No Title Yet  9.75″ x 7.75″

This drawing was inspired by some reference I gathered while attending the Southeastern Wildlife Expo in Charleston, SC last February. I was staying with several artist friends at a beach house. Julie Bender and I went to the beach one evening to try out her new camera. I got some nice shots of the dunes and grasses among other things, I only hope Julie did as well as I.

Fly-By 19 x 16

Something a bit more graphic this time. Ravens, my favorite.

Heaven’s Gate 10 x 13.5 inches

I will call this one done. It was fun to work on an architectural piece for a change. I have lots more inspiring reference from my trip to Quito in Ecuador. I am sure I will attempt another similarly themed piece in the future. But for now back to what I know and love best. Another Raven drawing is next in the queue.

I am back from the Grand Canyon and back at the drawing board. I will post some canyon photos soon but for now I will continue with the progress on the latest drawing.

Sometimes after a lengthy layoff from working on a particular piece it can be difficult getting back into the rhythm of the drawing. But that was not the case this time. I was able to jump right back in and feel the drawing. You don’t hear about rhythm and feel so much when talking about creating art. For me anyway they are an important part of how I get through any particular piece.

On this piece I am slowly working in toward the focal point of the birds. Once I get there I will have to go back through the entire drawing and adjust values and tighten up or loosen up details as seems appropriate. Hopefully It will be done in the next day or two.

Sorry about the glare at the top center of the image. It actually gradates fairly evenly from left to right.

This trip combined with another side project has meant slow progress on the architectural drawing from my last post. I fear I won’t be able to post any progress on that piece until late next week. So, I am posting here a couple of recent commissions that have finally been received by their respective patrons so I am now able to show them.

Joe’s Raven 5″x5″

What’s Up 11″x11″

Next on the drawing board is my first piece inspired by my recent trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. I know you’re thinking, that’s not a tortoise a blue footed booby or even a finch. Well I have plenty of animal reference I will be getting to soon, but now a little architecture. This was a doorway in a monastery in Quito, Ecuador. There was something that struck me about the daylight in the vestibule through the archway that made me stop and take notice. I realize you can’t see it yet, but as this progresses you will see the light reveal itself through the archway… I hope. My intent is to have a nice soft drawing to juxtapose with the hard lines of the architecture. There will also be a few pigeons in there to liven the work and give it some movement.

So, a little different as far as subject matter is concerned but still the same design and drawing principles are applied. I should be able to make it work. Wish me luck.

This is a great honor and one that has eluded me until now. I will attend the opening of the show in Wausau in September.

Essence of the West 9″ x 12″

This is the latest drawing finished just in time for the San Dimas Western Art Show and Sale taking place this weekend. I look forward to seeing some old friends and hopefully to making some new ones. If you are in the area and would like to attend, information can be found on the San Dimas Arts web page, www.sandimasarts.org.

If you can’t make it to San Dimasthis weekend, next weekend I will be exhibiting at the Reflections of Nature Show in Fallbrook, CA. Once again information can be found on their website, www.fallbrookartcenter.org.

The Bone Collectors 15″ x 22″

Well it is done. I sent it off as one of my two submissions for Birds in Art yesterday. I usually let a drawing sit a while then come back to it and make some adjustments. But I can’t adjust anything until I get my traditional rejection letter from the Leigh Yawkey Woodson museum. On the outside chance that it might be selected for the show the image must remain true to the submitted image.

This drawing will also be available next weekend at the San Dimas Western Art Show. There will be a bunch of great western art for sale and on display in the newly restored and historic Walker house in downtown San Dimas. I will be there all weekend to say hello and talk about my work as will many other very talented artists. I hope to see you there.

Jim and Terry thanks for your words of encouragement. I hope I didn’t disappoint…