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 …
Tree Pockets
1999 - 8.375" x 10.75" - Watercolor, Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
The rough texture of the tree reminded me of the big crinkles on the bib overalls. It seemed like I was drawing similar types of lines and shapes for the two areas. From there, came the idea to coax some pockets and seams into the tree bark for a little child’s play in this child’s …
Tree Jeans
2000 - 19.5" x 27.5" - Watercolor, Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
A roughness of wrinkles and textures seemed to be shared between the rugged jean material and the tree bark. But what if the boy wore bark overalls and the tree, jean overalls? Wouldn’t a child’s silly bone like that idea? Shown at the Norris Gallery, Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center, St. Charles, IL and …
Tree Sprites
2000 - 17.25" x 21.375" - Mixed Media (Gesso, Gouache, Watercolor), Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
A child might notice some things that an adult might miss… Look closely, now. Shown at the Norris Gallery, Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center, St. Charles, IL and in the Celebration of the Arts show at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Naperville, IL.
Watchers in the Woods
1999 - 22.375" x 9.75" - Watercolor, Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
Some of the paintings I had been working on prior to this one included figures wearing various kinds of robes, which gave them an air of mystery. The figures themselves were totally out of my imagination, and had intentionally distorted features. In my next painting, I wanted a more realistic approach in the handling of …
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 …
King of Konken Mountain
2013 - 18" x 24" - Mixed Media (Gouache, Watercolor), Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper
The ancient king of Konken Mountain hunkers down in his mountain cave. He’s been there for a very long time; moss grows in his beard and on his kingly jacket. He seems to sink into the very rock that forms the mountain. As we peer up the misty ancient stone stairs, there seems to be …