Portrait of my Father

9" x 12" Oil on Canvas Panel

I finished the portrait of my Father today. I kept the brushstrokes thick and the palette simple. Titanium White, Cadmium Lemon, Yellow Ochre, Pyrrole Red, Ultramarine Blue.

Dad, Underpainting

9" x 12" Oil on Panel

My father recently moved back to the rogue valley so I'm taking the opportunity to paint a portrait of a truly great man.

Tree Tops - Plein Air

6" x 6" Oil on Panel

Today's plein air study, right before I dropped it on my palette and ruined it. Live and learn.

Primer Gray Dodge

6" x 8" Oil on Panel

The guy across the street keeps this parked out front. I've been wanting to paint this old beast for awhile, this is my first attempt.

Bear Creek Park

8"x 10" Oil on Panel


This is my third plein air painting with the Christensen Challenge palette and I think I'm starting to get the hang of it. It has prompted me to up-size my panels to 8" x 10" supports and my brushes as well. Now I am using a #6 bristle flat and a #1 bristle flat along with a synthetic #2 round for the occasional detail.

Big Rig

8" x 10" Oil on Panel

I had about a one hour window to paint yesterday. While driving around near Central Point I spotted this old truck in a dirt parking lot next to an equipment rental place. I started setting up my tripod that I mount my easel on and a guy came out of the shop to see what I was doing. "Are you a surveyor?" "No I'm an artist . . . I wanted to paint a picture of the Semi truck . . .I used to drive one and I like the way they look" I replied. As I attempted to explain why I would want to paint an old truck he stared at me like I was a martian. "Whatever" he said then turned and headed back to work.

Crooked River

8" x 10" Oil on Panel

Ugandan Rush Hour

8" x 10" Oil on Panel

Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22:29

I have made a new resolution with my art, I am going to stop rushing things and avoiding detail. This verse and carefully observing the work of artists I admire has convince me to spend more time on my paintings. I usually like to finish a face or figure in detail then just throw in a quick abstract background, but the art I like most isn't like that at all, the complete the whole picture in detail and spend time on developing a composition and getting harmonious colors. I now realize that if I want my art to succeed, laziness will not do.