Hills, Lakes And Cattails

Fresh cattails, cool, blue waters and dry, brown hills dotted with trees always make for a nice landscape painting. This scene is typical in California during the summer months. Many people do not like the brown hills, but I do. During the spring, the hills are a beautiful green which most people like. Visitors are sometimes surprised to see so much dry land up and down the state. Ink and watercolor.

Totally Immovable

These huge, dry mountains and hills at the edge of a desert appear immovable. Over time they do move because of the pressures within the earth. There is a certain beauty to the dryness and blandness in this type of scene. Many do not like the dry look. I love it and the isolated feeling. Ink and watercolor.

Wise Old Gray Owl

This owl looks mean, wise and serious as he peers directly into our eyes. But, I have never met an owl who does not look serious. I do not even think you would ever find him ASLEEP. This owl was done quickly using an Ultra Fine Point Sharpie, shades of gray brush pens and watercolors.

Cattail Cluster

A loose ink and watercolor rendering shows a section of cattails on a quiet summer morning. A few birds are flying over providing the only noise that could be heard at this time. It was very peaceful and relaxing at the edge of this pond.

Painted Desert

After heavy winter rains, the desert sprouts its color of wildflowers. The color on the hills complements the colors on the desert floor as all the flowers display their beauty under the warm sunlight. Ink and watercolor.

Metal Chicken On Guard

This metal artwork is located at the front of the Wild Chicken Coffee House in Loomis. I had done a painting from the inside of the coffee house previously and I have shown it again below. This remarkable work of metal art stands as a symbol for this little coffee house and was just begging for someone to pay attention to it one day. So I did! I stood and sketched it on a bright, sunny January morning and I was not comfortable because it was so cold. As I was sketching I wondered why I was not doing this sketch on the many warm months we have here. Go figure. Doesn't make sense to me either.

Grapes 2010

This scene shows the plump, juicy and ripe grapes grown up here in Placer Country. Not only are these fun to draw but these grapes are used to make fabulous wine which I like to sip. This art sale was a first for me in selling so quickly. Friends came by the house to visit, saw it and bought it before I had time to put it into a frame. I normally have everything ready to sell but this was not ready the way I like it. The quick sale was nice, however. Ink and watercolor. SOLD

Downtown Colorado Springs

This beautiful old building in downtown Colorado Springs looks solid and grand as it shows it has held up in the difficult weather that soars thru this nice city nestled below Pikes Peak. I had only a short period of time to sketch this on site and I finished it at home using photo references. Ink and watercolor.

Crew Change

This was painted several years ago from a photo showing a crew change on an old passenger train somewhere in the USA. I barely remember the trains stopping in my home town many, many years ago. To me, there is an aura of mystery around a train that will soon be hundreds of miles away by days end. Ink and watercolor.

 

Gorky

This little dragon was one of several sketches I did on the long airplane ride from California to New Hampshire. I drew it from a magazine image and I changed it from the original quite a bit. I used Sharpies, Microns, Zigs and watercolor washes. His name is Gorky. Ink and watercolor.