"Tractor Chat"

Acrylic 8x10"

Bid for Hurricane Sandy Fundraiser!

This is a fun painting I did this summer of what you see in rural Weimar, TX.  Please help the victims of Hurricane Sandy by bidding at the DailyPaintWorks' fundraiser (through the link above).  Thanks!

"High Hill Ranch Views"

Acrylic 11x14"

Available at DPW

While visiting Weimar, TX, we drove past this scene and I had a chance to snap a reference photo.  The fields of light tan grasses, huge Live Oaks and old crusty barns in the area were perfect! 

Blog article: http://funwithacrylics.wordpress.com/2012/12/30/ranch-view-at-high-hill-rd/

"Seaside Park" (Marblehead, MA)

9x12" Acrylic on canvas panel 

(Bid at DPW)

This is a painting I started at on location at Seaside Park in Marblehead.  It’s one of the few places you can briefly get away from civilization with dense woods.  After a 1/4 mile, you step out of the woods into a magnificent view of the harbor with the lighthouse in the distance.

Jersey Beach (Marblehead, MA)

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel

(Bid At: DPW)

While visiting family at Marblehead, MA, I went down to the shoreline off Jersey St at sunset and painted this scene of the sun-lit house.  Beautiful area!

Palo Duro Canyon Entrance

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel

(Bid Now: DPW)

This is a plein air painting from a visit to Palo Duro Canyon in September.  If you pull over about 1/4 mi from the entrance, follow the little trail to the ledge and you can see this amazing view. 

"Galveston Getaway"

9x12" Acrylic on canvas panel

(Sold)

I revisited a plein air painting from the this summer now that I'm learning figures.  Adding people, seagulls, towels and the umbrella set-up really gave this painting the feel of a weekend at Galveston.

"Laniakea Views"

8x10 Acrylic on canvas panel

(SOLD)

10/16/12:  I finished this piece for an online workshop.  It was great to paint another beach scene.  The brilliant blues and greens of the water remind me of the Laguna Beach, California area. 

Fresh Views

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel

(Bid now: DPW Auctions) or $60 before first bid

I had a fun time playing around with a picture from just west of Gunnison, CO.  The background view is the same, but I added some pines and brush to the foreground to help the composition. This is the third in the series of paintings from Dad's trip.  The West is truly amazing!

Columbia River Gorge

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel

(SOLD)

This is #2 in the series of paintings I'm doing from Dad's trip from Texas to Oregon. This was a scene of the Columbia River Gorge. 

"Into the Rockies"

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel

$40 + shipping (Buy through DailyPaintWorks)

This is the first of a series of paintings I'll do from photos my Dad's took recent trip from Texas to Oregon and back. 

Mountain Views

8 x 10" Acrylic on canvas panel

(SOLD)

This is from memories of the red soils and pines of Bastrop, TX and my memories of the Blue Ridge Mountains in NC.  I hope a place like this exists!

Austin Currents

11 x 14 " Acrylic on canvas panel

(SOLD)

Last Thurday my friend and I went to Austin to paint a scene around the Longhorn dam with the Austin Plein Air painters group. Downstream of the dam is a serene, calm place with limestone rocks and plenty of wildlife to enjoy. If you follow the river's edge on the side by the softball fields, you'll find this scene under the shade of large Cottonwoods and Sycamores.

The Old Blue Well Pump

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel

(SOLD)

This is an old cast iron well pump propped up on an wood box at Grace Ranch.  It still has remnants of blue paint from it's past life and captures the character of ranch life well.

Grace Ranch Horses

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel

(SOLD)

I was out at Grace Ranch again plein air painting and the curious horses came to see what I was up to. 

Country Rains

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel

(Bid Now: DPW Auctions) or $60 before the first bid

I went out jogging along the farm roads just after it rained all night and most of the day. Everything was green and air still smelled fresh. The creeks swelled into rivers and the pasture lands were saturated with pools of water reflecting the skys above. Great time for a jog!

Sedona View

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel

(Bid Now: DPW Auctions) or $60 before first bid.

This is a view of the Sedona area of Arizona where many rock climbers go.  What a beautiful place!!

Plein Air at the Colorado River

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel.

(Bid Now: DPW Auctions)

I had another amazing day getting out to paint, this time on a sandy bank along the Colorado River just East of Columbus, TX.  Among the many shade of green of the river, the bright sandy bank and the reds of an old truss bridge support made for a great contrast and fun composition. Such a beautiful, lazy river!

Tractor House

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel.

