September in the Smokies oil on tile 6 x 6

 The trees have just a hint of change as september reaches the Smoky Mountains, haze is ever present, softening the edges of the hills and soft mounds.

April in the Mountains oil on tile 6x6

  Another in the series-some spring thaw but cool colors predominate.

Coki Beach That Way? oil on canvas board 8 x 10 (available)

   I was walking along the beach in St Thomas when out of the corner of my eye I noticed this scene, with my camera ready took the picture capturing the moment. I took some liberties with the scene, but loved the character leaning over the railing, the visitor leaning towards our center figure and pointing, as in asking directions. Rounding out our scene is the cook in the background, busy preparing the food, unaware as to what is happening around her. The colors are caribbean and serve to contrast our figures wearing light colors, predominately white. I have also been working on a large painting of the same scene with again some further liberties. Watch for it.

Spring oil on tile 6 x 6

Another in a collection of oil on tile, most with a soft feel, colors muted and blended giving a almost glazed glass window feel-some of the others that will be posted  lend themselves to almost a Tiffany glass feeling with purple and rose-but will discuss them when posted.

Winter Dawn oil on tile 6 X 6

  Cool colors with a pastel feel-again soft edges, much to the imagination of the viewer, but one can sense a mountain shrouded with mist and the soft colors imbuing the sky with rose and reflecting onto the snow.

Untitled 6x6 oil on tile

  Another in a series of impressionist, soft almost abstracted paintings on tile. I like the texture and the soft colors.

Autumn 6 x 6 oil on tile

   Soft almost abstract oil of an autumn scene in the mountains, mist hanging heavy.

Mountain Hike Oil on tile 9.75 x 9.75

    This painting-a frequent composition as close readers of this blog may recognize is done with a different media and color scheme. Here the tile lends itself to some of the muting of colors with the distant mountains-perhaps the goal of our hikers- enshrouded in an atmospheric haze. The trees are strong verticals while the diagonal slope draws us to out hikers.

His Last at Bat Oil on canvas 8 x 10

   This is a gift for a good friend and his wife who are great fans of Stan the Man Musial. This hall of famer represented the epitome of class and grace among professional athletes. During his long career he remained a St Louis Cardinal and was never thrown out of a game. When he retired in 1963 he held 17 major league and 29 National League and 9 All-Star Game records. Imagine an athlete after a bad season  returning some of his salary-despite it not being part of his contract! Stan the Man did and as such represents the ideal. This painting is a tribute to him, to his family, and the professionalism in sports that is a generations past. It is taken from a black and white photograph of his last at bat-he singled there. There is the tension between Stan poised to hit, the catcher awaiting the ball and the umpire in position to make the call. The blurred edges lend to a sense of movement. The colors those of a autumn day.

"On Guard II" Oil on canvas 18 x 24

   I love this painting-unfortunately my multiple efforts at capturing the colors accurately with my camera fail to match the colors of this painting. The background has a more reddish warmer hue while the lion on guard at the Art Institute of Chicago is more green, offering a better contrast to the background. The strokes here are loose and bold, with subtle color variation especially in the shadow portion of the underbelly-there there is a mix of purple, green and blues in various hues.

"Vernal" Oil on tile 6 x 6

  A very loose almost abstract painting to capture a spring-early summer lake with mountains in the background.

"Imposter" OIl on canvas board

  In Chicago the Art Institute Lions are adorned with various sporting gear during a championship run. During the NFC Championship run this year the Chicago Bears adorned the heads of our imposing lions. I thought it would be fun to switch them to the opponents team, as if some pranksters imposed their will and wishes during the night. Needless to say my friends and family here in Chicago found this somewhat less than amusing! But it was fun to do.

Art Institute Lion Oil on tile 4x4

   This is the second in a series of Chicago Landmarks-obviously one of the lions from in front of the Art Institute of Chicago on Michigan Avenue. You may notice a strong resemblance to a previous posting-On Guard-is it a similar composition.

Marshall Field's Clock oil on tile 4x4

   This is of the former Marshall Field's clock on State Street in Chicago-a city landmark, and although it is now owned by Macy's-to natives it remains the Marshall Field's clock. This is a frequent composition but expressed in a new medium-floor tile-at the suggestion of my wife. I am doing a series of these of Chicago landmarks and then will either see them in a framed collection or separately-have not decided yet.

Abandoned? oil on canvas 8 x 10

   A very loose painting-loose brushstrokes, paint not applied heavy on the canvas. And the composition with a bit of light shining on the left side of the farmhouse with reflected light into the snow as well-adding a glimmer of hope.

"Autumn1" Oil on tile 6 x 6

    Very loose almost abstract painting of autumn in a mountain. Done on ceramic tile.

South Branch of the Chicago River oil on canvas 8 x 10

   Another in the bridges of Chicago series-a blend of the industrial history of Chicago with the bridges that crossed the river. The modern skyscrapers contrast with the old, service with manufacture, in this composition.

Kinzie Street II Oil on canvas 8 x 10

   Another in the bridges of Chicago series-this represents another view of one of my favorite bridges in the city-the Kinzie Street Bridge over the north branch of the Chicago river. The composition places emphasis on the bridge tender tower with its strong vertical contrasting with the dark horizontals behind it-with the river leading the eye into the center of the painting.

"On Guard" oil on canavas board 8 x 10

   Another in the Art Institute lions-here a profile view of the lions. Bold, Strong colors, Strong contrasts. Loose. Confident
  That is the look I hoped to convey with this composition and painting

"Maggie" oil on canvas 8 x 10

    Maggie is an English Cocker with attitude-my wife's dog-she and I have never gotten along! But my wife does love her so I attempted to capture her spirit and the look that she often gives, especially after an unwelcome bath.

"Diva" Oil on canvas 8x10

  Diva is an English Cocker- and the pet of a friend of my wife's. Ever anxious to please her tongue is out and ready to do whatever her master or mistress desires.

"Sassy" oil on canvas 8 x 10

     This composition is of Sassy-my brother-in-laws Golden Retriever (and an offspring of a Tess-a previous dog of ours). She is dressed up for the fourth of July and just waiting to head out. Done loosely with brush-she is a gift for my brother-in-law

Trio of Love Oil on canvas 8 x10

  These trio of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in a basket are looking for love. The loose brushwork, brownish gold colors of the basket blend well with our little friends. The blue background adds contrast to our focus. This painting is a gift for our vet as he has had his own trio of love.

Guarding the Art Oil on canvas board 11 x14

 
   This loose strong composition is of the lions in front of the Art Institute in Chicago-the lions guard the entrance to the museum along Michigan Avenue and are an icon of the city, Their strong lines lend themselves to bold strokes and colors. Have now done three variations of these lions-and anticipate more.

Christmas Bear oil on canvas board 8 x 10

   I actually painted two of these Christmas Bears-one with a pink background and the other blue. These were gifts for two new grandchildren this year-for their first Christmas. This one with the pink background was for Nora and the other (no depicted here) with a blue background for was Connor. Both done with brush in a loose style. The focus is in the triangle of the cap, the eyes and the block.

Elmo oil on canvas 6 x 6

   My 2 year old grandson adores Elmo-this is a painting for his 3rd Christmas to hang in his room. Although it appears somewhat orange in the photo-it is more red-very loose, fuzzy-his joy upon receiving this from his grandpa-well he shook his head no!  The wonder of kids!

Break Away Oil on Canvas board 8x 10

  The exhilaration of pond hockey-taking the puck and a breakaway one on one against the goalie! Later in the afternoon-loose style with painting knife and brush.