Paretto : 2025-12

Paretto

31 December 2025

Acrylic on hardboard

10 x 10 inches (25.4 x 25.4 cm)

FOR SALE

This was the fifth (and last...for now) to join the other four competing for a gallery showing (see Whitewood for more info). This one went through quite a few iterations. I wanted to make something in the vein of Pulse, Blue Dance, Cadence or even Tawny. I was close, but if I was honest, I knew I was forcing it. It doesn't work when you force it. Tawny was forced until I reattacked it and it became desirable. I love the background on this one and I thought the bird was a great contrast. However, I thought the original bird was a bit cartoony. I like it much better. I also rotated the square. Partly to put a twist on the image if any residual bluebird was showing, but mainly to take a knot (on the box) from the left side to the bottom. On that note, the is Paretto because its box is made from a repurposed palette.

A gif with some of the steps along the way. As you can see, I didn't stop to snap when

making the final bird. Days passed...Christmas night to New Years Eve morning.

I thought a shot of the pallet wood as it was would be interesting (above left).

You can see how nicely it cleans up in the shots of the box frame.

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Overlay : 2025-12

Overlay

27 December 2025

Acrylic on hardboard

10 x 10 inches (25.4 x 25.4 cm)

FOR SALE

This was another 10x10 to join in the competition for a call-for-art (see Whitewood for more info). As you can see from the first run below, I was playing with ideas and colors likely inspired by Auntiluna. After I had laid down the original colors, I was torn between water and the sky. I was primarily thinking of a sunset scene similar to Playroom but with a more dramatic bluish/pink background. I love the moon and the effects it creates so I painted what can be seen on the right below. I was unsure about leaving the rings which took me to the final version. However, I think the clouds might have been better in the earlier version.

A couple of shots along the way.

Overlay atop its box frame made repurposed trimmings.

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Oaken : 2025-12

Oaken

26 December 2025

Acrylic on hardboard

10 x 10 inches (25.4 x 25.4 cm)

FOR SALE

This was another 10x10 to join in the competition for a call-for-art (see Whitewood for more info). I had a picture I'd been hanging onto for quite awhile which gave me the overall composition idea. The painting is far from a duplicate of the photo - which is good. That wasn't the goal and my paintings are better when I don't try to mimic something too closely. The comment about holding onto the picture for quite awhile is why I really like dating things. It's always neat to look back and (usually) be amazed at how much time has passed. That is why I date my pieces to the day. I used brushes and paint that Kimberly got me for Christmas. The title comes from the frame. It's solid oak from a cabinet I disassembled, and the surface is hardboard from a discarded dollhouse. That dollhouse has given me a pretty good run of materials so far (Doll Top, Flower House, Cadence, etc.). I like repurposing - no buying, no trash.

Since I took no pictures for Whitewood and Tawny, I forced myself this time.

It's only four pictures, but I like seeing the process.

Oaken atop its oak box frame.

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Tawny : 2025-12

Tawny

23 December 2025

Acrylic on hardboard

10 x 10 inches (25.4 x 25.4 cm)

FOR SALE

This is the second piece painted for the call-for-art, Anonymous (more about that call at Whitewood). I like this piece and how it turned out. However, this is one of those works where I wish I would have taken pictures along the way - I took zero. This painting started nothing like this and hardly represented this along the way. It just came together at the end. It's hard to stop the flow for pictures, but you do lose the ability to show changes. If you're happy with a piece, that's payment enough, but there is value is showing rather radical changes.

Tawny in its box frame. This frame was a repurposed canvas stretcher which is nice wood.

In fact, it was the stretcher for the canvas I repurposed for Fifty Pound.

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Whitewood : 2025-12

Whitewood

22 December 2025

Acrylic on hardboard

10 x 10 inches (25.4 x 25.4 cm)

FOR SALE

This was the first of paintings planned for an upcoming call-for-art, entitled Anonymous. It had rather specific requirements. All pieces needed to be 10x10 inches, 1.5-2 inches deep, priced the same and no title tags. I assumed with "no title tags" and the call being labeled "Anonymous", the lack of a signature was desired. Not signing the works wasn't specifically mentioned, but I'm not signing the front. I think I might sign the backs. Or maybe not...I'm no Michelangelo but he only signed his Pieta. And if people were to buy these, you could argue they're for commission. Apparently, in Michelangelo's time, works often weren't signed as most were commissioned. The works I will enter are Whitewood, Tawny, and Oaken.

This is the box frame, or museum wrap frame. Since it's wood, I'm not sure it's a true 'wrap'.

I'm also toying with the idea of pigmenting the sides. I love clean wood, so it's a hard decision,

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Merica to Mountains : 2025-12

Merica proudly sits in the morning sun at Leadville (KLXV).

I hadn't done a mountain course in quite a while but was fortunate enough to to one in mid-December ... and in a plane I hadn't taken into mountains. It was 55K and she's affectionately known as "Merica". I suggested that the student use her because she has a 180HP engine and she's pre-"production halt" or "10-year break" which means she's lighter. The weather was perfect, the student did an excellent job and Merica nailed it, too. I'm glad we did the course.

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Messiah 2025 : 2025-12

I was fortunate to see Handel's Messiah in Parker at the Parker United Methodist Church. It was conducted by the Colorado Bach Ensemble.  Kimberly went with me again and we both loved it. We had seen them a couple years earlier, but we both agreed this year's performance was better. Maybe it was the venue or simply the performance. I don't know how many times I've seen Messiah, but it never gets old and not that I've said that, I should probably count. I hope you have a great Christmas of 2025!

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Wingtip : 2025-12

Wingtip

11 December 2025

Acrylic on hardboard

22 x 40 inches (55.9 x 101.6 cm)

FOR SALE

This was the third entry - along with Playroom and LYNKN - to potentially be displayed in an airport. This was inspired from a picture of a fantastic sky. I could have spent hours more detailing and adding more clouds, but I was trying to resist over painting. I was comfortable leaving at this level of detail. I've said it before and will again, skies and clouds are amazing.

A gif showing some of the progress - it covers about eight days of work.

I cut this to fit this frame - I can't decide if it's a good match.

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Playroom : 2025-12

Playroom

10 December 2025

Acrylic on wood

20 x 32 inches (50.8 x 81.3 cm)

FOR SALE

I was thinking about an upcoming call for art while flying to Portland. The way the light sliced through the clouds was amazing. The picture doesn't quite do the painting justice and my light is a bit more orange than I saw. I'll be striving to get that actual color on future paintings. I was hesitant to add the random city lights, but I thought they worked out pretty well. This was submitted along with LYNKN and Wingtip.

This was a repurposed piece of wall art about the rules of a playroom. Well, I would call skies like these just of of God's playrooms. I took one picture along the way (above right).

I used the original wood frame but painted it a darker gray. I think it is a good match.

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