Deer Enter a Clearing

The Assumption of the Virgin

My friend and champion Maureen Doallas, chose this painting from 1998 for the cover of her collection of poems and essays.
"Neruda`s Memoirs" is published by T. S. Poetry Press.
The title refers to the Catholic belief that Mary didn`t die but rose bodily into heaven. In the images throughout history, she is seen standing on a cloud.

Early May

This slice of landscape is something I`ve planned to paint since last Spring when I went back to Sitka for my presentation. The winter rainforest that had mesmerized me when I was there as a resident was now nearly in full foilage. Those early greens are so clear and vivid. The forests seemed wildly alive and healthy.

Dune 11

This was my demonstration painting at the class yesterday. I`ve worked on it for hours since and this may be it`s conclusion. It was great fun being with such sharp women!

Small Study/Larger Painting

These were painted after driving along the Umpqua River from the ocean to I-5. We were taken aback by the beauty of this valley. The river was winding through golden hills and the water was very clear. A few farms and little traffic, it was one of the rare places that seem beyond time. I`ve since learned it`s great for fly fishing.
As I arrived for my opening two weeks ago, a class at the Center was finishing. A group of maybe 15 women had been painting with their guest instructor. [every month they hire a different teacher] The group has been painting together for 25 years!! The January guy couldn`t make every Saturday so they asked me to fill in. That`s what I will do tomorrow. These ladies are not amateurs, I suspect I`ll learn something too. I`m going to demonstrate how to make Yupo behave.

Untitled

Every once in awhile it`s good to do something different. I`ve been working on some purely abstract pieces and it`s not gone well. Until this one.

Cristom Vineyard

Until there is new work, another from the recent past.
My long time friend John is Director of Marketing and Sales at Cristom Wines. A couple of times I`ve gone up into to the vineyards while he was working, taking pictures, drawing, catching my breath and taking in the beautiful farming country of Marion County. The vines are planted on a very steep hill and the views from high up are vast. The flat lands below are so fertile, the topsoil is 12 feet deep in places!

Wind on the Estuary/Show photos

Velarde

Since hanging my show the other day, a new project and family matters have kept me busy.
This watercolor was painted here in the Northwest[mid-90`s] but it`s clearly someplace else. Velarde is a small farming community along the Rio Grande north of Espanola. The patterns of agriculture adjacent to truly awesome geology, was a favorite subject of mine in those years I lived there. Yet, just as I did some of my best seascapes in the high desert, once I moved here, that landscape came with me.

Winter Forest Study

Happy New Year!