Winter on the Creek

Although most of my current work is either oil or watercolor, in the past I've explored the use of casein. Casein paint is made using milk protein with oil to make an emulsion. The paint will keep well in sealed tubes and handles rather like oil, though it's water soluble and dries amazingly fast. In the decades before acrylic paint was introduced, casein (and also gouache) were go-to formulations because of convenience and speed. 

"Winter on the Creek," casein on board, 6x8

This particular work is yet another painting of Druid Hill Creek in winter. The view is similar to others posted in the past.  

Saturday

Last weekend was chilly and Saturday was a grey day. Nonetheless, spring is well along here--crocus and narcissi, forsythia all blooming or budding. The sketch group decided on Waterworks Park since the flowering trees in the arboretum are starting to bloom and along the river honeysuckle is almost out. 

"Bridge on the Raccoon," wc/ink, abt 5x10

Two Saturdays ago (March 31) the group went to the same destination. I did a panoramic sketch of the old bridge there that spans the Raccoon River. When we were there this time it occurred to me that doing a different view of the same subject might be instructive. Unlike two weeks ago, there was no one else there. I parked and did the sketch above. As ever, I began with a graphite sketch, laid in color, inked much of the bridge then refined color, value and edges. This took maybe an hour and a half. 

Spring Haze

Along Druid Hill Creek are uncountable wild honeysuckle bushes that often burst into leaf this time of year. They're a principal part of the undergrowth along the banks during summer, when the foliage is so thick and abundant you can't see the creek below. This time of year though, the bare brown-black banks and green-brown water reflect bare trees above. And this time of year the partially-open leaf buds give the woods a spring green haze, just at the tops of their tiny branches. 

"Honeysuckle Haze," wc/ink on paper, 7x5

When I do sketches of the creek, I stand in a north window of my home studio, which gives me a view straight downstream. The creek swings from a northeasterly to a northern course just under my window. This is a small watercolor painting, not in a sketchbook. The dark skies and near monochromatic landscape are both common in early April, but the honeysuckle haze means spring is truly here.

Waterworks Bridge

Last Saturday our sketch group decided it was time to check out any early budding and spring flowers in Waterworks Park, the enormous park along the Raccoon River, not far from my home studio. The weather has been warming so that there is a faint glow of green and here and there pink-red halos, but no outright flowers and no fully=leafed trees. But the sun was bright in the cold spring air. 

"Waterworks Bridge," wc on paper, 5x14

I sat in my car and sketched this view of an old bridge across the Raccoon River that now carries pedestrians and cyclists into deeper woods, eventually leading to Greenwood Park, a mile or two north, where the Des Moines Art Center is located. This old steel truss bridge probably dates back a century, and it's appropriately rusted and worn. In order to get as much of the approach and a bit of the river into the image I adopted a wide panorama for this one. I sketched the main structure of the bridge but omitted parts that would have been confusing, in favor of the overall image. The trees at either end were actually present, but the near bushes and distant tree line were invented. As many landscape painters do, I "pushed" the chroma of the near bushes and distant trees as well as the blue of the water. In reality the Raccoon is often muddy=brown in spring.  

Druid Hill Gouache

"Aftermath," gouache on gesso panel, 6x8

Although it's one of the art media I've tried, gouache isn't a big part of my practice. Over the years I've done portraits, landscapes and even still life in gouache, but watercolor and oil paintings far outnumber those. Still, there is a silky feel to the paint, a little like oils, and gouache is water soluble like watercolor and acrylic, but opaque. Some call gouache opaque watercolor, actually. 

This work was done looking out my studio window one very snowy day in the middle of February 2020. The weather as I remember it was frigid but sunny, as is often the case following a big storm. 
 

Iowa Pagoda

"Midwestern Pagoda,? wc/ink on paper

Although Des Moines is a medium-size city in the upper Midwest, we have an Asian garden along the river front, a monument to one of Iowa's great governors, Robert Ray. During the era of war in Southeast Asia, Governor Ray was instrumental in saving many Southeast Asian peoples from starvation and/or political oppression. He was the first public official anywhere in the nation to offer safe haven (Iowa) to Vietnamese boat people; and he welcomed Laotian and Cambodian refugees as well, many of whom still live here. The garden not only memorializes the governor but emphasizes to the nation that diversity and inclusion are crucial parts of an open society.  

