Artist's Statement

A quote from Grant Wood describes a condition from which he and many of us suffer: taking too much for granted. Wood said, "...To my great joy, I discovered that in the very commonplace, in my native surroundings, were decorative adventures and that my only difficulty had been in taking them too much for granted." Woods' words ring with truth. My goal as an artist is to capture the wonder of the often overlooked ordinary, the commonplace beauty around us, those little details that make all the difference in our daily lives. The rough hue of rocks, lush blue woodlands, weathered wood grains, and distant meandering dirt roads never cease to appeal to me. I attempt to share the beauty from which routine blinds us. My work can be purchased on ebay or by contacting me personally.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Skiing Santa 16x20 125.00

This guy is irresistable, anytime of year. I can remember thinking Christmas would never come. Now, the event slips up on me before the Thanksgiving table is cleared. We have managed to turn the joy into drugery; God forgive us.  

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Green Bottle,Crock, and Fruit 8x10 $60.00

Glassware is always a challenge when painting a stilllife. I like this study because of the interesting color combinations

Santa Fe Light 8x10 $60.00

I never tire of studying my Santa Fe photos , admiring the colors and sunlight. Of course, photos always flatten the values and much of the impact is lost, but I have to compensate when painting. The only solution is to return to this place and paint on location. ...maybe...someday. Let's hope.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Light Play 8x10 $60.00

While in Santa Fe, NM, I fell in love with the stucco architecture which assumes a peach glow in the desert sun. Combined with blooming flowers, these incredible colors were fascinating to me. --truly lovely.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Bald Rock, Rear View 8x10 $60.00

Cheaha State Park, near my home, is one of Alabama's best kept secrets. Offering noteworthy views any time of year, especially for plein air painting, the park is well-worth the trip . This view is looking out toward Bald Rock's panoramic view; however, the scene is as it appears from the trail through the woods, not from the summit itself.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Teapot and Fruit 8x10

Blue and white dishes are a long-standing fetish of mine. I have a difficult time refusing their purchase. Now, however, I simply paint them, much cheaper.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Blue Vase and Fruit 8x10

The power of simple is often underestimated, as in the case of this blue vase and yellow pear. One of the traps of painting is the tendency to include too much detail and clutter. Often I fall into this trap and ruin a potentially nice composition. More is not always better.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Little Brown Jug 8x10 $60.00

Pottery of any kind is always a favorite in stilllife paintings. The varied colors and surface textures provide an ongoing experience in the painter's craft. This small painting is big on impact with the reflection in the shiny brown surface of the brown jug and the stark contrast between the colors of the objects. Of the studies that I still have on hand, this is one of my favorites.