Dusty

Pastel, 9x12 on UArt 600

This is a portrait of my friend, Dusty.  My goal was to capture the kind, quiet, gentleness of his character.  His wide eyes and open expression reflect his constant interest in whatever I am doing.

This painting is not for sale, but I would be delighted to talk to you about doing a similar portrait of your pet.  Please contact me for details.

Beach Rain

Pastel, 6x9 on UArt

Number 12 of '21 in 21' Cloud Challenge

As the summer rain stops and the thunder dies away to the southeast, the beach lies deserted, glistening and renewed.  With the tide out, the reflections of the passing clouds stretch smooth, clear, and undisturbed by wave or footprint.
To purchase this painting, visit my web page: Beach Rain

Breaking Day

Pastel, 6x9 on UArt

Number 08 of '21 in 21' Karen Margulis challenge

For this study, I combined elements of several photos with a little imagination and license.  I wanted to capture the fleeting moment when the sun breaks through the morning clouds and paints one golden streak across the beach.

Simplicity

Pastel on UArt, 240

I was inspired by this view of a tidal stream at low tide.  The foreground is in shadow from an unseen grove of oak trees to the left, but the middle ground and distance are in bright, hazy sunlight.  The winter has chased almost all the green from the marsh grass, and the gold and copper colors seem to set the marsh alight.
This study was done from memories and photographs, but I kept removing details until I reached the simple statement of color.  I left enough detail to identify place and time, but my goal was "simplicity."

Autumn Dunes

Pastel 6x9 on UArt 320

As the summer has ended and the autumn has come to the beach, the sea oats and other grasses adopt the colors of fall.  In an effort to get more vibrant color into this painting, I started with a turquoise undercoat which I have permitted to show through in places.  I was hoping that the brilliance of the underpaint would set the tone and help instruct my color choices for the rest of the painting. I chose a view at low tide with a wide beach and the surf far away.  I deliberately understated the beach and surf in the background and left the sky without clouds order to emphasize the contrast and colors of the late summer grass and bushes on the dunes.

September Wave

Pastel, 6x8 on UArt 320

At the end of summer, the prevailing wind turns to the southwest, and the swells come in from a flat ocean.  They normally break in regular succession on the beach, but every so often a large sell comes in and rolls over the smaller waves that have come before.  I call these "September Waves."

9/22/15 - My wife Patty observed that I needed something to fill the big empty void in the middle of the painting.  After some thought, I agreed and added some sea gulls.  I like the addition.

I you are interested in purchasing this painting, please click on Daily Paintworks.

"Between Showers"

Pastel on UArt, 12x12

I have painted several views of this salt marsh at Tide View Preserve, but this painting was the result of my first opportunity to paint there when the tide was full.  At low tide, the view of these two palms is completely different, and there is only a little trickle of water.  I was impressed with the dramatic reflections, but I struggled with the composition and balance.  I finally cropped the painting from 12x18 to 12x12 to eliminate the distractions.

I changed some of the values and added deeper shadows among the underbrush, darkened the water, and cropped the painting to 12x12.  I am pleased with the result and the square format.

"After the Shower"

Pastel on UArt, 9x6, en plein air

The First Coast Pastel Society joined the First Coast Plein Air Painters for a paint out at Tide Veiw Preserve, a local park with board walks over the salt marsh. This piece was painted between passing showers and intermittent clouds and sunshine.

This piece was painted using a limited pallet in order to emphasize the clear, bright colors of the salt marsh. I used purple and lavender to tone the green especially in the distance and in the shadows. At the end of summer, the spartina is so green and yellow that it is almost blinding when it is washed by rain.

"Thru the Oak Thicket"

Pastel on UArt 600, 9x12

To purchase on E-Bay, click here.

The woodland in front of Pablo Bay will be developed in the next year, and all the trees will be gone.  This painting was done from a photo I took some weeks ago, but the photo was out of focus. 

I've taken some license with the photo and added my own expression.  I pushed some of the color and the values and added detail where it seemed to be needed.  This small piece was done with the possibility that it could be developed into a larger work.

This picture was up on E-Bay under a different title - "Path to St. Paul's 1" - and did not sell.  I went back and punched up the shadows with some purple and lavender.  I removed the original photo and replaced it with the update, changed the name of the painting, and lowered the price.

"The Stairs of St. Barnabas"

Pastel on UArt - 8.5x5.5

Whenever Barnabas is mentioned, he is helping or accompanying another in the work of the gospel.  These are called the “the Stairs of St. Barnabas” because the pathway leads from the fields, and the stairs aid the weary laborers up the last steep slope to the level road beyond.  So it is in life – when weary with the work we must do, how welcome it is to have a Barnabas to come and help or just to walk beside us.

This piece was done on UArt using only NuPastels.  I like the combination of the hard pastels with the texture of the UArt paper.  I planned this painting to work out the design, values, and colors for a larger work.

I am debating how to offer this painting for sale.  If you are interested, contact me

"Tide Water Afternoon II"

Pastel on UArt, 8x5.5

SOLD

This is an image I have done before.  The view is from the board walk over the marsh at Tide View Park.  Looking north in the late afternoon, with the tide going out, the marsh puts on a great display of oranges and purple.  The heat of the day begins to fall, the moving tide and wind ruffle the water.  What more could I want?

"St. Paul's Gate"

Pastel on UArt, 12x9

Private Collection

For this painting, I have tried something new - at least, new for me. 

I pass a set of gates every day that inspired me to do this piece.  I have taken quite a bit of license in the design, color, and placement of the objects, and I added the Pauline symbols of the open book and sword to the front of the gate.  I tried to emphasize the light on the path to represent Paul's experience with the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus as a reminder for me and inspiration to everyone.