Shoe Yin Yang

12" x 12" Oil on Canvas.

For my Shoe Challenge painting, I thought I would create a Yin Yang symbol representing the business/formal vs. pleasure/informal sides of life. It was fun to paint. After I was finished I looked around and realized the white side is more commonly on the left.

(Sorry for the glare, I may retake the picture later.)

Last Light, near Tumwater Canyon

14" x 11" Oil on Linen
Available.


The last light of the day sent a shadow across the lower half of this stand of trees. The light slants down from behind the mountain. This painting is from the valley between Tumwater Canyon and Stevens Pass.

Mist Rising, Sky Valley

10" x 8" Oil on Panel
On Auction at DPW

As the sun lit the new layer of snow, a mist rose up from the valley.

Blue Bird Day

10" x 8" Oil on pumice panel.
On Auction at DPW

Saturday was opening day for Stevens Pass. It must have been a great opening day with clear skies and un-tracked snow. Skiers call it "Blue Bird."

The sky was so nice that a sun dog came out to play. The tree had to duck!

(It is probably more rightly called a sun halo.)

Aspen Glory

11" x 14" Oil on linen.

Available.

Just past peak color, with the afternoon sun filtering through thin clouds, the aspen groves glow with golden glory. 

Just above Tumwater Canyon on Highway 2...

Crooked Aspen

8" x 10" Oil on Linen.
On Auction at DPW.

The fall color in the Seattle area has been outstanding this year. On our nice drive over to Leavenworth, we spotted a beautiful grove of Aspen mixed with some evergreens. One of the younger trees had an amazing crooked shape alongside all of the straight ones.

Vincent's Christmas Tree

8" x 10" Oil on Linen.
On auction at DPW.

It feels almost too early to think about Christmas, but the Holiday Season is already starting. Scary Starry Night made me think of what a Van Gogh Christmas Tree would look like. The technique of leaving juicy strokes with varied color is fun.I think this will make a nice decoration for the coming season.

German Restaurant

11" x 14" Oil on Linen

Even though I am no fan of smoking, I zeroed in on this couple when looking at the DPW Challenge for painting part of a busy scene. I tried to keep the background simple and wish I had held back from detail overall. Mid-sized figures like this are indeed a challenge.

Chris at the Finish #2

12" x 12" Oil on Canvas.

Here is a second complete study of Chris and Jono in the chute with Chris Horner. They really were this close and the crowd along both sides is "crowding in" more. Now comes the time to choose the final format and what combination of the studies is a good plan for a larger painting.

Or Tea

9" x 12" Oil on Linen.
Available.

This is, of course, a matching still life for the Coffee and Cup painting from a few days ago. This small, heavy, Asian tea pot has a nice subdued copper color that I enjoyed painting. I have wanted to work it into a painting since I received it as a gift from my daughter. It will be interesting to see how these paintings look together once they have the same sheen. I may have to do some more touch up to harmonize them; I already did some to the Coffee pot painting tonight.

Square Study

Approx 5" x 5"
(Not for sale.)

This small square study shows another idea for Chris, Jono, and Chris in the chute. I think the project will continue with a larger version in this format. The goal is to give more of the feeling of the crowd on both sides.

Coffee and Cup

9" x 12" Oil on Linen.

Available.

This is the first of a planned pair of still life paintings. The unconventional composition choice to slice the cup is part of the plan for the other painting. When the other painting is done, I can see that there might be some revision for this one.

(Sorry for the glare on the dark wet paint.)

Chris at the Finish

18" x 12" Oil on linen.

This is a view of Chris Horner coming down the finishing "chute" at this year's Solvang Time Trial Stage of the Amgen Tour of California. The motorcycle should really not be here, but sometimes you miss the deviation turn. Oops! It almost looks like they are trying to beat the eventual winner to the finish line.

Do you like my party hat?

9" x 12" Oil on linen.

Sold.

My favorite book for several years was Go, Dog. Go! (well, at least when I was a child.) So when I pulled these two pears out to set them up for a still life, "Do you like my party hat?" came to mind. The bright Bartlett has an outrageous hat and the brown pear seems somewhat forlorn. The result does feel like a (mismatched?) couple arriving at a party.

Scary Starry Night

14" x 11" Oil on mounted canvas.

Sold.

For Halloween and the current DPW Challenge, I produced a mashup of a jack o lantern and Van Gogh's Starry Night. I used Carol Marine's cool carved pumpkin imagining it lit up from inside.

Yes, I was thinking about Don McLean's song when I titled the painting!