Santa Fe

Here are a few photos I shot on a trip that Denise and I took to Santa Fe, New Mexico this fall. It is a place I've always wanted to see and it lived up to my expectations. The color, architecture, culture, food and art were all wonderful.

The Taos Pueblo




El Sanctuario de Chimayo
I've been working on a large new painting for Christmas. I hope to have it done soon so we can put it out on our front yard for display this Christmas season. Stay tuned.

Dad's Profile

Dad's Profile | 6"x6" | oil on hardboard
My Dad is always a good subject for a portrait. He has had a big white beard for many years and turns the heads of a lot of small children at Christmas time.


I remember drawing his profile when I was a kid. I don't know if that drawing is still around or not. There is something I like about a profile. The window light streaming into the room really worked perfectly in adding dimension to his face. This was based on a photo I took after a Sunday dinner at my brother Bruces' house.

Todd's Cottonwoods

This is a quick sketch I did as my contribution to a 50th birthday scrapbook created by many of my co-workers for our company president and friend, Adrie Groeneweg. Adrie likes nature and particularly trees. I even did a tree commission for him a couple years ago.

I based this sketch on a photo posted on Facebook and shot by another friend, Todd Thompson. In addition to being a great writer and friend, Todd has a good eye for photography too. He says about these trees "My two favorite trees in the world. Cottonwoods. My great uncle L.D. moved here in 1914 and he said they were big trees then."

Chicago

I hope you're having a good summer. It has been busy here, but good. A little over a week ago I was fortunate to be able to attend a design conference in Chicago–what a great city. While there, I squeezed in a few hours at the Art Institute, which is one of my favorite museums. I had not been there in many years so it was a real treat to see some of my old favorites as well as see the new modern art wing and find a few new gems.

Penitent Saint Peter, Jusepe de Ribera
Of all the pieces I viewed during my visit to the Art Institute, this is the one that really grabbed me this time. I am not really familiar with this Spanish artist who painted this around 1628, but the face of Peter was just amazing.

Penitent Saint Peter, (detail)
To me, the artist captured vividly just what Peter must have felt like after denying Jesus three times.

Cloud Gate (aka "The Bean") by Anish Kapoor
This sculpture in the Millenium Park, next door to the Art Institute, is truly a magnet for people. I was drawn to it numerous times during my four day visit. It's hard to describe the experience or even why this huge chrome bean is so appealing, but if you are in the windy city, it is worth stopping to see.

A Slice of Tuscan Roma

A Slice of Tuscan Roma | 5"x7" | oil on hardboard

I've been thinking about painting a slice of Pizza Ranch pizza for a long time, and when fellow artist and friend, Darren Mauer, recently painted a slice of El Fredos pizza (a Sioux City landmark) it got me motivated to tackle the subject.

I shot a few snapshots of this slice a few weeks ago one night when we were having dinner at the Ranch. The Tuscan Roma pizza is a simple classic that combines tomato and spinach toppings with an alfredo sauce on a crispy thin crust. It's one of my favorites. The lighting was poor for shooting photos, and it made using the reference photo a little more difficult.

I do wonder if a slice of pepperoni may have been easier to paint.

Interested in buying this painting?

View of Landscape West of Maurice

View of Landscape West of Maurice | 30"x40" | oil on canvas

This is a fairly large work that I recently bartered for a new custom iron railing created by, Lauren Ochsner, a talented local artisan. His acreage can actually be seen in the distance toward the far right of the painting.

Lauren stopped me on the street not long after I delivered the painting. He said he had already framed it and hung it in his home. One of his adult sons saw it and said, "Dad, I'd like to have that after you and Mom are gone." Well, we both had a chuckle over that, but it did make me feel pretty good.

I think it's one of the things I enjoy most about being an artist–that hopefully many of my pieces will be enjoyed long after I leave this earth. I know I still continue to get constant enjoyment out of viewing the paintings of my grandfather, and he has been gone nearly 40 years already.

This painting reminds me of those 17th century Dutch landscapes that I love so much. Flat land with big billowing clouds.

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The Monoprep

The Monoprep | 5"x7" | oil on hardboard

Recently I received an e-mail from, Erica, one of my blog readers who is a marketing specialist for Arcadia Publishing. Arcadia is best known for its popular Images of America series, which chronicles the history of communities all across the country. Each title celebrates a town or region, bringing to life the people, places, and events that define the community.

Arcadia is releasing two new titles, both featuring Iowa. One is Eastern Iowa's Aviation History and the other is a postcard history of Waterloo. Erica sent me advance copies of the books and I decided to paint one of the images. Both books are packed with wonderful historic images of their subjects.

I chose the Monoprep to paint. This plane cost $1650 and was ordered from the Velie Company by Glen and Ada Phelps of Davenport. Quoting from the book:

The Phelp's Monoprep was completed in March of 1930 and flown to Davenport's Cram Field. Glen surprised Ada, who had not seen the completed airplane, pointing it out as they drove over the hill on Division Street toward the airport. "See that down there? That's ours," he said.


Book covers

Submit a comment or send me an e-mail to be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a copy of one of these books.

Both books will be available May 2.
Eastern Iowa's Aviation Heritage, $21.99, Arcadia Publishing. Available at local retailers, online bookstores, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com or (888) 313-2665

Waterloo, $21.99, Arcadia Publishing. Available at local retailers, online bookstores, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com or (888) 313-2665

Interested in buying The Monoprep

Orange and Blue

Orange and Blue | 5"x7" | oil on hardboard

A little orange and a little blue. This is a painting I completed some time ago, but had not yet posted.

There are paintings that I complete and am excited to post, and then there are others (like this one) that end up in a different place than I would like – in other words, I don't like it. For whatever reasons, this piece didn't end up a masterpiece, but I thought it might be a good thing for me to show you a piece I'm not happy with.

Show and Tell

Dordt AIGA Poster

Last week I had the pleasure of speaking at the Dordt College AIGA meeting in Sioux Center, Iowa. The AIGA is a national association committed to the advancement of design. David Versluis invited me to share my story of art and design with the group.


I am not a speaker, but thought this would be a non-threatening group who share my interests and passion for art and design. I loaded a box full of paintings, printed catalogs, advertising and even the Pizza Ranch NASCAR car I designed. To me it was a bit like Show and Tell in grade school. Do they still do that in school?

If you'd like to read more, here is a link to the notes taken during the talk and posted on the Dordt AIGA blog.

Coke Red

Coke Red | 5"x7" | oil on hardboard

I was walking through the grocery store with my wife a few weeks ago, and spotted some classic Coca-Cola 8oz. bottles alongside these sleek new red aluminum versions. I love the look and shape of the old iconic bottles, but have to admit these sleek red containers are very cool looking. I thought it might make a good painting so I picked up one of each.

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