Saturday, March 31, 2007

Hallie And Zane 7x8 Acrylic

SOLD

Zane has 2 speeds, sleep and go. Did this sketch from a photo I took earlier this week.

Friday, March 30, 2007

Snow Day 11x14 Acrylic


SOLD

Sometimes I am driving along, often past a place I have driven past a number of times, when suddenly a new perspective allows me to see something special. Maybe it's just one of those moments when we are more in tune with our surroundings. I am always thankful to God for these moments. I wish I could live in this state of mind all the time. 

Thursday, March 29, 2007

People Containers 4x6 Acrylic



People come in all shapes and sizes. We walk around in these containers, but the real us is locked up inside here where we can't see it. Then, when we're done here, we will go on and be given a new heavenly container to operate in. Hopefully one where hair will grow where I want it to and not where I don't want it to. 

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Baby Buggy 5x7 Watercolor


How do you drive a baby buggy? Tickle her feet.
Another opportune moment as I was walking through a park.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Red Umbrella 11x14 Acrylic

Sold

Another concert in the park. I seem to find a lot of subject matter at these events. But it's a good place for a people painter. Some people actually go to listen to the music. I go to watch people.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Hallie 9x12 Oil


This is a painting I did of Hallie when she was little. She hated posing back then. But she was a good sport and didn't complain. Not for sale.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Wooded Path 11x14 Acrylic


SOLD

Half mile or so from my home, there's a footbridge that crosses an arm of the Mississippi River onto an island that once held many factories during WWII. All that is left of these buildings are a few foundations covered by undergrowth. Many paths like this one wind around the narrow island.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Taking A Break 9x12 Acrylic



Ballet dancers don't sit around like ordinary humans. They sit in ways that stretch and bend the body that would require medical attention for the rest of us. Katherine is the same model as in 'Ballet Teacher.'

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Thayer's Angel 6x7 Charcoal


One of my favorite paintings is 'Angel' by Abbott Henderson Thayer. He used his daughter as a model. He hung some feathery wings up on a wall and had her stand in front of them. I have always been mesmerized by her portrait. I'm paying a poor homage to this work.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Blue Balloon 9x12 Acrylic



Early one Sunday morning at a marathon race, activities and people were everywhere, but all this little boy was concentrating on was his balloon.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Downtown Shoppers 11x14 Acrylic



This is just up the street from where 'Lunch In The District' was located. You can see some umbrellas in the distance. 

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Red Beret 5x7 Acrylic


This young lady was leaning against a tree at an art festival. I took her picture, then asked if I may do a painting of her. She said sure, but her eyes said ' I've got mace and I'm not afraid to use it.' That's OK, it must be strange to approached in this manner.

Monday, March 12, 2007

Boating Party 11x14 Acrylic



Taken from a photo of a boat out floating in the middle of the Mississippi River. They were listening to a concert going on in a park. I don't remember who was playing. Jazz I think. Some unusual cropping going on here. Probably a compositional no-no, but I did it anyway. 

Sunday, March 11, 2007

End Of Winter 11x14 Acrylic



This is a view out my studio window. I really had fun painting this one. I just turned myself loose and went at it.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Kite Flyers 11x14 Acrylic



This is my cousin and his daughter flying a kite on their farm. I was up on a deck and was able to get a good view.

Friday, March 9, 2007

Daydreamer 11x14 Acrylic


SOLD


It's good to be in the right place at the right time. This is why I always have a camera handy. There is a park in downtown Davenport, Iowa along the banks of the Mississippi River where people hang out and get lost in the moment and in their own thoughts.

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Out Beyond Utica Ridge 11x14 Acrylic



In the eastern part of Iowa, bluffs rise up from the Mississippi River and turn into rolling hills and then stretch out to the flat farmlands. Utica Ridge Road runs through these rolling hills. I sat up on the side of a lonely dirt road and painted this sketch. In the time I was painting, 45 minutes or so, three cars stopped to make sure everything was all right. I like this part of the country, I think it is the same everywhere, people care about one another. It is a real neighbor helping neighbor mentality out here.

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Lunch In The District 16x20 Acrylic



There is an area in downtown Rock Island, Illinois known as The District with shops, galleries and bistros like this one. I like to walk down here at noon in the summer when the weather is nice. There are always painting subjects everywhere you look.

Monday, March 5, 2007

Covered Bridge 16x20 Oil


Reached way back and yanked out an old one. Back in high school when I was working in oil. Please don't ask how long ago that was. Remember Laugh-in and Gunsmoke on TV, and not the reruns either. This was painted entirely with a palette knife. I came across it this afternoon stashed away behind a desk. Not for sale.

Sunday, March 4, 2007

Brothers 12x16 Acrylic

Sold

I posted this painting back in December as a work in progress and then forgot to post the finished work. Well, better late than never.

Saturday, March 3, 2007

The Stars Look Down 24x30 Acrylic


I've always wanted to do a painting of a night scene looking into a lighted window. A heck of a challenge. The stars make us feel insignificant, but I think the stars are insignificant compared to a single life. This old house is directly across the street from my house. I may repaint the figure in the window, I'm not sure yet. If I do, I'll repost it. As hard as I tried, it didn't photograph as well as the original painting looks. 

Friday, March 2, 2007

Freedom From Fear 40x40 Water Soluable Oil


This is a painting from a few years back, much larger than my daily paintings. Not for sale.