Olympic National Park, WA

This is my latest painting done in oil, on a 16 x 20 inch stretched canvas. It is based on an area within Olympic National Park, WA. I remember doing a hike in this park where you started in the rain forest, ended up on a beach much like this one, and then looped back into the forest to the trail head. It was probably one of the coolest hikes I have ever done, and I think this painting reflects the beauty in this area....

Mountain Falls

Mountain Falls is an oil painting on a stretched cotton canvas. In this case, the size is 12 x 24 inch, which is an unusual size for me. Like my previous paintings, I used extensive glazing techniques and the grisaille method for this painting. I am really liking this technique and the luminosity effects I am achieving with this style painting.

Still of Winter

Still of Winter represents a new series of paintings for me in which I am utilizing extensive glazing techniques. This painting was done on a stretched 20 x 16 inch canvas in oils. The technique is one that has been around for centuries by the old Master's but has since fallen out of favor for the alla prima technique. The technique used is called the Grisaille (pronouced griz-eye) by which you first paint in black and gray oils and let dry completely. Then, you apply multiple, thin layers of transparent colors on top of the grisaille using the fat over lean principle. I believe it is one the best paintings I have ever done and I think it really shows some luminosity which is something I am always trying to achieve.

Frozen Dawn

Here is my new painting, entitled "Frozen Dawn". Done in oils on 20 x 16 inch canvas. I worked hard on achieving luminosity in the mountains and sky. I love doing landscapes of the Rockies, plains and Native Americans.

Light House

Not much to say about this painting. It is on my standard size canvas done in oils.

Lake MacDonald from summit of Mt. Cannon

Third painting in my "color burst" collection represents a view of Lake MacDonald from the summit of Mt. Cannon. I took this picture, circa 1994, and remember this climb well. This is a region in Glacier Park Montana looking towards the west from Logan's Pass. The painting continues my theme of tonalism with an intense set of colors in one particular focal point. The painting was done on a stretched cotton canvas (16x20 inch). The summit represented an unique challenge in getting the feel for "lots of rocks". Enjoy!

Grand Prismatic Hot Spring

This is the fourth painting using my painting technique "Color Burst", whereby I use tonalism in shades of gray and include an focal point with intense colors. The painting is on a stretched cotton canvas done in oils, 20x16 inch. Believe it or not, the colors of this hot spring are really this intense, and is the reason Yellowstone is so amazing. From Wikipedia.org: The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the United States, and the third largest in the world.

The vivid colors in the spring are the result of pigmented bacteria in the microbial mats that grow around the edges of the mineral-rich water. The bacteria produce colors ranging from green to red; the amount of color in the microbial mats depends on the ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoids and on the temperature of the water that favors one bacterium over another. In the summer, the mats tend to be orange and red, whereas in the winter the mats are usually dark green. The center of the pool is sterile due to extreme heat.

The deep blue color of the water in the center of the pool results from the intrinsic blue color of water, itself the result of water's selective absorption of red wavelengths of visible light. Though this effect is responsible for making all large bodies of water blue, it is particularly intense in Grand Prismatic Spring because of the high purity and depth of the water in the middle of the spring. This painting will be posted on Ebay this coming week, and then on Etsy.com