SHARON GUY STUDIO

Snowy Egrets

2012-01-30T05:32:00.000-08:00

Snowy Egrets, Casperson Beach
Watercolor, 8 in. x 6 in.

Casperson Beach is a secluded beach in Venice, Florida. A group of egrets were wading in the shallow water near some rocks. I was able to sit very close to them. Even when people searching for shells stood close to the birds, they weren't afraid.

Kiawah Island Art

2012-01-20T07:13:00.000-08:00

Early Morning Dunes, Acrylic on canvas, 20 in. x 16 in.

This scene was from East Beach. I waited for the sun come up and took photographs of the dunes and grasses. Everything had a pinkish glow.

Plein Air Painting at Sunrise

2012-01-18T07:07:00.000-08:00

January Sunrise, Watercolor, 12 in. x 9 in.

I walked to the marsh near where I live before the sun came up. When I arrived at the wooden platform that stands on the edge of the water, the sun was starting to rise above the horizon. I sketched and painted quickly to get the composition and values. The light changed so quickly as the sun came up, I had to do most of the painting from memory. I think this painting captures that brief moment of darkness with a little bit of orange light coming through the trees.

Painting Birds From Life

2012-01-11T07:33:00.000-08:00

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Watercolor and pencil, 8 in. x 6 in.

I've been sketching a flock of ducks that live nearby. They stay together in a large flock, making a lot of noise during the day. They sleep a lot with their heads tucked in. Some of them stand in the water. They seem to always stay in small groups of two to five ducks while they are swimming. I like painting them in the late afternoon when the light is falling on them as the sun goes down. Drawing and painting birds from life is a good way learn about them through observations. Instead of looking at them quickly, and adding them to my life list, I watch what they are doing, how they move, and look for variations in plumage. I think the quick, checklist mentality of many birdwatchers robs them of the opportunity to really see and appreciate the birds. Each bird is more than just a particular species, it is an individual creature.

Sketching Birds From Life

2012-01-09T12:35:00.000-08:00

Ring-billed Gulls, watercolor and pencil, sketchbook page

At the beach, flocks of gulls and terns sit in the sun in the morning, preening themselves and dozing. These gulls had winter plumage - brown and grey feathers around the eyes. Some of them get close enough for me to sketch them without looking through my binoculars. Sketching birds from life is even more challenging than plein air painting, because they move around. Fortunately, they tend to repeat the same positions over and over. I rely on my memory a lot. I also look at bird books and photographs when I am working in my studio.

Lakewood Ranch Polo

2012-01-04T08:25:00.000-08:00

Polo Match, Watercolor, 8 in. x 6 in.

It's polo season at Lakewood Ranch Polo Club in Sarasota, Florida. This is a plein air watercolor sketch I did during a match. I sketched the moving horses with pencil and watercolor and had to rely on my memory a lot. I tried to capture the action of the horses and riders. Watercolor is a good medium for sketching from life.

Endangered Florida Panther

2012-01-02T11:20:00.000-08:00

Florida Panther, Acrylic on canvas, 14 in. x 11 in.

The Florida Panther is a little smaller than a mountain lion, and more rare. This one has a tawny grey color. I've never seen one in nature, even though there are a few that live in places where I've hiked. The biggest threats to the Florida Panther are habitat loss and automobiles. To purchase a Giclee print of the Florida Panter, visit Sharon Guy Art Prints.

Country Scene from Upstate New York

2011-12-29T11:52:00.000-08:00

November, acrylic on canvas, 11 in. x 14 in.

Years ago, when I lived in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, I visited upstate New York regularly. I used an old photo from one of my visits for this painting. Making a red and brown painting was refreshing after painting so many Florida scenes in green or blue.

Abstract Contemporary Seascape

2011-11-16T05:58:00.000-08:00

Ocean Potion
Acrylic on canvas, 18 in. x 14 in.

This large, blue, abstract contemporary seascape expresses the colors and soothing quality of the ocean.

Yellow Abstract Contemporary Painting

2011-11-07T04:38:00.000-08:00

Yellow Splash
Acrylic on Canvas, 12 in. x 9 in.

This is a study for a larger painting. The yellow paint is soothing and peaceful and makes a nice accent in a room.

Abstract Expressions

2011-11-01T07:54:00.000-07:00

Awakening
Acrylic on Canvas, 18 in. x 26 in.

I've had enough of working small and detailed. Here is a large, loose abstract acrylic that expresses energy. I enjoyed working with texture, glazes, and drips. Acrylics are the best medium for abstract paintings. My abstractions are intentionally emotional and expressive. I'm painting the essence of a vision of color and movement. I think of them as meditative and spiritual.

