Monochrome

 

Upstream

"Upstream," oil on panel, 9x12

Today's image is a plein air painting of the creek that runs behind my studio. The western bank is much higher than the near bank where I stood to do this particular work, a result of the way water courses meander, The heavy foliage blocks a lot of sunlight, but golden flecks penetrate to the surface of the water. This is 9x12 on panel. 

Forever

"Forever," oil on panel, 9x12, private collection

"Forever" is a long-ago commissioned portrait of a young girl and her cherished friend. The dog was the girl's constant companion until the end. A friend of the family asked me to paint the two as a tribute and a gift. 
 

Saturday Sketch

Last Saturday the sketch group decided to stay in Greenwood Park. There are sculptures and a big rose garden for subject matter, plus a lot of shade and a nice breeze coming up from the river. 

I sat on a bench and sketched the view to the northwest of the rose garden pavilions. One of three stone cairns built by the British artist Andy Goldsworthy complemented the Pei Building (background).  

Beautiful day in the park.

"Goldsworthy Behind the Art Center," wc/ink on paper

Taco Loco

Tacos have been in the news lately, which reminded me of this watercolor from a while back. Food trucks used to come to the Sculpture Park downtown on Fridays, and this one was a favorite. 

"Taco Loco," wc/ink on paper

 

Coastal Study

"On the Shore, (study)" oil on panel, 6x8

Sometimes a small image or even a tiny one can inspire an idea. Some years back I saw a very small snapshot of a figure standing on a tiny spit of land. Whoever made the photo did a great composition, though it was not in color, only greyscale. I did this study of the figure and shoreline, and invented some of the shore, using only a few colors (y.ochre, b.sienna and probably cerulean blue), trying very hard to use limited strokes, each placed and then left alone without blending overmuch. Although this never made it to a finished work, perhaps I should give it some repeat consideration.  
 

Last Weekend

Last Saturday the sketch group (mostly) agreed to visit a marina that's very near downtown Des Moines. Situated along the Des Moines River and probably around a mile or two from the center of the city, Birdland Marina is home to river boating and also features a bicycle trail that extends much farther north, to Saylorvill Reservoir, more than ten miles away. 

We each picked a spot near the river, in my case at a bar and grill next to the marina. Cyclists and boaters congregate at Captain Roy's, which lies on the river bank and next the the bike trail. I sat in the shade of giant cottonwoods and sketched the scene. 

"Captain Roy's," wc on paper, 8x10