Afternoon in May Oil on board, 5" x 7" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. This well-cared for barn is in the little rural town of Cove, Oregon. I've admired it in passing many times and finally got around to doing a painting of it. How rural is Cove? Well, this scene is about one block from the heart of downtown, and I didn't edit out any other buildings.

Rock Cribs Oil on board, 5" x 7" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD The basalt foothills and mountains around here are in many places quite thinly layered with soil, making it next to impossible to dig post holes. Instead, deadweights called "cribs" or "jacks" are constructed of wood and filled with rocks. The barbed wire is stretched taut between them and then floating posts or thin metal ones are spaced in between. Sometimes they remind me of old markers or monuments.

Martha Miller

Mummy of an Adult Female/Self
Graphite, charcoal, white pastel and collage on paper, 30" x 22"
Copyright 2003 Martha Miller

The making of art tends to be a pretty solitary occupation. One of the wonderful things I've discovered about blogging is the way it has helped me become aware of and build friendships with other artists all over the country and the world.

An intricate and energizing network of connections evolves. Here's kind of how it works: A few months ago I became aware of a really fine California painter named Susan Beauchemin when she applied for acceptance into the Daily Painters group. I was very impressed and put her link on my blog. Susan was quickly juried into the group and began posting. Some time later I happened to post a self-portrait, which drew a comment on my site from a Maine artist named Martha Miller. Martha, it turns out, also has a blog. I quickly discover that she is a tremendously talented artist who does extraordinary self-portraits. I also find out that Martha just happens to be Susan's sister. Small world.

A week or two ago Martha posted some of her drawings inspired by the work of the late nineteenth century photographer, Eadweard Muybridge (yes, I spelled it right.) Muybridge did the first human and animal motion studies, and Martha's post really perked my interest because back in the mid 80's I did a series of works that were also Muybridge-inspired. I left a comment about that, and Martha mentioned she'd like to see that work. So the other day I emailed her some images.

Tuesday I checked in on Martha and--HOLY MOLEY--she's done a feature on me! Check it out here. And while you're there be sure to explore Martha's blog--she is a dedicated and superb artist. Don't miss her main website either.

Thanks, Martha, for your generosity.

Sprinklers Oil on board, 5" x 7" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD It has been unseasonably warm here lately, with temperatures into the nineties. Although snowpack in the mountains is high, there has not been much rain and the fields will dry quickly without irrigation. (I sound like some old farmer.)

Cherry Blossom Time Oil on board, 5" x 7" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. SOLD The picturesque little town of Cove, Oregon is prime cherry growing country. All the orchards are thick right now with beautiful white blossoms.

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

Mt. Emily Oil on linen canvas, 11" x 14" Email me for purchase information. A larger painting today. Spring has sprung at last. I was thinking what suckers we who live in northerly climates are. We go through one of the toughest winters in recent history; everyone's tired of it and starting to complain bitterly; threatening to move to Hawaii and never look back. Then suddenly the hills and fields sprout glorious green grass, cherry trees load up with blossoms, meadows are dotted with daffodils...and for that great kindness of nature, all is forgiven.

Onion and String #2 Oil on board, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. This is probably the last of the onion/string thing, at least for awhile. No more stringing you along.

Bagged #4 Oil on board, 6" x 6" $125.00 + $6.00 shipping in US. You know, I'm starting to realize it doesn't take a lot to keep me entertained. I'm still fascinated with the translucent quality of these plastic bags. Meanwhile, I'm slowly crawling back out of the black hole of computer problems. I think (I hope) that the buy button is restored. But if it still doesn't work right, email me for purchase details. I hope to have my computer repaired and all systems running right sometime next week.

Onion and String

oil on board, 5" x 7"
$125 plus $6 shipping in U.S.
Email me for purchase details.

These got plopped down next to one another quite incidentally. I don't know why, but there's something I like about this unlikely combination. And that's reason enough for a painting. It's important to trust one's intuition--things don't always have to make "sense."

Lines and Colors Article

Charley Parker has kindly given me a nice write-up Wednesday on his blog, Lines and Colors.
Charley writes thoughtful profiles on a wide variety of accomplished artists, and I am honored to be included on his fine site. Thank you, Charley!

Bagged #3

Oil on board, 5" x 7"
$125 plus $6 shipping in U.S.

Email me for purchase details.

Bagged #2

Oil on board, 6" x 6"
$125 plus $6 shipping in U.S.

Email me for purchase details.

The desktop computer is still in the shop, so I am posting from my wife's laptop. I find it harder to judge color, etc. on the laptop screen, so I'm not certain how true to the original these recent posts are. Of course it is something of a moot point, since no two monitors look the same anyway.

Bad Computer! Bad, bad computer!

I've suspected for some time that my computer has been conspiring against me. Sure enough, today it went berserk and wouldn't listen to any of my commands. I've got to take him into the shop for some re-training, so will be unable to post for awhile. I'll leave a few art quotes here and be back very soon I hope!


A painting is never finished - it simply stops in interesting places.

~ Paul Gardner


When my daughter was about seven years old, she asked me one day what I did at work. I told her I worked at the college- that my job was to teach people how to draw. She stared back at me, incredulous, and said, "You mean they forget?

~ Howard Ikemoto


If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all.

~ Michelangelo


There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot, but there are others who, thanks to their art and intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun.

~ Pablo Picasso


Art is like recess for the mind.

~ a second grader

Suspended

Oil on board, 6" x 6"
$125 plus $6 shipping in U.S.

EMAIL me if you would like to purchase this painting.

Bagged

Oil on board, 6" x 6"
$125 plus $6 shipping in U.S.

SOLD


Something different today, from the landscape out my door to the landscape of the produce section. I was struck by how the plastic bag gave the onion a sense of motion.