Apple Cider Donut

2011-10-09T13:41:00.000-07:00

Apple Cider Donut
Acrylic on panel, 10 in. x 8 in.

I thought I would try a still life. I did many still life drawings and paintings in art school. I felt like I was going back to the basics when I did this painting. So simple, yet full of details. I liked picking one object and focusing on it, instead of a hodgepodge of stuff on a table. It makes the subject seem important, even though it is just an ordinary object.

Golden Labrador

2011-10-05T05:16:00.000-07:00

Noble Lab
Acrylic on Canvas, 12 in. x 10 in.

This golden labrador looks so noble. Dogs are very easy for me to draw. I'm not sure why dogs are so much easier than horses, my other favorite animal subject. Painting a dog that was looking away from the viewer was challenging, but I still captured the look in its eyes. Getting an expression in the eyes is the most important part of painting a dog.

Dog Portrait

2011-10-03T11:15:00.000-07:00

Poodle in Pink
Acrylic on canvas, 11 in. x 14 in.

I'm really liking my acrylics now. It took me a while to get used to them. Acrylics are a great medium for contemporary animal art.

Dog Faces

2011-09-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

Pink Jowls,
Acrylic on panel, 10 in. x 8 in.

I'm working on a series of dog paintings. Close ups of dogs faces are fun to paint. Sometimes art should be fun and not too serious. I noticed the big, pink jowls and decided to also make the background a beautiful pink color. I've been gathering dog pictures of purebreds and shelter mutts for this painting project. Now, wherever I go, I see dogs doing cute things - like hanging their heads out of the car window - and I regret that I don't have my camera with me.

Portrait of a Jack Russell Terrier

2011-09-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

Waking Up
Acrylic on Panel, 10 in. x 8 in.

I used a photograph from the Wet Canvas Image Reference Library for this close-up of a Jack Russell Terrier. Artists and photographers post photos that other artists can use. I found a lot of animal photographs that would make good references for my animal art. Acrylics are a great medium for contemporary animal art and pet portraits.

Paintings of Children at the Beach

2011-09-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

Building Sandcastles
Watercolor, 8 in. x 6 in.

I've been painting en plein air every weekend. I did this sketch of children painting on the beach very quickly. Once I get the figures in place, I can work on the landscape around them. Watercolor is a good medium for this type of scene.

Birds of the Gulf Coast

2011-09-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

Ibis
Oil on canvas, 10 in. x 8 in.

This is a rework of a painting of an ibis I did a couple of months ago. I worked on the water and sand to show more of the reflections. The American White Ibis is commonly seen on Florida beaches. They search for insects and small fish in the shallow water. I took a photo of this Ibis while the late afternoon sun was shining on its white feathers and bright, orange beak and legs. My bird and wildlife paintings are a combination of studio painting from photographs, and sketches made on site.

Painting my Dogs

2011-09-19T06:19:00.000-07:00

Dark Eyes
Oil on panel, 8 in. x 6 in.

This is my first painting of Leo, my new rescue dog. He has very intense, dark eyes and is photogenic. He is a chihuahua mix.

Painting Birds on the Beach

2011-09-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

Study of Gull
Watercolor, 8 in. x 6 in.

I've been drawing and painting seabirds and water every Sunday morning at Siesta Key Beach. This morning I decided to do a closer study of a gull. I forgot to bring my binoculars, but a few gulls stood close enough to my chair that I could get some of the details recorded in my preliminary drawing.

Painting Dogs

2011-09-15T13:02:00.000-07:00

Sleeping
Oil on panel, 5 in. x 7 in.

This was a study using only four values for a Daily Paintworks Challenge. I have two small dogs. This is Dash. Sometimes I take photos and sometimes I draw them from life. Since they sleep a lot, I have many opportunities to use them as my models.

Painting Cats

2011-09-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

Orange Tabby
Oil on panel, 7 in. x 5 in.

Dylan was a bright orange and white tabby who belonged to a friend. As I recall, he was a little mean. Very photogenic, though.

BIrds of Florida's Coast

2011-09-04T13:55:00.000-07:00

Water's Edge
Watercolor, 8 in. x 6 in.

Some gulls, a tern, a willet, and a plover were gathered at the edge of the water. It was a cloudy, cool morning.

Birds of the Southeast

2011-09-01T08:29:00.000-07:00

Patience
Oil on canvas, 14 in. x 11 in.

This white heron stood totally still in the marsh. The sunlight was shining on its white feathers and the golden and green grasses.

