"Surreal Deal"

Late fall at Metro Beach. The leaves were all off the trees, but the duckweed was still a presence. It made for this unusual sight. Another alien landscape I've find in the Metropark. Can't wait for the snow. This will take on a totally different look. 

"Camera Obscura"

I found my Dad's old Polaroid camera and decided to do a painting of it. I quickly did the table and the background. Then I thought I'd work loosely and the painting came together rather quickly. I have several cameras around the house and I think I'll turn it into a series. 

"Pollen Nation"

It was a beautiful late summer afternoon and most of the foliage at Metro Beach was past its prime. Then I found these three plants, just past their prime. It still made a lovely scene. 

"Dark Shadows"

I saw this bizarre scene at Metro Beach Metropark. The green was duckweed, which had total covered the swampy areas. The late afternoon sun created dramatic shadows. I started this painting a couple months ago, but the shadow area just didn't look right. So I let it sit for a while while I figured out how to finish it. I finally decided to mix up a blue color for she shadow, then spread it on the canvas with a towel. Eureka! I think my solution sorta works. 

"A Hole in the Sky or a Sky in the Hole?"

It was an overcast fall day and the sky was just beginning to clear. I looked down at the pond and saw this interesting scene reflected in the water Aha! Now this would make a pretty cool painting. I think I pulled it off. 

"Hasta la vista, babies!"

When I saw this scene in front of our neighbor's house, it made me kinda sad. After all, couldn't they have made pies with the pumpkins? Then I remembered what a pain in the ass it was to make pumpkin pies from scratch the only time we did it. Ye,p they served their purpose. Adios, fellas!

"Wood Shark"

Saw this interesting log eat Metro Beach. It really looked like a shark! I decided that I wanted the viewers eye to be drawn to the log, I'd stylize the background. I think ithe technique was pretty effective. 

"Tool & Die No. 1"

We're definitely seeing the end of an era. Detroit was one of the industrial capitals of the world. Over the past 20 or 30 years, our manufacturing base has bottomed out. While there still are numerous abandoned factories, they're slowly and steadily being torn down. The area that used to be known as the "Tool & Die" district is seeing a similar fate. I've been documenting this part of town in photos, and now paintings. If you live in Detroit, I encourage you to check it out before it's gone. 

"Leaves. Sticks. Snow"

I like how snow makes a perfect backdrop for objects and compositions you'd ignore otherwise. Case in point. If these twigs and leaves had the usual natural background, I wouldn't have noticed the. But with the snow, they took on a simple zen-like quality. 

"The Eyes Have It"

While hiking this eerie little scene caught my eye. Yep, they really looked like a couple of creepy eyes staring at me. Ya just never know what you'll find when you're out traipsing in the not-so-wild woods. It's little vignettes like this that make me keep on exploring. 

"Leaf Symmetry"

Another little vignette I found while hiking at Stony Creek. I love the way nature poses its subjects. I couldn't have done a better job if I tried. I'm tempted to turn this painting into our annual holiday card. 

"Flora/Fauna Crossroads"

Went on a hike a week after a huge snowstorm hit. There was still a ton of the white stuff on the ground. The trail was super slippery, so we had to take it slow. This gave me an opportunity to really look at my surroundings. I spotted these tracks in the snow and speculate they're rabbit tracks. They could possibly be from deer. Anyone's guess. I'm not a hunter, so feel free to pipe in on the matter. 

"Bamboo-hoo"

My wife got this bamboo plant at a baby shower recently. I noticed it on our black marble-top counter late one afternoon. With the golden light coming from the kitchen window, it looked so dramatic. The granite was a bit tricky to paint. In the right light, it has an iridescent blue glow to it. And it also has a lot of pearlescent spots on it as well. I think I did an okay job capturing what it looks like. 

"Tower of Power"

As the city of Detroit comes back, we're losing some incredible old buildings in the process. One of the areas that still have a few interesting buildings is the Tool & Die area, near downtown. I've been documenting this area but it's sadly become a race against time. It won't be long before all these buildings are either town down, or transformed beyond recognition. I'll be committing some of my favorites to canvas from time to time. 

"Sun Day Morning"

Just one more from my trek around Three Mile Park. I know it sounds weird, but I can[t wait for it to snow again. So many dramatic scenes. Let it snow, let it snow let it snow!

"Three Mile Magic"

While walking through a local park, I enjoyed the interesting shadows the low sun created. The air was crisp and the bright snow made for some dramatic scenes. This was one of them