"Low Water" 4x6 acrylic on masonite

A couple of weeks ago, I took a walk along a local river with my dad. Rod and reels in hand, we were looking for catfish... just a couple for dinner and maybe a few more to catch and let go. It was a good morning and we caught plenty of fish. As usual, I spent more time stumbling over the rocks with my camera than fishing. The river was in all her glory and my thoughts were swept away with the current of the low clear water. I knew right then I'd be painting several scenes from this short outing... and this is the first.
"Low Water" is #8 in my current series of minis and is now in a private collection.

"Dark Observer" 5x7 acrylic on masonite

When I started this series of miniatures, I wasn't sure how many I'd be able to complete before I got tired of them. As it turns out, I'm enjoying the hell of the work! It has allowed me to work on solutions to problems in composition and execution without the laborious undertaking of a large painting. I've been able to complete two on most weeks, which also gives me that boost from a sense of accomplishment I always feel when a painting is signed and ready for market.

"Hook, Line, and Sinker" 6x4 acrylic on masonite

I like painting fish. I started drawing and painting trout when I was very young, but now paint many different species of freshwater fish. I've always been fascinated with aquatic life and the goings on below the water's surface.
This bluegill study is in preparation for a larger painting to appear on the cover of Musky Hunter Magazine in the near future.

Maybe pan-fried bluegills and home-fries for dinner tonight... hmmmmmm...

"Grassland Whitetail" 5x7 acrylic on masonite

This is study #5 in my current series of miniature paintings. I love painting whitetails and this piece was no different.


To place a bid on this painting, click on the link below.

"Trout Water" 26x17 acrylic on masonite

Wow... this one was a long time coming! Started as a demonstration piece for this blog (see posts from October 2009), I originally intended the painting to include mountain bluebirds. But once I painted the bluebirds in, the magical feel of clear cold moving water and polished granite completely disappeared... and I was lost. I repainted the birds 3 or 4 times with almost no improvement and finally banished the unruly painting to the "future consideration" heap in the corner of the studio.

Finally, this morning after months of "thinking about it," I removed the bluebirds and PRESTO! The feeling I loved so much about this piece in the beginning was back. Funny thing about years of painting... it gives the artist the confidence to take chances, knowing full well any misstep can be corrected. It's a liberating feeling. So, when the birds were gone (flown away so to speak), I tweaked the colors a bit and finished the structure of the rocks on the stream bottom. When I stepped back, I knew it was finished... without those damned bluebirds!

"Toad and Moss" 6x4 acrylic on masonite

This is the 4th in my series of mini paintings. The eBay link will be posted here tomorrow evening.

"Winter Lady" 6x4 acrylic on masonite

During this unbearably hot stretch of weather, I thought it might be nice to mentally escape to a cooler place. I've always liked the color of the lady cardinals, though getting the subtle hues correct can be a bit of a challenge. I'll give the eBay thing a try again this Sunday evening, so when this painting goes up for auction, I'll post the link here.

I think it's supposed to be cooler tomorrow. We can only hope.

7/21/10 update: This piece is now in a private collection.

"Jack-In-The-Pulpit 5" 7x5 acrylic on masonite

This is study #2 in my miniature series. This piece is also slated to go on eBay Sunday eveing and I will post the link here.

Note: This painting was purchased before posting on eBay.