Painting Practice, a Warm Fall Day

This was supposed to be a practice piece, but I turned it into a full painting. Just could not stop myself  😊

I really enjoyed doing this piece. It looks like the water goes even further back in than what it shows. Maybe a good place for ducks to hide, feed, or nest. Though the sun is shining, I can feel the crisp fall morning air and it turns my thoughts to hunkering down for the winter with my paints and brushes, a crackling fire and my pup keeping me company. Well, still a month of good days to enjoy outside.....

"Autumn at the Creek-side"

12" x 16"

Oil on canvas

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Pretty Cactus Study

These young cactus plants were growing and beginning to blossom in my brother's back yard south-east of Tucson AZ, when I visited there in late winter this year. I have fallen in love with the scenery of this area of Arizona!!

"Young Cactus Study"

8" x 10" oil 

San Xaviar Mission

I met up with my cousin and began a pleinair painting of this mission south of tucson AZ late this winter. It got too hot too soon, and we weren't able to accomplish enough to call it plein air. I finally finished it back at my home in PA today. I loved the white crispness of the building, especially the left side, which has been undergoing the enormous task of a facelift. 

"San Xaviar Mission"

9" x 12" oil on panel

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Back Roads of Ajo, Arizona

I visited these roads while staying in Ajo last winter. Such fun was had in my little 4wd Rav4! Traveled many roads and washes and used-to-be-roads.  I loved fining the birds sitting atop the saguaro, hoping to catch some scurrying creature for his last meal of the day.

"Desert Sentinel"

14" x 7" 

Oil on stretched canvas

(private collection)

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Sun Going Down in Zion

"Sun Going Down in Zion"

A 10" by 14" section of a 10" x 20" painting

Oil on stretched linen

As my time comes to a close here in Arizona, I needed to put this up unfinished until I travel back to my home state of Pennsylvania. I will post the completed painting when done. 

(wishing all my time could be used in painting :-/ )

Thanks for viewing!

Lemons 'n Blueberries, an Original Oil Painting

Spring has been in the air lately and I decided that for a moment at least, I would deter from the dead trees of Winter. Lemons always summon thoughts of freshness, and what more appropriate time than Spring! Add a few blueberries as a reminder that on the heels of Spring comes Summer and its bounty!

"Lemons 'n Blueberries"

5" x 7"

Oil on Canvas panel

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Comments are always welcome!

Studies in Shapes and Shadows -Tree #2

Another interesting (to me) tree shape. I could not pass this very unique tree shape that I spotted from about 50 yards away as I was driving through BLM land in Quartzsite, AZ. The dead trunk, bleached by the sun's hot rays, and the many diverse knot holes piqued my interest. I liked one friend's interpretation of it, "almost see a woman with long hair, dancing... and throwing her arms around."

"Tree Skeleton - #2

5" x 7" 

Oil on canvas panel

 Thanks for viewing!

Studies in Shapes and Shadows-Tree #1

I am intrigued by the "tree skeletons" here as I travel the southern portion of Arizona this winter.I decided that doing paint studies of them would give me good practice on rendering shapes and shadows. I love how they twist and turn!

"Tree Skeleton #1"

8" x 10" 

Oil on canvas panel

Thanks for viewing!

In honor of Valentine's Day

 I painted this for a submission to one of the art groups I am involved with. The subject for February was something red, in celebration of Valentine's Day.

"Abandoned Hearts"

 I had fun doing this painting. I imagined a couple of young, in-love kids.... carving their initials in a heart on the tree.  I imagined their life together; getting married, buying their first pick up truck (an old beater but in good running condition), raising a family...... Possibly the young children were permitted to ride in the back of the truck, but eventually the growing family needed a bigger car. The old truck was parked down at the back of the property by the tiny stream.

 Years later, the parents pass away, and the now adult children are called upon to disperse of the family holdings. As they walk around the property, they come across the old relic, and maybe for the first time, see on the tree the carved declaration of their parents young love for each other.... 

Sweet memories are made of things like this.

"Abandoned Hearts"

8" x 10"

Oil on stretched canvas

This painting is available

If interested you can reach me by email listed on my sidebar.

Thanks for viewing!

First Painting of the New Year 2017!

I left home in my motor home on Oct 22 this winter, Glad to be out traveling again, I had to learn the new rv and all its perks, continue training my 5 mo old boxer pup, Sasha, and try to unwind from the hectic summer and fall. As I entered Arizona on a cold day in December, I knew it was time to dig out my paints again. This scene of the windmill near Willcox, just off of I 10, begged to be painted. I knew I would encounter greater, more majestic mountains on my way west, but I could not pass up this typical scene. I did add the cattle, but the rest is pretty much as I saw it.  The land here supports as little as 1 cow per every few acres as the vegetation is so sparce. Wind was blowing, blades were humming, and cattle were on their way to the water hole...... 

"Heading for Water"

11" x 14" 

oil on stretched canvas

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I hope you enjoy my paintings, and that it might bring pleasant thoughts to some...

Thanks for visiting!