The View

My son and his family recently went to Zion's National Park. They had a blast experiencing the breath-taking scenery that abounds there! His wife took a photo of "the boys" overlooking a valley on the edge of an overhanging rock ... I couldn't resist the opportunity to paint the scene. Since Kyle and Kaiden both have their birthday on the same day in June, it will be my present to them this year! Hope they like it ...

"Tazer"

Maureen's cousin and his wife visited us this past month while on their way to see a friend in Colorado. They are from Whistler, BC in Canada so we don't get to see them much. However, when we do get to visit with them, we enjoy their company so much! They are very sweet and kind folks ... we look forward to each opportunity to be with them!

This time, they asked me if I would paint a portrait of "Tazer", their son's German shepherd that recently passed away. I told them I would give it a shot! Hope they like it ...

A wonderful opportunity!

My sweet cousin, Christine, commissioned me to paint these two pieces ... one for her husband's office and the other for their home in Wyoming. The scale of both paintings was very fun to work with ... both are fairly large pieces and offered several challenges for me. I loved the experience, however, and learned a lot in the process! Thank you, Chris, for the opportunity!

"Escondido"

Several years ago, I painted a little Cottontail rabbit hidden in the weeds and snow along the Provo River. I ran on to him while fly fishing one winter morning. I used it as reference material for the painting class I teach. This time, however, one of my students wanted to do a fawn instead of the rabbit ... I liked the idea and off we went! This is my version of the little guy! One of my little granddaughters told me (when she saw it for the first time), "Grandpa, he looks so cold and alone"! I am glad my efforts evoked that sort of emotion from a little girl ... that is just what I was trying to portray. Must have got it right somehow this time! Enjoy ...

Lighting the Coast

My friend is quite a photographer ... he took the reference photo of this lighthouse along the Oregon coast. I thought it was just stunning! The members of the painting class I teach voted to use it as one of our subjects this spring! This is my rendition of our classwork effort! Enjoy ...

PS ... I gave the original to my friend who inspired the piece!