"Genesis"

oil on canvas

36" x 48"

"Breaking"

oil on canvas

5" x 7"

"Squall"

oil on canvas

5" x 7"

"Suffocate"

oil on canvas

6" x 6" 

There will be plenty of big pictures at my upcoming exhibition, "Fires".  But if you like the little ones, you're in for a special treat.  I've got over 50 small paintings going to the Thomas Gallery for Friday's opening...most will be $100.  There will also be lots of cheese...it will be free.

"Red"

oil on canvas

24" x 24"

"Fires" opens at Thomas Gallery, Bloomington, Friday 5-8pm.

"Solstice"

oil on canvas

30" x 40"

Another for my exhibition opening this Friday at the Thomas Gallery. 

"Death Mask"

oil on canvas

30" x 40"

Here's one from the "Fires" series, opening this Friday at the Thomas Gallery in Bloomington, Indiana.  The Thomas Gallery is located at 107 N. College Avenue, just a couple doors north of The Tap, through the little entrance to the right of Darn Good Soup...it's kind of like a hidden passage (the password is "gobble lobber").  The reception will be from 5-8pm...I hope to see you there.  

"Anna"

oil on canvas

8" x 10"

I hosted a painting experiment today at the Brown County Art Guild in Nashville, Indiana.  It was a great success and a lot of fun.  I'd share more, but I'm beat.  The painting above was one of six little sketches I was able to do during a lull in the action.  I studied Anna's face for about thirty seconds before she ran off.  Three minutes of slinging paint and voila!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to visit and participate.

Thank you Anna.

My newest series of paintings will go on display at the Thomas Gallery in Bloomington, Indiana next week.  The opening reception will be Friday, November 3rd from 5-8pm.  As with every show prior to this one, this is my best yet...I'm sure of it.  Now, all I need to do is finish the paintings.  I've always felt that my best work is my newest work, so you can be assured all of the paintings will be hanging wet for your enjoyment.  Details will be posted as the pictures get painted.

Rip, rabbet, chop, glue, join, sand, stain, stain, stain...

Inevitably, at least two won't fit.  Building frames is for the birds...

Any birds out there need a part-time job?

"Standing O"

oil on canvas

12" x 24" 

I got my feet wet for this one. 

"Ass"

oil on canvas

9" x 12"

The great mule of Metamora...I call him Pancho.  He can hold a pose so long as you pet his nose.  Pancho ate his first apple last Friday.  We get along pretty well.

Seeing Red, Seeing Green, Seeing Yellow In-Between

"The Woods in October"

oil on canvas

18" x 24"

Like I said, a heck of a good time was had in Brookville.  The trip is an annual pilgrimage for me.  I've told the story about driving down the highway with only three wheels and four dollars several times, so I'll save the rerun for another October, but believe me when I tell you, Brookville and I have some history.  I've got twenty paintings and countless stories to share from the weekend trip...I'll try my best to post some wet paint in the coming days.  

I was pleasantly surprised to discover many of my plein air partners in crime follow along with this blog.  Thanks to all of you who said such kind things about my babbling.  Truth is, I can be a bit crude and withdrawn in the flesh...I'm happy to know I can occasionally redeem myself in written attempts at wit.  Speaking of wit, I'd like to thank Blue Moon for the hearty breakfasts this past weekend...

“Instead of water we got here a draught of beer…a lumberer’s drink, which would acclimate and naturalize a man at once—which would make him see green, and, if he slept, dream that he heard the wind sough among the pines.”      -Henry David Thoreau

Thanks Brookville, it was fun.

"Harvest Moon, Franklin County Courthouse"

oil on canvas

10" x 20"

Want a steal of a deal on a wet painting?  I'll see you this Sunday at the Schilling Center in Brookville, Indiana.  The show is from noon til three o'clock.  I'll have twenty fresh paintings available...hopefully.  Come see the sights, eat the chicken, and smell the crisp fall air and turpentine.  

Saint Meinrad Press Release

"Boat Museum"

oil on canvas

16" x 20"

You Aren't Talented

"Teton Light"

oil on canvas 

12" x 12"

I'm not as good as I should be at anything worth mentioning, so don't be misled by anything I say.  But let me tell you, there is no such thing as "God-given talent".  Finding your "natural abilities" is no different than deciding you'll learn how to read and write.  Call me a liar and I'll call you lazy.  Only a self-portrait of a blind painter could change my mind.  

I'm not trying to give advice, but if I had to advise someone on finding his or her "gift", or "aptitude", or "calling", I'd say this...FORGET ABOUT IT.  THE CLOCK IS TICKING.  STOP SEARCHING FOR THINGS THAT DON'T EXIST AND GET BUSY DOING SOMETHING.  With any luck, when you get to be an old geezer, you'll discover you were halfway decent at something you really enjoyed...and hopefully that will be enough.  

I'd rather struggle to play a song for the rest of my life than play it perfect for the world only once.  

"Yellowstone Canyon"

oil on canvas

12" x 16"

"Going to the Sun"

oil on canvas

14" x 18"

I painted this in Glacier National Park while eating huckleberry buffalo jerky and huckleberry licorice.  I can't wait to go back and explore more of the park.  We weren't able to drive the entire Sun Road, as the pass was still packed with snow, but the time we spent at Glacier solidified it as one of my favorite places on Earth.  For better or worse, "the Backbone of the World" has become the thing I measure all beauty against.

