Creative Dialog

"Outer Space Seattle" - A Representational Abstraction

2012-01-16T14:20:00.000-08:00

This is a gouache painting of the Space Needle reflected on the Space Center.

"No Right Turn" 13X20 Acrylic

2012-01-16T14:13:00.000-08:00

This started out to be a painting of the Corvallis Hotel but ended up being about the cars. This is a revised version of a previous painting.

Philomath College - 16X20 Oil Painting

2011-12-13T13:53:00.000-08:00

This is a new 16X20 version in oil of an older watercolor painting. I painted it entirely with only yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson and white. No need for all those other colors. The building is the old Philomath College, now the Benton County Historical Society.

Coquille Point near Bandon, OR -16X20 Oil Painting

2011-12-03T11:09:00.000-08:00

This is a new painting based on a scene from a smaller previous painting.

"On Call" at Harbor, OR - 16X20 Acrylic

2011-12-03T11:05:00.000-08:00

Again at Harbor this is the Coast Guard Station. The Homeland Security people were all sleeping.

Harbor, Oregon at night

2011-11-20T14:34:00.000-08:00

This is a 16X20 Acrylic Painting. It is an update of a previous painting.

The Birds

2011-11-20T14:32:00.000-08:00

16X20 acrylic painting. It does not pay to make a raven mad.

Yosemite Falls - 12X16 Oil Painting

2011-10-04T16:35:00.000-07:00

It was a very wet year at Yosemite and the falls were in their full glory.

"The Blue Chair" Suttle Lake resort - gouache painting

2011-10-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

This was from our three day Vistas & Vineyards retreat.

Larwood Covered Bridge - Acrylic Painting

2011-10-04T16:28:00.000-07:00

I call this painting "No Ewe Turn".

Thompson's Mill aerial view - acrylic painting

2011-10-04T16:25:00.000-07:00

This is a redo of a previous painting.

1974 Harley in 12X16 Oil

2011-09-16T15:28:00.000-07:00

At the Borgo Pass Vineyard I found this old Harley. They also had a sawmill, old cars, tractors as well as some very unique buildings. All great subjects for painting. This is my fourth painting there.

Cardwell Hill Cellars Vineyard - 9X12 Oil Painting

2011-09-16T15:22:00.000-07:00

This painting was made at a Vistas & Vineyard Paint Out on 7 Sept.

Yaquina Bay Bridge - 18X24 Acrylic

2011-09-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

I made this painting following an outing to Newport, Oregon. We were at the south end of the bridge and this painting resulted from a number of sketches. Obviously this viewpoint is from the middle of the bay, about 30 feet away from the bridge. This month is the 75th birthday of the bridge which is sometimes called "The Green Lady".

Tractor with Umbrella (and Attitude) - 9X12 Acrylic

2011-08-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

From last weeks Vistas & Vineyards visit to Detering Nursery.

Two Acrylic Paintings at Finley Wildlife Refuge

2011-08-04T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Finley Wildlife Refuge is just south of Corvallis, OR. The first is a smoke house that is a registered historic building. The second is the Fiechter House, the carriage house and a large red barn in the distance.

Two Oil Paintings from Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

2011-07-30T17:28:00.000-07:00

These 12X16 paintings were started during our recent paint out at Silver Falls which is near Silverton. The first is the Lodge and the second is a bridge near South Falls.

Out To Pasture - 16X20 Oil Painting

2011-07-25T13:35:00.000-07:00

I have always been interested in one of the old tractors at the Detering Nursery named "Little Putt-Putt". This is my latest painting featuring this tractor. I call it "Out to Pasture".

Ford Wonkster Front End - 20X24 Oil Painting

2011-07-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

I just completed a second Ford Wonkster painting, this time a frontal view. I plan to show both at the August 6 Clothesline Sale of Art in Corvallis on the Courthouse Lawn.

Paintings from the Dancing Oaks Nursery

2011-07-15T19:58:00.000-07:00

The first painting is a 9X12 acrylic of two oaks dancing. The second one is an ink/watercolor drawing of a group of Lilium "Satisfacion" in my sketchbook.

Ford Wonkster - 20X24 Oil Painting

2011-07-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

I was at the Philomath car show last week and saw this really nice 1929 Ford Roadster. I always wanted one of these. So I now have the next best thing, and it needs no maintenance or insurance, maybe just some more oil.

Beazell Memorial Forest-12X16 Acrylic

2011-07-11T13:46:00.000-07:00

Another outing with Vistas & Vineyards. This was after a lesson on perspective. This is spherical perspective (or just wonky).

