Ialmosttitledthis “CharmedLife”, becausethesceneis soidyllicandthese girlsseemtobein theirownworldof peaceandbeauty. Instead,Icalledit“In theMoment”, becauseitisjustone momentoutofa lifetimethatshould besavored.
AcceptedintoJuriedShow: In-ArtShow2022,Hallberg CenterFortheArts, Wyoming,MN
OneExtraSeason
Icameuponthissceneonararewarm MinnesotadayinNovember.Thelight ontheMississippiandtheunexpected heatofthedaygavemethatbittersweet feelingyougetwhenthesunisshining, butyouknowWinterloomsnotfaraway. Thetitle“OneExtraSeason”isinspired byaphraseintheJohnPrinesong“Blue Umbrella”.Thesongisaboutlongingfor somethingtocontinue,whenyouknowit can’tlast.
PacificBeachRainbow
WhileBackpackingonthe beachoftheOlympic Peninsula,Inoticedmany differentcoloredrocks amongthesandand driftwood.Therewereso manydifferentcolorsthat Istartedputtingthemin mypockets.Bythetime wegotbacktoourcamp,I hadseveralpoundsof rocksthatIhadcollected. Ilinedthemuponalogby color,tomakearainbow. ItookaphotothatIlater paintedasamementoof thedayandthebeautiful beach.
22X15PastelonMuseumBoard CustomMattedandFramed
IntotheOut
Iworkwithalotofmyown referencephotosandIwas notfindingamarshscene thatworkedforme.I decidedtoinventmyown byusingacombinationof differentphotos.Thetitle comesfromananimated filmcalled“Home”.Alittle alienislockedinaroom andheasksifhecancome “IntotheOut”.Ithoughtit wouldmakeagreattitlefor alandscape.
NiceChairs-LesChaisesBleues
OnthePromenade,overlookingtheMediterraneaninNice,France,youwillfindtheseiconic chairsthathavebecomeasymbolofNice.Youcanreadthehistoryatthiswebsite: https://perfectlyprovence.co/the-blue-chair-symbol-of-nice/ Formytitle,Idecidedtostartwithaplayonwords.WhilewewereinNiceandposting pictures,myfunnyfriendsweremakingcommentslike“NiceBeach”or“NiceSelfie”.I decidedtoplayalongandbeginthetitlewith“NiceChairs”,butIhadtoalsousetheFrench namebecause,welltheyareFrench!WevisitedNicefor6weeksintheWinter,of2022so wewalkedthispromenademanytimes.Isnappedseveralpicturesofthepeopleinthechairs andIcan’thelpbutwonderaboutthestoriesofeachofthem.
ValettaBanners
IvisitedMaltainFebruaryof2022withsome verygoodfriends.Weexploredeverysideof thetwomainislands.Welovedthecoasts, cliffs,andancientlandmarks.Towardtheend ofthetrip,wevisitedthecapitalcityof Valetta.Wehadnoideathatitwasamajor holidaycelebratingtheanniversaryofthe shipwreckofSt.Paul.Everystreetwasfullof people,everysidewalkcaféwasfull.There wereredbannerseverywhere.Thesunwasso bright,Icouldhardlyseedownthestreet.I lovedthisscenewiththebacklitbanners,flags andpeople.
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Framed18WX24H
ThisisalovelyscenethatIcame acrossinMenton,France.Iliketo usesongtitlesformypaintings.I decidedtouseoneofthemost famousFrenchsongsthatIknow byEdithPiafcalled“LaVieen Rose”.Ithoughtitwastheperfect titlewhenIlookedupthe meaningandfoundthis description: Directlytranslatedto"lifein pink","Lavieenrose" essentiallymeansseeinglife throughrose-coloured glasses.Livingwithan attitudeoroutlookof positivity,tryingtoseebeauty intheeveryday;likeyoudo whenyoufirstfallinLove. P-2022APR15 Image14WX10.5, Framed24WX20H
Inasmall alleyin Malta,we cameupon thisboatin the traditional Malta colors.
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ParisOnTuesday, 2015
isapeacefulsceneatthe JardindesTuileriesnearthe LouvreinParisonNovember 10,2015.Thispaintingismy attempttorecapturethe peacethatwasviolatedby terrorists,justthreedays aftermyvisit.
Thispaintingwasafinalistin theArtistryMNFallFineArts showin2017.
KingHeron
OvertheHillsandFarAway
ALedZeppelinsongprovides thetitleforthispainting.The referencephotowastakenon thePacificCrestTrailin August2021.Thetrailhad beensmoke-coveredall summerduetoCanadian Wildfiresandwewereluckyit clearedbeforewearrivedfor our5daybackpacktrip.The segmentfromHart’sPassto RainyLakeisatthenorthern endofthePCT,sotherewere manyexcitedthrough-hikers whoonlyhaddaysleftintheir 3monthtrekacrossCalifornia, OregonandWashington.
