May Flower Love

12" x 9" watercolor on 140lb. Canson

Another watercolor floral.

Mother's Day - 2008!

Happy Mother's Day 2008!

I posted this picture last year of my dear Mom and I. She was a truly genuine, loving, kind woman and I miss her more with each passing year. To all out there who are fortunate to still have their Mothers around, please never take her for granted! When she is gone, it is a very empty feeling in your world. Enjoy every day with her!

Canyon Light

5" x 7" oil on canvas panel

A colorist-type rendition of an interior canyon scene. Brilliant sunlight bounced off the mountain formations and deep, violet/blue shadows made a nice contrast.

Jungle Bird

12" x 9" oil on museum board

I started this one off with a warm orange/red underpainting. After the basic structure and values were put in, I followed with thick/impasto applications.

Hawaiin Sunrise

7" x 5" watercolor on Ampersand aquaboard panel

Was a nice, warm day here in Dallas yesterday, so wanted to do a warm painting. This one is the result. Again, shape and negative 'cut-out' painting rule here.

Texas State Bank Show

These six pieces were selected to be shown in the local display at Texas State Bank. C/W from top left: 'Companion', 'Different Worlds'. 'Central Park, Lewisville, TX', 'NYC: Foggy View', 'Boats at Dawn', and 'Morning Stroll'.

March Madness II

7" x 5" watercolor and gouache on Aquaboard

A different interpretation of my March Madness from the other day. once again, going for interesting shapes and negative painting concepts.

Cathedral

12" x 9" watercolor on 65lb. sketching paper

Another quick study for a (hopefully) larger painting later on.

Right now just working on large shapes and playing with color more than subject matter.

March Madness

12" x 9" watercolor on 65lb. sketch paper

This is a quick study piece showing a mound of wild flowers and weeds thriving in the warm weather we've been experiencing lately. These quick sketches are used to construct larger, full-scale works later.

Trees!

9" x 12" watercolor on 140lb. Arches HP

Another example of 'negative' painting where darker shapes are cut in after lighter wash shapes are first put down. A mind's-eye view of a deep forest scene.

Hot Park

9" x 12" watercolor and gouache on 140lb. Arches hot press

A warm painting for a cold winter day. Warm color is abundant, with just a bit of cools mixed in to give some contrast.

Nurturing a child's artistic talents

My 'muse' is taking a snooze of late. I have many ideas yet to execute with paint. These ideas keep me awake at night with wheels spinning and not being able to rest. I pay for it the next day, but I'll soon get them out of my system and down on paper or canvas.

I have been thinking about the way children approach art and painting. They just do it - no fear of failure or criticism. Proportion, value, color, and design 'rules' are usually ignored, but that's not necessarily a bad thing! They put their feelings, meanings, thoughts into their work, and don't worry about making others happy. They do it to make themselves happy and to give themselves a creative outlet that's so important.

So, I encourage parents to do this: if you have a child that shows even the slightest inkling of interest in painting, buy them a set of cheap paints, a few inexpensive brushes, and a decent pad of watercolor paper (say, 9" x 12" size). Reeves makes an inexpensive brand of watercolor, acrylic, and oil paints in sets of 12 to 18 colors. Canson makes good, cheap (inexpensive) watercolor paper. These can be found in Micheal's or Hobby Lobby stores, along with inexpensive brushes.
Let your kids experiment and delight in applying paint to paper. Let them dream, create, invent, and expand their world via painting. It doesn't cost much in a monetary sense, yet it can have a profound impact on their sense of self. Be that catalyst to spark the artistic side of their lives, even if you think it might be a waste of time.

Who knows what might turn up?

Island Sunrise

8" x 10" oil on primed museum board

Another impasto oil done with knives. Lots of fun and enjoy working with color mixtures and textures. I'm ready to try this on a larger scale soon!

Flowers for a Winter Day

10" x 8" oil on canvas

Hopefully I'm pretty much back on track and can continue to post regularly. This is an impasto floral done entirely with various painting knives.

VACANCY

Hi.

Nope, I haven't disappeared. I'm making some 'adjustment' in my life at the present time, thus no new posts as of late.

Come back soon (end of February). More new stuff is being kicked around in the old noggin. I'll post it here as soon as it's put on canvas or paper!

Thanks for waiting.

DK 2/7

Harbor Town

18" x 24" oil on cardboard

A whimsical seaport scene. Thought I'd post some more oil paintings, since

I'd been posting watercolors lately.

Untitled

18" x 24" watercolor and gouache on 140lb. Canson CP

Here is an impressionist landscape done in the style of Cezanne.

A.M. Delivery

11" x 15" oil on poster board

A city-wide view of an early morning delivery truck.

Citrus Trio

9" x 12" watercolor on Arches 140lb. cold pressed

A quick still life done in the 'Charles Reid' style. Splattering is a lot

of fun!!

Foggy Morning

5" x 7" watercolor on paper in Moleskine sketchbook

I'm continuing on with these small studies while I move my studio to a new location. Here is an impressionistic view of an early morning sunrise through the fog.