Mirror Lake, Yosemite

2011-07-10T10:45:00.000-07:00

Another view of Mirror Lake in Yosemite. It is a 9X12 oil painting completed almost entirely with a painting knife.

Halsey Paper Mill - Two Views

2011-07-02T09:50:00.000-07:00

The Halsey Paper Mill is the last active paper mill in Oregon. We recently visited a site near the mill for a paint-out. I first made a semi-realistic painting in acrylic and subsequently a distorted ("Wonky") version in oil. Reality is obviously highly overrated.

Paintings at Tyee Vineyard (with Erick Sandgren)

2011-06-27T14:58:00.000-07:00

Last week we had a workshop with Erik Sandgren at the Tyee Vineyard. I made a painting of the Tasting Room as well as of the freshly cut hayfield. I am also showing an initial ink drawing of the field which Erik suggested I frame.

Buggy at Thompson's Mill - 12X16 Acrylic Painting

2011-06-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

At our paint-out two weeks ago I painted an aerial view of the mill, however I also made a sketch for this painting. I relocated the buggy from its home in the garage in order to complete the composition.

Datura "Metal Black" -12X16 Oil Painting

2011-06-20T18:59:00.000-07:00

Last week our paint-out was at the Thyme Garden Nursery where I planned to paint Thyme. Unfortunately Thyme is so small that I had a hard time even seeing it much less developing a composition. So I went into the greenhouse and painted something more substantial.

Sunrise at Mirror Lake, Yosemite NP

2011-06-16T09:44:00.000-07:00

This is a 16X20 Oil Painting based on photos taken at Mirror Lake in Yosemite Valley. We rode our bikes to the lake every morning during our stay in the valley.

Old Growth - Yosemite National Park - 9X12 Oil Painting

2011-06-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

Another painting from our recent trip to Yosemite. This is on the valley floor near the Yosemite Lodge.

Backyard Stream (16X20 Acrylic)

2011-06-09T14:17:00.000-07:00

This is what I see in my backyard when the stream is full in the Spring.

Thompsons Mill - Birdseye View (16X20 Acrylic)

2011-06-09T14:13:00.000-07:00

This mill is near Shedd, Oregon and I painted it on a recent Vistas & Vineyards event. This is not your typical Plein Air image and everyone wanted to know how I got this perspective. I told them I was sitting on a cloud. They thought I was "high." The mill dates back to the 1860's and has a turbine instead of a water wheel, however I felt I had to include a wheel.

My first digital finger painting

2011-05-31T09:29:00.000-07:00

This took me about 20 minutes using the Brushes application on my new Ipad2. The car is a 1940 Ford "Woody" I saw in Albany last week.

I have a video of the process at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/creativedialog

Dancing Arts Center (16X20 Acrylic)

2011-05-31T09:19:00.000-07:00

Another whimsical painting from Corvallis, Oregon. This is the local Arts Center featuring some of the surrounding art work including the bronze squirrel, the sculptures of a dancer and an alligator in a clever disguise.

Yosemite Valley Entrance, 16X20 Acrylic

2011-05-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

We recently returned from our trip to Yosemite National Park. After 4 days in the valley we returned with hundreds of photos and a few sketches ready for painting subjects. We also discovered that free painting workshops are conducted in the valley all summer long.

Wilson House, Corvallis, OR

2011-05-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

This is a small 7X10 painting in gouache. I am continuing to explore this medium. This house was built in 1892 and is in the Queen Ann style with Stick/Eastlake ornamentation.

Garlands Nursery - 9X12 Acrylic Painting

2011-05-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

Our first Vistas &Vineyards paint-out of the year was at Garlands Nursery in Corvallis. It was also the first really nice warm day of the year. This is the entrance to the nursery done in my "wonky" style. It was suggested that I get my eyes fixed!

"Framed" 12X16 Oil Painting

2011-05-16T15:37:00.000-07:00

This started out as an Open Studio painting and ended up a few days later as a designed piece. In the future I will try to do the design before I begin the painting.

Bashful at San Diego Zoo (16X20 Acrylic)

2011-05-07T17:56:00.000-07:00

Another image from our trip to the San Diego Zoo a few months ago. This is the second elephant picture and much more recognizable, however less artistic.

Open Studio Drawing

2011-05-06T16:53:00.000-07:00

Finally a fully dressed model at Open Studio, suitable for posting. Most of my recent drawings are nudes. This one is an ink & wash done with a Rapidograph .35 point.

