Irish Pride

I started this piece a couple of years ago when Maureen and I visited Ireland on a family history research trip. I was so impressed the the vast shades of green along the country side. After completing the under painting, I tucked it away and kinda forgot about it! As I was sorting through my studio the other day, I ran onto it and decided to finally finish it.

Tuscan Steps

This is the latest addition to my "Colors of Tuscany" body of work. I saw a photograph of a some quaint little villas sometime ago. This composition is of the stair portion of one of the villas. I actually created some texture on the canvas with some heavy gesso and a bristle brush prior to applying any paint. I was hoping to be able to better depict the texture of the hand-applied stucco through this method ... a total experiment to be sure! I was pleasantly surprised, being able to make the stucco actually look like the real thing! I guess an old dog can be taught a new trick from time to time! Enjoy ...

Paris Rain

I recently had a request to do a black and white painting of Paris or France for one of my collectors. I had never painted in black and white before, so I decided to do a "test run" before attempting her commission.

In fact, I don't even use the color "black" from a tube on my palette at all ... I mix my darker colors in harmony with each painting to achieve a black-like effect. This way, I don't get just a "dead color" from a tube, but "living" color that compliments each painting's color scheme.

So, I mixed up a pile of my "black" and just added white gesso to the edges of this pile as I went along to create the different values needed for the piece. I discovered that extreme monochromatic paintings are more difficult than I first imagined! It was a very fun project, however, and I learned a lot!



Hope you enjoy it as well! Acrylic on canvas 12" x 24"

Tuscan Landscape

I continue to add to my body of work entitled "Colors of Tuscany". This is my latest. It is a simple impressionistic view of a typical landscape one might see there. Acrylic on canvas (30" x 15")

Tuscan Light

The soft evening light of Tuscany creates beautiful opportunities for fabulous lighting conditions. The softness of the color palette along with the angle of the sun define this little piece. A fairly simple painting, yet it offers depth and detail in an impressionistic approach. Acrylic on canvas 18"x24"

Tuscan Gates

This little piece is another installment to my "Colors of Tuscany" body of work. It is a "mini" (only 12" x 12") but was almost as challenging as my larger paintings. I truly love the color palette of that region of the world ... so soft, so inviting. Hope you enjoy it! Acrylic on canvas (12" x 12")

Craig's Venice

One of my young friends and art students, Craig, spent some time in Europe this summer with his family. He took a photo of this scene while on a gondola in Venice. Pretty good photographer, eh?!! He wanted to paint this as a lesson subject ... oh, please, don't twist my arm! I love these types of scenes! We had a lot of fun learning perspective, composition, textures, reflections, etc. This is my version of the scene ... hope you enjoy it! Acrylic on canvas 24" x 18".

Town Square in Eastern Europe

I offered to do a painting for my nephew as a wedding present a while back. He and his wife both served missions in Europe and they decided to have me paint this scene of a town square in Poland just after an evening rain (that seems to be the theme of several of my latest pieces?!!) Acrylic on canvas 24"x18"