Painting Children

2011-08-30T10:13:00.000-07:00

Sharing
Oil on panel, 6 in. x 8 in.

These two children were playing together and sharing their bright, green bucket. I like painting beach scenes with children enjoying the water's edge. They notice so many things that adults miss.

Life on the Beach

2011-08-27T10:21:00.000-07:00

Beach Dog
Oil on panel, 6 in. x 8 in.

A happy dog takes a stroll along the water with its owner. If I hang around with my camera and sketchbook, I can find all kinds of interesting subjects at the beach.

Birds of the Gulf

2011-08-24T06:39:00.000-07:00

Osprey
Oil on canvas, 11 x 14 in.

I saw an osprey soaring about the Gulf while I was doing a plein air painting of the clouds above the water. The osprey hovered over the water, slowly circling in the breeze.

After the Sunset

2011-08-23T05:51:00.001-07:00

Evening Sky No. 2
Oil on panel, 10 in. x 8 in.

The view outside my window changes each night. This is a study from my series of sky paintings.

Studying the Sky

2011-08-22T09:49:00.001-07:00

Evening Sky
Oil on panel, 8 in. x 6 in.

This is the first painting in a series of studies of the sky outside my window. I painted the sky after sunset. There is a short period of time when the sky glows with pink, purple and orange tones.

Another Plein Air Cloud Painting

2011-08-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

A Storm is Coming
Oil on panel, 10 in. x 8 in.

Cloud Studies

2011-08-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

Before the Storm
Oil on panel, 10 in. x 8 in.

Cloud Studies

2011-08-16T06:23:00.001-07:00

August Clouds
Watercolor, 8 in. x 6 in.

Painted early in the morning on Siesta Key Beach.

Plein Air Painting on the Beach

2011-08-08T06:35:00.000-07:00

Morning Walk
Oil on panel, 10 in. x 8 in.
Painted early in the morning at Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota, Florida

Plein Air Studies on the Beach

2011-08-05T12:41:00.000-07:00

Grape Leaves
Oil on panel, 8 in. x 6 in.

This area of Siesta Key beach has grape leaves and grasses. I stood in the shade of a large palm and studied the vegetation.

Still Life

2011-08-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

Raku and Blossom
Oil on canvas, 7 in. x 5 in.

When it is too hot to paint inside, I like to work on a still life.

Traveling on the Blue Ridge Parkway

2011-08-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

Blue Ridge Parkway
Acrylic on canvas, 14 in. x 11 in.

I'm back from an art workshop at Ringling Wildacres in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Plein Air Seascape Art from Florida

2011-08-01T17:21:00.001-07:00

In the Bay
Oil on panel, 8 in. x 6 in.

Sharon Guy Art

Kiawah Island

2011-06-30T05:49:00.000-07:00

Edge of the Sea
Oil on canvas, 14 in. x 11 in.

This is a re-worked version of a painting I did a couple of years ago after I visited Kiawah Island.

Art From Georgia

2011-06-29T09:21:00.000-07:00

Anhinga, KOA Lake, Richmond Hill, Georgia
Acrylic on canvas, 14 in. x 11 in.

The Anhinga was resting on a dead branch in the lake. This KOA campground is on the edge of a beautiful lake. Tall pine trees surround the lake. It is very restful.

Garden and Flower Painting

2011-06-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

Garden Glory
Acrylic on canvas, 14 in. x 11 in.

Wildflowers make a nice subject for an energetic, intensely colorful painting.

Botanical Art

2011-06-13T09:59:00.000-07:00

Star Rush Sedge, Acrylic on canvas, 29 in. x 22 in. x 1.5

I see Star Rush Sedges on one of the hiking trails near where I live. A couple of months ago, the sedges were bursting out of the deep, thick grasses. Now, they look dry and wispy. I used a flat background to accentuate the graceful, shape and color of the sedges.

More Abstract Art

2011-05-22T13:49:00.000-07:00

Dynamic, Acrylic on canvas, 20 in. x 16 in.

Completely abstract, Dynamic has an energetic composition and colors that compliment each other. I like the way the shapes almost move around as you look at them.

Abstracted Representations by Sharon Guy

2011-05-22T04:39:00.001-07:00

Afterglow, Acrylic on canvas, 20 in. x 16 in.

I remember how the light looks as it reflects on the water and clouds as the sun sets over the ocean. This is an abstraction that was inspired by scenes from nature. Even though it is a two-dimensional abstract painting, it still suggests the open space of sea and sky.

