Chance of Rain

5.75x6" acrylic

Another image from our recent Olympic Mountains hike.  Even, or maybe especially, on a gray day the autumn colors are incredible.  Not in this painting, but there was a big ole black bear sauntering along the ridge to the left as we descended past Heart Lake above Sol Duc Park.

Hope for the Morning

7x5" acrylic

After 3 days of backpacking in rain, wind, hail, sleet and snow, this glint of a sunset inspired hope for more pleasant weather to come.  Although we did have challenging conditions for this group of 10th graders from CWA, they were up to the task.  Good teamwork and positive attitudes helped make it a great learning experience in the best classroom on the planet!

Display at KC Professional Center

Busy, busy!  I have work showing in the Key Center library (with the Two Waters Arts Alliance group) plus several of my paintings displayed next door in the Professional building.  A solo show of new work coming up at the Kimball Gallery in Gig Harbor the end of October.... and one more backpacking trip into the Olympics next week.  I love the fall!

Tranquil Evening

The calm belies an active summer's day.  Time to relax and appreciate where we live :)

What would Ruby Do?

What?

Matt is off to set up his new home base at the UW today.  The last bit of (unsolicited) advice from his auntie, came via this painting.... When in doubt or worry, stop and ask, "What would Ruby-Do?"  Of course he might not always be able to curl up on the couch and just sleep on it, but it's good advice for clarifying many situations faced by a new collegian.  Happy trails Matthew :)

Tree Swing

This painting was another exercise in notan.... using a strong black & white design as an underpainting.  Backlighting usually creates a strong notan which is one reason that kind of light is so dramatic.  Even if it's not so obvious in the scene at hand, if you can effectively simplify your composition this way it will make the resulting painting a strong one.

Almost Ripe

8x8 acrylic

It's that time of year when everything is ripening.  My honey crisp tree has an insane number of apples on it.  I've removed at least 50, no probably 60 and still there are so many!  It is highly traumatic for me to twist off the little green orbs... they're so close to ripe, but the tree is literally tipping over and branches are breaking!  :( bad gardener, bad!.... most of my labor is either sat upon by the dog or eaten by the deer, slugs, birds, bunnies etc.  Ah, well, good thing I'm a painter.