Hiking & Painting in Nature – Chicago
Black squirrels are not common in Chicago. I've only seen two in my lifetime, so you can imagine how jubilant I was to find one running in my own backyard. Happy like a little child. Nature has that way about it....to make you young again when you least expect it. To catch you off guard … Continue reading Black Squirrel White Snow Watercolor
https://youtu.be/wTkj0VqP45k It's been a long time since you've seen a video, huh?!? Yeah, I'm slacking! Well, no more! Time to get to work. And more to come....I promise. Normally, I like to perform a step by step painting demo right in nature. It is so much more pleasant than an indoor studio, however I saw … Continue reading Speed Demo Video Spring Sunset Soft Pastel
The light changes and you catch yourself holding your breath. A fiery glow in the horizon...enthralling. Its ending presentation a hot display quietly turns into a mauve hush. Oh quickly went the dusk that took my tender devotion; Can we meet again tomorrow? Over the weekend my intent was to be in the woods. As … Continue reading Tender Devotion Watercolor – Winter Tree
That evening light, the glow of the setting sun, it is so wonderful that it makes anything in its path illuminate with a gentle warm radiance. "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly." Ps 84:11 What are good … Continue reading Two Headed Pine Tree Sketch – Swallow Cliff
A reprieve from winter, a welcomed mild day...how lovely! Yesterday I made a quick stop at Arrowhead Lake. The sun, enveloped in a slight haze and in the company of dark blue clouds, sets behind the trees, giving me a peek-a-boo yellow surprise in between branches. What do I hear? Unexpectedly, I hear the first chorus frog … Continue reading Arrowhead Lake Sunset Sketch
You are going to like this step-by-step pastel demonstration of how to paint trees at dusk! This may be a little advanced, but don't worry, with a little practice you'll be able to handle this, no problem. Here is my set up and reference photo. I took the photo at Goose Lake Prairie about 2 … Continue reading Let’s Paint Trees at Dusk!
When I saw this scene I had to say..."Whoa!" And take a picture of course! This picture was taken at Centennial Park in Orland Park, IL. The lake at centennial acts like a mirror reflecting a powerful setting sun on a minimal windy day. How awesome is our planet and temporary home. This will most definitely be … Continue reading Sunset to Live For
This is one moment out of several in a 24 hour day. I think I like this one the best. At the end of my day, did I ponder about any thing I did at work? Did I reflect upon the jerk that cut me off in traffic? Did I worry about the bill that's … Continue reading Peaceful Moments
Here is another sky photo I took with my handy-dandy cell phone: This picture was taken at 5pm when unfortunately, the last spec of light deminishes in the winter time. Check out these colors...it reminds me of a watercolor painting when your blue and yellow paints touch, mixing to form a green hue. Can you … Continue reading Awesome Sky
I had maple syrup over my pancakes this morning....this picture is the sky over Maple Lake yesterday. Maple. Yum. This picture has good composition and may be a painting one day. It might seem easy enough, but paintings with limited colors are surprisingly challenging. If a painting can't rely on colors to make it successful, … Continue reading Sky Over Maple
