Blue Gorge Wall

 

Blue Gorge Wall (Conkle's Hollow Preserve, Ohio) is a new oil painting measuring 10" x 10" that emerged from a moment of quiet encounter with an amazingly beautiful cliff wall while sitting abreast my mule resting in the cool sliver of a creek bed. The painting focuses on worn cliff rock with a fascinating, muted cobalt blue surface, layered with subtle shades of frosted sea foam green, soft cool grays, buff white, and warm earth tones. This weathered cliff, etched by water erosion over time, carries visible scars that tell a story of endurance and transformation.

What drew me to this subject was not only its color, but the striking contrast between the rugged, aged stone and the resilient patches of green foliage pushing through cracks in the wall. These small pockets of life transform the scene, bringing vibrant energy against the backdrop of a rock wall's stillness. The interplay between organic growth and textured cliff became the central theme of my composition- a quiet conversation about resilience, persistence, and the passage of time.

In creating Blue Gorge Wall, I was also determined to capture the tactile qualities of the rock face surface-its peeling layers and rough textures that give it a sense of history and voice. Working in oil, I layered a range of muted grays, blues and earth tones to mimic the natural variations of stone while allowing hints of dusty greens to emerge where life meets rock. This layering with brush and palette knife gives the piece an exclusive, painterly expression.

This painting expresses inspiration found in the beauty formed by contrasts - the delicate leaves bravely reaching through the enduring wall - and the silent narratives of adaptation and coexistence found in nature. Conkle's Hollow's blue walls are a powerful reminder of nature's quiet strength and resilience, inviting viewers to celebrate not only the effort, but the resulting beauty brought forth as well.

Twilight Serenade on River's Edge

 

34" x 24", oil on panel

Twilight Serenade on River's Edge offers a moment of calm reflection, inviting you into a landscape where the changing day meets the quiet flow of the river. This new oil painting captures a serene water scene framed by a grand red maple, its branches dense with leaves rendered in deep indigo and soft viridian. These colors reach outward, gently arching over the water, where the river mirrors the sky's muted blend of coral pinks, blues, and purples at twilight. In the distance, the riverbank is anchored by a quiet woodland, where two white swans quietly weave their presence into the reflected scene, their grace contributing an unspoken harmony. 

In creating this piece, I wanted to explore how moments at day's end hold a unique stillness-a gentle pause where light softens and nature seems to breathe in unison. The interplay between a tree's shaded foliage and a river's reflective surface become a dialogue of light and shadow, form and color. The swans, although small within the composition, embody a sense of connection and quiet companionship.

The painting process required careful attention to the contrasts of values and colors. Balancing cooler indigos and viridian grays against the warm pastels of the sky meant working in layers, often working back to front. Developing the composition around a central tree enabled me to anchor the scene visually, allowing the remaining elements to contribute to a collective sense of tranquility.

Twilight Serenade on River's Edge speaks to those moments in the late of the day when time slows down and nature's voice speaks softer.

Beneath the Golden Canopy

 

"Beneath the Golden Canopy" is a work that invites quiet reflection on the sacredness found in everyday rural life. In this 15"x15" oil on panel inspired on Mackinac Island, I aimed to capture a moment where nature and stillness intersect, revealing a deeper presence beneath the surface. The scene centers on a single horse resting beside a simple white fence, a humble sentinel within the landscape. Above, a large maple tree spreads its vibrant autumn leaves - greens and golds mingling in textured layers that catch shifting light and shadow.

I wanted the painting to convey more than a season or setting. The interplay between the calm horse and expansive tree is a reminder of the subtle, often unnoticed ways the divine appears in our surroundings. A pale blue historic house peeking in from the side grounds the composition with a quiet steadiness, contrasting gently with warm colors and emphasizing a sense of home and belonging.

The process of creating this piece was attentiveness to light, texture and color established through layering of values through color intensity. It is important to me that the viewer falls in love with the colors and that the painting feels open and inviting, encouraging a moment of pause.

"Beneath the Golden Canopy" reflects my ongoing exploration of the sacred woven into natural and rural landscapes. Its about developing a sensitivity to the quiet guardianship present in the world around us where God's grace can be found.

Good Friends

 

Good Friends

This painting "Good Friends" measures 24" x 24" and is rendered in oil on panel. In this work, I focus on a simple yet meaningful scene: two saddle mules standing quietly together on a soft patch of grass. One mule is black, the other a warm sorrel, and their heads incline gently toward each other-a subtle gesture that speaks to companionship and calm connection.

I arranged the composition to highlight their relationship, framed by a tall tree whose delicate leaves blend into a muted, blue-grey forest in the background. The mules catch the light, standing out clearly from the subdued backdrop. This contrast is intentional; it guides the eye to the stillness shared between these animals, inviting the viewer into a moment of peaceful presence.

My motivation for creating "Good Friends" stems from an ongoing desire to reveal the abundance of grace embedded in the natural world. There is an unmistakable sense of God's presence intertwined with these quiet, everyday experiences. The mules pause to simply exist side by side - a reminder of the gentle , sustaining relationships that often go unnoticed.

During the painting process, I focused on building a rich, textured surface that lends a timeless quality to the scene. This texture invites both close attention and wide contemplation, encouraging an appreciation for the subtle details. 

"Good Friends" is an invitation to pause and recognize the quiet bonds and steady divine presence found in nature. It speaks to the universal grace that connects us all, seen in the intimate moments shared between living beings. My hope is that the painting offers a space for reflection and calm.

Through this work, I want to celebrate the quiet strength in companionship and the sustaining power of grace that quietly supports us, much like the partnership of these two friends standing together in the light.

On the Easel...

24"x 24" oil for a series titled "Backcountry of the Middle West". Also known as Americas Heartland, is a region many of us have fallen in love with. To me its the perfect blend of beauty year round and temperatures that offer outdoor enthusiasts a variety of opportunities.  

It’s Been Busy!

 A few recent commissions. 8 x 10” acrylic. 

Pastel

A Special Christmas Gift

 … for a special brother! 8x10” acrylic.