Lily Pond 5" x 5" acrylic $275

Lily pads have been painted by artists throughout the centuries because they lend to a peaceful experience that can be calming to one's spirit. Claude Monet, the French impressionist, created what is perhaps the most famous series of lily pad paintings during the early part of the 20th century. While creating this painting, it reminded me of another one that I did in similar style - Ending Rain. The concentric circles going back into the painting create the depth that is crucial to a painting such as this.

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Pygmy Nuthatch 4" x 4" acrylic $225

A pygmy nuthatch scales down the side of a tree looking to eat insects hidden within the bark. I saw this bird on the branch that protruded from an old fallen tree that was very rugged looking. This ruggedness against the smoothness of the delicate bird is what attracted me to paint this scene.
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Barn Swallows 8"x10" acrylic

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While walking through the quaint town of Sisters, Oregon, I spotted this family of barn swallows that had set up their home outside the overhang of a local business. The adult was catching insects nearby and would frequently return to feed the anxiously awaiting chicks. In mere days, these four will fledge and leave the safety of their nest.
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Yellow-Rumped Warbler 4" x 4" acrylic

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Thoughout most of the year this bird is a more subdued brownish streaked bird with hints of yellow on it's rump and sides. However, in the spring, the males are a showy splash of white, charcoal and yellow. They are quite numerous at times and will forage almost anywhere quickly changing their diet from insects to berries, then back to insects again. This particular bird was seen in a pine shrub outside my studio window.
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Wood Duck Waters 5" X 5" acrylic

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On a gray overcast day a wood duck offers a splash of color. These ducks are stunning and almost gaudy they are so decorated. They prefer wetlands next to flooded timber because they nest in trees and will even perch in trees. When the babies are ready to leave the nest, they will jump out of the tree (or nest box) cavities from great heights without injury.
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Rufous 4x4 acrylic

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If you see a hummingbird perched on a leaf like this, it's body weight is so minimal the leaf is practically guaranteed not to bend. An interesting note about these birds is they have an excellent memory and, recently, a male returned several times to investigate where a fuchsia had hung outside my studio window last year. It's time to hang another one.

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Evening Watch 4" x 4" acrylic $225

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It's evening and closing in on this Great Horned Owl's time to hunt for meals. These large owls are common throughout the United States and it is one of the top birds in the food chain. They will kill other birds of prey including hawks and falcons while on the nest and are one of the only birds that will eat a skunk. They hunt by flying silently so unsuspecting prey will not hear them approaching.
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Chickadee Study 4" x 4" acrylic $150

This is a study that has been done for a larger project that will feature a bunch of different songbird species on a fence row. It was interesting painting this without a background as there is almost an optical illusion of the feet gripping a branch. I tried to make the bird as three dimensional as possible and as realistic as possible. The art in the painting, I feel, is in the bird's crouched positioning which gives it life. It is also off-centered slightly to the lower right-hand corner to enhance the crouching effect.
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Spring Bluebird 4" x 4" acrylic $225

A handsome male bluebird perches atop a fence post. When I saw this bird originally the dark background helped the brilliant colors to stand out. These birds have been aided by a strong conservation program that has installed bluebird boxes throughout the country to help with their numbers. The more aggresive tree swallows and European starlings tend to take over their natural nesting sites (and even the boxes). However, with the efforts of groups like the North American Bluebird Society bluebirds are doing well.
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Cattail Hideaway 8" x 10" acrylic

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A long-billed marsh wren sings near it's nest hidden within the tules. Spring is an active time for these birds as they defend their territory and build these intricate, woven nests that are lined with the seeds of cattails. Soon baby wrens will be crying for food. This painting was a commissioned painting. For more information on creating a custom piece of artwork, you can click on the link to my website.
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Sneak Peak - Red Fox 5" x 7" acrylic $395

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A red fox takes a peak out of a gully in the low, late afternoon light. Perhaps, he came to take a drink or maybe there was a mouse or vole in the surrounding area that he was hunting. Although this painting is the same size as a daily painting, it took more than a day to create the lighting effect on the meadow grasses.
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Under Cover - Goldfinch 4" x 4" acrylic

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A young male goldfinch rests under the cover of newly grown spring leaves. Cover is one of the most important needs for songbirds and this tree is perfect as he hides in the shadows of the tree.
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Pacific Sunset 4" x 4" acrylic $225

The sun sets over calm Pacific waters...

