Emerald City

Somehow this view reminds me of the scene from the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy and her friends first see the Emerald city from a distance at the end of the yellow brick road, or in this case I-5.  This painting will be in a show at the Bainbridge Arts Center starting October 6.

Vashon Center View North

A view north along Vashon Highway.  This painting will be at the Bainbridge Arts Center starting October 6.  A morning scene with long shadows crossing the road.

Two Green Apples and Dots

I had to spend a few moments telling the left side of my brain that the polka dots were NOT parallel to the edges of my picture.  Instead they were parallel to the fold between the table top and the background.  I guess "filling in the dots" is a left brain activity and not a drawing skill.

Bainbridge Trees

A scene along Komedal Road on Bainbridge Island.  The sunlight was breaking through towering dark trees.  The lower trees were backlit and turned bright yellow green. A bit of broken sunlight hit the road.   A very northwest scene.  Painted on location on a sunny day.

Sauvie Island Farm Road SOLD

Sauvie Island is an island in the Columbia River near Portland Oregon.  There are several u-pick farms and orchards - and a favorite blueberry picking spot.  This is a view of level fields and distant hills that line the river.

Cup Saucer Two Spoons in Gray

I taught a class on Bainbridge Island this summer and this was one of the demos.  This was done in a limited palette of white, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, and black.  The burnt sienna gives warm tones, the ultramarine gives cool tones, and together they make the most delicious grays. 

Green Pepper with a Touch of Yellow

A very basic composition made more interesting by the dark shadow which touches the end of the pepper. Throwing a shadow across the scene is a compositional idea made famous by Caravaggio.  Seemed like a good fit for a dramatic pepper.

Garlic and Stems

A very neutral subject - just a hint of green in the stems.  The hard part was trying to get a balance between detail and simplification in the roots.    If you over do one part of the painting and make it tight and fussy, it stands out and takes away the unity of the painting.

This painting is for sale in my Etsy store .

Chickens and Trees SOLD

More of Joe's chickens in his backyard.  I like the light coming through the trees and the soft gray of the ground covered with fir needles.

Road to Tanner Creek

Tanner Creek runs into  the Columbia River near the Bonneville Dam Fish Hatchery.   This road turns into a trail.  The trail follows the creek up a deep gorge and ends at a waterfall.  Even though the sun was shining, the valley was narrow and densely tree covered and most of the trail was in shadow.  A short beautiful hike. 

Near Lake Wenatchee

A view of Nason Creek near Lake Wenatchee.  Late afternoon sun turns the tops of the trees yellow, and reflects in the water.  Painted from photographs taken last year in autumn.