During this period I completed 150 paintings, most of which were sold
in the western United States, particularly Aspen, Colorado. I've included
a few examples below that demonstrate the qualities I was striving for at
that time. I wanted to make a transition from the finely detailed paintings
of the early nineties to work that flowed more freely from my brush. I
used strong surface texture created before beginning painting. Over this
I applied many layers and glazes of acrylic paints. The result was a piece
of artwork that was rich in color saturation with an exciting textural quality.
Fox Rest
Fairy Dusters
This was my first effort using the new technique of acrylic paint over
textured surface. I actually glued sand & pebbles onto the painting
surface to simulate the texture of the ground where the quail are sitting.
This painting was displayed in the 1997 Western Visions show at the
National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming. It was
encouraging to attend the show and see the response this painting
received from the many collectors who filled the ballot box.
Grizzly Walker
Foxfire
This painting was sold at the Artists of America Exhibition, Denver,
Colorado in 1998. Again collectors were very encouraging about
this new technique. The show's director let me know that "Foxfire"
was one of the most popular paintings in the show (based on the
ballot count). This inspired me to return to my studio and explore
this medium further, producing more paintings the following year
than I had in the past three years combined. A fine art print publisher
selected it the next year and it appeared in many magazine
advertisements in 2000.
Onto the textured surface I adhered pebbles to simulate the ground.
Then I painted over these to blend them into the colors of the painting.
Grizzly Wrestlers (26 X 34). The original sold in Aspen, Colorado.
A print publisher reproduced this painting as a limited edition on
canvas and paper, as well as a large size giclee edition, advertising
it with full page ads that ran in many magazines during the year 2000.
Wolf-Walk was featured on the cover of Southwest Art Magazine
in June 2001. The original was sold at the "Best in the West"
Exhibition in Park City, Utah. Limited edition prints were sold
nationwide, including a lifesize giclee edition. It too was heavily
advertised.
Tiger-Walk
Avocets
Grizzly-Root
Duckling Nest
Young Fox
One of my favorite paintings from this period.
A simple composition, yet a very captivating original with
plenty of texture and lush color.
The heavy texture in this painting was created before starting to paint.
I first applied a thick layer of plaster with a large palette knife onto
the surface of the roughened & gessoed masonite. Having a full size
sketch so that I knew where the fox would be standing within the
painting, I let my imagination play with the plaster to convey interesting
textures around the fox, and more controlled textures where the fox
would be painted. Besides applying the paint with a brush over this
surface, I also liked to spatter and flick droplets of paint to add details.
At the same time that I finished the painting I also finished the frame
so that it worked with the colors of the painting. Each frame for my
acrylic paintings was handmade by Motyka in Rhode Island. I then
applied the finishing patinas myself.
Quailsong
Little Grizzly
Moose-Rest
Sprite-Dusk
Fawns (close-up)
Flying Egret
Foxfield
Mountain Goat Gold
Fox-Watch
More images will be added soon. During this period I completed more than 150 paintings.
