Art Blog

Finished the Illustrations

Finished the illustrations for Julie Anne Ford, an Australian author. She just published a young children’s book entitled “GABBY Loves to Talk”. It is a cute short story about a girl that talks and talks and talks.

I used a bright and free kind of style with watercolor pencils and then finished up with regular “brush” watercolors. The main character has red hair and lots to say, and she was a lot of fun to draw. You can see a copy on Amazon at this link;

If you like it please remember to leave her a good review.

Ski Lift View

The Ski Lift view always takes my breath away. This is an oil rub-out painting entitled, SunThruSnowyTreesL804, which focuses on the sun rays shooting through trees early in the morning up at 49 Degrees North Ski Resort in Chewelah Washington.

One of the most entertaining parts of skiing is the ski lift ride back up to the top of the hill. After putting some real effort out speeding through whatever terrain you are doing, you quickly slip into the lift entry gate to catch your breath. Then as you take your seat you experience a take-off into the tree heights. Up to a level where you can observe pristine quiet mountain views as you float over and through the treetops. It is a real meditation time with soft breezes and nature to the max. Some of the most peaceful and extravagantly beautiful skies and mountain scenes I have ever seen were from my seat on a ski lift. It never gets old.

First Day Back Skiing

First Day Back Skiing… in three years! YAHOOOOOO!

3 years ago, I had open-heart surgery so skiing was put on hold for quite a while. Yesterday we went skiing and I am feeling so glad to be alive. Life is SO GOOD! When you find something that makes you smile just thinking about it – go for it YEAH!

Thought you might like to see a favorite view I painted from time spent on the hill, here is a shot of the painting just started and then another of it finished. See more about a great mountain at, 49 Degrees North Ski Resort in Chewelah Washington.

Sketching the Eyes

I find sketching with a pencil relaxing and I especially love to draw eyes. I know that sounds crazy but it is true. A typical practice session for me is to find magazine or internet faces that I like the expression of and draw them in the evening. This was a lesson sketch session I did with a student who wanted to learn how to do facial expressions.

I wonder how many sketches like these have found their way over to the burn pile over the years?

A Horse Illustration

A Horse Illustration Study

Horses in different positions and styles were painted before doing a motorcycle gas tank design in “Shadow” style, later that week. It is a mixed media done as a practice session or equine study.

Horse Ink Shadows G3306

Koolau’s Haiku

“Koolau’s Haiku K504”,

view from mountain top path way in Hawaii — Koolaus Haiku K504

The Koolau’s Haiku painting was done from the memory of a strenuous hike I did in high school with my cousins up to the top of the Koolau mountain range at the back of Haiku valley on Oahu. I believe it is now called the “Stairway to Heaven” hike and is not open because a large storm damaged sections of it recently. You can find information about it easily by searching, “Stairway to Heaven, Hawaii”.

This hike is straight-up “literally” most of the way and is not a hike for weenies. It takes stamina and half a day to climb all the metal stairs that were installed by the military leading up to the top where there was a “naval communication cable” antennae stretched from one bunker to another bunker across the valley on the opposing ridgeline. Take food, water, and bedding but be sure to keep that pack light cause these steps do seem to be never-ending by the time you reach the top. We were allowed to camp at the concrete bunker on the ridge leading up to the top of the mountain trail.

The next morning just a few minutes before sunrise I woke up stiff but eager to take the short walk up the path on the ridge to the very top of the Koolau’s. The top isn’t very far from the bunker (under 5 minutes). In ancient times, the runners traveled on this path stretching from the north to south of the island carrying messages between neighboring villages and the royalty. When you reach it you find that this famous route is surprisingly only a couple of feet wide with one heck of a drop off on each side. There are strong winds all the time and earth-shattering views of both sides of the island from this ancient pathway. I sat there and absorbed the history as I witnessed the most beautiful sunrise and panoramic view of the island I ever seen. It had moving rainbows appearing and disappearing randomly, a sight I will never ever forget.

Seven Horse Spirits

“Seven Horse Spirits K404”,

A collection of seven horse images in a collage. — Seven Horse Spirits K404

Seven Horse Spirits is a celebration of painting the spirit of the horse using a collage of all ages, hues, and personalities. It was simply inspired by my ongoing love of the equine since early childhood. My first job was in the summer working for “Tugman’s Stable” which was within walking distance from where we lived in Kahaluu, Oahu, Hawaii. The duties included feeding, cleaning stalls, and riding beautiful ex-racehorses in the surrounding mountain paths every day. A job I really loved.

Do you know where this painting is?

Don’t Rush a Good Thing

“Don’t Rush a Good Thing I304”,

little boy with ice cream headache while at the state fair — Don’t Rush a Good Thing I304

Don’t Rush a Good Thing, is a portrait inspired by a memory of a cute little boy that I saw getting an “ice cream headache” in front of the rides at the state fair just over the border in Oregon. I noticed him during my walk out to the RV after closing my own “face painting” booth for the night. I did face painting at five state fairs every year for a while, just another venue of art explored by this artist.

Tracing Lost Art

Tracing Lost Art. In October 2007 these paintings were donated to “Holy Family Hospital” and placed in their Shamrock Gala auction, “Don’t Rush a Good Thing I304”, “Seven Horse Spirits K404”, and “Koolau’s Haiku K504”.

The mystery of where the 3 missing paintings ended up afterward begins after they are placed in Holy Family Hospital’s initial “Shamrock Gala” fundraiser auction. The event was held at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane WA in March of 2008. A beautiful affair that I was graciously given a ticket to attend. Tuxedos and formal dinner attire were required for a sit-down meal with table centerpieces that had tree branches painted gold, foliage, and tubular lights intertwined. I have a souvenir wine glass from the event pictured below, “Latah Creek” and “Shamrock Gala” on it. Here is a link to more information about the event that was rec’d later.

Two paintings, “Don’t Rush a Good Thing I304 and Seven Horse Spirits K404” were not sold at the auction and I don’t know what became of them. Contacting the hospital to request information about their outcomes has not been successful in locating them so far.

One of the paintings did find a home, “Koolau’s Haiku K504” was purchased during the course of this auction by a sweet couple who I was able to meet afterward. I recall that they live somewhere here in Spokane WA but I regret that I never did think to get their names or contact information when I was introduced to them.

I would like to be able to locate these missing children (lost oil paintings) from the beginning time period of my oil rub-outs career so I can complete the information for my records. I wouldn’t mind seeing them again also. Please feel free to contact me with any suggestions you may have to help locate them.