Blue-water Waterfall, 2012

14x11 Acrylic on panel

Collection of Stan and Karen Martin

The Internet is a marvelous tool for obtaining instructional content. I have been enthralled by the resources offered for free. I signed up with WetCanvas.com, and as a result, I was offered an opportunity to be a student in live web classes that were recorded for subsequent paid distribution. The process put me "in touch" with Johannes Vloothuis from Canada. Johannes, a professional artist, offered insights that were significant to my development. I can no longer look at paintings without his "commandments" of painting coming to the front of observation. Although I went to art school, I never could make all the connections between what was taught and the application in a painting. Johannes has a way of integrating the two. I don't necessarily agree with everything, but that's because of too many years in art history. I do, however, appreciate him focusing my attention on 15 or so commandments--they tend to grow and morph over time.

This painting was the result of a class assignment to paint a waterfall.  I had never painted waterfalls, so it was a challenge. I never submitted this one for critique, but I learned from the critique of others' works--we all make the same mistakes. Someone once told me, "If we were all to confess our sins to one another, we would be stricken by the lack of creativity." So it is with mistakes in paintings; we all make similar, if not the same ones--novice and professional. Professionals look for and correct them, while the novice goes on unaware of their existence. Johannes taught us to look critically at our own work and correct the mistakes -- if not during the painting process, after our own evaluation. 

I like this painting that was painted with my artistic license to make it "real" rather than realistic.

Loess Hills, East of Logan, 2011

Collection of Conrad and Shirley Acebedo

8.5x11 Acrylic on  panel

One thing I like about painting--observation. Once you start the process of painting, your heightened awareness kicks in, and you see things differently. This doesn't just happen when you have a brush in you hand, but before and after. Subtle color changes and the value shifts used to create depth become beautiful in and of themselves. Marge and I struck out to find beauty on a late autumn day. We came across a back road--dirt of course. Who knows where, but there ist was--beauty of place. The moment is memorable as you see the beauty of color, value, line, and stroke. I can never go back to that place except in the painting. Photographs never seem to capture what is really there. Sure they are good for details of shape, but not color, value nor finding it again. Maybe a camera with a GPS would be good, but I don't know why; I have a painting.

Way West, 2011

14x18, Acrylic on canvas

Collection of Marv and Gloria Bailey

In the Winter Quarters Temple there is a painting by LaVoy Eaton which shows the Platte River and Chimney Rock in the early evening. It is a beautiful painting that I have enjoyed each time I was privileged to observe it. For those not of Nebraska, you cannot see Chimney Rock and water in the same scene unless it is raining. Nevertheless, with artistic license in hand I made a sketch of the general composition of the painting and decided to take my brush in hand to make a similar painting after his.  I chose to have it a little later in the day and with more color on the horizon.  One should never paint something just before a webinar on painting skies. You always will find something to correct and then correct again. I love living in Nebraska, and I had a Great Grandmother born in a wagon bed just down the road a bit during an overnight stop at Ash Hollow. There is always a story to tell along life's trail.

Bullfrog Basin, 2011

8x10, Acrylic on canvas
Collection of Joseph and Stephanie Moorman

In early June of 2011, Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha Botanical Center, sponsored a paint-out in the gardens.  Artists from all over the city showed up on a beautiful Saturday morning with portable easels in hand and paints at the ready,  They each positioned themselves along the pathways to paint that which they found most inspiring.  It had been a long time since I had painted plein air, so with some trepidation I set up my French easel and started painting.  I soon discovered my folly as Marge deserted me for less intimidating places.  I had forgotten mosquito repellent. What made me think that Bull Frogs would live where there were no mosquitoes. They don't!  I had paint all over my face as I would swat at the dreaded creatures. Well, I didn't contract West Nile Virus or anything of that nature, but I am not sure that the thicker parts of the painting do not contain encrusted bodies of my observers.

Forgotten Bridge, 2011

9x12 acrylic on panel 

Collection of Larry and Lauri Cunningham

When exploring the obscure areas of Nauvoo, IL on the East bank of the Mississippi River, we found an area that was used to drain the swamp to make the city. It still functions to eliminate water but has long been forgotten as serving as a bridge also. Beauty is where you find it, be prepared.

Recognition: Won an Honorable Mention in the Omaha Artists' Winter Art Show

Winter Fruit, 2011

10x20 acrylic on canvas

Collection of the Artist

Hoar frost appears silently and when the sun comes out disappears as it came, but in the brief moments of the morning its beauty must be enjoyed.

Ranch Cloud, 2010

8x10 acrylic on panel

Collection of the Artist

When visiting my uncle's ranch at Flaming Gorge, we saw the most phenomenal sunset "just for us--Tender Mercies."