Chimayo Spring

                                                           watercolor on paper 22x15

Nice to be home again, nice to be working in my cozy man-cave/studio.
This is from the late 80`s, one of hundreds of images I had transferred from slides to DVD this winter. To my shock, a great many of them I have no memory of. I know what time of my life they were from, where I was living and by the execution, what my motives were but actual pieces, like this one, no recall. This was a prosperous time in my life, between recessions, and I think lots of stuff went out the door quickly. Anyway, I kind of like it. It will take me awhile to digest my month at Sitka, meanwhile here is a hopeful painting of spring for my friends in the East.


some available work

Estuary Overlook - Goodbye Sitka!

                                                                 oil on panel 20x20

Tomorrow I leave. What a dreamy intense time it`s been. These things are not vacations. With everything set up to assist you in your work, the artist is faced with himself. It`s somewhat daunting because the institution has said in effect they believe in you. You want to do right by that faith as well as explore your imagination and express your vision.
I took my last hike out onto Cascade Head yesterday and took a few photos including my first selfies! I was here! On the trail I startled a herd of elk. This inattention to their surroundings is how they end up tasty elk burgers.

some available work

Rainforest Studies + Legacy Questions

                                                                    oil on Yupo 12x9

                                                                  oil on Yupo 15x15

                                                                oil on Yupo 10.5x5.75

An art consultant was telling me about an elderly painter she knew who was extremely concerned about all the work she would be leaving behind. It is a distressing issue. Even if there were enough venues to carry it, you can`t just dump a lot of art on the market without significant demand. Prices, which increased over the career of the artist, would plummet and upset existing collectors. But to leave your loved ones this burden is really unfair. The anxiety between loyalty and duty and practicality would be enormous. What to do? The nightmare is it ending up in a landfill.
Start giving it away was the consultants advice. To institutions who will accept it, to individuals who would love it.
I work with this matter by painting on paper as much as possible. Now that I have experimented with oils on Yupo successfully, that option is even better. Paper is much easier to store and my heirs won`t have to rent storage space.


available work in my studio

Over the Sea 26 - class demo

                                                         watermedia on Yupo 20x26

This was my demostration painting from this morning at the Newport Visual Arts Center. I was invited to paint for the Yaquina Art Association members. The site is stunning, perched on a bluff right above the ocean. The classroom has huge windows overlooking Nye Beach and the sea beyond. As I proceeded and explained my methods and intentions, I only had to glance up and out for inspiration. You can see the seascape outside, in the photos below. I had a special visitors too. Joan Corley  and her brother in law Frank Issac drove down from the Hood Canal in Washington to watch! An effort like that means a whole lot to me, I feel like I`m communicating.
Also, I`m working out details to teach a two day workshop in Lincoln City this summer at the Art Center, early July maybe.

available work in my studio

Oregon Coastal Bog + Magnolias

                                                                 Oil on Yupo 12 x 42

My favorite wet place between the road and the river.
And magnolias from my past, they`re in bloom back home. The first flowering magnolia tree that  I remember was in April 1992 in Astoria, New York City. I was shocked to see something so extravagant in the wet, cold early Spring.

available work

Edge of the Estuary

                                                                  oil on panel 20x20

I arrived here in Winter and I`ll leave in Spring. One week to go before I go home.


available work

Rescued Forest

                                                                 oil on panel 20x20

This was a bland mostly black and white winter alder forest just days ago. I was definitely tired of it but before completely painting it out I used my desperation technique. After mixing a translucent pinkish-orange glaze in a cup, I poured it on the panel. Then I tilted it various ways as the liquid settled into the dry brushstrokes and ran off onto the table. Suddenly the game was on again! Something dusky and spring-like was the result.
If anyone interested is in Newport OR next Monday morning March 31st, I`m demonstrating my watermedia technique on Yupo at the Newport Visual Arts Center at 9 am.


available work