Off the Easel

"Behind the Art Center," wc/ink on paper (cropped)

This freshly-finished oil painting is based on previous watercolor sketchwork, including this one, from a Saturday excursion in July. 

Watercolor has so many advantages--portability, ease of use and cleanup, vivid colors--that I've begun to use it as my outdoor medium of choice. This view is a corner of the IM. Pei  Building, a 1968 addition to the Des Moines Art Center. Its Brutalist boxiness was an interesting counter to the many surrounding natural forms. 

"Behind the Art Center," oil on panel, 12x16

After some thought I cropped the watercolor to the size posted here and based this new oil painting on the resulting composition. This is the first public release; the painting will be on my website very soon.