Aurora
Ialwaysshiedawayfrom portraits,butwhenAurora’s momsentusanadorable photoofher,Ijusthadtogive itatry.Herlittlehandsand feetaresocuteandshehas themostbeautifulcurls.Itwas agoodlessonformetolearn abouthowshadowsaffectskin tonesandfabric.
3rdAvenueArch–Welovetowalk alongtheriverin Minneapolis,near downtown.Onthe dayItookthis referencephoto,the sunhadjustsetand theskywaspink. Youcanseethe StoneArchBridgein thedistance.
AceBar,NotAceBar-ThisisfromaphotoI tookattheDublinerBarinSt.Paul,MN. Anyonewhohasbeenherewouldrecognize thisplace.Therewerenottoomanypeoplein thebar,justregulars.Thatdidn’tbotherthe band.Theyweregettingintothemusic.Ilike theneonsignandhowthelightreflectsonthe tables.Itriedtocapturetheglowcontrasted withthedarkbackground.
BlueMosque
BlueMosqueisaniconicbuildingbuiltin theearly1600’s.Notfarfromthe beautifulwatersoftheBosphorus,itis oneofthemaintouristattractionsin Istanbul,itisstillusedasaplaceof prayer.Inthisrespect,itisatraditional symbolofworship,butIseeitonseveral levels.Evennon-Muslimsaredrawntoit foritshistory.Architecturalandart loversflocktoitforitsbeauty.Forme,it wasonestoponawonderful,exotictrip toacitythatwelcomedusandhelped melearnhowweshouldallworship toleranceanddiversitytomakeourlives morerichandcomplete. BlueMosquewasacceptedintothe inauguralMillCityArtShowin2018
BlueSideofHappy
Whenyouusesonglyrics fortitles,youcomeacross alotofsongswiththe colorblueinthem. Usually,Bluemeanssad, butinthiscase,theblue skyreflectingonthe wateratButlerBeachin Florida,canonlymake mesmile.
CaminoBrillante
WalkinginGranadaSpainona rainyevening,Iwasintriguedby thelightreflectingonthewet cobblestonesandtheshapesof thepeopleundertheirumbrellas.
Thetitleistranslatedas“Bright Path”,
Imagined–PastelonPaper-This isoneofthefewpastelpieces thatIhavedonethatisnotbased onanysinglereferencephoto. It’skindofacompositeofseveral differentfallscenes.Thetitle saysitall.
JustGettingStarted–Beirut Lebanonisacityfulloflifeand contrast.Onthisparticular Saturdaynightaftermidnight, theactionwas“JustGetting Started”.Iwasdrawntothe lightsandshadowsonthisbusy streetatnight.Awatercolor under-paintingfinishedwith pastelallowedmetoturnup thecontrast.
IntheSpiritofThings
LeavetheLightsOn
Thisisactuallythe viewfrommyfront windowinNortheast Minneapolis.Itried adifferentstyle, usingsomedifferent colorsandaless realistictechnique. Itstilllookslikeour friendly neighborhood. Leavethelightsonis whatyoudowhen youarewaitingfora lovedonetocome home.Itisalsolyrics fromaJohnPrine Song.
GirlsofSummer
Itookthereferencephotofor thispaintingduringHappy HouratLordFletchersonLake MinnetonkainMinnesota. Amongallofthefancyboats andpartyatmosphere,these twogirlswerefascinatedby somethinginthewater.They remindedmeofmyselfatthat age.Inordertoimprovethe compositionofthepainting,I neededtomodifytheposition ofthegirlsabit,soIhadmy daughtertakesomephotosof hergirlstouseasadditional references.NowIseeKaraand Brooklyn,whichmakesiteven morespecialtome.
StandingByPeacefulWaters
Ourfriendshavealittle cabinontheTigerCat Flowage.Theirlakeis LakePlacid.Itwasa perfectmatchtonamethis paintingwiththeseJohn Prinelyrics.Itwastruly peacefulonthissummer eveningamongthelily pads.
TheEdgeoftheGreatMidwest
TwoMinutestoMidnight–
Pastelonpaper-Theseasonis mid-summer.Theplaceisa Minneapolisbackyard.Thetime isjustbeforemidnightonafull moon.Wehadjustfinishedour smoresandwereadmiringthe glowofthemoononthe neighbor’shouseandthe Adirondackchairs.It’salittle spooky,butmostlyfun.
Wild,WildSea–I wantedtotrypainting withoils,soItooka one-dayworkshop. Althoughthiswasnota photothatItook,it remindedmeofseveral beachvacationsthatI hadbeenon.Igot somegreatpointers fromtheinstructorand Iwasreallyhappywith theresult.
