Latest works. Colors are just starting to change.
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Tag Archives: Des Moines
Untitled Pasture 03
Portrait of a Young Lady
I have always drawn the faces of people. I just love to capture them looking at you. I’ve been away from portraiture for a while but, I’m back!
A little reel to prepare for First Friday of the Month Event.
Lavalle House
Athene
A proposed pedestrian bridge to be built in West Des Moines connecting Racoon River Park and Walnut Woods State Park. Very exciting.
Night and the City
This sky will not let me go. So, one more before I attempt a larger one. Enjoy.
West End
This is a larger version of my last painting. It was an hour later, so the pedestrians have changed!
Light Rain
I consider 10th and Locust, in downtown Des Moines, my neighborhood as it is three blocks from my studio. There is a rather decent Italian restaurant in the building you are looking at, along with the Temple Theater venue for live events. Across the street to the west is a Starbucks, also very convenient for coffee and meetings.
Escape from the Dog Park
Dogs on the loose break all the boundaries.
4240
This is, most likely, my last signed painting of 2021. A little 11×14 house commission. Next year, I intend to turn a corner, instilling some new painting direction into my work. Stay tuned and Happy New Year!
Racoon River in Water Works
This is the result of a two-hour plein air excursion in Des Moines. Though it is not finished, I am hesitant to paint on it again to guard against altering its freshness.
Dallas Country Grain
To quote, and borrow a phrase from baseball, “I’m seeing the ball really well right now,” I’ve got 10,000 hours invested in getting to where I can execute this sky and palette. If you go out early in the morning and look, meditate, on the color in the atmosphere, you will soon see that, starting at the horizon, all six colors (the three primary, the three secondary) are there. Follow me: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet. From bottom to top. So fun to paint. Enjoy.
East of Adel
I am beginning to drive around the state of Iowa more often, scouting for those special places that may be painted in the early or late light of day. This was a barn just east of Adel, Iowa that I found interesting enough to sketch out. The light, however, is the thing I am after.
“F¥CK, Turn Around.” More appropriately, “Proceed with Caution.”
Trying to build a remuda of skies. This is a rather precarious one we often see here in Iowa.
Gray’s Lake Plein Air sketch
This year, in many ways, is a moving year. One major change in my orbit is to get outside and paint more plein air. Here is a little one hour sketch, in order to begin to stretch the plein air muscles.
River Walk Center Street
Three night paint out in Des Moines, in association with Mainframe Studios, Salmagundi, and the Polk County Conservation, began at the Lauridsen Skate Park downtown. This was my Friday night entry.
Mr. Randy Newman
I was asked to paint a portrait of this guy as a gift and, could only find a few photos where he is looking at the camera. I settled on this one, which was black and white so, I had to invent the color palette. Happy with results.
Morning Walk revisited
I painted this very view only a week ago at 12×12. Here is a larger version. I enjoyed the sky and clouds from this vantage point during an early morning rain shower skirting by to the east.
Morning walk
This is a work in progress of the walking bridge that spans Grays’ Lake in Des Moines, Iowa. Currently tacking up a bit so I can add the rest of the bridge structure and railing. Stay tuned for final.
Iowa Summer Storm
Clouds have inspired me lately and, there is every color in the sky. Ultramarine, Cerulean, Viridian, Yellow Ochre, and Alizarin are all used, though very highly tinted, with Titanium White. This, excluding Burnt Umber, is my entire palette.
Travelers
This is a Work in Progress. Des Moines is, or was, home of the Travelers Life Insurance Company and, this rooftop sign is an iconic part of the downtown cityscape. I’ve still to add the letters under the Umbrella and, it is basically all the farther I intend to take it. Cheers.
Since first posting, I’ve updated the painting to include the letters of the classic sign.
Memento III
Memento II
I’ve finally settled on a series of paintings that are related to one another and, it is this group of leftover floral arrangements. Welcome to “Memento.”
Antlers and Orchid
12×12 oil on canvas
Guardian
12×24 oil on panel. Sold
Feat. Barry Flanagan’s “Thinker on a Rock.”
Duality
9×12 oil on canvas – Sold
Sculpture “Back of a Snowman” by Gary Hume in the Des Moines Pappajohn Sculpture Park,
Des Moines Sculpture Park
9×12 oil on panel – plein air
Pony
11×14 oil on canvas
Still life 111
6×8 oil on panel
“The Hub”
20×24 oil on panel
jeff klisares 