Gray Day

Gray Day| 5"x7" | oil on hardboard

We've been having our fair share of gray days lately. I don't mind them occasionally, but I think they do begin to affect my mood when we have too many of them in a row. It was good to see the sun today.

I suppose it is ironic, because gray is actually one of my favorite colors. The simple composition and color scheme of this piece are appealing to me.

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Snowy Creek near Maurice

Snowy Creek near Maurice| 5"x7" | oil on hardboard

It is the season of giving, so I think I'll give this painting away. All subscribers to the blog will automatically be entered in the drawing and if you make a comment on the painting (below), I'll throw your name in the hat a second time. It will double your chances!

This is a small creek one mile west and two miles south of town. Winter officially arrived today and it looks and feels like it too.

Another year has flown by. Thanks for taking the time to view my work and a special thanks to those of you who have written kind comments and sent e-mails. They mean a great deal to me.

Merry Christmas, and may you have a blessed new year.

I will do the drawing for the painting on December 31.

Last of Winter

Last of Winter | 6"x6" | oil on hardboard

Spring has finally arrived and while all but a few piles of snow are gone, the snow is still a not so distant memory. Right? So this is one final look at the winter landscape for another year. Farewell.

Cornstalks

Cornstalks | 6"x6" | oil on hardboard

This winter seems like it has had an abundance of gray days. Gray, snowy, overcast and frequently foggy. While a sunny day is almost always a welcome sight, I have developed an appreciation for the grayness of this kind of day. The whiteness of the snow combined with gray skies gives everything a gray muted tone. Even a bright red stop sign becomes muted on a gray winter day. I could imagine artist Andrew Wyeth painting a scene like this if he had lived in Iowa.

I was driving home from LeMars recently (on one of these gray days) when my eyes were drawn to these cornstalks in the field along the road. I returned later and shot some photos. I'm sure there were some other motorists who drove by thinking to themselves, "What is this kook doing shooting photos of an empty, snow-filled cornfield?"

I'm including another close-up so you can get a little closer look.


Cornstalks | detail

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Portrait Swap

The woman that I painted and posted last week turns out to be Susan Lile, who resides in Missoula, Montana. Above you see the portrait that she painted of me. You can go check out all 180 portraits at the Different Strokes blog.


It is extremely cold these days, but the air is wonderfully clear and the bright white snow on a sunny day is stunning. This is a photo taken looking out my studio window.

Peace on Earth

Peace on Earth | 4'x8' | oil on Upson board

This painting is another one that my Grandpa painted many years ago. It is just a few doors up the street from us and stands in front of my brother's house this Christmas season.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to check out my work in 2009. I truly appreciate every single comment and email I received. Merry Christmas.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. –Luke 2:14

The First Christmas

The First Christmas | 4'x8' | oil on plywood

I'm sorry to say it has been a busy December with not much time to paint.

This is the scene that we have in front of our house this Christmas season. I painted this quite a number of years ago and store it in my garage the rest of the year. It has seen its share of wind, snow and cold weather but remains pretty bright and colorful.

Maurice is once again decorated with lots of Christmas lights and decorations, so if you're in the neighborhood, please drive through and take a look.

Simply Winter

Simply Winter | 6"x6" | oil on hardboard

Winter has officially arrived. I can hear the wind howl outside the window as I type this and I scooped a bunch of snow this afternoon with more to do in the morning. Luckily my boys have a late start for school Wednesday, so they will be enlisted to grab a shovel in the morning. I'm sure they'll be thrilled.

This is a corn crib and grain bin southeast of town. It sits alone out in the middle of a field. The stark contrasts and simple shapes again got my attention. Not much going on here, but I guess that is the point. Stark, cold and white. Welcome to winter.

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Chapel of Love

Chapel of Love I | 5"x7" | oil on hardboard

Chapel of Love II| 5"x7" | oil on hardboard

This is a small commission for a friend. She is giving it as a wedding gift to a couple who were recently wed in this lovely church in upstate New York. The church sits on a the edge of a lake.

I painted the more detailed version first, and then decided to do a version that was a little more loose and painterly. There are things I like about each version. I'd be curious to know which version you prefer, and why.

Anne's Barn

Anne's Barn | 5"x7" | oil on hardboard

Anne Plageman is a talented artist friend of mine who lives on an acreage a few miles east of town. I'll occasionally drop in unannounced for a cup of coffee and some good conversation. A couple weeks ago I stopped and had a good visit with her and Mark.

A cup of coffee and a time to talk. Simple treasures. I based this on a shot I took as I left the yard that day. Her barn is abandoned and I suspect it is only a home for pigeons, swallows and perhaps a few rodents. I was drawn to the angular profile of the roof. Something about it that I like.

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