Wind-chillFactor
WishYouWereHere
Anticipation(didnottakeafinalphotobefore framing)
Onasunnywinterday,wewentforawalkaroundlakeoftheislesin Minneapolis.Therewasaskatingclubperformingtheirroutines whileweallwatched.Ifounditmoreinterestingtowatchthegirls whowerewaitingfortheirturntoperform.Somewerechatting, somewererunningthroughtheirroutinesintheirhead,somejust seemedtobecold.Icallthis“Anticipation”toshowthattheyallhad theirownwayofpassingthetimeastheywaitedfortheirturnto perform.
P-2021SEP12
LilyPadBlues
Ilovethelilypadsthat weseeonthelakesin ourarea.Itookabitof artisticlicenseonthe colorsinthissquare formatpainting.Lily PadBluesisasongthat issungbyKermitthe Frogandmakesafun titleforthiswhimsical painting.
P-2021JAN12
TenderWillow
CentralParkinRosevilleMinnesotais theplacewherethesegoldenwillows bendoverthewateronaFallday.The titleisfromaBillCallahansong.–RococoZepher.
“Shelaybesideme Likeabranchfromatenderwillowtree Iwasasstill Asstillasarivercouldbe Whenarococozephyrsweptover Herandme”
TheSummit-Thispaintingis
InspiredbyaphotoItookwhile backpackingontheChelan SummitTrailinWashington State.Thesunwassetting behindmeanditcastawarm glowoverthebaretreeandthe mountainpeaktotheEast, contrastingwiththecool shadowsbelow.Istartedthis paintingwithpouredwatercolor andfinishedwithpastel.
15X27PastelonPaper CustomMattedandFramed
Something,Anything
Anabstract composition emergedfroma shadypond,with skyreflectingamid theshadowsand fallenleaves.The titleisfromaTodd Rundgrenalbum andaptlydescribes thispainting.You canfindsomething oranythingasyour eyetravelsaround init.
Oneofmyfirststill-lifepaintings.Ihadpickedupafewof theselittlecolorfulpearswhilevisitingmydaughterBecky’s home.Isetthemuponmypatiotableinthebackyardona sunnymorningtogetthelongshadows.
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OnceUpontheThames
Rentalboatandcolorful flagalonetheThames,in Richmond.
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P-2022SEP18
Onethecanalin London,Icame acrossthissceneas thesunlitupthetree andthebuildingsin thebackground.The reflectionsandthe complimentary orangesandblues gavemetheperfect colorpalette.
Image18WX12H,Framed24WX18H
P-2023AUG17
GoYourOwnWay
InPorto,Portugal,wevisitedtheParquedeSerralves.
AlongwiththeArtDecobuildingsandwonderfuloutdoorsculptures,thepark hadapasturewithsheepwonderingamongtheSpringflowers.Ilovedtheway theleavescreatedaframeforthethreesome.
HappyPlace
IenteredtheWhiteBearLakePleinAirFestival.This wasmyfirsttimeparticipatinginthistypeofevent.I havedoneverylimitedoutdoorpaintinganditwas definitelyachallengetochoosemysubjectsandthen narrowdownthescopetocomeupwiththefinal compositions.ThreepiecesthatIcompletedare:
-“StillSummer”,thegazeboatMatoskaPark -“OneSummerDream”,aclassicWhiteBearLakeView -“HappyPlace”Thepublicfishingpierindowntown WBL Beforechoosingmysubjects,Ispentadayridingmy bikearoundthearea.IknewIwantedtopaintthe Gazebo,sothatwasone,andthenasIwasriding aroundthelake,IcameuponwhatIcalltheclassic WhiteBearLakeviewthatyouseeasyoudrivehome fromthebeach.Beyondthosetwoideas,Iwaslooking forarecognizablelandmarktopaint,andsoIwalked aroundtheVFWtoseeifIcouldcaptureagoodangleof thebuilding.AsIstoodawayfromthebuildingbythe boatrampandwalkeduponthefishingpier,thesun wasbrightandhot.Therewasafamilyinsilhouetteat theendofthepier.Theywerefishingontheoctagonal deck,withthesparklingwaterinthebackground. TherewastheviewIwaslookingfor!
Allthreepaintingswereincludedinthefull exhibitions,andthen“HappyPlace”wasselectedby JurorJoshuaCunninghamtobepartoftheJuriedshow. IreallyenjoyedtheexperienceandIplantodomore PleinAirwork.
StillSummer
ThegazeboatMatoska parkinWhiteBear Lake.Thisisanicon ofthearea.Iwanted toshowthescaleof thetreesthat surroundit,nearthe lake.
P-2023AUG08
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Whilewalkingalong thecornicheinBeirut atsunset,wewatched fishermenand familiesenjoyingthe waterfront.
9X9Image,currentlyunframed
WevisitedIstanbulseveral yearsagoandweattended asessiontowatchthe whirlingdervishes.Itwas trulymesmerizingtowatch themtwirlinginthedark room.Thedancersare membersoftheSufiorder. TheSufimysticRumiwasa poetandthetitlecomes fromoneofhispoems: “Stopactingsosmall.You aretheuniverseinecstatic motion.”
SagradaFamilia
