Two Color Exercise

It's just an exercise, so try to not be horrified. Sometimes I get stuck and feel like I can't do anything. I'll go for a while without painting then I'll come up with an exercise just to snap myself out of it. You can try it too!

In this case, my idea out of nowhere was a watercolor using just two colors (randomly chosen from my paint box: Indanthrene Blue and Raw Sienna) and one brush (#10 flat sable).

I had an image in mind of Cape Meares (Oregon Coast) point, a man on the beach with a walking stick and some rocks and driftwood in the foreground. -- Starting with a very light wash of raw sienna over pretty much the entire paper, I then drew in a far shoreline (base of cape) with some indanthrene blue and whisped around some sky to make the clouds appear. I then darkened the hillside with more raw sienna and added indanthrene blue shadows, a horizon line and some wave details...

On a side note, I really don't like Indanthrene Blue; to me it's too saturated and stainy. But I studied under AWS master Domenic DiStefano and he loved it, so I  always have a tube in my box. I was just glad to be able to use some of it. :)

By the way, there was no preliminary drawing here, I just started painting. The approach of abstract impressionism lets your mind fill in the details from minimal information. It works. -- The little guy with the walking stick was drawn-in with near-straight Indanthrene, and straight out of the tube paint was used for the foreground driftwood and rocks.

Well, the point of all of this is, one can always challenge oneself just to do something different. It might not be pretty but it's always a learning experience.  Like I said, try it!



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I sent that painting out on Monday the 18th of last month so we should be hearing from our winner soon. And I still have some prints to give away....

New Year's Resolutions

Winter House, watercolor

It's a new year and it's time for me to rethink and make some new resolutions.

I admit that I've allowed my work - as a documentary photographer - to take up all of my time. That's not fair to those who'd like to see more paintings. I am still painting, btw, but I haven't been blogging or posting. That needs to change.

So we'll make it a resolution to post more often. I certainly have the incentive to do so! I just need to make the time.

And Coming Soon...

Yes, I will get back to posting paintings again. I've been working on some long-term projects including the feral cat documentary but I'm painting too. You just don't always see the results.


Also, I have an essay in the new book, Art Is Dead, where I talk about the problems with art in America, both in terms of popular culture and the inner circle of art elites. It is a worthwhile read and I suggest you acquire it....

Paintings of Oregon 2010 Calendar

"Paintings Of Oregon" 2010 calendar - it is a unique gift idea; rare, unlikely to be duplicated. It may seem early but now is the time to preorder before it's too late.

This is a collection of my paintings in a nice art print size. Once each month is done, you can save and frame each print. You won't find a better bargain in fine art anywhere.

You'll love these watercolors and pastel paintings of the natural beauty of Oregon. I guarantee it. And so will your friends. Thank you, in advance, for choosing my art..

Fine Art Prints

At this time of year I seem so busy... shows, and such. I WILL be posting new art here soon. In the meantime, I decided to make a few of my favorites available at Red Bubble. This is an experimental offering. We shall see how it goes.

Oregon Ghost Town Painting in Academia

An Oregon Ghost Town... Hardman, Oregon appears in an academic publication. Actually, it's my painting of the ghost town, as you can see here:


I admit that it doesn't look quite as impressive in the book, but at least my work is getting some academic notice:


Thank you. Hey, at least my name and bio appeared above Picasso. You can get a poster of this painting here: Roadside Oregon Artist Gallery.

Oregon Painter, The Real Story - Welcome

Welcome to my world...

Over the past few years I developed a small following on eBay, where I became known as The Painter Of Oregon.. thanks to one overzealous writer. The truth is, I've come to accept the fact that I'll never be the artist I always wished I could be (since childhood).

I'm a native and I love to paint my home state. I do a lot more than just paint Oregon scenery and I hope you'll get to know me better as time goes on.

I grew up mostly in Tillamook county, although I had some early childhood experiences in California... mostly experience being part of a homeless family and living in a car. Well, it was a different way to grow up, anyway.

That's probably part of why I've bounced around in careers. I've been a fishing boat captain, a church pastor, a volunteer firefighter, a web designer, a book editor, a Park Ranger assistant, a guitar teacher, a wedding photographer (assistant), a computer network administrator... and probably several other things I've forgotten for the moment.

Anyway, continuing with the bio: There's college, too; Blue Mountain Community College, Clatsop Community College, Eastern Oregon, Nortwest Bible and much later Western Medical College. Later still, the New York Institute of Photography. And with all of that, I ended up using nothing of my "education."

Instead, I basically make a living as a computer monkey; doing layout and editing work for 'zines and small book publishers. On the side, I sell a few paintings, a few prints and posters and a few (very few) Cartoon T-shirts and word-art gifts.

One thing some find interesting regarding my painting is that all of the works you will see here are painted using just three colors: Cadmium Red, Cobalt Blue and Yellow Ochre. Some people think this isn't possible but the real trick is in knowing how to mix these colors into a broad spectrum of colors and values.

From time to time, I will post paintings and photos here, focusing on my love affair with Oregon, my home. Keep checking back and feel free to offer your thoughts. Thank you.