Croatian Shoreline And Village

This artwork was done from a photograph as an exercise in a class. The water did not turn out the way I wanted but everything else did.

One of the students brought photos of her European trip and we all selected a favorite to draw and paint. Fits into a 16" x 20" frame and is done in ink and watercolor.

Joshua Tree Hill

Joshua trees are predominate in this painting I call Joshua Tree Hill. These rolling, dry hills and climate are perfect growing grounds for these trees. Along highway 395 in southern California, this type of tree can be seen for miles along the roadway. Ink and watercolor.

The Magic Of Old Marquees

A great angle highlights this image of an old movie marquee. I plan to do a more detailed painting of this at a later date. This small theater sketch helps me determine what I need to do before I paint a larger final image. Ink and watercolor

High Country Beauty

A scrubby tree frames the brilliantly colored ridges in the high country in Arizona. The wispy white clouds are a sign that later on this hot afternoon, the dark thunder clouds may appear and drench the earth with a soaking rainstorm. 8" x 10" watercolor.

Giant Mushrooms

Nexus and Micron pens helped me draw this scene of overly huge mushrooms. I decided not to add watercolors to this and just go black and white.

I am thinking that when the huge dinosaurs roamed the earth in prehistoric times that perhaps everything else may have been huge like these mushrooms. An impossibility??? You never know.

Only A Ripple

This 8" x 10" watercolor painting was done because I like the elements of this countryside--mountains, trees, reeds and water. This is 99% watercolor and naturally I had to grab my pens to add some ink. It's almost a pure watercolor painting. The time of the year is autumn which is noted by the brilliant oranges, reds and purples. It's also the time of year when it is still very warm so the lake waters seem very refreshing. Watercolor with a dab of ink.

Flowers From Weeds

In an open field on my mother's vacant lot, I saw these beautiful little clumps of yellow flowers growing out of fresh green clumps of weeds. I believe it was yellow clover clumps. This is the first time I ever thought clover was actually good to see. It normally grows so wild it eventually ends up in flower beds and lawns. Ink and watercolor.

Beginner's Nightmare

Again, with some idle time, I began to sketch buildings with a vanishing point to practice perspective and give this city scene some reality. It turned out OK in my opinion so I added some color so I could post.

Perspective is so important in any drawing or painting. But, I am learning that learning perspective is a nightmare for beginning artists. Nothing worse than completing a time consuming painting only to discover the perspective is incorrect thus ruining your effort. Soon, I plan to do another session of simple perspective and my students are already fearing that class.

Pacific Ocean Lookout

My painting shows a spectacular view of a lighthouse structure somewhere on the bluffs in California overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The colorful banks, ocean waters and greens of the the trees make this a lively painting for ocean or lighthouse lovers. 16" x 20", Ink and watercolor.

Protective Pieces

People wear these pieces as a gesture towards gaining good luck. You just never know how much luck these talismans may bring. That's why I keep these pieces near me in case I think it's time to start wearing one. I'm not really superstitious but I do like the looks of some of these charms. Ink and watercolor

Boulders Are The Beach

Huge boulders become the beach of this cold water lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains. These lakes are totally surrounded by boulders and are perfect receptacles for snow runoff. The water remains very cold most of the year and maybe by August or September hearty swimmers can jump in and enjoy a very refreshing swim without the body going totally numb. For fishermen, these cold bodies of water make for fantastic trout fishing. Ink and watercolor.