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Spring Song 4" x 4" acrylic $225

A marsh wren sings to defend it's nesting territory from other wrens. Wetland tules are full of these busy, animated little wrens each spring as they gather the downy material from cattails to line their well hidden nests. They are difficult to see flitting amongst the reeds as they are never sitting still for long.

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Out of the Cattails 5" x 7" acrylic

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A rooster pheasant erupts from a thicket of cattails. I saw this bird at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge recently and created the cattail habitat to emulate a favorite spot of mine at a local hunting area in Oregon. When pheasants launch with their loud cackles and flurry of wings it is an exhilarating experience.
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Eastern Turkeys 6" x 7" acrylic

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A pair of Eastern turkeys crest a ridge. The sun is rising but hasn't allowed for enough warmth to burn off the mist sitting in the lower part of the swale. This painting was commissioned and if you are interested in a custom painting of your own feel free to contact me. There is more information on the commissions page of my website including examples of past commissions.

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Evening Paint 4" x 4" acrylic $225

The shadows are longer as the last rays of late afternoon sunshine blanket this hillside. Although the runoff in the creek has all but disappeared the hills are a lush green after a wet winter which makes for some nourishing feed for this beautiful horse.

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Rinsing Off 5" x 7" acrylic $295

A wood duck drake rinses off on a sunny day. I observed this wood duck just a couple of days ago and because it is Spring, he is most likely already paired off with a female. Wood ducks are the most colorful of all the North American waterfowl and I am always inspired to paint them when I see them. My Website

Winter Flock 4" x 12" acrylic

SOLD This painting has been revised a bit. On the blog below, you can see the original version. A wood duck has been added to the mix of waterfowl as I had seen one in this spot on this particular day. They are very skittish and took off right away, but the handsome male adds a nice bit of color to the painting. I also put him closer to the shore to add just a bit more depth to the water. An important part of this painting and a big reason for adding the various species (besides added interest) is the fact that when the weather gets cold, ducks like open patches of water. You can see quite a variety of species at times like this.

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The Watering Hole 8" x 10" acrylic $1200

A herd of zebra quench their thirst while keeping a wary eye out for predators. Water in Africa is a great place to see wildlife but it is also attracts a great number of predators. This painting is available through Caswell Gallery's "Africa" show along with two of my other African paintings. The show opens tonight with wine, hors d'ouvres and live African music. The show will run for the month of April - no foolin! My Website

Morning Calm - Bufflehead 4" x 4" acrylic

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Three male bufflehead enjoy a calm morning. These small diving ducks are among my favorite species of waterfowl because of their diminutive size and stiking plumage. The glassy water in this painting creates calm reflections and a very peaceful feeling.

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Neela 5" x 7" acrylic

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This painting was commissioned as a birthday gift. The dog is older than she is depicted here but she is now immortalized as a painting. Neela is her call name and her registered name is Calverts First Impression and she is quite the bird dog having even been on television.
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Bugling Bull Study 5" x 7" acrylic

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A bull elk bugles on a cool autumn morning. This painting was done as a study to get the position of the bull correct for a larger painting. Currently, I have two larger elk paintings in progress and painting them makes me long for crisp fall mornings. Elk bugles are one of my favorites sounds in nature and chasing these animals is always exciting especially when there is a close encounter!
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Rufous and Fuchsia 4" x 4" acrylic

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Last summer and fall, a fuchsia plant hung outside of my studio window and every morning like clockwork this rufous hummingbird would come visit to feed on the nectar. The flowers of this plant are spectacularly colored and almost look fake making them very attractive for these little birds. Fuchsia like the shade so they are perfect for Western Oregon!
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Winter Flock 4" x 12" acrylic $720

A mixed flock of pintail, wigeon and ringneck ducks ease their way through an unfrozen winter pond. Ringneck ducks are diving ducks that frequently visit the same shallower habitat that other dabbling ducks visit. Dabbling ducks are aptly named as the tip up to feed like the female pintail in this painting. They are unable to dive great depths because their feet are located in more of a forward position on their bodies. This also enables them to jump straight off the water when startled. Ringneck ducks need to run to take off.
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Sunrise Reflections 12" x 16" acrylic

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Lake Pepin is the widest naturally occuring part of the Mississippi River and is located roughly 60 miles southeast of Minneapolis. I saw this scene as the lake's level rose and flooded the shoreline creating a surreal, beautiful scene at dawn. Varying levels of fog add a mysteriousness as the sun tries to burn through. Standing on a sunken log, the four mallard seem so diminutive next to the regal tree.

