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I've said before that I think of my tree paintings as portraits more than landscapes. I believe these two demonstrate that concept fairly well; clearly each is unique in personality. The first painting is for sale now, the second one will be listed tomorrow evening (June 22).

Title: Zen Shimpaku
Medium: oil pastel on bristol
Size: 3 1/2 x 2 1/2"
Status: For Sale (click image for link to auction)



Title: Majestic Kapok
Medium: oil pastel on bristol
Size: 2 1/2 x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale Soon(click image for link to store)

Title: Worlds Apart
Medium: oil pastel on bristol
Size: 2 1/2 x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (click image for link to auction)


Text from the auction;
A rocky crag is overlooked by steep cliffs, separating two weathered trees. Two of a kind, the hardened mountain pines seem to be reaching across the gulf towards each other, hoping for companionship or mutual strength in a rugged and merciless environment.

I do not like to think of my tree paintings as landscapes, but rather I prefer to consider them expressive portraits. The subject is the tree, and my goal is to portray its spirit; its strengths, weaknesses, the trials it has faced and the character it has developed. Most of my trees are not drawn directly from real subjects but are the product of my experiences amongst trees with similar features. My experience studying the art of training bonsai trees also projects a visible influence on the design and composition of my tree portraits. But behind the subject there is also a statement; a metaphor, or an expression of some sort.

Extreme close-up of painting;


I'm frequently asked how I am able to get so much detail in these small paintings, whether I use a magnifying glass, and so forth. Truthfully, it's rather easy for me because I have been drawing finely detailed pictures all my life. I don't use any magnifying glasses or any other mechanical magnification, though I do have 20/20 vision and I like to have plenty of light to work with.

The auction for this one ends in two days. It's similar to another blossoming tree I made in April, but in a larger format and, in my opinion, a little nicer end result.

Title: Radiance In the Sun
Medium: Acrylics and oil pastel on canvas
Size: 14" x 11"
Status: For Sale (click image for link to auction)


Also, here are two new abstracts I completed this week.

Title: Gilded Web
Medium: Acrylics and mylar on canvas
Size: 16" x 20"
Status: For Sale Soon


Detail;



Title: Journey's End (Extended Invitation)
Medium: Acrylics on canvas
Size: 16" x 20"
Status: For Sale Soon

Here are my latest two paintings. The first one is the Jabberwock (from the poem Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll), and the second is a "bonsai" style shimpaku juniper tree.

Title: Jabberwock
Medium: Oil pastel and colored pencil on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (Click image to go to auction)



Title: Rocky Perch
Medium: Oil pastel and colored pencil on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (Click image to go to auction)


'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

~Lewis Carroll