Plein Air Studies

2010-09-26T16:37:00.000-07:00

North Jetty, Casey Key. Oil on panel, 9 in. x 7 in.

Panels are easier to use than canvases when I am painting en plein air. They fit into my backpack that I carry to the painting site. I still don't have all the convenient gadgets that plein air painters use. I'm doing without while I figure out what I really need. The most important thing is to keep getting out there and painting directly from life. The little studies I did are complete paintings, and will look nice when I frame them. They can also be used as studies for larger works on canvas. The North Jetty at Casey Key has a lot to offer to a painter or photographer. I will return as often as I can.

Casey Key Beach

2010-09-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

Casey Key Beach, Oil on panel, 7 in. x 5 in.

The North Jetty end of Casey Key Beach has many scenes that I would like to paint. I spent a morning there, working on two panels. The temperature was bearable and I was able to finish them before it got too hot. One constant challenge of plein air painting in Florida is dealing with the heat. I have to drink a lot of water and try to work in the shade if possible. Early morning or around sunset is the best time for me to work, and I enjoy the dramatic light of those times. However, now that it is almost the cool season I am looking forward to being able to stay outside and paint for longer sessions.

Florida Beach Art

2010-09-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

Looking North, Sunday Morning, Oil on canvas, 12 in. x 10 in.

The North end of Siesta Key has some low dunes with seagrasses. I arrived at this site early in the morning, soon after the sunrise. It was a fairly long walk from the parkinglot, but I use a light easel and a backpack to carry my supplies. While I was painting, people who were walking on the beach came over to look. As the morning went on it became harder and harder to ignore the intense heat and humidity, but I was able to finish this one before I couldn't take it anymore.

Garden, Wildacres

2010-08-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

Garden, WIldacres, Oil on canvas, 10 in. x 8 in.

This was painted on site during a plein air workshop at Wildacres in North Carolina. The garden is in the middle of a fork in a driveway. It was in the sun but I was able to find a shady place nearby. Finding a way to stay cool is important with plein air painting. I did a quick, abstract study of the flowers and stalks.

Plein Air Painting in the Mountains

2010-08-12T14:45:00.000-07:00

Mountain Shapes, Oil on canvas, 8 in. x 10 in.

While at Wildacres in North Carolina, I painted this scene from behind the guest house. I simplified the shapes of the mountains and trees to make a strong design. The distant mountains were barely visible. I used a palette knife with thick paint.

Plein Air Painting from North Carolina

2010-08-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

View From Guest House, Wildacres, Oil on canvas, 8 in. x 10 in.

On my first day at the plein air workshop at Ringling Wildacres, I worked on this one. It rained in the morning. After it stopped our class walked around to look for scenes to paint. The mountains were all misty. I started drawing, and then set up my canvas before our lunch break. After lunch, the sun had come out and most of the mist had cleared. The light and colors had totally changed. The spot that I had chosen for my easel and supplies was now in the hot sun. I was determined to finish the painting so I took breaks to get in the shade. That was a lot to handle on my first day of class, but I was able to get enough down on the canvas to make a decent painting. I worked on it a little more in the studio. Mountains are one of my favorite subjects.

Plein Air Painting from North Carolina

2010-08-09T10:05:00.000-07:00

Pat's Garden, Oil on canvas, 14 in. x 11 in.

I spent the third week of July at a plein air painting workshop at Ringling Wildacres in North Carolina. It was taught by Jean Blackburn, an artist in the Sarasota area. We visited a local couple's beautiful property near the Wildacres campus. They had huge flower gardens, and I picked the corner of one of them. This is the first flower paintings I have done in years. It looks very joyful and free. I painted loosely to capture the feeling of the garden rather than the details of the flowers. It was a very playful way of painting. Plein air painting is like a new religion to me now. I am converted. Have easel, will travel.

Gulf Coast Birds by Sharon Guy

2010-07-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

Willet, Oil on canvas, 8 in. x 10 in.

A Willet is a plain, greyish-brown bird that wades along the edge of the sea. They are common in southwest Florida along the Gulf. They are fairly large and have long, stilt-like legs. I painted this one from sketches that I made at Lido Beach in Sarasota, Florida. It was a windy morning and the waves were high.

Art of the Sunrise

2010-07-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

Together, Oil on canvas, 20 in. x 16 in.

While I was watching an early morning sunrise on Neptune Beach in February, a woman walked by with her dog. They both seemed to be enjoying their quiet time together. I painted the peaceful, mysterious sunrise and the combination of soft greys and muted colors.

