Snow Angels 22 x 24 inches.

This is the final larger work that will be going with me to the Waterfowl Festival in Maryland next week. The snowy trees were a lot of fun for me to do. I have several more ideas for some snowy misty scenes, so look for those in the near future.

For now, however, it is off to Baltimore to visit family and friends and make my way to the eastern shore and the Waterfowl festival. I hope to see many of you there next weekend.

This image was done while bearing in mind a wonderful trip to Katmai N.P. in Alaska. I was up close and personal with more brown bears than one could dream of.  And on a couple of occasions frighteningly close. It was a great experience and one that I can’t repeat soon enough.

The image, On The Point- Katmai, is 6 x 22 inches and is available through Pinnell Gallery in Fallbrook California. If you contact Jennifer she will be happy to help you.

As I work on finishing the next rather large piece, I have decided to post some images of works that are available through some of my galleries. This Drawing, Patience, is available at the Cody Fine Art Gallery in Wyoming. The image size is 8″ x 28″. They also have several other drawings of mine for sale. Please go to the link above to check out the Gallery. If you have any interest in anything call and ask for Ashely. She will be happy to help you.

Another small work (image size: 2.5 x 11 inches) headed for the Waterfowl Festival in Easton Maryland. I will be exhibiting there the weekend of November 14th - 16th. I look forward to seeing many old friends and collectors and I hope to meet many new ones. If you are in the area and have never been, do yourself a favor and come down to Easton. It is a wonderful event with all kinds of activities for the whole family. All taking place in beautiful and historic Easton. And it all benefits some wonderful local conservation causes.

I also received a special honor at the show in that my drawing The Enchanted Forest received the best in show award. I humbly accepted as there were several works by other artists that were at least as deserving as mine. So thanks to the shows committee for all your hard work in putting on a wonderful show.

The Enchanted Forest image size is 12″ x 9″. The finished (for now) drawing, slated for my upcoming show in San Dimas, CA. Click on this Link, San Dimas Wildlife Art Show, for more info on the show. I hope that any of you that can make it will stop by and say hello.

Yesterdays work. Now I need to work on the beach and the bears. The bears may be difficult to see in these images. If you cliick on the image you should get a larger view. I will most likely refine the bears poses before I render them.

Here is the latest bit of work on the three bears piece. The background is mostly complete. Working on all those trees is difficult for me. I always struggle with the sort of random but detailed areas that are supposed to be seen but not noticed. Fields of grass, the forested areas or scree feilds unfortunately make up most of any environment I try to draw. As much as I draw them I hope that at some point I will have more confidence in working with them.

I recently tried my hand at doing some painting. I have worked in color before. In fact my entire commercial career was full of color. I have not done many oil paintings, however. An occasional plein air painting but fewer than I have fingers on my two hands. I was pleased with these little (4″ x 4″) portraits of my two boys. I did them for my wife’s birthday. She was also happy with them (especially because they kind of actually resemble our boys) . The one of my older son Nico, I am very happy with. I love the loose brush work.. don’t ask me how to do it again. The one of my youngest, Mateo, is a bit too over worked and not as fresh. I might be able to save it though. If I rework it I will post it again for you to see. I also should apologize for the scans. They are a bit washed out, both portraits have a bit more punch than appears here.

It was a lot of fun doing them and I felt myself stretching my abilities as an artist. Which is always a good thing. I think I will do more painting soon. I ignited a little spark that I hope to fan into some warm and toasty oil paintings.

Let me know what you think.

The next drawing is under way and on the drawing board. I thought you might like to see how I set up my work area. This next one is a fairly straight forward drawing using basically one piece of reference. I tape the reference above and around the drawing. If there were more than one photo I would have them taped all the way around the work as you can see in the other photos of an earlier work.

The pencils and erasers are held by the lip on the drawing board or in the drawer next to me when they are not clutched in a bunch in my left hand. I work with the board at a fairly steep angle. I got used to the steep angle of the board after I had surgery on my neck and couldn’t look up and down for several months.

I have the adjustable lamp and a window to my right to light my work area. It works well for me, this setup. The room I am in is large and open which I also like . But, it is taking some time to finish room as far as it’s decor and furnishing is concerned. I look forward to having the studio finished completely as I plan to make it a place of comfort and inspiration.