Alberta Falls - Rocky Mountain National Park
9x12 oil on board

Alberta Falls is a popular destination in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Forceful and noisy, it has a major fall and a lesser fall below with a few rapid cascades below that. Framed by tall trees and vertical cliffs, it makes its own visual composition. It is highly photographed, easily accessed by a half-mile trail from a nearby parking lot.

Available for purchase: $125

Split Rock Lighthouse
9x12 oil on board

Split Rock Lighthouse is one of the most picturesque and recognized scenes in Minnesota. It sits atop a massive outcropping of lava rock on the shore of Lake Superior, some 60 minutes North of Duluth. Here, the light house and rocks glow in the light of an early morning sun and a calm lake.

Palette: Ultramarine Blue, Permanent Red, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Yellow Deep, Titatium White.

Available for purchase: $125 unframed

Rays of Hope
12x16 oil on canvasboard / plein air

We traveled to the North Shore of Lake Superior on a little family vacation. All the children were home. I sneaked away Monday morning to see a lovely sunrise. A rain storm was moving to the east, leaving a trail of clouds that dissipated in the rising sun. The light broke through the clouds and reflected brightly on the water. The sky pushed itself in from the west. A red ribbon of filtered light glowed below the cloud base.

I couldn't find any land mass that helped the composition, so I concentrated on the columns of light and reflections in the water.

I named this Rays of Hope for a good friend who is fighting lung cancer. I wanted to paint something to encourage her, and it seems that God provided just the inspiring scene I needed.

12x16 oil on canvasboard. Palette: ultramarine blue, titanium white, permanent red, cadmium yellow.

(Not for sale)

Fall River Falls
12x16 oil on cavasboard / plein air

Vacationing at Cascade River State Park in northern Minnesota, I sneaked away one morning while the youth in our church group were still sleeping. There are many gorgeous and fantastic waterfalls along the North Shore, every one of the worthy of several studies. This smaller set of falls on Fall River, just south of Grand Marais, caught my eye. Fall River goes through a series of sharp drops to get from the plateau down to the lake, passing under the highway. The lovely side trickles from the falls were fun to paint.

Painted on 12x16 canvas board. Palette: ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow, permanent red, cad yellow deep (orange), titanium white, alizarin crimson, just a spot of veridian green.

Available for purchase. $200 unframed.

Snowmass Lake
12x16 oil on board

This painting of Snowmass Peak reflecting in Snowmass Lake is based on a personal photo. The original was hard won -- the only way to get to Snowmass Lake in the Maroon Bells wilderness area near Aspen, Colorado is to put on your pack and hike. Easy for the teenagers in our group, but a greater challenge to those of us of advancing age and weight. The visual beauty on the hike through the Bells was awesome and one of my favorite life memories. The highlight was pristine Snowmass Lake with a reflection like a mirror. Unparalleled beauty!

Painted on 12x16 canvas board. Palette: ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow, permanent red, cad yellow deep (orange), titanium white, alizarin crimson, just a spot of veridian green.

Available for purchase: $200 unframed

Sunset Fishing at Silver Lake
8x10 oil on board

Silver Lake is a favorite spot for picturesque scenes. By chance I was out recently and saw an amazing sunset reflection through the arches of one of the bridges. A small girl oblivious to the beauty around her was fishing off the bridge. The glow in the arch was almost surreal. The girl was perfectly positioned for a great painting and a perfect photo.

I painted this in two sessions -- the first at SEMVA Art Gallery as part of a demonstration of oil painting. The second in the studio to paint in the girl. A detail of the girl is below, right.

Available for purchase: $150 unframed.

Central Park Fountain
8x10 Oil on Board / Plein Air

Central Park is the oldest park in Rochester. The city has grown up around it, with the Mayo Clinic campus on the South. While it still gets visitors, it is a couple of blocks off the main thoroughfare and not as frequented.

The fountain was out of service for many years, and just repaired this year. A little jury-rigging brought it back to life. It was really splashing in the sunlight.

Sold