I just returned from Santa Fe where I visited my friend Meria. I had lots of chances for hikes, visits to galleries and chances to paint. I am including a few photos of the places and my paintings.

MidWinter progress

Here are some images that I began in the fall, and have continued to work on during the winter. Except for the snowstorm one, which could be observed my studio window. Also, I have begun a series of downtown Grand Rapids, which was begun earlier.

Winter work from Fall Studies

I began these paintings last fall, and just got a chance to put a bit more time into them. The first one, some beeches that live in my front yard, were glowing with a bit of sun, backdropped by fall colors of the woods. I found interest in the patterns of the bark, and the intertwining of the branches.

The next two were painted at Pickerel Lake, the first rather quickly on one of the last days of warmth in the fall. There was still a bit of color in the trees across the lake, I loved the drama that the sun makes early afternoon at that time of year.

The last one was started a couple years ago, and I just had to add a bit more to it to soften and expand the color range. Although I have thought it might be done before, I am more ready to submit to its completion now.

Aquinas Exhibit September-October

I had a solo exhibit for the month of September at the Aquinas College Gallery. The theme was all about my back yard. I began with what is my own backyard, and proceeded to claim the different areas that I traveled, including my sons homes in Austin and Baton Rouge, a trip to New York City, and a month long stay in Japan. In essence, the lesson for myself was that my back yard extends outward to the world, and my interest should be and can be the entirety of of our planet.

Front Yard trees

I found one of the last days of the fall to be a beautiful one with blue sky, moderate temperatures, and leaves still hanging on the trees that were a golden yellow.

Then, a few days later, by setting up my easel in front of the forest in the front yard, I was able to catch the light changing on the tree trunks as they were affected by the sunlight.