I cheated.
On February 18, I started #The100DayProject, along with millions of other artists around the world. I planned to draw and post a portrait of someone whose birthday was…
Botanical watercolors
To celebrate spring, I’m highlighting a project from a few years ago. I took a deep dive into super-detailed watercolor painting and created a series of botanical illustrations…
Do you have the right?
Many years ago I designed the logo for the Smoky Hill Museum. The typography was created by hand, then scanned, and each letter meticulously drawn, positioned, and outlined in an early…
Revisit the past, influence the future
Recently I attended a book discussion about Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens by Richard Haass. Even though I haven’t read the book yet, I was looking forward to.…
Birds on the brain (not to be confused with ‘birdbrain’)
June 2023 — Every spring I tell myself I’m going to work on the landscaping at my house. Because I don’t really know what I’m doing, it's easy to procrastinate. Year after year I continue.…
You say tomato…
Monoprints or monotype -- does it matter? I’m in the home stretch of preparation for my show, Landscapes in the Abstract. Most of the prints are finished, and now I’m photographing, matting…
On the brink
I’ve kept an eye on those budding yuccas I mentioned last week as they start to bloom. Next week at this time they’ll probably be long past their prime. I used the yuccas for inspiration for…
A year for yuccas
I’ve posted about my yuccas before. Every year about this time I look forward to seeing them. This year promises to be spectacular — so many buds! A few years ago, the yuccas were the inspiration for.…
Layer upon layer, building an image — or a life
I’m working on the Landscapes in the Abstract show, scheduled to open in June at Theatre Salina. Here’s a short video showing the process. Each piece starts as a monoprint, created by applying…
Sketchbook tour
Here’s a quick tour through my most recent sketchbook. You’ll see drawings, thumbnails for clients projects, scribble portraits of Meet the Press panelists, abstract acrylics, and probably.…
Spring forward, enthusiastically
Spring is in the air — let’s celebrate! In my Etsy shop this month, all subscribers (that’s YOU!) receive 20% off items featuring my botanical watercolors. Just use this link to order (discount is calculated at checkout). You’ll find greeting cards, wall art…
Highlights
A friend recently admired a pair of earrings I was wearing, a gift from my daughter. I remembered that I had done a drawing of them a while back, and so went looking for it through the pages of…
Forgotten art supplies
I wish I had kept the red roto-tray that I had years ago. Apparently, they’re now a collector’s item, shown here at the Museum of Forgotten Art Supplies…
Who’s your inspiration?
Every Monday I get an email newsletter from painter Bob Burridge, which includes a link to one of his YouTube videos that he calls BobBlasts. They’re usually demonstrations of his technique…
Practice makes perfect
The downside of a typical day for me is that it’s mostly spent staring at a computer screen. I do carry a sketchbook with me and frequently jot down details of my surroundings. But I love…
Meatball or worm?
As I watched yesterday’s thrilling landing of Perseverance on the surface of Mars, I couldn’t help but notice the big round NASA logo on the wall — the ‘meatball.…
Grant through the years
I’ve been listening to Ron Chernow’s epic biography of U.S. Grant on CD (38 CDs!). While listening, I drew these five portraits of the past President…
Published!
Thanks to Jason Ryberg of Spartan Press for including three pieces of my work in his new poetry anthology, Somewhere Between Kansas City and Denver…
Marking a master’s birthday
January 12 marks the anniversary of John Singer Sargent’s birth. I have always admired his excellent drawing skills coupled with his mastery of paint (above: his controversial Madame X)…
Family, friends, and fishing
I'm often asked to donate work for various causes, and one that I always agree to is the CAPS (Child Advocacy & Parenting Services) Annual Auction. This year the mixed media collage…