Fox nap

Acrylic on cardboard

To catch a glimpse of a fox can really seem like a visual treasure. They are so stealthy and alert, that it seems they notice us even when we glance at them from the windows of our house. We have caught sight of our little neighbor only a handful of times in all of the years we have been sharing this hill together. A particularly restful and quite evening invited our neighbor to steal a quick nap under the greenery.

Lunar Moth

Mixed media on cardboard

Who has ever seen these beautiful creatures find their way to a window or lampost and not been taken by their gentle color and light fluttering? They seem to reflect light as if they were tiny moons, which gives them a heavenly glow.

Woodland Cottage

Watercolor on paper

A delightfully quaint little cottage nestled amongst the trees and bushes. It speaks of serenity and cool spring days.

Brooklyn’s Giraffe

Watercolor on paper

My neice loves giraffe. She asked me some time ago to paint one for her, and of course I could not refuse. I had never painted a giraffe. The subject had simplky never occurred to me. I cannot say I cross paths with giraffe often here on the hill. As I studied them I found them delightfully facinating, from the way their strangely long neck balances, to the fuzzy horns they bear, and of course that delightful pattern! The experience further reinforced why one should be open to new ideas and experiences.

Yellow House

In addition to nature painting, I've always been interested in buildings. This one carries a touch of whimsy and playfulness, with bright colors and exaggerated proportions. Painted in watercolor with graphite on paper.

Mossy Path

Mixed media on paper

Along one my favorite trails there are countless pleasant curves and hills to explore. They can seem almost endless, allowing one to wander til their heart’s content. This lovely day the green of the grass and moss seemed to shift the light into a most peaceful shade.

Path Home

Graphite on paper

Each day I return home I am greeted by this quaint graveled, grassy path. It is a little bumpy and uneven. Weeds and bushes are constantly fighting for a place along it’s edges. Trimming and keeping such a long path can be quite a chore, but it brings me joy each and every time I return. It is the first to greet me and welcome me home, pleasantly sheltered by the shade of trees along either side.

Screech Owl

Ink on paper

If one ever heard the call of a screech owl, but had never seen one, it might be surprising to know how small they are. Our little neighbor is certainly the most talkative of the local crew. Our hill’s guardian seems to simultaneously welcome the evening and warn away others, noting this hill has already been laid claim. I think this work took a subconciously impressionist turn, as the thought of the sounds and calls of our little neighbor certainly influenced the wild, sketchy lines and jagged marks that found their way onto the page.

Cat Nap

Ink and watercolor on paper

This is one of my illustration-style pieces: an attempt to capture a lazy, warm day in which our little feline friend has found a delightfully shady spot in a quiet corner of town in which to nap. If I recall now, this was inspired by animation cell image, though that piece has long since been lost to me. I love the way the light plays across the fruit, the stones, and the edges of the leaves that it reaches.

Sunflower

Chalk pastel on paper

We had a patch of sunflowers grow and bloom from a corner of our house one year where the birds had been particularly picky, messy eaters, tossing many of the sunflower seeds onto the ground. I did enjoy watching them track the sun, and one particularly sunny day was inspired to catch one as it stared up into the vibrant blue sky. This piece has an impressionist air to it, most notably the ’ripples’ in the sky. I do enjoy that dreamy haze of the chalk pastels.

Anticipation

An attempt to capture her majesty in graphite and charcoal on paper

Our sweet cat Niki, as many cats do, has such a peculiar way that she stares at me while we discuss her desires. I am quite certain that I have never fully understood what it is she is requesting. She stares at me with anticipation each time, expecting that perhaps this time she may finally have conveyed her royal orders to her rather dim subject. Alas, I think I may never get it quite right, but she playfully tolerates me and my attempts to please her all the same.

Crow at Twilight

Charcoal and colored pencil on paper

Our meadow attracts many visitors, especially in the early morning and around dusk. The birds used to be quite skittish, and leave as soon as our walks brought us down into their space. These days they give us an occasional glance, but mostly just go about their business. The large crows have become especially bold, and will barely show us a care as we pass by very close. I feel like they give us an amused glare, as if to wonder why we keep just walking around that path when there are so many treats to find.

Sunset over Lake

Chalk pastel on paper

One of our favorite hikes winds its way lazily around a river that has grown considerably after it was dammed some years ago. It is wide enough from some angles to catch a view that feels more like one is looking over a large lake or ocean. It has certainly attracted many new residents who seem to at least tolerate all of the additional foot and bike traffic that the new trails have brought into their homeland.

Whimsy

Ink and Acrylic on Canvas

There are times when a blank canvas has stared at one so long that it can no longer be tolerated. The surface simply cannot stay blank. These moments often produce quite unexpected results, for better or worse. This painting, which is quite atypical amongst my others, was the product of hours spent reading Dr. Seuss to my young son, and a fresh set of ink markers that I was eager to try out. The bright, whimiscal, stylized nature has since been one I rather enjoy seeing as I pass by.

Purple Mist

Acrylic on Canvas

Morning light meets the haze of lingering fog. This scene captures the transidtion of morning fog, giving way to sunlight that has begun gently ushering it along for the day. Though the deep uprple hues are a deliberate departure from the reality, they serve to anchor the cool stillness of the atmosphere that inspired the piece.