The weather was beautiful. I sat on a block of stone and sketched the upper roof-lines of the main structure in the garden, a traditional Chinese pagoda, its upturned corners a sharp contrast with contemporary architecture looming on the opposite bank of the river. These tiered roofs are a constant architectural element of pagodas, which traditionally symbolize the Buddhist journey towards enlightenment. Each tier is a different stage of spiritual development. Pagodas are also symbolic of traditional elements fire, air, earth, water; and are revered places of peace and contemplation.

 

 

Uprstream, Spring

"On the Creek Bank, April," mixed media on paper, ~5x8

It won't be long until this image will match the changes along Druid Hill Creek. This particular sketch actually looks upstream toward a small bluff over the eroded channel to the south. The water turns a rusty red-brown when sediment from the uprstream golf course starts to wash down in spring. 

This was done on the spot, in a small sketchbook, but unlike other works this is not only watercolor and ink but there are touches of gouache as well, hence the "mixed media"label. 

Old Favorite

Like most, there are favorites from my past that I sometimes like to see. This one is a small ink and watercolor sketch done around sunrise in Redmond, Washington. We were visiting relatives and the low angle of the sunlight was attractive. This sketch is roughly 6x3 in a pocket sketchbook. I had seen the sunrise behind the nearby pines and above distant evergreens a number of times before doing this small piece. I've often thought it would be a great reference for a larger oil. 

On the Shelf

Of all the subjects I've done in watercolor, still life is the least common. Over the years most of my watercolors have been plein air sketching outdoors, with a sprinkling of interiors done when weather wasn't hospitable for outdoor work.But this subject--three figurines of mine that I see every day--has been on my mind for a while. 

The three figures are quite diverse. There is a netsuke figure, a reproduction of a famous buddha figure, and a reproduction of a gargoyle from Notre Dame. Netsuke are very small, an art form that evolved from a more utilitarian purpose into exquisite works. The buddha is a copy of the Kamakura daibutusu--an enormous bronze statute of Amitabha, a prominent buddha of East Asia. The statue is hollow, nearly 45 feet tall, built about 1252. 

Chandelier

Last weekend the weather was grey and windy. The cold wasn't bad but the lack of shadows and blustery conditions chased the sketchers indoors, mostly (one went out the the river). We went to West End Salvage, one of the places we often choose in such times. It's an architectural salvage concern in an ancient multistory brick warehouse. 

"Chandelier," wc/ink on paper

Attracted by the complex, overlapping shapes, I sat in their coffee bar, sipping a latte, and sketched. The crisscrossing set of heavy beams was one challenge and an antique chandelier that was hung from one of them was another. The only curved shape is the fixture. Getting the perspective and all the triangles and rhombi right was a challenge. 

Shoal

One of the more challenging subjects for me is water. Water is transparent, can be colorless, yet reflects light and refracts (bends) light too. Water can look like a smooth pond surface or an incredibly rough ocean. And besides all of that, water does much of it at the same time. 

"Shoal," oil on panel, 16x20 

This painting was my attempt to render in oil paint what I could see in a still reference of moving water. In this case the subject is a shallow river with a stony bottom. There are small, widely lapping waves that come to the foreground of the image. The water is clear and colorless, revealing smooth, water-shaped stones on the bottom. Light shines through and makes bright lines and spots on the rocks and pebbles. The water is less transparent and more reflective as our line of sight goes upward and rightward, showing us a slight green tinge or reflection on its surface. The slight movement of water also distorts shapes and provides cast shadows here and there. 

"Shoal" was accepted into the Salmagundi Members Spring Auction, an annual show and auction that happens both in person and online. Our club also holds a similar event in fall. This year the auctions take place on March 19 and March 26, online facilitated by an international auction webcasting worldwide. The member works offered will be visible shortly online at the club link above.

Near the River

Des Moines was founded in the early 19th century at the confluence of the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers. Today the site is just south of downtown, next to the Iowa Cubs baseball stadium. Last Saturday the group decided to take advantage of the wide open parking lot to sketch, To the east is the Des Moines, to the north and northwest is downtown, The river confluence is just south. And along the new expressway stands a log cabin at the place where Fort Des Moines was established. I found an angle that gave a view of the cabin, with the bridge over the rive and a distant view of the state capitol.  

"Fort Des Moines Cabin," wc.ink on paper

This is about 14 inches wide and 5 inches tall, across two pages in my sketchbook. The drawing was first, in graphite, then watercolors, then ink. 
 

Snow Day on Sherman Hill

This is one of my larger watercolor sketches, started last weekend outdoors but finished in the studio. This is Hoyt Sherman Place, which houses an art gallery and a large performance space that hosts many different musical acts and other touring events. 

