A Wall of Paintings

On one wall of my living room, I’ve tacked up some strips of wood so I can display my little paintings in a large group. It’s fun to have a place to put a wet painting as soon as it’s finished (or if I’m trying to decide what else it needs). It’s also fun for me to see what I’ve accomplished lately. Many of these have been in a show for the past two months, but, when I brought them home, I popped them out of their frames and put them back up on the wall. I think, together in one place, they look pretty cool.

“Late Afternoon Bricks”

6”x8”     Oil     Canvas Board

Today’s painting is quite a change from my recent plein air subjects. We set up our easels in a downtown parking lot late in the day rather than by the river or in a park. I really enjoyed the challenge of trying to capture this little urban scene in only 60 minutes. I especially like the oranges and yellows against the October sky. Not much detail…only enough time for the overall impression. I think it needs more power lines which I’ll add after it dries a little.

“October River”

6”x8”     Oil     Canvas Board

This was painted on the banks of the Buffalo River on one of those gorgeous October afternoons we were blessed with this year. I can still hear the rippling water and the breeze through the trees. The air was a little hazy from all the harvesting going on that day. I know the farmers in their fields were enjoying the day every bit as much as the painters at their easels.

Old Willow

6”x8”     Oil     Canvas Board

This is a very quick study of an old weeping willow down by the river. I only managed to work on it for about an hour and a half last evening before the light was gone and I was chilled to the bone. It’s amazing how cold you can get standing in one spot for that length of time. I also quit because I didn’t want to ruin the painting. I thought I would fix it up when it dried a little, but I think I’ll leave it just like it is. I like the wildness and freshness…kind of like the bent old tree itself, blowing in the wind.

Recent Plein Air Paintings

Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve posted anything. I have been painting with friends every Monday afternoon…just not finishing what I’ve started. I decided to add a few final touches to each and post them anyway, even if they’re not masterpieces.

“Spruce Shadows” - SOLD


6”x8”   Oil    Canvas Board

This one was painted in my friends’ driveway, looking through the hedge toward the street. I loved the strong light on the spruce trees, the purplish shadows, and the glimpse of houses and lawns through the hedge. I’m not sure someone unfamiliar with the spot would get all that from the painting. It’s hard not to try to include everything. But it’s so much fun to start with a blank canvas and end up with a little slice of nature and the memory of the sights, sounds, smells, and feel of a couple of hours spent painting.

“Garden Gate and Grapevines” - SOLD


6”x8”    Oil    Canvas Board

I painted this in another friend’s backyard, late one October afternoon. I tried to get the feel of the sun slanting through the gate and a sense of space in the suggestion of houses and rooflines beyond the fence. Even though I tried to simplify it all, it got pretty complicated. Each one of these little paintings is a step toward my goal of being able to capture what I see in a “painterly” way and, hopefully, let the viewer catch a glimpse of the time and place as I saw it. All this in one to two hours before the daylight gives way to dusk.

“Into the Sun” - SOLD


6”x8”    Oil    Canvas Board

I was captivated by the intense glare of the sun on the river this particular afternoon, and, having admired many other artists who successfully captured this effect, I decided to try it myself. But it was a whole lot harder than I thought it would be, trying to get that feel of blinding light. Mine almost looks more like moonlight. I’m going to try that, too, one day soon. “Try”…that’s the key word in all this.

“Dawn, Fishing Opener” - SOLD

Acrylic      16”x20”      Stretched Canvas
This is a piece I just finished for a group show at the Spirit Room in downtown Fargo based on the theme “Playing with Proportion.” I had dozens of ideas for possible paintings because, ever since I was a little kid, I’ve loved to imagine a world in which miniature things were life-sized or people were tiny compared to everyday things. With that in mind, everywhere I look in my house there are possibilities for paintings that play with proportion. I just kept coming back to the fishing theme and a story began to take root in my imagination. It’s the middle of May and the opening day of Minnesota fishing season. Someone has been counting down the days to this long-awaited event and is about to head out, having had their “Breakfast of Champions.” But there seems to be more to the story than that. Let your imagination complete the story any way you want. And pause to take a closer look around you today…there just may be more going on than you think. :)

“Woodland Path” - SOLD

Oil 6”x8” Canvas Board

A great place to paint is Buffalo River State Park in Minnesota…not too far from Fargo…easy to run over there for 2 or 3 hours. There are river views and prairie views and paths like this one that make you want to slather on the insect repellant and follow it to see where it goes. The tree in the foreground was glowing in the midday sun against the dark, mysterious shadows in the background. Right at the spot where I set up to paint this scene, there were at least 4 or 5 other great possibilities for paintings. My plan was to do quick studies, spending about a half hour on each one, and have several little “sketchy” unfinished paintings. But I got so wrapped up in this one, I had to stick with it and finish it and I’m glad I did. It will always remind me of my last day of summer vacation, 2010.