Along the Platte

16x10 acrylic on panel, © 2020

Collection of the Artist

One grows accustomed to the surroundings after 38 years in an area. So it is when you live in Nebraska; it has it charms—weather not being one of them. Flat land, which is what Platte references, albeit flat river. Evening has a charm of its own, and the warm tones and cool water give the nice yin-yang feel to this piece.

    I love the reflective nature of water and the movement challenges it presence to art.

Way West

14x18, Acrylic on canvas, © 2011

Private Collection

In the Winter Quarters Temple there is a painting by LaVoy Eaton which shows the Platte River and Chimney Rock in the early evening. It is a beautiful painting that I have enjoyed each time I was privileged to observe it. For those not of Nebraska, you cannot see Chimney Rock and water in the same scene unless it is raining. Nevertheless, with artistic license in hand I made a sketch of the general composition of the painting and decided to take my brush in hand to make a similar painting after his. I chose to have it a little later in the day and with more color on the horizon. One should never paint something just before a webinar on painting skies. You always will find something to correct and then correct again. I loved living in Nebraska, and I had a Great Grandmother born in a wagon bed just down the road a bit during an overnight stop at Ash Hollow. There is always a story to tell along life's trail.

Bullfrog Basin

8x10, Acrylic on canvas, © 2011
Private Collection

In early June of 2011, Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha Botanical Center, sponsored a paint-out in the gardens.  Artists from all over the city showed up on a beautiful Saturday morning with portable easels in hand and paints at the ready. They each positioned themselves along the pathways to paint that which they found most inspiring. It had been a long time since I had painted plein air, so with some trepidation I set up my French easel and started painting. I soon discovered my folly as Marge deserted me for less intimidating places. I had forgotten mosquito repellent. What made me think that Bull Frogs would live where there were no mosquitoes. They don't! I had paint all over my face as I would swat at the dreaded creatures. Well, I didn't contract West Nile Virus or anything of that nature, but I am not sure that the thicker parts of the painting do not contain encrusted bodies of my observers.

Winter Fruit

10x20 acrylic on canvas, © 2011

Collection of the Artist

Hoarfrost appears silently, and when the sun comes out disappears as it came, but in the brief moments of the morning its beauty must be enjoyed.

Wild Flowers

8x10, acrylic on panel, © 2007

Private Collection

An outing to Lauitzen Botanical Gardens yielded many photographs. This one struck me for the color and—Oh yes—flowers. Practice may make perfect.

Missouri River Overview

16x20, acrylic on canvas, 2007
Private Collection

Marge and I went to Macy, Nebraska—that is the reservation for the Omaha Tribe. This overlook was on the way. It was near a sacred spot of the Native Americans. I took a picture and later I applied to be an instructor at Michael's Arts and Crafts store. I was accepted, but my time has not been so that I could fulfill it. This painting was done as a piece that I could teach people to paint and would be used as a promotional painting.

My Sacred Grove

40x30, acrylic on canvas, 2006
Private Collection

After my retirement, my daughter came to me with a proposal. She wanted a picture of a sacred place for her to go to for refuge. Something from my mind to hers. My son and family, Marge, and I went to Indian Cave State Park where we hiked the trails. I had been looking for inspiration for the piece. I took a photo and edited it in PhotoShop. To aid in my focus of looking, I developed this verse:

Along life's trail we travel
Crooked, straight, or rocky.
Along life's trail we travel to quiet places
Beside the trail—given silence and calm
We petition the Supreme to know
Who we are, and His errand for us.
It is through these quiet, reflective times
That we come to know ourselves
Our majesty... Our destiny.

Desoto Bend

18x24, acrylic on canvas, © 1989
Collection of the Artist

I took a picture on a beautiful autumn day at the Desoto Bend Wildlife Refuge. I went to Halsey to study with Tim Saska, a painter from Lubbock, Texas. I had seen his work in the Artist's Magazine and wanted to see him work. Tim helped by demonstrating some leaves in the foreground trees. I learned that acrylic paint, to work well, must not be too liquid. That is so that you can drag the paint and let the support do most of the work for you. A great lesson. Tim has since passed—it was great to paint with him.

The Pierce Home on Hamilton

11x14, acrylic on canvas, © 1985

Private Collection

A secretary at the railroad wanted a house portrait in pen and ink or watercolor. I tried to make a drawing but ended up with a painting of her house. I removed some poles and things in the foreground, which is why a photograph did not work. I believe that the house was on east Hamilton Street.

Nebraska Boys Town

18x24, acrylic on panel, © 1984
Collection of the Artist

Near 132nd and Pacific Streets as one exits the Trendwood development, I saw this scene over and over. At times beautiful—at times not. I determined that I would paint it. I went back on an overcast day and took some photos from which this was painted. I took it to the Southwest Area Art Club critique night, and the person critiquing commented that there should be more depth and about the awkwardness of the dead tree limb in the foreground.

I probably should have gone back and fixed the problems, but I would always rather learn from a painting and then paint a new one with that knowledge built in.

Nebraska Road

20x16, acrylic on canvas, © 1984
Private Collection

This is a painting from along the road in a Nebraska landscape. I painted it to remember those trips along the byways of Nebraska. I exhibited it at a church social and a friend, Bill, asked how much I wanted for the painting. We agreed on a price, and he and his wife bought it. I was honored by the gesture.

Subsequently, I repaired a painting by his friend A. Reading that had been damaged by something abrading of the painted surface.

I sure miss Bill; what a great friend. We visited his wife in a care facility in Utah where she had the painting exhibited.

Nebraska Barn

20x16, acrylic on panel, © 1983
Collection of the Artist

The concept was to have a triptych of our Midwest experience. This and the next two are part of that experience.

The painting was derived from a Nebraska promotional photo.

Nebraska Wind Mill

20x16, acrylic on panel,  © 1983
Collection of the the Artist

On our many trips through western Nebraska, I saw this wooden windmill along the Interstate 80 stretch. One time I got out and snapped a photo which became this painting.

The concept was to have a triptych of our Midwest experience. This and the previous one and the next one are part of that experience.