"Snow Day, Sherman Hill," wc/ink on paper, 8x10

I sat in my car to do this--just too cold--and stopped when I began to feel a bit stale. This started with my usual graphite sketch, then watercolor, then ink, but then I added a color to the wonderfully complicated building, especially the left side, and painted in trees and shadows on the extreme left. I also darkened the values of the shadows on the left and across in front of the auditorium on the right side. 

Although I don't often add to an outdoor sketch I think the added colors and touches completed and enriched the painting.  

Sledding

Less than a week ago the high temperature was above 60. The sun was warm and the air felt like spring. Today the morning temperature was less than 10 and four inches of snow covers everything. Actually, the warm days were a real anomaly. Traditionally this month and next are snowy and cold. 

"Sledding," wc/ink on papeer

The Saturday group didn't mind the snow--they relished it in fact. That was because for the first time in a few days the sun was out, the light was brilliant, and the weather tolerable. There is a slope near the parking area where we meet, and a group of kids and parents were sledding. Most of the group stayed put in their cars and sketched the scene. 

 

Five Years Ago

"After the Big Snow," wc/ink on paper

This has been an oddly dry winter. Although we have had around a foot of snowfall, the ground outside my studio is bare and the temperature today will top sixty, Fahrenheit. Thinking about the current weather led me to look back at work from years past. To my surprise the majority show very snowy days in mid- to late February. Certainly that's not the case this year. 

This small sketch, like many done this time of year, including 2025, was done from a window in my home studio. Although it looks cold you can see spring coming in the warm ochres and faint rust colors of the distant trees. This was likely done in the morning a day or two after a heavy, wet snowfall. 
 

Not Saturday

"Grays Lake Park," wc/ink on paper, 8x10

Many times I post a watercolor from our Saturday group on Tuesdays but last weekend I had another commitment and missed the outing. Knowing that was going to happen I decided to steal a march on it and went out alone on Friday afternoon. The day was sunny and very warm for February. I spent a couple of hours in the Grays Lake Park in the area near its entrance. 

This is in an 8x10 sketchbook, showing the park near its entrance, which is across from Waterworks Park. In the far distance is the park sign and toward the left center are a couple of utility poles along the street. I left out cars grouped here and there. Like most watercolors I drew a moderately detailed image then painted and inked the result.  

Uncatalogued

"Snowy Day, December" wc/ink on paper

This small watercolor wasn't catalogued among last year's work because it was done on a separate piece of paper, about 5x7, stuck in the back of a sketchbook. Now that it has resurfaced I decided to post it for the contrast between now and two months ago. This is one of many views of Druid Hill Creek painted from a window in my home studio. The day in mid-December was cold and grey and the heavy snowfall of a week or more earlier was still thick ans smothering. In contrast the past few days have had high temps in the 50s.

As ever this began with a graphite sketch, finished with watercolor and ink.

Last Saturday

Anyone who reads these posts knows that my sketch group heads inside when the weather is inclement. But on sunny days, even if it's cold, we long for the bright light and contrasts of working outside. Last weekend it was that sort of day. Nobody wanted to be inside, even though the high that day was mid-30s. After some discussion we decided to go to Ray Drive, which runs along the eastern shore of the Des Moines Rive, giving great views of the city skyline, riverside parks, and the Botanical Center. 

"Botanical Center," wc/ink on paper, 5x9.2

This is the geodesic dome of the Botanical Center, which is sited east of the river. I thought the near evergreens (left) and the thinner ones to the east of the dome made an interesting composition. I parked in the lot and stood alongside my car to sketch the scene in graphite in one of my sketchbooks. The bright sun was just over my left shoulder. The dome's dark but transparent panels make a repetitive patter that seems to swirl around its circumference, and in the lower center enough light is reflected back to us to give a sense of the interior below. 

After I did a reasonably detailed drawing, trying to give the sense of those curved panels, I jumped in the car to paint. The dark values were particularly important, requiring several layers to achieve the right depth.  

 

Druid Hil Creek

"On Druid Hill Creek," oil on panel, 11x14

Not far from my studio, Druid Hill Creek drains into Grays Lake. Between them is a relatively wild area that I've painted a few times. There is a rocky ford and beyond that (in the far background of this painting) is a street bridge. This view is actually looking south, which is toward my studio. 

This particular painting began as a study for a larger work, later abandoned. This study retains an excellent flavor of the creek and woods.  

