International Guild of Realism

I recently found out that I have been accepted into the International Guild of Realism, a website that showcases realistic artists from around the world. This is very exciting news and I look forward to my relationship with the guild and to the upcoming exhbition opporunities.

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Painting in Progress - Orcas

A mother and calf search near shore for prey. I saw these whales while in BC in late July and it's my first orca painting. The pod I saw had about 10 whales in it and they were in the more open waters of the Queen Charlotte Strait. Here I have them near the shore with some classic Northwest weather. Stay tuned for more updates as I get into the details of the trees and rocks. There may even be a few gulls on the rocks.
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Winter Wings

This scene of Big Darby Creek was inspired by a photograph taken by Jerry Swanson who lives near the river in Ohio. What inspired me to create a painting from his photograph was the cool, winteriness of the image and the fact that the geese were flying low to water that also seemed to be gliding along. The painting is an acrylic on board and measures 20"x30" inches.
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2008 Federal Duck Stamp Entry

Here is my entry into this year's federal duck stamp contest. With this painting I was going for a more romantic lighting. The habitat is classic Willamette Valley and was inspired from a private pond where I have the opportunity to hunt.My Website

Federal Duck Stamp Time

Every August, hundreds of artists from across the country create paintings for one of the most rigorous, yet rewarding, art competitions in the US - the Federal Duck Stamp Contest. I have been busy working on mine since July and it is getting closer to being to finished. Actually, the only thing left is the painstaking detail that is required to be competitive. Below are a few examples of my past entries. Some have done really well, and others have not. I should note that there are 5 species to choose from each year and each painting is 7"x10". Later this week I will post this year's entry.

Some Past Entries
this one didn't win the federal, but won another stamp competition later that year
1997 - one of my first entries
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Fantastic New Reference Material

I just got back from the annual fishing trip to British Columbia that I take with my Dad and a close family friend each year. This year the wildlife really seemed in abundance as a couple of pictures can attest. There will be two paintings for sure from this trip including one of some killer whales.

A bald eagle keeps an eye out from atop a sailboat.

A pod of orcas took over our fishing area. There were about ten whales and they put on quite a display!

A Port Hardy sunset. The Silver Fox, captained by Ian Anderson, was our home for five incredible days.

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Commissioned Painting

This painting was actually seen by Senator Frank Morse who has a place in British Columbia. A bear was trying to get to a moose calf while it's mother protected it. In brief, the gentleman approached in a boat and shouted. As he did so, both animals which were practically nose-to-nose, looked up right at him. The image was burned in his mind and now has become a painting that he will hang in his capitol office. For more information on commissioned paintings you can click the link below.

More Commissions

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

The above 20"x30" painting has been in progress for quite some time and is proving to be a serious challenge. I think it is one of those paintings where a step forward in my abilities could be made. The thing about taking a step forward is that sometimes it takes two steps back and it's those steps where the real learning takes place. This painting has been like that. One day, I'll work on it and feel that great progress has been made and other days, I'll paint for hours and leave thinking that the painting is worse than it was before I started. The hard part, for me, has been blending the numerous branches and the mist to create depth and realism. The image above is the painting in it's current state - now it's back to work.
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PFDA

It's that time of year again! The Pacific Flyway Decoy Association's (PFDA) annual wildfowl art festival is going to take place on Saturday and Sunday at the Doubletree Hotel in Sacramento. The show features live woodcarving demonstrations, decoy competitions, and, yes, wildlife art! I will be at the show with about 35 miniature originals (including the one pictured), framed and unframed prints, and a couple of larger originals. The weekend is always fun and there are some amazing artists that attend. If you are in the area, drop by.

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Tucson

This past week I spent some time in Tucson and while there, gathered some reference to complete some desert scenes. The birdlife was incredible as was the weather. There was even an encounter with a live Arizona bark scorpion in the bathroom to make the desert experience complete! Future paintings will come from this trip, but for now here are a couple of photos.

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