Disciples House, Corvallis

2011-05-04T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Disciples House is located across from the Arts Center and Central Park in Corvallis, Oregon. In its present incarnation it is used as a rooming house for OSU students. I have made several drawings and paintings of this building in the past. This twisted view is on a 16X20 canvas painted in acrylic. Before I added the color it looked very much like a Charles Birchfield.

Scary Ping (16X20 Acrylic)

2011-04-25T18:18:00.000-07:00

He is really a nice dog, but he wants everyone to see that he is the boss. I call this painting "Bite Me!"

Horsetail (22X30 Oil)

2011-04-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

I previously made this painting in monochrome. I prefer this version.

Germany Street Scene (Gouache)

2011-04-21T15:11:00.000-07:00

Based on an old photo from a trip to Germany about 25 years ago, I attempted to use gouache as the medium on a piece of cotton rag matte board. It took a number of coats to get the true opaque effect however I like the resulting velvety surface. I plan to try this in my sketch book.

Deer in Teasel

2011-04-19T20:14:00.000-07:00

Based on a photo taken at a game refuge in SE Oregon near French Glen a few years ago.
(16X20 Acrylic)

Huey, Dewey and Louis (16X20 Oil Painting)

2011-04-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

This is an update of a previous painting. It appears that I never actually finish a painting until it is sold, thus leaving me with a large collection of work in progress.

Ping & Pong (16X20 Oil Painting)

2011-04-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

My favorite subjects, now if they would only behave. Here we see them conspiring.

Nebulas

2011-04-10T14:22:00.000-07:00

Another viewpoint from Earth.

Galactic Surf

2011-04-10T12:33:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to Yachats, Oregon we took a walk along the beach and discovered some interesting tide pools. I plan to enter this image in the "Nature of Oregon" show hosted by the Photo Arts Guild in November.

East Neuk of Fife

2011-04-07T11:53:00.000-07:00

This is a 12X16 oil painting of East Neuk of Fife, a small fishing village in Scotland. I visited Scotland a number of times when I was working at HP.

Happy Birthday to Ewe

2011-04-06T16:33:00.000-07:00

This is a 20X24 oil painting of a new born lamb.

Here's Looking at Ewe

2011-03-30T17:42:00.000-07:00

Taken shortly after she gave birth. I plan to enter a 16X17 print at an upcoming photo exhibition.

Seattle Nighthawks, 16X20 Oil

2011-03-20T15:17:00.000-07:00

This is a redo of a painting I made a couple of years ago. I now use more color and take a more painterly approach.

Oil, North Falls, Silver Falls State Park

2011-03-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

Originally I made a watercolor painting of this scene. I sold it last summer and decided to make another as a 20X24 oil painting.

Sunflower "Blast Off"

2011-03-02T18:56:00.000-08:00

This is my first watercolor painting in a few months. It is based on a photo taken last summer at Lynn's back yard.

More Animal Paintings

2011-03-02T17:53:00.000-08:00

They are all 16X20 oil paintings:
a) Hemi Head
b) Huey, Dewey and Louis
and c) Armor All

Yaquina Bay Bridge - 16X20 Acrylic

2011-02-16T09:22:00.000-08:00

This is a typical foggy day on the Oregon coast at Newport. This painting was based on a photograph I took there several years ago.

Paintings from the San Diego Zoo

2011-02-12T15:44:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago we visited San Diego Zoo. These are the first three paintings based on what we saw. Eventually I hope to make five more paintings. The orangutang and elephant pictures are 16X20 acrylic paintings. The lion is an 18X24 oil painting.

"I see You" - 16X20 Acrylic Painting

2011-01-28T16:54:00.000-08:00

I have a large collection of old graphic and graflex cameras (as well as other brands) so it was just a matter of time before one appeared in a painting. The pug is Ping who always gets into the act. I will probably do more paintings featuring my cameras.

Yachats Sunset

2011-01-26T09:56:00.000-08:00

We often visit Yachats on the Oregon coast and stay at a motel with this view from our window. This is a 16X20 acrylic painting.

"The Bull Market" 22X28 Oil

2011-01-24T15:19:00.000-08:00

This is a commissioned painting of Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange.

"Birdseye View" Benton County Courthouse

2011-01-14T12:31:00.000-08:00

Another new vantage point for the Benton County Courthouse. This is a 16X20 acrylic painting, painted while hanging on to the flagpole. Some people see this as a Dr Seuss hat on an owl.

Bugs at Mary's Peak

2010-11-29T14:09:00.000-08:00

This is a 16X20 acrylic painting which will be part of my favorite things collection. My first and third cars were VW Beetles.

