Salt Creek 2

14"x11" acrylic on canvas

Bandits

6"x6" acrylic on canvas board

The Rock

8"x10" acrylic on canvas board

Its been a while since I have done a painting. It felt good to pick up the brushes again.

The Way

6"x6" acrylic on canvas board

I thought I would change it up a bit and paint a landscape. I may want to paint a larger painting of this scene?

Mama's Shadow

8"x10" acrylic on canvas board

I was happy to squeeze in some painting time this week. This was such a great subject. I made an effort to keep this painting very loose and let more of the burnt siena show through from the background. I am happy with the results and may even have to do a larger painting of this subject someday.

Squirrel

6"x6" acrylic on canvas board

This squirrel has been hanging out in the tree in our front yard. He was the perfect subject for this little painting.

Horse Profile

8"x10" acrylic on canvas board

I always enjoy painting, but there is something about painting a horse. I am fascinated by the muscles and the structure of the horse. The way the light glistens in contrast to the shadows.

Lamar Valley

24"x12" acrylic on gallery wrap canvas

I thought I would change things up a bit and paint a landscape. This painting is based off of my photo reference from a trip to Yellowstone. I really enjoyed myself and had fun painting this landscape. It was  a challenge for me.

Rail Walker

10"x8" acrylic on canvas

This seagull was so funny. He was showing off in front of me and my family while we were on vacation in Minnesota. This bird was walking back and forth on the railing and following us all around the deck wherever we went. I just had to paint this crazy bird.

Grizzly

16"x20" acrylic on canvas

detail of face

I really enjoyed painting this Grizzly Bear. Fun and challenging to paint. I took the reference for this bear on a trip in West Yellowstone.

Hooded Merganser

6"x6" acrylic on canvas

I was inspired to paint this bird after seeing it on a nature show on TV. The bird has beautiful markings. This duck has the funniest mating call. It puffs up its head and shakes it to get the attention of the females. My family and I visited Cosley Zoo and I was thrilled to see and take reference photos of this duck.

Wolf

11"x14" acrylic on canvas

It's always fun to do a portrait of an animal. My wife and I visited this wolf at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone about 6 years ago. I love how the light is hitting his face and creating shadows.

Across the Creek

28"x22" acrylic on canvas

The photo reference of this bobcat was taken at Cosley Zoo in Wheaton, IL. The bobcat is such a beautiful animal. I could sit and watch them for hours. I took many photos of the cat at sunset. The low light source created some dramatic lighting that was so much fun to paint. I am very pleased with the finished painting.

Tatanka

12"x9" acrylic on canvas

After discovering some photos from a Yellowstone trip a few years back, I decided to paint this buffalo. I really liked the way the sun was highlighting his body and muscles. My wife and I were watching the movie "Dances with Wolves" this week and it was very inspiring. "Tatanka, which means bison or American buffalo in the Lakota Indian Language", was talked about and shown a lot in the movie. One scene that was particularly amazing to me was when the Indian's went hunting for the buffalo.

Lion Face

11"x14" acrylic on canvas

work in progress

Happy New Year! I wish everybody a healthy, successful and productive 2013. My first painting to start the year is of a lion from Brookfield Zoo. He was a lot of fun to paint.

Amur Leopard

36"x24" acrylic on canvas

Detail of face

Perhaps the most endangered 'big cat' in the world, the Amur leopard ranges in the valley along the Amur River—which trails the border of China and Russia.

This is an amazing animal from Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, IL. It was a joy to paint. After studying every inch of this cat, I am in awe of its beauty. The spots in themselves are each unique, none are the same. I can't wait to study another animal. So much to choose from.

Golden Oak

7"x5" acrylic on canvas board

It was fun to paint something a bit different, for the past month or so I have been painting animals. Animals are probably my favorite subject to paint, but it is refreshing to change it up a bit. This oak tree is one of the many beautiful trees my family and I saw this fall at Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton IL.

Deer

5"x7" acrylic on canvas board

This is another painting of a beautiful animal from Cosley Zoo in Wheaton IL.

Lil' Bugger

7"x5" acrylic on canvas board

This little Raccoon is from Cosley Zoo in Wheaton IL.  He was posing for me as if he wanted his portrait done. Well, here it is.

WHITE HORSE

5"x7" acrylic on canvas board

It was fun to paint a small painting again. This beautiful white horse is from Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton, IL.