Art From Kiawah

2010-07-07T12:57:00.000-07:00

Edge of the Sea, Oil on canvas, 14 in. x 18 in.

Dunes fascinate me. The dunes on the Atlantic Ocean are much higher than the dunes where I live in Southwest Florida. East Beach on Kiawah Island has high dunes with lots of tall grasses and seagrapes. The wooden, white fence frames the edge of the dunes and gives the composition a nice structure. This was from photographs taken during a cloudy week after the sun finally came out and gave me some light to work with. Drawing and taking photographs takes a lot of patience. I use my memory a lot when I paint places that I visited.

Equine Art

2010-06-21T12:09:00.001-07:00

Ready To Run, Oil on canvas, 14 in. x 11 in.

A polo pony at Lakewood Ranch Polo Club is bridled, saddled, taped, and ready to run. He was stomping his foot when I took the photo. He is very lean and muscular. Most polo ponies are Thoroughbreds that have retired from racing. They need to be fast and able to turn quickly. Their owners spend a lot of money on their precious horses. They need to trained well to be in good enough shape to perform in the polo matches.

Impressions of Florida Birds

2010-06-13T18:50:00.000-07:00

Great Blue Heron Pair, Oil on canvas, 14 in x 18 in.

This is an impressionistic vision of a pair of herons. I used a loose, expressive style of painting to convey a sense of emotion and energy. I barely suggested a background of water and grasses in order to emphasize the graceful curves of the herons. Sometimes I like to work with a strong, simple design. Less is more.

impressionism paintings

Equine Art Scenes

2010-05-26T04:16:00.000-07:00

Getting Ready, Oil on canvas, 9 in. x 12 in.

Whenever I go to a tailgating party at Lakewood Ranch Polo Club, I spend some time shooting photos by the horse trailers. I like to draw and paint the slower, quiet scenes in the background of a horse event. Here a groom gets the pony ready for the next match. The dramatic shadows in the background added to the composition. Grooms working with horses is one of my frequent equine art subjects.

equine paintings

Emerald Pool, Yosemite National Park

2010-05-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

Emerald Pool, Yosemite, Oil on canvas, 11 in. x 14 in.

I visited Yosemite National Park in California for a hiking trip in 2008. It was my most memorable trip. I hope to return someday. I'm still working on paintings from that trip, in between doing my Florida art. Emerald Pool is a shallow lake above Vernal Fall. The green color is from algae on the rocks at the bottom. It is a really intense green. I did not exaggerate the color in my painting. It reminds me of green jewels. The waterfall was only a trickle because it was during the dry season of late September.

Painting on the Beach

2010-05-04T09:42:00.000-07:00

Castle Builders, Oil on canvas. 12 in. x 9 in.

I used thick paint and a palette knife on this study of a beach scene. The simple shape of the sky and water makes a nice background. I'm always looking for some bright colors to paint, and the beach provides that. I make it my goal to capture the gestures of the figures when I'm representing people. The many years of life drawing I did still help me do that.

Florida Water Birds Revisited

2010-04-28T06:10:00.000-07:00

Patience, Oil on canvas, 24 in. x 18 in.

I worked on this painting again after leaving it alone for a few months. The green grass is more vibrant and intense now. This helps bring out the contrast with the white heron. The landscape is as important to me as the bird. I like to explore the formal elements of color and line and let the subject be simplified and slightly abstracted. Too much detail can distract from the harmonious effect of the whole painting. Painting in Florida can be challenging because there is so much green.

Florida Seascape Painting

2010-04-22T10:34:00.001-07:00

Glorious, Oil on canvas, 24 in. x 30 in.

Watching the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean was a glorious experience. It was worth getting up early. This was from a scene in Neptune Beach, Florida. The colors of the Atlantic are different than the Gulf - more purples and blues, less green. I was impressed by the high dunes.

Daily Painting On The Beach

2010-04-21T05:59:00.001-07:00

A Perfect Beach Day, Oil on canvas, 10 in. x 12 in.

This scene was taken from Lido Beach in Sarasota, Florida. It was a beautiful spring day. A little windy, but just right for hanging around and soaking in the sun. I've been taking a lot of digital photos on the beach to use for some small, daily paintings. I use the camera and sketchbook to capture scenes of people going about their business. Ordinary scenes can make interesting paintings.

Florida Water Birds

2010-04-20T05:51:00.000-07:00

Mates, Oil on Canvas, 32 in. x 20 in.

Two great blue herons stand on their nest. This was painted from a photograph taken by Peter McClellan. These large herons are bountiful in Florida. They stand still and are easy to photograph or sketch. I used a narrow vertical canvas to emphasize the birds' tall and slender shapes.

