Invaders

Grackle 5x7 oil

The Common Grackle is one of the first birds to arrive in the spring. They come in droves raining from the sky bullying the other birds at the feeders. In this painting I wanted to show their aggressive nature so I placed the bird right in your face wings flapping and that scowl on his face. This is the view the other birds get as they are chased away. I could have painted the feathers in detail and placed the bird further back in the picture plane but that would have taken away from the emotion of the scene, I want you to feel what it is like when they drop in for a visit.

The one thing I do like about them are their irredesent feathers when they are in sunlight. I'd like to try to capture that one redeeming quality about them. Well, I got to go now, I have to stock up on bird seed! Hope everyone enjoyed this weekend ,what nice weather.

Flyfishing trip to southcentral Pa.

This was one of the three streams we visited yesterday. I did a sketch of Big Spring Run, my brother Tom managed to catch this nice rainbow trout. We have been fishing together since he was 14 years old. Thirty years later we are still going strong.

Little Lehigh Creek

Little Lehigh Creek 9x12 acrylic $210.00 unframed
The Little Lehigh is in Allentown, Pa., its about a hours drive from us. Its loaded with trout and they are very finicky. Tiny flies tied to light leaders is whats needed to catch the educated fish that live here. It gets fished hard all year so they have seen everything. In this scene a trout rises on the far side and catches the flyfishermans attention.

Early Morning Commute Series

Misty Morning 6"x 8" oil (SOLD)

What interested me was the reflections on the road from the lights of the passing cars. The lack of sharp edges helps re-enforce the soft atmosphere of the morning.

Sunrise Falls Twp. Lake

Sunrise Falls Twp. Lake 9x12 oil Not for sale.
This lake is about 25 minutes away and right around the corner from where I work. So its a good spot when you only have a few hours to fish. Usually we hit it at dawn and sometimes after dinner we work it till dark. I like the quiet mood and the sense of anticipation in this painting.

Enjoy your day.

First bass of the year

My wife and I went up to a local lake yesterday to do a little bass fishing before the rain started. On her 3rd cast she caught this nice bass. Fishing and bowling are her favorite interests and she is good at both. Unfortunately last year I spent more time trying to develop my art and neglected the time we spend together in the outdoors. I also wanted to do a project last year of painting a number of trout streams on location and I failed to do that too. I guess I have to manage my time better. Anyway, at least the fishing season is off to a good start.

Flyfishing Trip, Pocono Mtns.

We spent the day at Devils Hole creek catching native brown trout. The hardest part was the long hike thru ,around,over and under the mountian laurel,boulders ,fallen trees and steep mountain sides. The scenery and fishing was well worth it.

Early morning commute Series

Hope on the Horizon 6"x8" oil (SOLD)

I'm going to start a series of paintings dealing with the images I see traveling to work in the morning.

Yes, thats how I get my reference material, I'm always careful, and its faster than sketching. In this painting I was thinking about dealing with cold winter mornings and how a piece of sunlit sky can put a smile on your face and add a sense of hope to your day.

Dwight Schrute

Dwight Schrute 5x7 oil

I am not a portrait painter,but I couldn't resist trying. The Office is the only show I look foward to seeing each week,they really make me laugh. I wonder who he is watching?