Trumpet Vine

Trumpet Vine

$100

Oil on Canvas

8 x 16 ianches

2009

Auburn, Alabama

I have had this long narrow canvas for a while and have always wanted to paint a landscape on it. So many times I picked it up only to “chicken out” and go for another 8” x10”.

This time I took it and was determined to paint a picture on it. I decided to go to the forest on the University grounds that the Forestry department manages. It is mostly treed and had lots of trails. I have walked it many many times with the dogs and found it a very peaceful place.

I spotted the trumpet flower vine when I parked the van and I examined it for several minutes. It had such a long arc through the bushes with a simple grouping of three flowers on the end. It was perfect for a long canvas.

Pears

Pears

$100

Oil on Canvas

14 x18 inches

2009

Auburn, Alabama

I was having a difficult morning. No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t motivate myself to paint. I went to Keisel Park in auburn and thought I would find something but still no motivation.

I sat under a shade tree for an hour really getting down that I couldn’t paint. There was a pear tree about 15 feet from me and I was fascinated by the light on the leaves and pears. I wondered whether such a chaotic grouping could be painted. After talking to a friend who assured me it could be done I set up in the blazing sun and started.

All was going well until a car pulled up in the parking lot near by and a couple decided to have an hour long spat. I wish I had my ipod at the time. I focused through the distraction and was pleased when I finished.

Irises

Irises

$100

Oil on Canvas

11 x14 inches

2009

Auburn, Alabama

This was a painting done for my Tuesday Art Class. I really just wanted a simple floral with an equally simple color scheme, in this case yellow and purple.

It worked well and the class enjoyed painting it.

Pebble Hill

Pebble Hill

$100

Oil on Canvas

8 x10 inches

2009

Auburn, Alabama

Pebble Hill is an old house that sits right across the street from my studio. I have wanted to paint it for years but being so close to the studio I usually talked myself into going in to work on a portrait.

I started this painting at dusk and liked the hot color on the house. However the sun was falling fast and I had to be even faster. Colors changed, shadows disappeared and soon it was moving toward dark.

I finished as the last bit of light faded from the sky and packed my easel in the dark.

Unknown Flower

Unknown Flower

$100

Oil on Canvas

8 x 10 inches

2009

Auburn, Alabama

Finding a subject is both exciting and frustrating. In this case I was once again clueless on what I was going to paint but I decided that I would find it with in a small area. I searched around and had several possibilities. The big problem was the abundance of green, all the same shade.

Then I saw this weird flower all by itself hidden behind several branches of over grown privet. I moved the branches and tied one back to get a better view of the flower.

I worked fast because the mosquitoes were very active. I tried to keep the focus on the flower and rely on contrast over color to get the painting.

Where are the Horses

Where Are the Horses?

SOLD

Oil on Canvas Panel

5x7 inches

Fall, 2006

Creekwood Drive, Auburn, Alabama

Just outside of Auburn, there is a road that goes to a friend’s house. I have been drawn to it many times because it has these wonderful horse pastures with shade trees scattered about.

On this particular day, I was out to paint horses and there were several hanging out quite peacefully beneath the shade trees. They were so tranquil that through my whole setup not one of them moved.

At this point, I felt sure that they would stay put and I would paint the area under the trees to have the shadow shapes falling as I wanted. I could happily put in the horses as the finishing touch. Well, like all great plans it didn't happen as I hoped. Just as I completed the landscape, the horses quietly walked out of the picture one by one and over a hill where I couldn't even see them.

Spring

Spring

SOLD

Oil on Linen

8x10 inches

Spring of 2005

Greystone Mansion, Auburn, Alabama

It still amazes me when I see daffodils blooming in February. Alabama has the most beautiful spring of any place I have ever been. It's warm but not hot, everything is in bloom, and the flowers are well planned out in the planting phase. When some blooms are ending, others are beginning and the beauty seems to last forever.

People often ask me what spring is like in Ontario, Canada. Well, after a long hard winter, the snow usually melts quickly from rain into a dirty blackened mess. Then just for fun, it all freezes again. Once the snow melts for good, you go out in the yard and find all the toys , mittens, hats etc. that the kids lost in the snow and all the presents from the dog which remained freezer fresh for the last three months. After about two weeks of flowers and rain, the bugs come out. Yes, I like spring in Alabama!

This little still life was a whim. I had picked the daffodil and had it in my studio. I looked around for a suitable container and all I found was a small plastic jar. It needed something else so I went out and picked a tiny rose.