Behind the Camera ~
Everyone has a hobby; some have more than one. I admit; I am a member of the latter group. One of my favorite pastimes is putting to canvas what I capture with my camera lens.
Most of the acrylic paintings depicted on this site are primarily landscapes I have seen from the Ozark Mountains to the Gulf Coast. I am grateful that my family and friends have always tolerated my frequent stops to get that one “perfect” picture. (These pauses have extended many a “day trip” and are inevitable during a vacation to the mountains.) I have also been injured in a canyon holding onto the camera instead of breaking my fall... an mistake of which I hope not to repeated in the future!
Wildlife paintings resulted from those everyday shots of "local residents" I see while driving to work or glancing out my window at home ~ northern shovelers, grey squirrels, green herons, and bald eagles, to name a few.
My hope is that the individual purchasing these works will enjoy them and connect with them in some way.
Techniques and Tools ~
I have enjoyed art since my childhood, and although I had no formal training, this interest increased over time. I experimented with various types of media, and in 2003, I began using acrylic paints. Although I tried dabbling in oil, I preferred the “crisp” look and fast drying time acrylics give. After much trial and error, I perfected my technique, and a unique painting style and collection resulted from this pastime.
Over the years, I have used a variety of methods and tools to create the needed sketches: grids, tracing, freehand, straightedges, various sized rulers, etc. After this basic sketch, the real work begins. Each work takes considerable time to create; how long depends on the size of the canvas and the subject material chosen.
Each painting is a combination of several layers of dark tones, mid tones, and highlights. My main focus is painting the details in the subject matter. In fact, I have often described my paintings as puzzles that are put together with different strokes or “pieces.” The final layers are comprised of thousands of strokes and dots with script liners and other brushes, giving some portions of the painting a “pixilated” look. In addition to brushes, I also use a variety of tools (e.g., sponges) to help complete the picture.
Again, my chosen medium is acrylic, preferring to use a variety of brands. The partial collection depicted on this site began in 2014 and is far from complete.....
Photo vs. Canvas Painting
Blanchard Springs (Arkansas)...
Mirror Falls, "Mirror, Mirror" (Signature Piece)