This is a continuation of an abstract collage design I completed for an upcoming competition. At the start, I chose and cut various shapes of papers and played with different configurations until the design pleased me. What usually happens with the design is an evolving of shapes, patterns and textures. Early on, I decided that […] more »
I designed this after my sister mentioned how much she loved my barn artwork and that I should do one of the Mail Pouch Tobacco barns. We have many memories of our family summer vacations, seeing the barns with this advertising, and viewing the large tobacco leaves drying inside these barns — especially on our drives through West […] more »
In the back of my mind, I have always wanted to do another bicycle design in collage. When I received an invitation for an upcoming show with a bicycle theme, I got to work right away! I took a few photos of an antique bicycle, which was my reference for this composition. The main objective […] more »
This collage is a continuation of my Iowa barn series that I began in 1994. I used a reference photo given to my by a friend. This barn is in northwest Iowa. All of my barn collages have been done from actual barns found in southeast Iowa, or friends who send me pictures from their areas. […] more »
I’m back doing a still life with my favorite glassware. I recently purchased the round, ruby vase that I thought would be great in a set-up. The other challenge in this still life was using an abstract acrylic collage in the background behind the glass. The pears added interesting shapes and color changes in the design. A piece of […] more »
What could be more simple than a design of brushes? I chose a variety of sizes and drew the shapes directly on the paper. Leaving the background for last, I discovered the interesting triangular patterns between the brushes and used different pigments for each one: naples yellow, violet and sap green. The triangles emphasize the angular pattern […] more »
I couldn’t resist doing my sixth painting of the Burlington Northern caboose. The difference is the hot press paper and the size. I used artistic license to eliminate all the rust spots on it, so it’s beautiful and spiffed up now. Various pigments were used for the main color , as I find it impossible […] more »
This is just a small piece of the whole shebang. It looks like a fairy-tale castle, with an unimaginable amount of rooms, chimneys, and turrets. Here I’ve painted one of the towers and chimneys. I worked from a photo taken many years ago. It was a challenge to paint, but I am pleased with the result. Architecture is one […] more »
This design was inspired by a trip to the local recycling center, and I had been thinking about the possibilities of doing more abstract works. I noticed a huge stack of crushed tin and photographed pieces of it. The can ripples and ripped labels were interesting and I wondered about the abstract qualities that were […] more »
I’ve been intrigued with these antique gas pumps and have painted them numerous times. The shapes reminded me of figures chatting with each other. The top inside of the roof at this State Street station has linear direction which leads to the “figures”. It was tough for me to use a limited palette too, as […] more »