My most recent work
In looking back over the body of work or the portfolio of art work that an artist has created over the coarse of time and their artistic journey, it is like seeing a visual diary, or journal. Each painting is a mile marker of where the artist was in a particular time period. An artist’s skill level and growth is represented in each painting. The inner feelings and emotions they were experiencing can be felt. Their response to outward stimulation, inspiration, or even conflict and struggle…these can all be there in the painting.
Each new painting represents the artist’s desire to keep growing and learning, to move forward in their artistic journey… it is their latest response to all that this miraculous life and wonderful world present in each new day!
"Winner Takes All" oil on linen, 30"x 40" Available for sale. This bull is patterned after the "Fred Mercer" bull, which was the Montana State record bull from 1958-2016 ("Typical" classification).
"Perks of the Job" (Cowboy Living) oil on linen, 18"x 24". Sold at the "Out West Art Show" 2024. A cowboy or girl, like an artist, aren't necessarily "in it" for the money, it is the "perks of the job" that can't be reckoned by monetary value, that make up the difference.
"Bedroom Bugler" oil on linen, 30"x 24" (Available for sale). Sometimes a person gets lucky, and come upon a bull still in his bedroom, announcing to the world, that he is headed out for a night of action, and keeping his harem in line.
"Into the Limelight" oil on linen, 20"x 30" (Sold at "The Russell" art auction 2024). I hiked up to this ridge top in the Spanish Peaks area to watch the sun set and get some reference photos for this painting. When the sun had set, and I was enjoying the beautiful afterglow, I suddenly realized, that I had forgotten to bring any light source for my return trip down the mountain! I literally had to run down the trail, with my camera bouncing, to make it out before it got totally dark.
"When the Storm has Passed" oil on linen, 28"x 36" (Sold at "The Russell" auction 2023). I love the magical world, after the storm has passed, when there is a beautiful coating of fresh snow on everything...when the wildlife venture out to feed after being holed up for the duration of the storm. I set up and painted a little field study after such a storm, of this little cabin at the Porcupine Creek trail head. That led to this studio painting...enlarging upon the idea of the field study.
"Wild Flowers" oil on linen, 32"x 32" (Available for sale). I especially enjoy doing figurative paintings, but it seems that I always end up having to put the paintings aside, to work on a "western" piece for some deadline for a show that is approaching. This time, I decided to just keep painting and was able to actually finish this figurative painting! Some of my best memories of my growing up days and years, are of our family outings to the "great outdoors" to the nearby mountains, for fishing or firewood cutting, or hunting. I am so thankful that I grew up in a time when there was still an "age of innocence"! A time before computers and the internet, and personal cell phones derailed the simplicity of outdoor living, and youthful adventures actually based in reality and not virtual!