Stage 5

Stage 5 - More or less done ( I think ). I will let it sit and in a week take another look at the painting. I am always open to critiques and suggestions. Need a title also.

Stage 3 Painting on Easel at the moment

Stage 3 - I have added more color to the snow. Finished the Alders in the Background and added small bushes in front of the Alders. Added some dead grass sticking through the low areas of the snow. Just put a light wash of color on the wolves. The wolves are my next area to finish, them and the tracks they are following and creating. When I am satisfied with the Wolves, I will work the foreground up. Any critiques and suggestions are welcome.

Art Challenge with Scott and Gail

Facebook Art Challenge - Scott Thompson and Gail Niebrugge art great artists and friends. They have been posting their works and the continued progress on Facebook. So I have excepted there challenge to paint and post also. Will do my best to post at least every other day, so I need to paint some each day. May be hard to do that working full time, but here we go....

Self Portrait At McHugh Creek

Self Portrait At McHugh Creek 14" x 18" Oil on RayMar Panel -
Two years ago I was painting with some Artist Friends at McHugh Creek and my buddy Don K0lstad took a picture of me painting with my Easel in the Creek. I have been recently experimenting with adding people into my Landscapes to express interaction between Man and our Landscape around us. Painting outside has increased my appreciation for our Country's beauty and grandeur. If you are interested in this painting feel free to contact me.

Enjoy The Adventure

Capture Your Life As A Series Of Adventures. One of the hardest and best lessons to learn is to except your life as a series of Adventures. All the hardships, joys of life if taken this way become more meaningful and easier to accept. Case in point the movie "UP", what a great lesson about what life is about, that it isn't the destination of the adventure but the joy of experiencing life.
It is winter here in Alaska, cold, ice on the roads, so everytime you go driving you can take it as a dangerous event or as a adventure and a challenge. Trust me painting outside in this weather is a true adventure.
I have a Show coming up next weekend to sell my art. The show are always a adventure, getting my truck loaded, unloaded and not damaging my works. Trying to match the right painting with the right costumer. Listening to all the comments on my artwork (good and bad). I take it as a learning lesson when I meet the public with my work. Live life to its fullest, you will have so many adventures to tell your grandchildren. Have a good adventure today! I'm off to the studio for a adventure with my creativity.

Modern Communication Effects

Sewing The Sail by Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida

Donna and I have four children spread out across the country now, one in Colorado Springs Co, one in White Rock Canada, one in Bellingham Wa and one here in Anchorage Alaska.

I am forced to keep in touch via the modern world ie: Facebook, and Skype technology. Actually it is very helpful, can call and talk and see each other on Skype for free, and have a conference call going. Facebook has allowed us to keep in touch via posts, even when we are not online at the same time.

Has also allowed me the ability to reach out to old friends, contact artists I admire and who have influenced my artwork.

As the President of Alaska Artists Guild, it has allowed me to instantly communicate with the members of the guild. Create discussions and has allowed me to be a much better officer of the guild.

Instant communication what a marvel. When used correctly the Internet is a amazing thing.

Evening With My Wife

Sunset At Beluga Point - 14x18 Oil - Last May on the First Really nice Spring day, my wife Donna and I drove down the Seward Highway to Beluga Point to have a late dinner and watch the Sunset. The Tide was a very low tide, was able to walk around on the mudflats with my dog and enjoy the incredible evening. Donna and I really enjoyed the peace, beauty and scenery. We were not the only ones, quite a few people were there also, including our son Ryan. This painting captures the "emotions" of the scene that evening.