The Deflecting Pool

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 18" x 12"

Reflecting upon recent events, here's a quick pictorial of my imaginings.  Surely a swamp by any other name...

Just Passing Through

oil on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

Here's another in my animal sketch series, a galloping horse.

Buoyant

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

I'm on a roll with these animal sketches.  For this one, my palette consisted of azo yellow, pthalo blue and titanium white.

Mind the Gap

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

A polar bear leaps across the water to a dwindling iceberg.  This was a fun, quick little study.

Ye Shall Know Me By My Stripes

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Looks like another one has come along.  These are fairly quick studies, taking anywhere from 2-4 hours.

Udder Relief

oil on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

Yet another cow painting.  I'm on an animal kick right now.

Aross the Divide

acrylic on panel, 24" x 24"

With this painting, I was experimenting with placing the figure of the cow in an unfamiliar environment.  I'm wanting to get more abstract in my paintings.  I might go back in for some tweaking of this one later.  Updated 5/2/2026:  I've done a bit of tweaking.

Prodi

 

oil on panel, 10" x 10"

This is a portrait of my friend Ron's beloved border collie, who passed away in December not long after my own Lola died.  Prodi was Ron's first border collie, to be followed by many more.  He loves the breed.  Prodi was special, though.  He had a fondness for fish and befriended a yellow one in Ron's koi pond named Smokey.  I've painted Smokey before and suggested him here but this painting is all about Ron's beautiful boy.

Here's Lookin' at You

 

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

Here's another painting of my little angel Lola, who passed away in early December last year.  I'm building up a series on her.  What an amazing little being she was.

A New Leash on Life

 

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

This painting of Lola and her leash (her only leash, 17 1/2 years strong) was done alla prima, and things were going swimmingly until I noticed all these vertical scratch-like marks all over the panel.  To my shagrin, the thing had delaminated on me, the second time this has happened.  WTF!  Arghhh!  I signed it anyway.  I may do a bit of detail work yet on it, but overall, I'm happy with it.  I've chosen to regard those vertical marks as part of its charm.

You're Kidding, Right?

oil on panel, 8" x 10"

At the risk of anthropomorphizing my dog, here's a painting of her I did from a photo that seemed to capture her almost human-like stare.  Even though it came together very quickly, I may tweak this one with some details in the near future.  I love her little mouth in this one and the stray hairs over her right eye.

Tiger in Water

oil on canvaspaper, 12" x 12"

This study of a Royal Bengal tiger was just for fun.  I love the interplay of colors throughout.  Don't have time to do more ambitious pieces right now, just small works that don't take a lot of time to complete.  Temporary circumstances force me to curtail work on larger, more labor-intensive pieces and focus instead on simple studies and paintings that evoke a particular mood.  Update 12.25.2023:  I tweaked this painting a bit in places where I cut into the face with a few green shards to integrate the tiger with the water more and also hopefully emphasize the eye on the left a bit more.

The Stare

oil on panel, 8" x 10"

Persian cats all seem to have attitude, and this one is no exception.  They're fun to paint.

White Wolf

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Continuing with the wolf theme here.  This study wanted to be impasto, so I let it.  

Arctic Fox

 

oil on panel, 12" x 24"

Here's a painting of an arctic fox on a bed of icy snow.  I'm on an animal kick right now.  We'll see how long it lasts.

Trailblazer

 

oil on panel, 24" x 18"

This is an experimental piece that I see as largely successful.  I may do more to it, but I'm happy with the overall composition.

Not Buyin' It

oil on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

Sold

This study of my little dog Lola was done from a photo I took a few years ago.  That sidelong glance of hers has always amused me and I wanted to capture the spirit of that skeptical look.

Lion Head

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Just a quick and dirty study of a lion head.  

A Brief Interlude

 

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

Another bird study, this one of a white-bellied sea eagle.  I was drawn to the intensity of the stare.

Victor

 

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

This painting is in tribute to my great friend Marilyn.  She is a total horse lover, and Victor was her quarter horse sweetheart.  Quite a handsome fella, and once upon a time, he was a race horse.