"Forgotten Swing"

After a particularly heavy snow in Mt. Morris, Michigan, the bench swing in my father's backyard was almost completely obscured by the snow laden branches of the surrounding pines. This is a study of shadows on snow. "Forgotten Swing" is on exhibit Dec. 08 and Jan. 09 at the Eyedart Gallery in Goshen, Indiana, as a part of the Northern Indiana Artists' juried show.

"Picnic at Shark Reef"

A scene in late afternoon, at a spot near the scene in "Hiking at Shark Reef", this image shows mother and child enjoying the warm sunshine while watching seals playing in the channel or sunning themselves on the rocks lying just out of view to the right. From this spot on the southwest corner of Lopez Island, my family and I have also watched a Bald Eagle sharing a salmon with its young, and a pod of Orcas swimming between the islands. This painting, winner of the Judges Award at the 2006 Northern Indiana Artists Annual Juried Show, is now a part of the Elison Collection.  SOLD

"Painting on the Ramp"

This one is a self portrait, painting in one of my favorite spots to paint. From this perch, a third of the way down the cliff to the shore on the west side of Lopez Island, WA, I can watch the boats move in and out of Fisherman Bay and sail the waters between Lopez and San Juan Island. This view has inspired many paintings, including "In The Channel", "Kayakers" and "The Gate", featured elsewhere on this blog. The above painting was accepted for the 30th Elkhart Juried Regional Exhibit at the Midwest Museum of American Art.  NFS

"Running Late"

While I was driving between South Bend and Indianapolis one winter, the sun started to rise behind the morning cloud cover. This view of Indiana farmland stuck in my mind, and when I arrived at my destination I quickly sketched the scene to later develop into this painting.  SOLD

"Maine Shore"

This is a second take on a commissioned painting, using a slightly different cropping of the scene and altering the atmosphere.  Watercolor. Framed to 13" x 21".  $250

"Lime Kiln Lighthouse"

This Painting is of Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the western shore of San Juan Island, WA, at a popular whale-watching spot.

"Sunset, San Juan Islands"

This is another in a series of paintings at Shark Reef, one of my favorite spots in the islands, especially towards the end of the day.
 SOLD

"The Fence"

A stop on a bike ride through the interior farmland of Lopez Island, WA, yielded this simple scene.
SOLD

"Reading The Scary Parts"

An experiment with light and shadow, capturing a shared story time where the tale gets a bit too intense.

NFS

"Rainy Day, Copenhagen"

This watercolor comes from a gray, rainy day in a park in Copenhagen. The mood was dark, and the scene was haunting.
SOLD

"Sunset, Bryce Canyon"

This was a small but successful study of the sunset behind me, as light faded from the stunning Bryce Canyon.
SOLD

"Postal Carrier's Bike, Inisheer"

On the isle of Inisheer, smallest of Ireland's Aran Islands, the mail was delivered by a carrier who would prop her bike against the stone walls and run the mail across the road to the house. The splash of color against the whites, grays and greens of the setting was irresistable.
SOLD

"End of the Day"

A sunset view of Fisherman Bay, Lopez Island, WA. This is the time of day when the sailboats are anchored, and after a day on the water their crews have come ashore to dine and plan the next day's adventures.
SOLD

"The Rose"

This is one of my few floral paintings, a tea rose wet with morning dew.
SOLD

"Inna Boat"

Kate, just shy of two years old, with her great-grandfather's boat. "Inna boat! Inna water!" was her expression of where she wanted to be. This painting was based on a photograph by friend and photographer Lily Chatterjee.

NFS

"The Gate"

Sunset in the San Juan Islands is always a special time. The challenge in this painting was to capture the effect of the unseen sun behind the gate and bushes on the right.  Watercolor.  $375

"The Reader"

This could have been titled "Before Children". The scene is at Shark Reef on Lopez Island, WA, on a relaxing summer's day.
SOLD

"In the Channel"

A sunny day on Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands. Sailboats are constantly working their way around the Spit to follow the snaking channel into Fisherman Bay. This one seemed a good one to paint.
SOLD

"Delivering Apples"

One of the best things about autumn is freshly pressed apple cider. Someone else had the same idea, and is unloading crates of apples to be pressed into cider.

SOLD

"Wexford Harbor"

The quick shifting between sun and storm in Ireland constantly presents wonderous skys to the painter. The sky over Wexford Harbor is the true subject of this piece.
SOLD

"Water Under the Bridge"

"Water Under the Bridge" is a painting from a trip through Ireland. The bright sunlight contrasted by the deep shadows beneath the bridge had a dramatic appeal.
SOLD

"The Quest"

"The Quest" was painted to commemorate the first production in the new home of the South Bend Civic Theater. It depicts the vigil of Don Quixote in "Man of La Mancha."

SOLD

"Enchanted"

One of my favorite watercolors, from a rainy day in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I was coming back down into the clouds with the sunlight filtering in from above. The misty woods took on a look of enchantment that had me expecting to see unicorns at any moment.  SOLD

"Kayakers"

Kayaking in the waters around the San Juan Islands always looked like fun. So far, though, I have only watched, and painted, from the shore.  SOLD

"Ferry Arriving"

This watercolor is from my favorite spot to await the ferry on Lopez Island, WA. It's just off the road, but away from all the waiting vehicles; a better way, in my opinion, to say goodbye to the island than sitting in a car waiting to board the incoming ferry.
SOLD

"A Bike and a Barn, Ireland"

This painting came from a random stop on a solo bike trip in Ireland. Something about the hazy light and aged barn appealed to me. My bike was placed in the scene to add to the narrative.  SOLD

"The Patriot Act"

True patriotism lies in supporting, promoting and defending the freedoms and rights we value, not in diminishing or abandoning them out of greed or fear. Many in this country seem to have forgotten that. NFS

"Flat Creek"

This is a favorite rock-hopping stream near Montreat, N.C. Framed to 11" x 14". $200

"Hiking at Shark Reef"

Hiking along the shore at Shark Reef Park, Lopez Island, WA.

"Blossoms"

Dogwood Blossoms lend themselves well to watercolor painting, especially when captured in bright sunlight. Framed to 16" x 20". $275