Art On The Beach

2010-04-19T10:58:00.001-07:00

Blue And Yellow, Oil on Canvas, 10 in. x 8 in.

The beach is a great place to find interesting subjects to draw and paint. Here is an ordinary scene from Lido Beach in Florida. I was attracted to the intense colors in the chairs with the blueish-green background of the water. I walked around and took a lot of digital photos that day, and sketched from life as well. I looked for simple, ordinary things that have beautiful colors.

Visions of Florida

2010-03-30T06:17:00.001-07:00

Sunrise, Neptune Beach. Oil on Canvas. 26 in. x 18 in.

I'm still working on my "Visions of Florida" series. The sunrises, sunsets, and reflections of light on the water are infinitely varied. The Atlantic Ocean has more blues and purples than the Gulf waters, which are greenish. I loved the high dunes and tall grasses on the beaches in the Jacksonville area. I waited behind the dunes while the sun rose, and shot photographs as the sun peaked out from the clouds. The diagonal line of clouds added a nice element to the composition. Once again, the painting expresses the peaceful, serene quality that I find when the light streams across the sky. This is part of my "Visions of Nature" work.

Painting the Everglades

2010-02-17T08:13:00.001-08:00

Open Sky, Everglades. Oil on Canvas, 24 in. x 18 in.

This is a larger version of a scene that I have painted before. It has a big, open vista and patches of water. The colors of the Everglades are subtle. At first you might only see green and gold. Upon a closer look, there is also yellow, blueish-purple water, white branches. The flatness of the land makes the sky look dramatic when it is full of clouds. I look forward to exploring the Florida Everglades and making more paintings.

Florida Water Birds

2010-02-12T09:12:00.000-08:00

Patience, Oil on Canvas, 24 in. x 18 in.

I'm still working on a series of bird paintings. Florida is a great place to view birds, especially by the water. Here is a Great White Heron standing totally still while it patiently awaits its prey.

Water, Water, Everywhere

2010-02-11T08:33:00.000-08:00

Reflections, Oil on Canvas, 12 in. x 9 in.

Florida has watery landscapes. They are often full of reflections. This murky swamp with cypress trees and palmetto bushes has a nice contrast between the dark, wet tree trunks and the light shining through the trees and reflecting off the water. I look for landscapes that are off the beaten path. These are the places that haven't been noticed by many people, but they are worth painting and photographing.

The Beauty of The Everglades

2010-01-27T07:43:00.000-08:00

Everglades Vista, Oil on Canvas, 20 in. x 16 in.

Green, green, green! A little strip of golden-brown in the background sets off the wide vista of flat, green growth. The big, open sky is the part of the Everglades paintings that I enjoy emphasizing. There is a patch of water in the landscape. Florida is full of water and big skies and flatness. The clouds and the reflections in the water make it interesting to paint.

More Florida Birds

2010-01-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

Great Blue Heron, Oil on Canvas, 9 in. x 12 in.

I watched this heron fishing in a lake near where I live. It was early in the morning, and the sun was reflecting on the water. The marsh was full of dried, golden grasses and reeds. I painted the light and shadows around the heron.

Siesta Key Beach Scene

2010-01-15T09:01:00.000-08:00

Siesta Key Beach Scene, Oil on Canvas, 10 in. x 8 in.

Children playing on the beach - a familiar scene in Florida. I used pastel colors to show the softness of the light and the white sand.

More Equine Art

2010-01-13T07:12:00.000-08:00

Dozing Pinto, Oil on Canvas, 12 in. x 9 in.

I saw this pinto at the polo match in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. I walked to the area behind the field where the horses are trailered, and took some photos of the behind-the-scene action. The grooms are busy getting the polo ponies ready, and cooling them down after they perform in a chukker. Most polo "ponies" are thoroughbred horses. Next time, I will take more photos of the polo horses in action.

Everglades Sunset

2010-01-12T08:57:00.000-08:00

Everglades Sunset, Oil on Canvas, 20 in. x 16 in.

Florida has the most incredible skies and sunsets. The colors are brilliant. The flatness of the land sets off the big, open sky. Here I have expressed the mysterious, quietness of the Everglades.

Wildlife Art

2010-01-06T09:06:00.000-08:00

Sleeping Fox, Pencil, 12 in. x 9 in.

Here is a detailed pencil drawing that I did on smooth bristol board. I like using soft grey tones on the smooth surface. he darker ears give it some nice contrast. Pencil is a good medium for wildlife art. I tried to make the animal look lifelike and not frozen.

animals drawings

Everglades

2010-01-05T10:33:00.001-08:00

RIver of Grass, Oil on Canvas, 12 in. x 9 in.

