"McCutchen Run"

"McCutchen Run" 22x16 acrylic

"Rock Bottom"

"Rock Bottom" 5x7 acrylic

I love these little trout studies. I think I need to go fishing to get more reference material! :)

"Harbor Sunset"

Quick block-in

I always set goals for myself when it comes to my art. The big goal on the immediate horizon is learning how to paint better skies. Skies can be dark and brooding, subtle and quiet, or explosively brilliant. They offer a chance to add a splash of color to a painting than might otherwise seem obnoxious.


From my days of fishing the Buffalo Harbor area many years ago, this study depicts a November sunset over Lake Erie. It is the first of hopefully many more studies aimed at pushing my art to the next level. 

"Harbor Sunset" 4x6 acrylic

Steady Progress

"Stone Wash" 9x12 study

It's been a while since I last posted. There has been an unusual amount of concentration in the studio on a commissioned painting and I've done little else. The piece is a larger version of a small stream study (right) I did earlier this year and though progress has been slow at times, the painting seems to be coming along quite nicely. The current painting is 22x16 which is a fairly large piece for me.

22x16 block in

I've included images of the block-in stage of the painting as well as the first stage of refinement. At this point, I will probably set the painting aside for a week or two and come back for finishing refinement with fresh eyes.
I hesitate to move onto another project when this one is going so well, but I always paint better if I let it sit for a while.
While the larger painting will be similar to the study, there will be some distinct differences. The pool at the bottom of the painting will hopefully appear much deeper than in the study and some of the foreground rocks will be eliminated.

First refinement

 

History Meets the Arts 2013

"Middle America"

"Middle America" 5x10 acrylic

I get a kick out of trying new things with my art. This is not the typical "Bortz" painting, but a pretty cool piece nonetheless. This is the last of my minis for the History Meets the Arts show in Gettysburg (June 13-15). One more big one and I'll be all set.

The Bounty of Spring

Like a lot of outdoor types, I like to occasionally harvest a bit of the seasonal bounty the land (and water) has to offer... especially if it means a chance to cook an outstanding meal! I'm always on the lookout for morels the first couple of weeks of May. Most times they're not easy to find, but very much worth the effort. Last night the morels were coupled with freshly caught rainbow trout, both sautéed in a bit of olive oil with a dash of lemon on the fish. A couple of ice-cold beers were also required... one while cooking and the other while eating. It was terrific!