Procrastinated finish

I started this one a couple of years ago on Maui. I set-up on the ocean-front side of the Whalers Village mall on Kaanapali beach. It's a nice place with shops and restaurants, including one of my favorites, the Hula Grill. I was about 40 minutes into it when a security guard happened by. After asking what I was doing, he proceeded to tell me I was on private property and that I would have to leave. I was on the grass at the edge of their property, out of anyone's way, by the sidewalk, but I said okay, give me a few minutes. I tried to get a little more done, then he was back "warning" me, so I packed up. It's sat, half-finished, in the corner of my studio since.

This week I was inspired thinking about my friends on Maui at the Plein Air Invitational (and wishing I was there), so I put it up on the easel and had at it. I think I'm a little better painter now then when it was started, so the security guard probably did me a favor.
From Kaanapali, oil, 10" x 20"

Mango pair

Another little studio painting between larger pieces. Mangos must be in season, wherever they come from, they were only a dollar a piece at the grocery store. Very tasty and hard to paint. It's difficult to achieve a three-dimensional look while trying to capture all the varied colors.
Oil, 6" x 6"

Small works

I've been working on some small pieces in the studio the past couple of weeks. There's an upcoming show I want to enter, but it is also both good practice and satisfying. It's nice to be loose and bold and not worry about messing-up a big canvas. And it's nice to have a finished piece in an hour or two.

Here are a couple that were done with plein air and photo reference from my trip last year to Kauai.


Outriggers, oil, 6" x 6"


Hanalei view, oil, 6" x 6"

A winter day

Here's a little winter scene I finished recently--to go along with our weather here in the Midwest. We got about 18" of snow in my neighborhood last night. I shoveled for a couple of hours then into my studio for some good painting time.

Winter shore, oil, 9" x 12"