Whitworth Gallery

“Koki’o ‘ula & Palila” Hawaiian Red Hibiscus and Palila Bird – Step By Step

This is one of my favorite paintings from my East Hawaii Cultural Center Exhibit. It is titled ” Koki’o ‘ula & Palila ” – Hawaiian Red Hibiscus and Palila Bird. All I had for reference was a small…

My Alaska Railroad Poster Contest Entry for 2012 – Step-By-Step

Back in the studio now from a whirl-wind visit to Hawaii and my exhibition at East Hawaii Cultural Center. I had previously decided that entering a piece in the Annual Alaska Railroad Poster Competition was not a logistical option. So…

A Little Drizzle Makes For Consistant Lighting…(Updated)

Plein Air Painting at the Little Susitna River near Wasilla, Alaska.

The weather was rather cold and dreary this early September day. Drizzles sputtered on and off over the course of a couple hours but the…

“Healing Light” Echinacea Step By Step

On my recent trip to Oregon I obtained many reference photos for future paintings. This subject, Cone Flowers or Echinacea, was just beautiful as they lazily swayed in and out of the late afternoon sun. Here I am working on…

Iao Needle and Kinihapai Stream – Maui, Hawaii

Some places defy words. Even photos fail at capturing their beauty. This is one of those places.

Spring has Sprung! …Well, in our minds anyway. WIP Fruit and Tulip Still Life

Recently a couple artist friends and I got together for a little painting session. Here is the process! On my way to our painting date I swung by the grocery store to grab some painting inspiration. Though the weather is still yucky here, the produce at the store had all the colors and smells of spring that I longed for. It didn’t take long to find an assortment of colorful fruit, tulips, a red onion and one turnip to be our still life subjects.

Alaskan Iris Oil Painting Step-By-Step

This morning I awoke to a very unwelcome form of precipitation… snow Yeah, I know it’s April in Alaska and we always seem to get one last hurrah of winter this time of year but that does little to console me. So to combat my weather-related foul mood I decided to paint a flower. Simple pleasures people! Here is an Alaskan Wild Iris. In mid June these gorgeous flowers will carpet meadows with their shades of blue and violet. It is SO stunning!

Getting Back in the Saddle – Oils, that is.

About 12 or 13 years ago I took my first oil painting class. Immediately I became addicted. There was something so pleasing about pushing that paint around that, for me anyway, drawing could not compete with. Over the years many classes followed from several different artists and before long I found myself working in acrylics.

A Commissioned Journey – Part 3 – The Delivery

At the beginning of this journey I new I would have to transport these massive paintings from my studio in Wasilla, Alaska to their new home on the Big Island of Hawaii. I ordered my supplies and fashioned them in a way that would allow me to disassemble and package them for transport efficiently. In my mind I had thought of everything. Come the day of my departure I found myself at the airport checked baggage counter completely vulnerable.

A Commissioned Journey – Part 2

This Painting “Red Garden”, features a dense growth of Hawaiian Red Ginger bushes with an old red dirt path winding through them. The clients were wonderful in selecting and communicating the theme for these paintings. A true pleasure to work with!