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Ankeny Pintail 8" x 10" acrylic

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A drake pintail swims near the shore on a foggy morning. This painting was completed on the spot at the Albany Ducks Unlimited banquet and was auctioned off as soon as it was finished. 100% of the proceeds went to Ducks Unlimited and will be used to set aside wetland habitat that is beneficial to pintails as well as other waterfowl and numerous other species of birds.
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Morning Light - Shoveler 5" x 7" acrylic $295

Yesterday, I took the morning and drove out to our local wildlife refuge. It had snowed a couple of inches and I was looking for some good winter scenes (since we don't get much snow in the Willamette Valley). I came across a northern shoveler swimming alone in this pond and it struck me as a peaceful, serene moment with a subtle low light and the reflective qualities of calm water.
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Stormy Cove 5" x 7" acrylic

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A storm rolls into the rocky Pacific coastline. I recently visited the coast on an incredibly windy day and took some pictures of this scene. The wind seemed to be blowing the wavetops off and the rain was sideways! What intrigued me about this scene, besides the weather, was the powerful action of the ocean and the depth that the lines in the foam created as it leads the viewer's eye out to sea.

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Shoreline Reflections 7" x 5" acrylic

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Great blue herons are majestic, predatory birds that stand motionless waiting for their prey. In this case, the heron is more at rest as it's head is tucked as opposed to their erect posture when stalking. Herons are common throughout the United States and are common in Oregon. However, I saw this particular heron at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on Maryland's famed eastern shore. I spent five straight mornings at the refuge and got some fantastic reference of all kinds of birds from waterfowl to shorebirds and songbirds.
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On the Prowl 8" x 10" acrylic

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A fox hunts on a winter's day. They have the ability to hear hiding rodents under the snow with their large, sensitive ears and can pounce and catch them without ever seeing them. The scenery in this painting is from my neighborhood on a snowy day and the fox was added as one could quite possibly be seen in this area. Unfortunately, my camera did not do the colors justice and the painting looks a bit different in person. The snow is not actually that pink in the painting....
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Wetland Reverie 8" x 10" acrylic $1100

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This painting is heading to Settler's West for the American Miniatures show next Saturday. The early morning scene was inspired from a trip to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on a cool clear morning. The sun is just gracing the distant trees and has not yet reached the foreground.
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Snowy Prelude 9" x 12" acrylic $1200

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I redesigned this painting a bit by adding a second snowy egret. The original version, seen below, seemed to be missing something (at least to me). So, I sketched another smaller egret (so it could be in the distance) that was angled slightly toward the viewer on a piece of tracing paper and moved the paper around the painting - trying several different spots over the past couple of days. Seemingly, the only place it would work was lower in the paintng behind some reeds and in front of the main bird.

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Eurasian Autumn 4" x 4" acrylic $225

A Eurasian wigeon swims on the beautiful reflections of autumn. Eurasian wigeon are becoming more common in the United States and can be found among large flocks of the American version of the species - mostly along the west and east coasts. These birds most likely have migrated from Siberia and Iceland. In my hometown, there are about five that regularly winter on a pond at a local park along with several hundred of their American counterparts. What inspired me to create this painting was the fiery color in this males head and how it is reflected in the water.
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Snowy Prelude 9" x 12" acrylic $1200

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As a storm approaches, a snowy egret lifts up into the wind above the reeds. Egrets seem to evoke a sense of peace and solitude which is in contrast to the dark clouds above. I saw this particular bird at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge where they are common visitors. They are a smaller active egret and are distinguishable by their yellow feet.

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Northern Flicker 5" x 7" acrylic

SOLD Northern Flickers always seem to startle me because I never see them until they fly. Once they are airborne the red underwing (it's yellow on the East Coast) makes them easily identifiable. Although they are woodpeckers, flickers mostly choose to forage on the ground for ants and other bugs, which makes them so hard to see. Here one briefly lands on a picket fence before moving on. The posture of the bird is what I found intriguing. My Website

Eurasian Collared Dove 4" x 4" acrylic $225

Happy New Year!

My first post of 2011 is of a Eurasian Collared-Dove a relatively new species to North America. They were first introduced in the Bahamas and have since been spreading throughout the United States. There is now a permanent population in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. I saw this particular bird in my neighborhood. They are larger than mourning doves but still have the classic dove shape. The dark ring on it's neck is where the bird derives it's name.
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