Here's a great family. Brian and Gigi and the whole bunch of em'. This is a painting I'm looking forward to completing and they suit the informal approach I like to take in family portraits....more

Just finished "Slater Summer Daze-Don and Joyce Thornwall". This will help us celebrate Slater's 2012 4th of July. ...more

I know Mike and Chrishelle think I'm nuts. I've only scrapped Lauren's face five times from the canvas in search of the je n'se qua, or however you say that. I think I'm getting there after major surgery and the actual false promise of having compl...more

Just a few elements to add and touch up and about done. Becky and I have just 23 years to go to catch up to the Thornwall's. Congratulations! They will be much appreciated as Grand Marshall's for Slater's 2012 July 4th parade and celebration....more

I've begun to add in a carnival attending crowd. I'm planning to have a stilt walker among the group, lots of sparklers, balloons (hope I remember) and everything that makes the 4th a lot of fun. ...more

All finished! I think. ...more

So, I had found this very beautiful arched top frame at the antique shop here in Slater. Sheldahl Crossing, and so I put together a panel with a portrait. Not quite finished, almost. But it is one of my favorites. Thanks Shannon!...more

Progress as I continue to work on this painting for a deadline of March 1st. I'm planning for an active middle ground and the fun color of light that is always a part of the carnival atmosphere....more

One of the things that my wife and I enjoy very much are collecting books about the things that we enjoy most, for me it is books about art. For Becky, its books about knitting, basket making, bread making, working a loom, among other things. So we...more

Progress on Slater Summer Daze. The fun of the carnival, the ferris wheel. Slater will have a great 2012 4th of July celebration....more

Long way to go, yet, but glad to get Don's portrait started. We have a love of popcorn at our house, so I'll be anxious to get that looking properly. A ways to go also on the Ferris Wheel which is really just sketched in place right now so that I c...more

Starting to develop fireworks and the Ferris wheel. So far, so good!...more

I'm continuing work on the painting for Slater's 4th of July celebrations, "Slater Summer Daze, Joyce and Don Thornwall". A Ferris Wheel, Carnival, Fireworks, and popcorn. Just sitting here looking at the painting reminds me of many summer evenings...more

I started work on a very important project in October. This is a large oil painting for the Peoria Methodist Church. It's a small country church and it's been around for a long time. The painting is of a “Tree of Life” and has a number of members ...more

I had completed the previous version of "Day Dream" and I was bothered by two issues, one was the quality of light and lack of shadow, and the folds in Natasha's dress. I had handled those a bit clumsily, and so I determined to go back into the pain...more

Still debating about whether or not to include a chickadee. Anyway, about done. Just a couple of more touches of importance....more

Technically all art is about ideas, even if the art is about emotion, even the technically excellent work of art is also about ideas. Art literally opens a window into the mind. As Duchamp pointed out, it’s all about choices, and while the artist...more

I made some good progress today on Slater's 20th Anniversary painting. I call it "Story Time". Still a little ways to go, but I'm excited about the bookmarks. I guess I'm just one of those people who likes color. I had my eye on a frame I found...more

Well, we do appreciate our library and I've continued to work on this image to help celebrate. I'm starting to develop the Morning Glories in the background. Becky pointed out a bird resting on the trellis that holds our Morning Glories, so I t...more

When Damien Hirst's work, "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" becomes a part of any discussion about art appreciation, that discussion beginning, "you paid how much for what?", a dollar amount suggests a need to talk ...more