Foglie d`Autunno nel Bosco

A watercolor from last month, one of many derived from the canyon of Tryon Creek State Park.
watercolor on Yupo 6x15.5

Wetlands Somewhere Redux

Two years ago, as a demonstration painting, I did a huge cloud as an illustration of using the sky as a 'framing' tool. I`ve been painting so many trees lately, I need to get out of the forest for awhile. Space is the great gift of winter here. You can finally, easily see distances. The leaves are down and everything opens up.
oil on Yupo 26x20


available work in the studio

Another oil on Yupo [ bosque de invierno!]

No title yet on this one either. I appreciate the earlier suggestions but the burden of naming these things is mine. As flawed as the process is.
For example, I may get an inquiry about a 'winter rainforest'? Even though that was my brilliant title, I`m like a deer in the headlights as I stammer 'can you tell me more about the piece?' as I mentally race through the hundreds of paintings I`ve done with those words in the title. It`s embarrassing! and beyond a solution I fear. If I numbered them, I would not remember the numbers. If I tried to be poetic, I`d cringe every time I said or wrote it. If I stick with the facts, which is my preference, there are only so many English words for forest or wetlands.
It occurs to me just now that I don`t have to be limited to English!!
oil on Yupo 12x9


available work in the studio

Oil on Yupo! - Foret Monique

This came together on Saturday but a title did not. It`s one of the rare paintings I`ve done where I`m working and then suddenly, I`m startled to realize it`s finished. Usually I can see the end coming.
I`m getting so sick of 'rainforest' this and 'autumn' that for titles. Maybe I could use the storm naming idea, and just call this painting 'Monique'. It`s definitely feminine.
I`m on to something with oil paints on yupo. It`s sort of like painting on glass so I`ve tinted the paper with acrylic first to give it a bit more grip and to have something to react to. I know I have something worthy when I want to keep looking at it without any urge to improve it.
oil on Yupo [plastic paper from Japan] 12x12


available work in the studio

From the Beach to the Bluff + Chimayo at Dusk

                                                                  oil on paper 11x11
From my foggy visit to Oceanside last July. This is an example of Tonalism, which was an early love of mine. Here is one from 30 years ago;

                                                                 oil on canvas 30x40


available work in the studio

Second Growth

That`s a tree stump in the center. As they decompose, they are overtaken by a jungle of new vegetation. Many Northwest children have staged their first performances on these 'platforms' deep within the privacy of the forest. I think those kids are now adults but hopefully there`s a fresh generation creating their own new worlds in there. Or at least playing video games. It`s important to get away from parents.
watercolor on Yupo 12x0


updated available work in the studio

Minto Brown Tangle

                                                            watercolor on Yupo 12x9

 We went down to Salem yesterday and had lunch with John`s family and then on to Minto Brown Island. It was a normal, partly gloomy, early winter day and absolutely stunning. The entire park is a flood plain with sloughs, ponds, rivulets and swamps everywhere. All with beautiful, surprising color. In the muted light it had such a soulful quality. Take a look;

updated available work