This is an open shed with hay bales, located in southern Iowa. The photo was approximately taken in 1995, when I went in search of barns to photograph. My idea was to document many of the old structures that were disappearing from the rural areas. This is a typical Midwest scene found around the countryside […] more »
This design started horizontal, but I decided to change the format and the initial sketch. I thought it would be more dramatic as a vertical composition. I took the photo of this old dairy barn many years ago on a trip to the historic barn in Cantril, Iowa. On the way home, the sky turned […] more »
This structure has intrigued me because of the shapes and the gnarled tree. I have painted it a number of times and found the sun and shadow patterns interesting. The bright white fence contributed to its character and the textured field beyond. It also has numerous small window opening, probably to dry the hay stored […] more »
I am still interested in these old barn structures — their shapes and details fascinate me. And they are fast disappearing from the landscape. I feel they best describe Iowa because agriculture is the top priority here. This barn is located in Mahaska County, Iowa. Then manner in which I approach painting them is different […] more »
My inspiration for this piece came from traveling through the Iowa countryside the summer of 1995. I wanted to document local barns because I realized they are rapidly disappearing from the landscape and are interesting structures with lots of character. This particular barn is located near Seymour, Iowa. I’m not sure if it’s still there. […] more »
Just to keep things interesting, I have been working on two different paintings simultaneously. I believe this pushes me to keep my work fresh and uniquely distinctive. I began this week on the watercolor of the glassware still life, which includes the tall amber-colored bottle. This bottle was also a part of my teapot series […] more »
This has been a busy week so far. I intended to finish a portrait commission and start the barn collage, besides finishing the Des Moines cityscape. As usual, things got interrupted for good reasons. In my mind, I like to think and plan colors ahead and let the thoughts simmer for a while. I sorted […] more »
Yesterday while planning my next barnscape, I came across a design I penciled last October of the Wickfield Pavilion, a historic round barn in Cantril, Iowa. I decided the design looked good and will work on it after finishing the Des Moines cityscape. Figuring out the colors for the barn will be a challenge — […] more »
This is a barn in Davis County, Iowa, near Bloomfield. more »
I spent the last day of summer at Valley Junction’s Fall Art Market on Sunday. It was perfect weather — couldn’t ask for better temperatures. Most people wanted to get out and enjoy the scene. Thank you all for visiting my booth to see my newest artwork. I enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting new […] more »