MORNING IN THE DESERT

This painting is one of a series of works that I did while visiting the deserts of Southern California and Arizona some time ago. Here the mountains near the Salton sea are still in shadow and the day is shaping up to be another hot one! I was excited by the colors and tones of this scene, along with the distant mountains and sparse scrub in the foreground. Difficult to get right but I tried hard to capture something of the spirit of the place. It was a wonderful time spent driving around with Mo and friends - thanks to Nancy who started it all! Size is 6 1/2" X 17" (16.5cm X 43cm) - oil on canvas.

PETE

I have been working on this portrait for many years and finally I am about finished with it. I approached my friend and sculptor Pete Zulazec more years ago that I want to remember, in the hopes of doing a portrait of him. He kindly agreed so the rest then was up to me. I really struggled with this one, trying a version in oils, then watercolor, then back to oils etc etc etc on and on. Still after all this I couldn't get any of these paintings to work out the way that I had hoped. Finally after so long I managed to finish this version. I have given so much to this painting that I don't think that I would be able to try it again. Maybe time will take away some of those feelings but for now, I'm on to something different! Pete, I'm sorry that it took so long.
Details of the painting - watercolor on Arches paper, 15" X 22".

FROZEN LAKE STUDY

Winter is upon us again here in the Eastern part of the US. Mild up to a week ago then we were hit with sub-freezing temps and a bitter wind! A warm-up followed and now it has turned very cold again. Not much snow but enough to enjoy on our walks through the nearby reserve. I saw this scene one evening looking across the frozen surface of Beaver Lake so did a small study of it when I got back to the studio. Work has been a little slow lately but is picking up now so I should have some more paintings to post here soon. Frozen Lake, 5" X 7", oil on canvas.