(SOLD)

I saw this scene out at the property of the cattle through the tractor "house". It was about 3pm and the sun was hitting directly on the rusted tin roof making it really stand out. Had to paint it!

Country Solace

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel.

(SOLD)

In this painting of a small pond next to a roadside, I wanted to capture that sense of stillness and quiet that comes with being in the country.

Feeding the Ducks (Hermann Park)

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel.

(SOLD)

While spending time in Houston, I went to paint at Hermann Park.  The day was perfect and thousands were out playing in the park. I sat beneath the shade of a tree and saw some kids throwing bread to the ducks.  Immediately, ducks and swans paddled in and swarmed the area. I think it captured the fun, lighthearted mood of the day perfectly.

The American Robin

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel

(Bid Now: DPW Auctions) or $60 before first bid.

The American Robin (or Red-Breasted Robin) is usually seen searching in fields or freshly cut lawn for it's next meal.  When the sun catches it just right, it's spectacular to see.

The Noble Cardinal

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel.

(Bid Now: DPW Auctions) or $60 before first bid.

I took time to catch photos the past two weeks while Spring was in full color and saw this cardinal.  I tried to capture the look of nobility and pride it had. 

"Flop-Eared Start-up"

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel.

(SOLD)

This is a DailyPaintWorks challenge entry... and a lot of fun to paint! Happy Easter!

Finding Some Shade

11x14" Acrylic on canvas panel.

(SOLD)

This is an area on my uncle's ranch near Muldoon, TX. It's getting a bit hotter in the Spring time and the longhorns hang out in the shade. Lazy days. 

Grace Ranch in the Spring

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel

SOLD

3/27/12: This is the second plein air trip I've done lately.  This is Grace Ranch near Muldoon, TX.  While helping my uncle with ranch work, I spotted some longhorns sitting lazily in a pasture of bluebonnets with a great scene in the background.  I quickly got out the paints and did my best to capture the moment.

Weimar, TX Bluebonnets

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel.

SOLD

3/20/12: My camera part finally came in to post up the past two plein air trip works. This is an area in Weimar, TX where the bluebonnets are booming right now. Despite a raging sunburn from lack of judgement in the sunscreen department, this was a great day to paint. Spring is definitely here!

"Poised for Action"

8x10" Acrylic on canvas panel.

Buy Now with PayPal: $35 + shipping ($8US/$10Canada)

It's been a while since I've posted. While I wait for a replacement part to my "good" camera, I managed to get a good representation of this painting with my iPhone camera, so it's time to forge ahead. 

I decided it was time to paint the mockingbird.  It seems I've made a lawn mowing buddy as this bird is always there watching and waiting for new exposed insects. When I look up, I often see him in this alert pose, so I name this painting "poised for action".  

"Breakfast of Kings"

8"x10" Acrylic on canvas panel, varnished

Buy Now with PayPal: $35 + shipping ($8US/$10Canada)

This was a DailyPaintWorks still life challenge of the week...and I was hungry.  Win, win.

"Misty Creek"

8" x 10", Acrylic on canvas panel, varnished

Buy Now with PayPal: $35 + shipping ($8US/$10Canada)

"Misty Creek" was inspired by memories of Montreat,NC, where the clouds hung low to the creek bed in the early morning.  I spent many hours catching rainbow trout, "rock hopping" and swimming in these chilly, magical waters. I may create a similar, larger version of this painting in the next week or two.

"A Quick Pause"

8"x 10" Acrylic on canvas panel, varnished

(SOLD)

As a kid, I went every summer to North Carolina mountains and was introduced to the chickadee.  It's constantly on the move hopping through the trees, so this painting catches a quick pause before moving on.  Just for interest, if you hear "Chick-a-dee-dee-dee, (repeat)" you can find the bird in this painting. 

"Mountain Lights"

14"x11" Acrylic on canvas panel, varnished

(NFS)

"Mountain Lights" is meant to feel inviting with the creek running downhill passing the cabin to the left on it's way to the lake.  As your eyes follow the creek, the details set the scene of a lakeside community and moonlit mountains in the background. 

"Nestled In"

8"x10" Acrylic on canvas panel

SOLD

When I visited Dinosaur Valley State Park (Glen Rose, TX), it was chilly in the morning with a light frost.  As I hiked around, I caught a photo of this cardinal nestled in deep in the cedars and brush all fluffed and nestled in. 

"Opposites Attract"

8x10" Acrylics on canvas panel, varnished.

(NFS)

This still life was a fun way of making a statement of how differences are often the joy in relationships; so the orange wraps its "arm" around around the apple.