Winter Sunrise Shadows

In the light of a frigid winter dawn, the sun blazes through a snow-coated forest, glimmering on the frost and streaking through the branches above. Long shadows are cast from the low light, falling across the shrubs and grasses half buried in the snow.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Trail Ridge Road Aspens in Fall

As part of the solar eclipse trip I went on back in August, our tour group also got to spend a day in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was an amazing experience, particularly since I had never really seen large mountains before. As we rode the tour bus up Trail Ridge Road, aspen trees were everywhere at the middle elevations. Higher up, they faded away and were replaced with an ever-shrinking evergreen forest, which finally turned to tundra at the treeline. Here, we see the aspen groves, growing in little clumps as they do, in fall.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17" (framed)

2017 Solar Eclipse from Glendo

In August, 2017, I had the pleasure of going on a guided tour with about 250 people out to the Rocky Mountain region of the nation to see the solar eclipse as well as other beautiful sights in the area. We went through Rocky Mountain National park to an elevation of a bit over 12,000 feet and saw the sites around Denver and Cheyenne; the mountains were incredible and the cities were a lot of fun. The highlight was, of course, the total solar eclipse, which we viewed from the tiny town of Glendo, WY, and it was overwhelmingly beautiful. I've made this painting as accurate as possible without sacrificing the artistic aspects of it. The 3 main helmet flares from the sun are placed accurately, the faint star to the left of the sun is Regulus, and the brighter one further away to the right is Mars. No painting or photo can convey the experience of standing in the unreal twilight cast by a total solar eclipse, but I've done the best I can to capture that fleeting moment.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Storm-tossed Mountain

On a rocky, distant world, the low afternoon light streaks across jagged mountains and illuminates far-off storm clouds. Lightning flashes in the distance, a stark reminder of the primordial nature of this realm. Part of my MTG: basic lands series.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17" (framed)

Moonlit Swamp

Beneath a pair of full moons on a far off plane of existence, light glimmers across the shallow pools and squishy mud of a vast swamp. Spreading reeds and ancient trees grow from the mire in a constant struggle between growth and decay. Fireflies dance around the tree roots and grasses, oblivious to the eerie gloom. Part of my MTG: basic lands series.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Plein Air Painting, Patapsco State Park

Yesterday, there was an interesting fine art workshop at Patapsco State Park. Ed Johnson, a local artist and retired teacher, taught this workshop at one of the large shelters near the swinging bridge. There were about a dozen artists there of varying backgrounds and experience levels. For a modest fee, all art supplies were provided, and everyone got to go home with a painting they created. Reference photos were provided, most of them of subjects in the park. It was a neat experience, and the first time I painted outdoors. It was an interesting challenge to paint without my standard art supplies, but it worked out. well, and hopefully Ed will run these events again in the future.

Acrylic painting: 16" x 20" (SOLD)

Remote Foggy Island

In a lost, ancient sea, an island looms out of the fog and waves. Sunlight streaks through broken storm clouds, illuminating the waves and waterfalls that tumble from dizzying heights into the dark depths below. Part of my MTG basic lands series.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Sunset on Distant Plains

On a far away world, the sun sets amid illuminated clouds as a gentle wind sweeps across the grassy plains. Two moons hang in the evening sky, an alien sight to our eyes. Part of my MTG: basic lands series.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Monumental Forest

In some distant realm, ancient trees stretch skyward on a cool spring day, casting long shadows across a meandering brook. Sunlight glimmers through the leaves and heavy limbs, illuminating the water and petals of small flowering trees and shrubs. Part of my MTG: basic lands series.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17" (SOLD)

Slushy March evening

Spring seemed to come deceptively early this year, but a warm February turned into a cold March full of slush and ice. Here, we look down an empty side street in the evening as light snow falls on warm pavement beneath the glow of old streetlights.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Hilltop redbuds

Atop a hill in Patapsco State Park, in the shade of old beeches, oaks, and tulip trees, redbuds spring to life. Their purple flowers add a flash of color to the earth-toned forest as late winter light streaks through the trees.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Holiday Highway Travel

Around Christmas and New Years, millions of people head out on the roads, journeying to see friends and family. Here, we see several travelers making this journey along a modest highway through snowy fields and median-strip woodlands. The low-angle sun, marking the end or beginning of the day, adds some drama and beauty to what would normally be a relatively forgettable scene. For those wondering, this highway has a median-strip of trees, so the opposite lanes of traffic would be off to the left, and are thus not readily visible.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"