While enjoying an afternoon at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL, I noticed a wonderful tree whose branches created a little environment, a small room, all its own. I could imagine faeries frolicking there when humans aren’t looking. Surprisingly, my developed photograph produced a face in the tree’s bark. Some might say it was just …
Imperturbabilis
1979 - 9" x 12" - India Ink, Arches paper
While at Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, studying art, I became interested in the art of the European Bronze and Iron Ages. I was very curious about what the artists had been trying to express; what they were thinking; what their lives were like, obviously so different from my own. Inspiration for this ink drawing came …
Out of the Iron Age III
1978 - 11" x 14" - India Ink, Bristol Board
While studying the art of the European Bronze and Iron Ages, I noticed how my books praised the workmanship of certain pieces, and I could see that the detail and ornamentation had taken great skill. I wondered at the superstition that must have been a part of life to these peoples as they tried to …
Nerthus and the Dragon
1979 - 9" x 12" - India Ink, Arches paper
After college, I went on an archeological dig through Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. It was a work/study program at the Koster Site in Kampsville, IL. During the work portion, one of my jobs was in their bookstore. Their collection of books was wonderful, and I purchased quite a few, some of them on the Bronze …
Out of the Iron Age I
1978 - 11" x 14" - India Ink, Bristol Board
While studying the art of the European Bronze and Iron Ages, I noticed how my books praised the workmanship of certain pieces, and I could see that the detail and ornamentation had taken great skill. I wondered at the superstition that must have been a part of life to these peoples as they tried to …
The Slate
2009 - 16.25" x 12" - Mixed Media (Colored Pencil, Watercolor), Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
I hesitate to write much about this painting because sometimes it’s just too fun to allow the viewer to interpret with his/her own imagination. Imagine, for example, what strange happenings old slates in classrooms must have witnessed over the years. Perhaps a person from the past is caught on the other side of this slate. …
Night Light
2010 - 16.25" x 12" - Watercolor, Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
After one of the evening events during the weekend of our son Nick’s graduation from the University of Southern California film school, he and his brother Jon took advantage of some dramatic building spot lights. If you’re thinking Alfred Hitchcock, I wouldn’t argue. There were also some interesting street lamps in the area… and we …
Canyon Lepidoptera
1995 - 21" x 28.5" - Watercolor, Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
This was my third painting of drop-eye-long-lidded, hooded figures. The patterns for the robe of the figure in front was inspired by the wings of a dead butterfly that I found laying among some autumn leaves. I’ll leave the interpretation of the rest of the painting for you to ponder.
Juxtaposition
1995 - 21" x 28.5" - Watercolor, Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
Strange faces with dropped and hooded eyes. Eerie, glowing light sources. Large, mysterious egg shape — meaning? A figure robed and hooded in bark, or is that its hair? Male? Female? What relationships do these huddled figures share? Mystery. Questions. Have fun! I was also interested in color relationships, textures, shapes, and continuing to explore …
A Moonlight Meeting
1995 - 19.75" x 27.25" - Watercolor, Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
The figure on the left of this painting originated in a doodle I did during a college world religions course lecture, although it wasn’t wearing bark and feathers in that doodle, and I’m not sure if the lecture had anything to do with the doodle that slipped out. That doodle was later the subject of …