"Big Red"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

There comes a day when you want to paint a cow.

From a farm in southern Georgia.

"High Over Pennsylvania"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

I was quite hypnotized last night watching one of my favorite TV programs - Aerial America, on the Smithsonian Channel.  I saw hundreds of paintings in my head - patterns and patchworks of colors and shapes - I just wish I could cruise over land like a bird.  With a camera.  Aerials get me so excited for someone afraid of heights.

Between the hours-long paintings I'm working on for an upcoming show, I am in need of letting loose, with no worries of details, no sketching, just swirling the oils around.  So with great inspiration from my favorite program, I hope to continue this series for a while and hope you enjoy the view.

This bird's-eye perspective is over the farmlands of Pennsylvania.  

This painting will be my last of 2016 - my 89th painting this year. 

~ and a Happy New Year to you.

"Caucus Country"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

An ode to the beauty of a simple, stately farmhouse in Middle America, Iowa.

"Haylight"

7 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

It's New Year's Eve and I'm gonna get a little personal for a change.

My year started with an evil gall bladder that eventually was removed.  I lost my brother who died too young.

A couple of months went by and after bracing for the third bad event to strike - I realized time was passing me by and I needed to dust myself off and get back to being positive again.

From that point, everything got better.  It always does.

This new painting is from one of the best moments of my year - as simple as it was.  I returned to my mom's family, after years had gone by of neglect.  My aunt and uncle still live on a peaceful, beautiful farm in Roxie, Mississippi - a place I visited all through my childhood.  My uncle took me for a spin on his ATV, out in the fields, through the woods, down to the creek and just as the sun was sinking, he stopped.  I didn't have to tell him how beautiful it was - the shadows, the oranges and golds, the peace.  He relishes this every day.  It was just a wonderful moment in my year.

~ Happy New Year to you and may you always relish the beauty in life's simple moments.

"George"

8 x 8"

oil on panel
nfs

I tried my hand on a more classic painting - an all-day cow affair.  What an awesome beast.  It is a gift.

"Leo"

5 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

This guy looked like a Leo to me.  Maybe he reminded me of Uncle Leo on Seinfeld.  Maybe a combination of several characters on Seinfeld.  Still, the best show on TV.

"Krystle"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

That sweet little blond tuft on her head reminded me of Krystle Carrington from Dynasty.  Another cow to make the afternoon fun.

"Violet"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

Hello to all - I trust you've enjoyed your holiday.  My aching back is healing nicely, thank you for your kind wishes.  I wanted to paint, I really did.  I squirted out my pizza pan palette of paint several times and nothing.  I don't know why.  My brain's been fried I guess.  To tell you the truth, it's nice to just chill in December for a change.  I spent most of my adult life as a picture framer and December was hell.   Now it's beautifully calm and I've enjoyed every minute of it.

My friend Neil Hollingsworth offered some photos of his to paint (thank you Neil) and I've been playing with cows.  Such great, natural sculptures - I'm in awe of them.  I'm doing more and I felt compelled to name each one, whatever comes to mind as I'm spending time with them.

This kicks off the first of many little studies I hope to get on with.  The juices are flowing again.  Yay.

"Pro Tractor"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

What I was dazzled with out west was the expansive views - seeing forever - noticing how color and tones define distance.  It's a whole other learning curve for me.   I tell you, if I lived in California, I'd be taking long drives all the time - out to nowheresville and back with my camera.  It's inspiring.  

This new painting is from southern California where the berry farms make the landscape look like patterned fabric.  I felt a little Van Gogh-ish with the brush, lots of pleasure doing this piece.

"Happy Little Clouds in Iowa"

4 x 4"

oil on panel

sold

After a long day of painting something a bit tighter,  I took a cue from the beloved Bob Ross and painted happy, little clouds in Iowa.

And now, for your moment of Zen....

 

(it's not what you expect and don't forget to turn up the volume)

"A Simple Life"

6 x 6"

oil on masonite
sold

Adding to my new series from a recent cross-country road trip - a plain, unadorned homestead in west Texas, along Highway 40.  I marvel at little houses like this one, plunked on the edge of an interstate, baking in the hot sun.  I love the somewhat-abstract surroundings and I especially love the see-thru from the front window to the back yard.  So simple.  So cool.

"Going Grey"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

On with the road trip series ATL to NYC & Back - a late afternoon on our second day on the road, destination somewhere around Reading, Pennsylvania - really beautiful landscapes along the way. Despite the looming grey skies, the saturation of the landscape colors was even more stunning.

Being a guest on Blog Talk Radio today was fun, I faced my fear of talking live to a large audience, so there. Truthfully, the hosts, Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry made it easy and I thank them for that. I really enjoyed it. If you missed the live broadcast, you can listen to the show here.

"Dirty Deed"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Continuing down a Pennsylvania road on the way to Reading, a tractor kicks up some dirt as we pass by. A new addition to my series ATL to NYC & Back.

"Stor-All"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

A new painting in my series ATL to NYC & Back - an Amish family's farm around Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

"The Grass is Greener"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

When I paint demos in my workshop, I get to do it fast and loose, which I love. I need that balance of both - working on the more-realized, detailed pieces and the come-what-may smaller ones. What I decided I'd do, as I'm sorting through close to 4,500 photos we took on our recent trip, is to paint a series of 6 x 6's of our adventures from start to finish - I'll call it ATL to NYC & Back.

Starting with the first couple of days on the road - driving east on the Lincoln Highway in Pennsylvania around Gettysburg, Lancaster, etc. This was a moment when the skies were dark and a storm was passing over, with a glimpse of blue skies above - yet the sun was shining on the green fields in the foreground. So beautiful.

Also wanted to let you know Zac & Joey have a new blog - a way for us to keep a diary of the two of them growing up. Please click here for your daily dose of cuteness.

"On The Road #2"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

Another landscape taken from a beautiful day driving around Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

"On The Road #1"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

I feel this need, almost every day, to put aside these more-realized paintings and loosen up with something small. I'm gonna try that for a while. For one, it keeps me sane - and two, I've got several road trips ahead of me that I'm hoping to save up for.

This scene is from some of the most beautiful farmland in Pennsylvania, around Lancaster County - where a good bit of working Amish farms add to the charm.

"Picnic"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

The one yesterday was an accidental result by the way - I was pleased with the top portion, the sky and treeline, and had done something totally different below that and hated it. I wiped that off and just wanted more simplicity - picked up the palette knife that I usually ignore and played.

Same with this painting - feeling out how to balance some tighter brushwork with some loose texture. Just exercising the brain - working through a block - enjoying the freedom.

"Guide"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

A very quintessential scene from Lancaster, Pennsylvania - an Amish horse and buggy trotting through the countryside.

"Mother"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

In the next few days, you'll see several new paintings inspired from my road trip thru Lancaster, Pennsylvania - where the Amish call home. This young mother and her children stand beside their new spring garden.