"Moonraker"

 

Not much to say about this one. I was out on a night walk and the full moon obscured by a tree made this dramatic visual. Proving once again, you just never know where an idea for a painting will come from. 

"Pine Tree No. 2"

 

Obviously the second in the series. I like they way the late afternoon sun adds to the character of the painting. 

"Pine Cone No. 1"

 

While hiking around my local park, I noticed a bunch of pine cones had fallen from the various trees. So I picked a few up thinking they might make an interesting study. I was surprised at the difference in the cones--so I decided to make it a series of sketch-paintings. Here's the first installment. 

"Green Manalishi"

 

After exploring downriver for old bank buildings, we decided to get off the freeway and explore Van Dyke Ave. for a bit. It's mostly vacant lots and a few old abandoned factories and tool & did shops. But we run across this cool old building. Who knows what it once was, but imagine a time when this kind of detail work went into something as mundane as a corner store or bar?!?! They sure don't make 'em like this anymore, that's for sure. Bonus points to anyone who gets the obscure reference in the title! 

"Dragon Fruit-3"

 

Cut the Dragon Fruit open and this is what it looks like. Was I surprised. I was sure it would be all red and look like a pomegranate. The flesh was an off white with these tiny black seeds. Pretty cool looking fruit for sure. 

"Dragon Fruit-2"

 

Here's the flip side of the Dragon Fruit. Such an interesting looking fruit. Next up, the inside! 

"Dragon Fruit-1"

 

Picked up a Dragon fruit from Trader Joe's. One of the weirdest fruits I've ever seen. Not even sure where they come from but they were pretty expensive. Almost five bucks apiece! But they look so cool it was well worth it! 

"Fossil #3"

 

A couple fossils I leave on our sideboard. I like the way the Trilobites link like they're chasing each other. Somewhere buried in our basement, I have several boxes of fossils. As soon as I find them, this series will continue. Until then, I'm pursuing other subjects. 

"Broomshadow"

 

I can understand why the late afternoon is called the Golden Hour. It just does magical things. And if you look around, you'll find all sorts of things to paint! Here's our upper hallway, which just happened to have a broom which created an interesting shadow. I'm not sure my shading worked out well. But rather than paint over it, I've decided to et it go as is and treat it as a learning experience. 

"Box of Licorice"

 

This clarinet has been in our family for a coupe generations. it was my brother-in-law's. Then my daughter played it when she was in school. It's ben sitting next to the piano no one plays for years. I thought I'd drag it out and paint it. While looking at it closely I realized what a complicated instrument it is. Whoever invented it was quite the genius! 

"Fossil #2"

 

This is a fossilized fish my younger daughter got from her grandparents. I though it would be a nice addition to the series of fossil paint/sketches. Many more to come, as soon as I find the treasure trove of fossils lurking somewhere in our basement.

"Fossil-1"

 

 After my series of Veg-A-Sketches and the winter paint-sketches, I wasn't sure where to turn next. I had toyed with doing a series of Roman and other ancient coins, but nixed that idea. Then it dawned on me that I have boxes of fossils that I collected as a kid. Why the heck not?! So this is the first in what I hope to be a whole series of paintings. 

"A Bottle in Front of Me"

 

I just love the shadows created by the early morning sun. I happened to catch what it did with this empty perfume bottle on the back of our toilet. Once again, you just never know where you'll find something interesting to paint!

"Owe Me a Coke!"

 

I love these old gas stations. Especially ones like this, where the office is in one building, and the service bays are across the way. This particular gas station has been in my hometown my whole life. I thought it was about time I painted it. I was out on a walk, the day after a snowstorm and I though it looked particularly cool. I painted it with a limited palate which I think gives it a more desolate and lonely feeling. In a way, it's a bit reminiscent of something Hopper would do. Just that he'd do a far better job than I did. 

"Branch Manager"

 

While I was busy photographing a bunch of roses, I looked down and noticed how cool the bottom of the vase looked. With the bright sun shining on it and the way the water distorted the stems, I though it would make an interesting painting. Proving once again, you never know where an idea for a painting is going to come from. You just can't give up looking!

"St. Ambrose"

 

This is the last of the Neo-Gothic churches in my hometown I'm committing to canvas. I may venture downtown and elsewhere for more inspiration. It's also probably one of the last of the nighttime paintings I'm gong to do for a while. Spring is just around the corner, so my nature hikes are going to start up again. Looking forward to painting Mother Nature again!

"Super Callas"

 

I just love the sensors shape of Calla Lillies. And the incredible range of colors they come in. These were a bunch I bought from my local Trader Joe's--it's my go-to place for inexpensive and exotic flowers to paint. 

"Heaven Sent"

The Bird of Paradise is one bizarre looking plant. It looks like something from outer space. I used the brightest palette I had in my arsenal, and it still doesn't appear as dramatic as it does in real life. This was in tone of the amazing greenhouses at Longwood Gardens. And it's just one of the many remarkable plants I photographed last Fall. Look for a lot more to come! 

"Orange Overdose"

The afternoon sun was so bright shining on a bunch of oranges, it was incredible. The reflection of the oranges was almost as bright as the oranges themselves. I thought Id crop the scene a little differently to make it more interesting. The bright spots on the oranges in the actually painting is a lot more subtle. So much for photographing paintings!

 

"Bosley B2"

 

I was saving this camera for the honored number 50! It's such a cool camera, I wanted to wait to paint it. Not only is the camera itself a work or art, I love the tan case with its name embossed on it in a real 1040's font/design. Now I need to work in earnest towards getting my collection of camera paintings published. If you know anyone in the field who'd be interested, please contact me. Wish me luck! 

"Gratiot-Eastwood Bank"

 

Another handsome old bank building. Geez, these things are everywhere! I can only imagine how many have been torn down over the years. And how many beautiful structures that have never been documented.