Laura at Open Studio - Acrylic

2010-11-24T11:07:00.000-08:00

This is the second painting that I completed at Open Studio. It is a 16X20 acrylic painting. I could not have done this in oil due to the drying time required. Maybe when I have more experience I will try it in oil.
The first was a nude painting of another model.

Trio in Acrylic

2010-11-21T08:22:00.000-08:00

This is a whimsical depiction of a trumpet, an accordion and a clarinet. It is a 16X20 acrylic painting.

Soda Break at the Albany Carousel

2010-11-17T12:42:00.000-08:00

Another illustration for the Albany Brass Ring Carousel. The Soda Fountain in the background is in Port Townsend, WA.

Whiteside Theatre Interior

2010-11-08T16:42:00.000-08:00

This is a 12X16 oil painting of the interior of the Whiteside Theatre in Corvallis. The theatre will hopefully open in a few months after a major restoration.

Illustration for the Albany Brass Ring Carousel

2010-11-03T18:14:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago I was a carver at the carousel and now I am selling my carousel related artwork at their gift store. I just completed this illustration which I call "Menagerie". It will be available as cards and posters.

Corvallis Hotel (Acrylic Painting)

2010-10-18T19:18:00.000-07:00

This painting is based on a drawing I made a few months ago at a Vistas & Vineyards event. It shows what the hotel looked like in the 30's and 40's.

Donkeys at Tilikum

2010-10-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

More donkeys from the Tilikum event. The only thing not shown is Doyle's hand holding the Purina Donkey Chow.
This is a 12X16 watercolor painting.

Sibling Revelry in Corvallis

2010-10-08T17:13:00.000-07:00

I just completed this illustration for the Sibling Revelry clothing store in Corvallis. They will be stocking many of my cards, prints and paintings, which fit in nicely with the whimsical atmosphere of the store.

Zeus at the Albany Brass Ring Carousel

2010-10-08T17:06:00.000-07:00

This is an acrylic painting of Zeus, one of the carved animals at the Albany Brass Ring Carousel. I did wood carving at the studio a few years ago.

Curious Sheep - Acrylic Painting

2010-09-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

This is my first painting using acrylic paint. This is very different from oil painting since it dries in minutes allowing painting layer on top of layer in a single session. Edith helped me with this painting by demonstrating this looser style.

Tilikum Retreat Drawing - "My Ass"

2010-09-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

This drawing (ink on canvas) is from our recent Vistas&Vineyards retreat. This miniature donkey was not pleased that I converted his silo into a nuclear reactor.

The Whiteside Theatre in Pen/Ink/Watercolor

2010-09-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

This is an experiment. It is an ink sketch on a 14X18 gessoed canvas, to which I added watercolor washes and finally more line work in ink. Since it is on canvas I can now add more watercolor, or acrylic, or oil, or just leave it as is. The subject is the Whiteside Theatre in Corvallis.

Drawings from the Airlie Vineyards

2010-09-01T17:16:00.000-07:00

Today Vistas & Vineyards visited the Airlie Vineyard for a paintout. I have been doing far too many paintings lately so I decided to try a couple of ink and wash pieces. Each began as a blind contour drawing followed by additional ink work and a light watercolor wash. This is a much faster process and I completed three drawings in the morning. These are my two favorites. Needless to say I really like old farm equipment. Most everyone else was painting vistas and vineyards as we are supposed to do.

Equus Caballus

2010-08-28T09:39:00.000-07:00

16X20 Oil Painting based on a photo taken at a recent outing to Gregg's Horse Farm. Vistas & Vineyards visits the farm almost every year.

"View from the Compost Pile" -Oil Painting

2010-08-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

On Thursday we painted at Lynn's backyard which was all spruced up from her recent wedding party. Even the birdhouses had umbrellas. However I was sitting under a tree along with her compost pile. Lynn is better known as the voice of Creative Catalyst Productions.

Yaquina Bay Watercolor

2010-08-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday we painted at Yaquina Bay in Newport, Oregon. This was one of the most popular painting spots, particularly for the seagulls.

Seattle Waterfront - Watercolor

2010-08-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

I visited Julie in Seattle a couple of months ago and saw this view while walking along the waterfront. The Ferry was being reconditioned and there was a lot of activity on the dock. This is a quarter sheet watercolor.