Mark the Calendar

"Rapids"

oil on canvas

12" x 12"

Okay, listen up folks.  I'm planning on ending this year with a bang.  I've got around 200 paintings going on display at eight different exhibits opening/closing between now and January.  I'm guessing some of you who follow along with this blog enjoy an excuse to go out on the town and schmooze at an art event...I hope to see you there.  I'm guessing some of you just like going out on the town...I hope to see you there.  If you hate art, dislike my paintings, but like finger foods and large crowds of people...I hope to see you there.  I'll post specifics and images of new work as each exhibit opens, but here's what you can look forward to, if you're into this sort of thing...

October 18th - December 7th

"Road to Alaska",  Two Man Show

St. Meinrad Archabbey,  St. Meinrad,  Indiana

This will be a preview show for the "Go West" exhibition with my friend Larry Rudolech.  We will be showing plein air paintings from our trip along with plenty of entertaining photos and stories.  

November 3rd - 24th

"Fires",  Solo Exhibition

Thomas Gallery,  Bloomington,  Indiana

This solo show will feature over thirty new works, ranging in size from 4 x 6 inches to 4 x 4 feet, from a series I'm calling "Fires".  The exhibit will be on display at the Thomas Gallery at 107 N. College Ave., Bloomington, Indiana.  Join us for the opening reception on Friday, November 3rd from 6-9pm.  Appointments can be made with the gallery for a private viewing of the show. 

November 5th - December 17th

Indiana Artists Annual Member Exhibition

Brown County Art Gallery,  Nashville,  Indiana

A group show for juried members of the Indiana Artists Club.  My painting, "Spirit of Ioana", will be included in the exhibit.  An opening reception will take place on November 5th from 12-5pm. 

November 9th - January 13th

119th Annual Richmond Art Museum Annual Exhibition

915 E. Main St.,  Richmond,  Indiana

This is the longest running juried art show in the state of Indiana and always features some outstanding artists.  With any luck, a couple of my paintings will be included in this year's show.  And if the judge is squeamish, go check it out anyway.  An opening reception will take place on November 9th at 7pm.  

November 11th - November 25th

Indiana Plein Air Painters Annual Members Exhibition

Art Association of Henry County,  New Castle,  Indiana

A group show for members of IPAPA.  My painting, "Ablaze", and my drawing, "Solar Eclipse, August 21, 2017", will be included in the exhibit.  An opening reception will take place on November 11th from 6-8pm. 

December 9th & 10th

"Bloomfield",  Solo Exhibition 

MainSource Bank Building, 87 E. Spring Street

Bloomfield,  Indiana

This solo exhibit will feature a bunch of recent work, including many Bloomfield scenes.  Join in on the festivities during the opening reception…a party the whole town is invited to.  Opening reception Saturday, December 9th, 5-8pm.

December 15th & 16th

"Go West",  Two Man Show

Brown County Art Gallery,  Nashville,  Indiana

My good friend Larry Rudolech and I will be showing plein air work from a summer road trip to Alaska.  Subjects will include scenes from Alaska, a dozen national parks, and a variety of funky roadside attractions from the month long journey to the end of the road and back.  In addition, we'll have photos, stories, maps, and other fun artifacts from the adventure on display.  Gas station road trip snacks will be served as hors-d'oeuvres.  It's going to be an outrageously good time.  Open both evenings from 5-9pm. 

Now - December 7th

"Recurrencies",  Solo Exhibition

Moench Hall,  Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Terre Haute,  Indiana

I have forty paintings currently on display in Moench Hall on the Rose-Hulman campus.  The theme of the exhibit is "Recurrencies", subjects that have persisted in my painting for several years now.  There will be a closing reception for the show on Thursday, December 7th from 6-9pm.  If you'd like to see the paintings sooner, Moench Hall is open to the public through the week.  

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"Expanse"

oil on canvas

20" x 24" 

"Heat"

oil on canvas

22" x 32"

"Winter Plume"

oil on canvas

24" x 36"

What a vanity is painting, which attracts admiration by the resemblance of things that in the original we do not admire! 

-Blaise Pascal

I know I'm not alone...it's been a rough day.  I was sitting in the back of Wal-Mart earlier this evening, waiting on an oil change, and a certain deep track started playing as background music for all of the shoppers...or at least I think it did.  I'll keep on assuming Tom was just trying to comfort all of us.  He always knows what to say when the world goes crazy.  I'm so sorry.

"Swingin" - Tom Petty

Well, she was standing by the highway

In her boots and silver spurs

Gonna hitchhike to the yellow moon

When a Cadillac stopped for her

And she said, "Hey, nice to meet you, are you goin' my way?"

Yeah, that's when it happened

The world caught fire that day

And she went down swingin'

Yeah, she went down swingin'

Well, she was over twenty-one

In trouble with the law

And it didn't faze her none

She called her mother-in-law

And said I need a little money

I knew I could count on you

After that night in Vegas

And the hell that we went through

We went down swingin'

Like Benny Goodman

Yeah, we went down swingin'

Moonlight on the interstate

She was 'cross the Georgia line

Looked out the window feeling great

Yeah, it had to come in time

And she said I'm never goin' back

She said at last I'm free

I wish ma could see me now, she'd be so proud of me

She went down swingin'

Like Glenn Miller

Yeah, she went down swingin'

Like Tommy Dorsey

Yeah, she went down swingin'

Like Sammy Davis

She went down swingin'

Like Sonny Liston