The Florida Everglades are beautiful in a subtle way. It takes time to appreciate the quiet, flat, wide open vistas. I painted the soft, subtle colors that are found here.

Florida Birds

2010-01-05T10:28:00.001-08:00

Pelicans at Sunset, Oil on Canvas, 20 in. x 16 in.

Two pelicans were gliding above me while I took photos of the sunset on Siesta Key. I happened to turn around and see them. The fading sunlight was shining on their wings and bellies. This is a different view of pelicans that is not like the typical tourist paintings. I look forward to studying them further.

Birds of the Gulf

2010-01-05T10:24:00.000-08:00

Gull, oil on canvas, 12 in. x 9 in.

I am working on a series of paintings and drawings of birds of the Gulf Coast. This gull ignored me while I sketched and photographed it, and I was able to get very close.

Water Shapes, Siesta Key Sunset

2009-12-30T10:32:00.001-08:00

Water Shapes, Oil on Canvas, 20 in. x 16 in.

Florida sunsets have blues, blue-greens, pinks, and orange. I have expressed the shimmering glow of the colors on the rippling water in this abstract painting. The colors and shapes are based on real images that I photographed during sunsets on Siesta Key beach in Florida.

The Last Glow

2009-12-17T10:55:00.000-08:00

The Last Glow, Acrylic on Canvas, 20 in. x 16 in.

I watch the sunsets on Siesta Key Beach in Florida, and use my camera and sketchbook to gather images like this one. I like the combination of sunlit clouds and water. After the sun goes down, the sky has an intense glow that only last about 15 minutes.

Sunset In Yosemite

2009-10-30T14:17:00.000-07:00

Sunset In Yosemite, Acrylic on Canvas, 26 in. x 20 in.

I watched the sun sink over the mountains in Yosemite after a long day of hiking with friends. The light was an intense violet and rose, very different from the sunsets in Florida where I live. Darkness came quickly in the mountains, and we had to finish our drive out of the Park to the Yosemite Bug lodge.

Java Dawg

2009-10-21T05:16:00.000-07:00

Java Dawg, pencil, 8 in. x 10 in.

Java Dog is a coffee bus at the Saturday morning farmers market in Sarasota, Florida. The bus has been converted into a funky coffee shop. The farmers market is full of interesting scenes for art and photography.

Equine Art - Polo

2009-09-08T10:05:00.000-07:00

Cooling Down, Pencil, 12 in. x 9 in.

Here is another horse drawing for my equine art series. A groom unsaddles a polo pony so it can cool down between matches.
I worked from a photo that I took while walking around the horse trailers that were behind the polo field. My favorite places to take equine photos are behind the scenes of a horse event, as the riders and grooms get their mounts ready. The trailers also make a nice grid for the composition of the background. My horse drawing titled "Taking a Break" - which can be seen in a previous post - is showing in the Navarro Council of the Arts 2009 Juried Art Show in Corsicana, Texas through September.

Horses, Horses, Horses

2009-08-04T10:00:00.001-07:00

The White Pony, pencil, 14 in. x 11 in.

I never get tired of drawing horses. This chunky pony was photographed at a farm in upstate New York west of Albany about 20 years ago and I finally got around to doing it's portrait in pencil. The flat, open landscapes of that area reminded me of Andrew Wyeth's art. The horses that I sketched and photographed that day had shaggy, unclipped hair and they grazed in fields that were full of goldenrod and sticky burrs.

Equine Drawing

2009-07-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

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Taking A Break, 12 in. x 9 in., pencil on bristol paper

This horse was resting by the trailer and munching on hay during a horse expo. It looks like a Quarter Horse with its big muscles, thick neck, and relatively short legs. The Western saddle makes an interesting composition.

Wild Horses

2009-06-19T12:17:00.001-07:00

Wild Horses, Oil on Canvas, 20 in. x 16 in.

I'm back to my old favorite: equine art. I've been reading about the plight of the American Mustangs and Madeleine Pickens Wild Horse Sanctuary. These horses are a living legacy and also have an intrinsic value as beautiful, wild creatures. My new painting shows a southwestern scene behind the close-up view of a pinto mare and foal. I picture these horses living peacefully in nature, without being menaced by people.

Marsh in the Morning, Oil, 16 in. x 12 in.

