These next works were all completed in advance of the Ann Arbor Art Fair. My apologies for falling behind in my posting but I had to step away from the computer for a bit to focus on painting to get ready for the fair.... and then after the fair we took off for Lake Michigan for some unwind/family time.















30" x 40" Poppy Series II
Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

















30" x 40" Poppy Series III
Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas




















3' x 4' Poppy Series IV
Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

















4' x 5' Thoughtful Moment II
Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Poppy Series I














30" x 40" Oil on 3/4" gallery wrapped canvas. I have been working on four different poppy pieces for the last several weeks. This is the first of that group....more to come soon!

Under the Old Apple Tree
















Orchard at Sunset
















Both pieces are 3' x 4' oil on gallery wrapped canvas. These two works were created for a couple from Chicago that are collecting my work. They will pick their favorite and the other piece will go with me to the "Crosby Show" in Toledo, OH. These collectors are actually clients of my gallery in Ann Arbor (Pierre Paul Art Gallery) and have already purchased two of my favorite orchards. Orchard at Night and Orchard at Dusk.

Stay tuned as I have lots of work in that "almost" finished stage. So more to come soon!

Sunflowers on a Periwinkle Sky














3' x 4' - Here is the follow-up piece to Sunflowers for Jen. Feel free to comment if you have any thoughts over which one you like better and "why". Thanks!

Sunflowers for Jen














4' x 3' Sunflowers in a field. This piece was created with a dear friend in mind. I learned a lot from this painting in that I think my painting comes easier if I don't treat to piece too preciously. I did another piece with the same composition of the five main sunflowers but since it was second piece and this one was already complete; the second piece came a little easier. Will be interesting to see which one she is drawn to!

Sunflowers on a Red Sky


















3' x 3' Oil on canvas. This painting has been hanging around in my studio for a while. It started out as a fairly typical representation of a field of sunflowers...blue sky, golden petals, green leaves and it left me uninspired. So I covered the entire piece in a generous red glaze and painted into it. Much more fun to paint and it helped me bust through that "stuck" feeling. I have been working on a sunflower commission that I felt I was getting too "stiff" about and I think this was a good diversion to help me stay loose and expressive. It's funny how you tend to paint better when you let go of the "preciousness" of the piece.

Sunflowers for Sylvania


















4' x 3' on Gallery Wrapped Canvas - Sunflower Oil Painting
I posted this piece in-progress back in October....I thought I was on a roll to finish it and then as paintings sometimes go with me, I had to put it aside to rest. Now I think it is done!

Poppies on Gold
















4' x 5' Original Oil Painting on gallery wrapped canvas. Brilliant giant poppies on a field of gold.

After a bit of a painting hiatus due to visiting family and the holidays, it felt good to get out my brushes and put this one to bed. I started it some time last winter......and then my toddler pierced the canvas somehow....which derailed my motivation to finish it. Thanks to one of my blogging painter-buddies, I was able to repair the canvas and finish the piece. The scar has an archival patch on the back side and is now hidden under layers of paint. I cannot tell even when I am looking for it. This one is going up over the mantle in my house as the last of the finished pieces I had on hand went off to the gallery. My kids asked why we didn't have any paintings anymore....all I could think of was the expression "the cobbler's kids never have any shoes". So I thought I would hang this cheerful piece over our mantle for my family to enjoy and then I am off to finish a few commissions that I have up and going.

Poppies on Blue















SOLD - 4' by 5' oil painting on gallery wrapped canvas. This piece was started in early August and I took it to the Perrysburg/Levis Commons Fine Art Fair to work on it. I like to paint at the little fairs as it makes good use of my down-time and gives those that are interested and view of my process. This piece is on hold for approval by a couple from Arizona that have started to collect my work. They are coming to my studio tomorrow and I am optimistic that this one will go home with them. It is a very dramatic piece with a lot of energy. There is a little bit of atmosphere in this one that was non-existant in earlier work as I am intending to give my images a little bit of "flux" by softening edges or mixing a "little chocolate in my peanut-butter" as professor Hall Groat II puts it. He is one of my more seasoned painting peers from NYC that is active in my Google Group of painters. The web has enabled me to work singularly in my studio yet commune with other artists for a virtual cup of coffee and "art chat" every day.

Sunflowers for Sylvania - On my Easel



















4' x 3' oil on canvas. This one is now well underway and I hope to finish it over the next few days. Yesterday I played outside with my kids late in the late day sun and then went downstairs and painted after dinner. You can feel the change of season in the palette that appears in the leaves. I love to those natural influences that just come out intuitively without too much thinking.