 

Rural Autumn

"Rural Autumn," wc/ink on paper, 7x9

Some years ago I made the watercolor above of a country road flanked by blazing autumn trees. The road is actually imaginary and based on streets near my studio. Autumn is perhaps my favorite time of year for painting outdoors. The weather is generally good to at least decent and there is a lot of color to study. 

Texaco

"Service Truck," wc/ink on paper

There is an auto dealership in downtown Des Moines that specializes in classic cars and other vehicles. They often leave some of their inventory in the parking lot next to the showroom. Sometimes these classics are still in their commercial garb, like this Texaco service pickup. I was attracted by the color scheme as well as the preservation. 

This watercolor went like most: graphite layin, careful attention to color and value and then in to accent certain passages.
 

Warm Refuge

"Inside the Dome," wc/ink

This another Saturday sketch. The weather here in Iowa continues to be mostly bitterly cold with lows in single digits to negative. But our intrepid group continues to sketch on Saturday afternoons. 

This is a small sketchbook work showing a small fraction of the interior of our Botanical Center, much of which is inside a geodesic dome. I sat in a chair on one of the walkways between beds of tropical plants, trees, and the like. 

During the cold months the Center is a welcome and warm refuge.  

Serene

"Serene," oil on panel, 14x11 (private collection)

In these dead of winter days it's useful to me to think about summer and warm sunny days. It doesn't make me warmer physically but certainly improves my mood and makes me smile. 

This painting was done outdoors in Virginia a while back. The big sycamore stood guard on the river bank as I tried to capture the light reflected onto the underside of the huge overhanging branches.   

Saturday

"The Art Center, Snow," wc/ink on paper, about 5x15

Despite bitter cold my sketch group again assembled last Saturday for a couple of hours. Most of us opted for a snug and warm indoor venue, but I decided to stay outside. I drove to the Des Moines Art Center and found a place to park near the main entrance. Snow was blowing in a sharp wind and the temperatures were around 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of where I was parked I needed to get out, observe the subject and sketch quickly. When the cold seeped in I would jump back in my warm car for a while, then go back out and resume. In a way it was good practice--observe closely, remember as well as possible, draw (or paint) and then repeat. 

 

Breezing Up

"Breezing Up," acrylic on paper on board, 4x8

Although acrylic is perhaps my least favorite medium, I've done a few works using acrylic paint. A long while ago I knew an artist who painted images of sailboats and power yachts on nautical charts. A neat idea but in the end it was a limited one. Still, I gave it a try with a few things, including the small painting above. For these I fitted a snippet of nautical chart, glued it to a piece of hardboard, then painted a monochromatic sailing image. This one was probably the best of the bunch. 

Saturday

"Lamp, West End Salvage," wc/ink

The stalwarts of the Saturday sketch group gathered at a local architectural salvage concern and sketched indoors, owing to the weather. Snow was blowing and the temps were low, so we opted for a snug harbor. 

This lamp was shining just near where I sat so I sipped my latte and tried to imply the illumination behind the stained glass. As is always the case, this watercolor is considerably more dull than the original subject. 
 

Diego

"Velazquez Self Portrait (copy)," oil on board, 8x6, 2008

An important influence in my work as a painter has been the immortal Diego Velazquez (1599-1660), the Spanish artist who served as court painter to King Felipe III. His masterpieces are the core of the Museo del Prado, in Madrid. Many years ago while in the military I had several occasions to visit that museum and spent many hours studying not only Velazquez but Goya and other Spanish masters. 

This small painting is an exceptionally rapid sketch of an oil attributed to Velazquez as a self portrait done nearly twenty years ago. I was interested in capturing the expression and main shapes of the figure. It was also interesting to use a very limited palette--basically cad red, yellow ochre, flake white and ivory black. Although the limitation of colors is severe, it is possible to achieve a wide range of colors and values with only those four. 

Sketch

This watercolor and ink sketch is from last Saturday's outing with the group. The brick building in the background is Brown Camp Lofts, one of the first industrial buildings converted to condominiums in Des Moines. The yellow building to the right is a minor league baseball stadium. As usual I began this with a graphite lay-in to establish the composition, then used watercolor and ink to complete the painting. 
 

Lily

"Lily at Eight," oil on panel

This is a portrait from nearly two decades ago. The girl is Lillian, who was eight years old at the time. She was a typical child of that age, unwilling to sit still for long, so most or all of this was done from references. 

This particular painting has never been exhibited and remains in a private collection. In the meantime Lillian has grown into a mature young woman.