2009-03-26T10:24:00.000-07:00

A white heron stands quietly in the beautiful, still waters of a marsh. Early in the morning, I walked my dog to a marsh near where I live, took photographs, and made watercolor sketches. The waterbirds are there in the morning and late afternoon. When the morning or late afternoon sunlight falls on the marsh grasses, they look reddish-orange.

Beautiful Kiawah Island, South Carolina

2009-03-16T13:42:00.000-07:00

Grey Morning, Kiawah, Acrylic, 12 in. x 9 in.

The beach and sky looked grey except for the first pink glow. This is a view of East Beach in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, before the sun came up.

A Gulf Coast Sunset

2009-03-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

Sunset Sky, Oil on Canvas, 20 in. x 16 in.

A gull travels across the brilliant sky. I captured the moment before the sun goes down behind the sea and the sky gets dark. The seabirds are active at this time. After it gets dark they huddle in groups on the sand.

Sunset Over the Gulf

2009-01-22T12:07:00.000-08:00

Traveling Across, Oil on Panel, 7 in. x 5 in.
I painted another beautiful sunset over the Gulf. The colors change dramatically when the sun reaches the water. This painting shows a moment after the sun has set and the sky is still filled with intense, reddish light. The light reflects off of the clouds. A seagull travels across the sky, high above.

Beautiful Sunset over the Gulf in Southwest Florida

2009-01-05T10:24:00.000-08:00

HOPE, Oil on Panel, 7 in. x 5 in.

The sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico in Florida are a never-ending source of inspiration. Locals and visitors can be found strolling on the beach during the sunset. This is a poetic interpretation of what I see on my evening walks.

Pinto Dawn, 20 in x 18 in

2008-12-10T08:06:00.000-08:00

Pinto Dawn, Oil on Canvas. A mare and foal stand quietly before the sun comes up. Pintos, also called paint horses, are my favorite horses to paint because their patterns are visually interesting.

Inspiration

2008-11-25T07:10:00.000-08:00

Inspiration, Oil, 12 in. x 10 in.

Here is a painting of a well-known view at Yosemite called Inspiration Point. The light softens the shapes in the far distance.

Route 395

2008-11-21T06:48:00.000-08:00

Route 395, Oil, 24" x 18"

I photographed scenes on Route 395 while traveling from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite. This was one of the beautiful, wide, open views from the side of the road.

Soaring

2008-11-20T07:52:00.001-08:00

Soaring, Oil, 16 in. x 20 in.

This is the final version of a painting that I posted last February. I worked over the acrylic underpainting with oils, and changed the size and shape of the hawk. The painting depicts a view of a hawk soaring down towards Lake Tahoe.

Alpine Meadow

2008-11-19T06:32:00.000-08:00

Alpine Meadow, Oil, 12 in. x 9 in.

This is a big meadow near Donner Lake in California. The colors of the grasses change from greyish to gold and orange when the sunlight is shining on it.

Green Waters

2008-11-18T06:06:00.000-08:00

Green Waters, Acrylic, 20 in. x 16 in.

Mountains and lakes are my favorite subjects. The water had a greenish reflection in the background and the orange and yellow hues in the foliage made a nice contrast.

Yosemite Inspiration Point

2008-11-17T11:53:00.000-08:00

This is one of many photographs that I took during my September, 2008 trip to Yosemite and the Lake Tahoe area. I recently finished a painting of this scene, which I will post soon. Yosemite was the most inspiring place I have ever visited, and I will be working on my Yosemite paintings for a long time.

Mt. Judah Summit View

2008-11-14T10:21:00.000-08:00

Mt. Judah Summit View, Acrylic, 9 in. x 8 in.
I hiked up Mt. Judah, which is near Donner Lake in California, and made sketches and took photographs of the beautiful views. This is a very impressionistic version of the colors and shapes of the distant mountains.

Quiet Blue

2008-11-13T05:59:00.000-08:00

Quiet Blue, Acrylic, 12 in x 9 in.
Another Lake Tahoe painting I did this earlier in the year, and am finally getting around to posting it. The lake is becoming a an almost abstract symbol or shape in my work.

Marsh With Heron, Oil, 8"x8"

2008-11-12T12:59:00.000-08:00

This is my first post in 6 months. This small oil painting depicts a sight that is common in the Southeast and Florida - a white heron in a marsh. I used a soft, minimalist style to focus on the quality of light and color in the marsh and the contrast of the white profile of the bird against the background.

Forest Vision, 24 in. x 18 in.

2008-05-06T07:24:00.001-07:00

This scene was painted as an abstract, contemporary rendering of a forest. I named it "Forest Vision" because it is dreamlike.