Kane/sold

A friend from CT, a voice from the past, found me by this web site. After visiting by email, catching up on famiy things, she asked me if I did portraits of animals. While I have done a few in the past year -- one race horse, one golden lab -- it is not something that I really feature. However, she sent me some photos online and I was able to do this oil painting of Kane in time for Christmas. Maybe a new direction for me??

Fall Splendor/ sold

This is a plein air painting of a home in Ft Smith. To paint en plein-air is to paint on sight, recording the light and the feeling of that moment in time. This was in early November, 2009, sunny with a light breeze, the last good weather we had. I set up my easel for three afternoons from 2 to 4pm. to capture this image.

Mrs. Isabel T. Bass

Mrs. Isabel Bass graciously posed for the First Saturday Group at the Ft Smith Art Center. She is a life long resident of Ft Smith, involved with her church and her community. The day she posed for us she had returned just the night before from a trip with her friends for a church conference. Mrs Bass is 95, as she will proudly tell you. I have enjoyed meeting her and painting her.

Sara in Black and White

Sara posed for our portrait/figure group in her favorite shirt. I loved her profile with the strong sculptural shapes of her hair and shirt. This was done in the studio, from photos, a few weeks after the life study session.

Sara in Black and White, detail

This is a detail of the profile of Sara in Black and White.

Ray, life study

Ray posed for the First Saturday at the Ft Smith Art Center in August.

Brooke

Brooke is the daughter of a friend. She posed for my portrait class in July and this is my demonstration painting of her.

Ashley with Flying Cranes

Ashley modeled for the First Saturday Artists Group with a modern quilt as a backdrop -- I wanted to honor her heritage by using the image from an ancient Chinese scroll behind her. This painting won Best in Show at the competition for this event.

Philip

Philip modeled for a large group of artist on a Saturday in June. The First Saturday Artist Group is part of the Ft. Smith Art Center. We paint together every month -- plein air -- still life-- or portraits. Good companionship and good practice.

Quarry Reflections

A friend has this old quarry site on her family property. The day I painted there it was a cool April day, sunny, with turtles basking on the rocks and few snakes stretched accross the gravel road. I felt very isolated and alone even though I was in the city of Ft Smith, near the AR River.

Blue Barn in the Ozarks/sold

Driving on a rural road near Ozark, AR.
I saw this wonderful turquoise blue barn.
I took several photos of this wonderful setting and have painted it a few times.