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.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Apple Pitcher 5x7 50.00

I've had this pitcher for a long time and bought the plant this past summer. I liked these two together. Must have been the polka-dot flower pot that cinched it. I'm trying to use items around the house for quick studies. This one was a lot of fun to paint.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

TN Outbuilding 8x10 $60.00

My painting buddy and I spent the entire day in the same spot. When we wanted a different scene, we simply turned around the opposite direction. This is just a ordinary view seen in rural areas everywhere, a dirt road among trees. However, to me there is something appealing about the ordinary, the wonder of the ordinary. May I never cease to amazed by the "ordinary" beauty around me.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Potting Shed 16x20 $100.00

I love the colors of clay pots against greenery. Having painted clay pots on many occassions, I  should tire of them, but I don't. This arrangment of clay pots against a wood-grain background reminds me of the pots that I store on the my patio. These are empty like mine, waiting for spring. Potting Shed is a recent piece that has special appeal to me.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Shady Lane in TN 8x10

Life's joys come in various forms. One for me is plein air painting. This study was done one morning while camping in TN. My painting buddy and I saw this beautiful old church that was painting-worthy. Her husband, our faithful and patient driver, put us out. We stayed most of the day, enjoying this location thoroughly. This road was behind the church with some great background in the distance.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Creekside in TN 8x10 $60.00

We camped for a week near Cades Cove, and everyday the afternoon showers fell. Painting outdoors is a wonderful experience, but not in a steady downpour. We listened to the forecast and decided rather than lug our painting gear to our chosen location, we would paint near the campground. The nearby creek was pleasant enough; in fact, the view was lovely. The moral of the story is that beauty can be found in our own back yard, if our eyes are open. I need to keep my eyes "open."