The Wonder of It All

Years ago my friend Jessica Stone (author of Doggy on Deck and several children’s books) gave me a photo of the falls at Yellowstone National Park that I always thought would make a wonderful subject for painting. Happily I finally got around to working with it. I tried to use a more impressionistic style than my usual realism.

Original painting. Acrylic on canvasboard, 12 x 9 inches. Completed 7-23-2007.

SOLD

I hope this peach looks as delectable as it tasted. Thanks to Nancy Simmerman, my friend and neighbor, for growing this wonderful piece of fruit and sharing it with me.

Original painting. Acrylic on canvasboard, 8 x 10 inches. Completed 8-30-2007.

Simmerman Collection.

Posters, prints and greetings cards with this image can be ordered online.

A little chickadee found some cat fur stuck in crevices of the doormat on my front porch last spring. He repeatedly got within about three feet of me as he came back over and over to get every last bit. He was bravely determined to make a soft and warm lining for the nest where his babies would grow up. He made about eight trips back and forth to the nest he and his partner were building in a tree behind my house. For this painting, I changed the setting to one more natural than my doormat. I think this would make a good painting for a child’s room.

Original painting. Acrylic on canvasboard, 8 x 10 inches. Completed 8-27-2007.

Covert-Bowlds Collection.

Posters, prints and greeting cards with this image can be ordered online.

I’m definitely no expert, but I think both these gulls are about a year old. That’s why their coloring is patterned and mottled. As near as I can tell, the gull on the left is probably a Western Gull and the one on the right is a Glaucous-winged Gull. (If you think that is incorrect, please let me know.) Glaucous-winged Gulls are seen frequently in this area, while Western Gulls are seen only occasionally. I liked the pattern of the piling heights in this image, giving it nice depth.

Original painting. Acrylic on canvasboard, 10 x 8 inches. Completed 8-26-2007.

Lane Collection.

Posters, prints and greeting cards with this image can be ordered online.

I have a large pot on my deck rail where some black currant cuttings are taking root. I was pulling a few small weeds that had also started growing, and was startled when one of the “leaves” moved on its own. Looking closer, I saw this little fellow about the size of my thumbnail had somehow gotten into the pot. We were both clearly curious about what the other was doing. I took the pot to a nearby area where ferns and rhododendrens would offer him cover and let him hop out. He kindly stayed around for a few minutes so I could take some photos with my macro lens about an inch away from his nose. Pretty brave for such a small being! This painting shows him many times larger than he really is.

Original painting. Acrylic on canvasboard, 8 x 10 inches. Completed 8-18-2007.

Hohl Collection.

Posters, prints and greeting cards with this image can be ordered online.

One evening I was waiting for the ferry on the mainland at Gooseberry Point and saw this incredible sky. I had been feeling a little depressed, and the breathtaking view of the enormous storm clouds parting to reveal blue sky above was uplifting. It inspired hopefulness. As always, nature provided just what I needed at that moment. All I had to do was take the time to receive it.

Original painting. Acrylic on canvasboard, 24 x 20 inches. Completed 8-17-2007.

Available $250.

Posters, prints and greeting cards with this image can be ordered online.

For her high school graduation, I took my daughter to Tuscany, Italy. It was a terrific vacation, and two years later we went back again. We flew into Pisa, and stayed overnight at a small but wonderful hotel on some maze-like back streets in a small village by the sea. The next morning we began driving down the coast south of Livorno. We were enchanted by Calaguria–the castle, the wonderful red sandstone, and the tremendous churning of the waves (though the weather was mild). It was a memorable experience.

Original painting. Acrylic on canvasboard, 12 x 9 inches. Completed 7-29-2007.

SOLD — Dammons Collection.

Posters, prints and greeting cards with this image can be ordered online.

This spunky little fellow comes by my house with his mother nearly every day. At first he would sprint around in every direction with his mother trying to keep him in sight, but now he has learned to keep her nearby on his own. I surprised him when I approached a few days ago. He started to run, then turned to look at me, curiosity overcoming fear. He planted his feet firmly, stretched his head tall, pulled in his chin, and looked every inch like a tiny version of the buck he will someday be.

Original painting. Acrylic on canvasboard, 24 x 20 inches. Completed 7-25-2007.

Artist’s collection.

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I love to garden, and am constantly amazed and inspired by the beauty and generosity of what nature provides with so little effort on our part. I had harvested these vegetables (zucchini, carrot, young yellow onion, and Cylindra beet) and laid them out on the cutting board to make a stirfry lunch, but just had to capture the image first.

Original painting. Acrylic on canvasboard, 24 x 20 inches. Completed 7-10-2007.

Covert-Bowlds Collection.

Posters, prints and greeting cards with this image can be ordered online.