From my first painting to my most recent one, an "accidental" painting that is pointing me in a whole new way. I had toned a canvas with a rich orange sienna and one day picked up a brush and loosely sketched the trees and their reflections. I started painting in the background but couldn't stop looking at the painting as it was. An artist friend came over one day, saw it, and said "That's a finished painting." That encouragment was all I needed to hear. I softened some edges and put down my brush. I love this painting - the transitory and transitional sense of nature it imples as well as the rich colors on the canvas. The first person I showed it to bought it, put it in his office, and many people have seen and responded to it. This is the direction I will be exploring in my next paintings.

First real painting

Learning to blog is an interesting experience. I think each day I will post a picture with commentary about it. This abstract of the mission ruins at Quarai in New Mexico is one of the first paintings I ever did - long before taking classes. It is acrylic on masonite, painted on the rough side since I didn't know any better. It is still one of my favorite paintings because it reminds me of the strength and mystery of those walls as well as the contrasting cultures which played out their narratives within.