Back Entrance in the Afternoon

I passed a friend's house on a hot July afternoon and saw this wonderful light filtering through the trees. I couldn't wait to paint it. This is a very inviting scene.

oil 12 x 16

Garden Fountain

A restful scene in 100 degree weather. There is a robin on the edge of the fountain and I keep thinking that a small back Scottie terrier is peaking out from the curtain in the window at the lower left window.

oil 24 x 18

Porch with Crepe Myrtle

No one was sitting out on this porch on this hot July day, but I can imagine that it is well used when the weather turns cooler. Crepe Myrtle are in full bloom in Ft Smith all summer long -- great colors.

oil 8 x 10

Backyard Garden on North F St

In the Belle Pointe Historic area of Ft Smith a lovely garden has been developed over the years. I have painted several views of this garden and hope to do more as the seasons change. This was from a photo taken in July of this year.

oil 8 x 10

Garden Gate with Red Brick

I was walking in the Hillcrest area of Ft Smith when the sunlight through the wrought iron filligree gate attracted my attention. This is a back entrance to the property.

oil 16 x 12

Porch Study, Green on Gold

I loved the simplicity of this view -- just a part of the front of this house on Reeder St in Ft. Smtih.

oil 11 x 14

Immaculate ConceptionChurch Spire

All around Ft. Smith you see the lofty spires of several Churches rising above the Trees. IC is near the downtown area and nestled in the neighborhood. I walked to church and school until 8th grade in my hometown of Ferguson, MO. This view reminds me of all those years.

oil 16 x 12

The Drennen-Scott House in 2000

This house is now the Drennen-Scott Historic Site in Van Buren AR., renovated now and open to the public in May of 2011. I painted there with my class around 2000 before it was sold to the University of Ar Fort Smith. The house was built in 1838 by John Drennen, a former federal agent to the Five Civilized Tribes and founder of Van Buren AR. Only family members owned or lived at this property until the 2005 sale to UAFS.

oil 12 x 16

White River Dawn

In May I painting at a three day plein air event in Cotter AR. My friends and I got up early on the second day to paint the dawn. Across the White river from Linda's home, where we were staying was the Sportsman Fishing Lodge. Six AM and the fishermen were stirring just as the sun peaked over the trees. Painting fast was our job that morning. Linda brought us coffee while we painted and then made breakfast for us when the sun was higher in the sky. Thank you Linda.

oil 11 x 14

Walt's Garden Gate

When in Taos attending a workshop with Kevin Macpherson, the class was invited to paint in the garden of Taos artist Walt Gonske. His garden and home/studio were a wonderful treat. I painted this in July, 2011 when I returned home, from photos taken on site.

20 x 16 oil

Taos Hollyhocks

With camera in hand, I walked around the neighborhood near our vacation rental house and then painted this at home in July 2011. The wild fires were not near us, though the air was dry and hot and the sky was orange in the evening. The cool morning air was a delight.

16 x 20 oil

Taos Courtyard

June 2011 I attended a workshop with Kevin Macpherson in the Taos NM area with two friends. The class was a five day adventure in plein air painting, that is painting outdoors. On the third day we were painting in Taos and set up on the parking lot and I did a quick study of this scene. At my home studio I did this larger version from that study and some photos I took of the area.

16 x 20 oil

Holy Ghost River, Santa Fe Nat'l Forest

This large painting of the Holy Ghost River was done in my studio from a small plein air painting that I did on site in the Santa Fe National Forest. I used a painting knife and layered on the paint to simulate the rough texture of the bark on the fallen trees. Because it is a Nationl Forest the trees that fall are left in place to keep the area in a natural state. There are cabins on the road that runs along the rivers edge that have been there since the 1930's. The cabins must be maintained in good condition but can not be added too.

40 x 30 oil