Plunkett House at Beazell (OilPainting)

2010-07-30T14:54:00.001-07:00

On Wednesday the V&V group met up at Beazell Memorial Forest. I painted the old 1870's Plunkett House and barn. It was overcast but I decided to have my way. Mother nature showed her displeasure by providing some thunder and a few raindrops.

Watercolor In Progress

2010-07-26T15:28:00.001-07:00

I have been working on this piece for a while now and need suggestions. It is 22X30 and is a scene from the French Hotel in Berkeley. All the models are getting tired of holding still.

The Borgo Kitchen

2010-07-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

This painting started out as a watercolor. I then added some ink, then some guache and finally some pastel pencil. So I guess it is mixed media. It is based on an outbuilding kitchen at the Borgo Pass Vineyard.

Squirrel at Silver Falls Lodge

2010-07-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

This is an update of a painting I did last year at our Silver Falls paintout. I updated the entire painting and then added the squirrel.

The painting is a 9X12 oil.

Models at daVinci Days

2010-07-23T19:24:00.000-07:00

At this years daVinci Days we again hired a model (Laura) for the Art Guild Booth. A few of us did oil paintings. Mine featured Laura as well as a young future model. Unfortunately we had more lookers than artists.

Oil Painting from Mitch Baird Workshop

2010-07-22T10:07:00.000-07:00

We attended an excellent 3-day workshop last week with Mitch Baird.

He used this scene as one of his demonstrations. This is my interpretation. I added the tractor for added interest and because I like tractors.

Watercolor- Harrisburg, OR

2010-07-13T13:32:00.000-07:00

Another painting from a Vistas & Vineyards event. I started a representational drawing from the street level and later "wonkied" the scene and raised the horizon to the second story of the larger buildings.

Lots more interesting now.

Two Vistas & Vineyard Oil Painings

2010-07-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

These are two oil paintings from our last two Vistas & Vineyard outings. One is the old smokehouse at the Finley Wildlife Refuge and the other is a Serracenia Flava at Dancing Oaks Nursery.

Thompson's Mill (Watercolor & Oil)

2010-06-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

Last week our Vistas & Vineyard destination was Thompson's Mill which is close to Shedd, Oregon. I wanted to make both a realistic watercolor painting as well as a "wonky" oil painting. I completed the drawing for the watercolor on site and then started the oil painting. At home I finished the watercolor and finalized the oil painting. The oil painting was done almost entirely with a color shaper tool which looks like a small spatula. The watercolor was to show that I could also create "straight" paintings. The Queen Ann Victorian house belonged to the mill owner and is nicely restored despite my painting.

Which painting do you prefer?

The Other Half

2010-06-14T10:26:00.000-07:00

Based on one of the photographs I took on our recent Yosemite trip I made this painting of Half Dome. I wanted to show that there is another half. It is a 16X20 oil painting.

Wonky "Painted Lady" in Corvallis

2010-05-31T09:17:00.000-07:00

This is a 16X20 oil painting of an old Victorian house located in Corvallis near the OSU campus. I just added a bit of whimsey.

"Let Sleeping Dogs Lie"

2010-05-31T09:07:00.000-07:00

This is a 6X8 oil painting from my attempt at daily paintings which lasted all of about two weeks.

Laura in Black & White

2010-05-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

This image of Laura was taken between poses at one of the open studio sessions at OSU.

Yosemite Images

2010-05-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

We just returned from Yosemite with hundreds of images. Here are a few.

"Moo" or "Got Milk" 9X12 Oil Painting

2010-05-05T16:35:00.000-07:00

Now no one can say I don't do portraits.

"En Plein Air" 9X12 Oil Painting

2010-05-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago we visited Peggys Cove in Nova Scotia. I saw this artist with his umbrella making a watercolor painting from the other side of the cove. I thought it would be a good oil painting.

This is a test post

2010-05-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

I just signed up for the twitter feed and need to see if it works.

"Grand Entrance" 9X12 Oil

2010-04-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

I don't even remember exactly where along the Oregon coast I found this scene however I found it quite unusual.

Small (6X8) Oil Studies

2010-04-23T18:51:00.001-07:00

I have been trying to complete a painting or drawing every day. So I make small 6X8 oil studies, as well as small drawings and watercolor paintings in my sketch book. These are a few of the oils.

Corvallis Riverfront in Oil

2010-04-23T18:47:00.000-07:00

This is a redo of a painting I did about two years ago as part of Vistas and Vineyards (which by the way starts again in about three weeks.)

"Grapes of Wrath" near McMinville in Oil

2010-04-23T18:43:00.000-07:00

This painting is based on a vineyard we visited last year. I am trying to be more "painterly".