ocean Waves 19 Oil on board, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD An endless challenge trying to catch the dance of sunlight on water. This surf closeup becomes almost abstract in character.

Ocean Waves 17 Oil on board, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD I am trying with this series to express a kind of quiet, meditative spirit, which I think is the state of mind most of us get in when we visit the ocean.

Ocean Waves 16 Oil on board, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD Painting this one made me think of the sensation of standing barefoot and gradually sinking, as the sand melts away beneath your feet. A strangely satisfying feeling, don't you think?

Ocean Waves 15 Oil on board, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD It is hot! Over 100 yesterday and more of the same forecast for today. No air conditioning in this house, so we have fans going everywhere. A cooldown at the beach sounds more and more appealing.

Ocean Waves 14 Oil on board, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD Some of you are probably tiring of this ocean series, but I've gotten really into it and need to see it through. Besides, temps are rising into the triple digits this week. Doesn't a day at the beach sound pretty good?

Ocean Waves 13 Oil on board, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD The bubbling foam of a spent wave slides across a pebbled shore, while another builds in the distance. What is it about this unending process that is so entrancing? Have you seen the movie "Castaway," with Tom Hanks? Do you recall how important the ceaseless sound of the breakers was to the feel of the movie? The sound grew into an almost oppressive presence, underscoring the absolute aloneness of the man in nature; a nature neither malevolent nor friendly--just profoundly, terrifyingly neutral.

Ocean Waves 12 Oil on board, 7" x 5" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD A break in the marine layer at sundown.

Ocean Waves 11 Oil on board, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD There's something a little strange about me (okay, my wife would say a lot strange) but I get a kick out of attempting to portray vast spaces on tiny panels. These ocean paintings deal with a very pared-down visual vocabulary, exploring the "less is more" concept. This one is almost minimalist in character.

Ocean Waves 10 Oil on board, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD I've been working on some larger pieces and commissions, so the small paintings are a little less frequent lately. I will try to post one every two or three days, if I can. Here's another in the Ocean Waves series.

Ocean Waves 9 Oil on board, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD It's maddening trying to capture the subtleties of coastal color and atmosphere. I have a masochistic streak though, so I keep trying.

Ocean Waves 8 Oil on board, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD I'm sure you have had this experience: While standing at the shore and watching the sun's flickering dance on the water, I am sometimes overwhelmed with the feeling that everything--sky/water/sand--is fusing into one. And me along with it. I like a dramatic seascape with thundering waves and turbulent skies as much as the next person. But in this series I have been trying to depict the ocean's more subtle, tranquil moods. The impossible goal: to convey the immensity and infinite, mystical power of the sea by paring down to the most basic of elements: sky/water/sand.