Island sketch

I packed a bag with some watercolors and a pad for our recent family cruise hoping to make a few sketches for practice. I found time for one on Disney's Bahamian island, Castaway Cay.

Prayer Week

The Evangelical Covenant Church denomination produces a a devotional booklet every year for Prayer Week emphasis in January. I did this painting which will be featured on the cover for the upcoming one. Unfortunately, the budget does not allow for full-color printing.

Alumni Exhibit

North Park University just hosted its first alumni art exhibit and two of my paintings were chosen for the show. It was Homecoming weekend and the opening reception was a "fine arts" evening with music and poetry. The president spoke and there was a nice turn-out.














One of my subjects discusses the nuances of modeling.














Me and "Lake Michigan"

Laguna Beach

This is another painting from vacation. I set up late-morning on some grass next to a restaurant that has a great view. It's elevated on the cliffs North of the beach. When you are standing there it's easy to see why the area attracts alot of artists. 16" x 12"

Laguna Palms

Just back from an end-of-summer Newport Coast/Laguna Beach family vacation. Laguna Beach started as an artist's colony. You see plein air painters all of the time. I had a chance to do a couple of paintings. This one is a view from Heisler Park on the North side of Laguna. 9" x 12"

Michigan

I've taken a few trips to Michigan this summer for vacation and shuttling our kids to/from camp. And, I made time to paint along the way. This one was done while visiting friend's who have a condo a little North of Manistee on Lake Michigan. It's a view looking toward the Portage Lake channel. 24" x 12" (click image to enlarge)

Reflections

On a recent trip to Portland for a conference, I had an afternoon to paint. I stood on a floating dock at a marina for this.
Marina Reflections, 9 x 12

Peonies

A little Peonies study I did next to a friend's driveway. Click on the image to see a larger view.

Wagner Farm

A few weeks ago, I joined THE PLEIN AIR PAINTERS OF CHICAGO group when they came to my neighborhood to paint at Wagner Farm. It's a historic farm that was saved from developers by the Glenview Park District. This is a sketch of Bessy and Doc, their two plow horses. I plan to do a larger studio painting from this and the photos I took.

I hope to attend more of the group's get-togethers for outdoor painting in the future.

Lake Michigan Beach

Here's a painting I completed recently of my son Peter at the beach in Michigan. I worked from a photo my wife took last year.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. This painting is one I did on a trip I took to Maui in February. Not just an ordinary vacation, I went sans family to watch the Maui Plein Air Invitational and to daily paint my favorite tropical subjects. More soon.