Notes On A Scale - 40x60"

Notes On A Scale - 40x60" is one in a collection of new paintings to be exhibited at the Kodner Gallery for the month of October, 2012 with an opening reception on October 5th.
www.kodnergallery.com

Stone Harvesting 24x36"

Stone Harvesting - 24x36" is one in a collection of new paintings to be exhibited at the Kodner Gallery for the month of October, 2012 with an opening reception on October 5th.
www.kodnergallery.com

Katy Land Trust - 14x68"

"Katy Land Trust" is a 14x68" landscape not far from the artist's studio meant to inspire land preservation notions of our Missouri River Valley. Dan and Connie Burkhardt, founders of the KLT encourage land owners along the Katy Trail to conserve their property in conservation easements for the preservation of farms and forests for future generations.

Bryan Mill - 1850, Femme Osage, Missouri

This 18x80" painting was commissioned to depict an 1850 scene of the historic and newly rehabilitated stone barn, the Bryan Mill: Daniel Boone arrived in Missouri in 1799. Among the first 20 families, which accompanied him, was Jonathan Bryan. Jonathan was raised by Rebecca (Bryan) Boone and Daniel Boone in Kentucky as one of their own children.

As a member of the original settlers, Jonathan received Spanish land grant 301, where he constructed a Gristmill in 1801, one mile West of Daniel Boone’s home. This gristmill was used to process wheat and flour being planted in the Femme Osage Valley. The gristmill operated until the 1880s when it was converted to a barn. It has recently been reconstructed in the original spirit of its founder, Jonathan Bryan. The mill lies about one mile west of the Daniel Boone home and was slave built by brother-in-law of Daniel and Rebecca Boone, Jonathan Bryan.

Kansas City Southern Railroad mural 40x80"

The "History of the KCS" 40x80" painting was delivered yesterday and is now on its way to hang in the Stilwell room of Union Station, Kansas City for the 125th anniversary gala of Kansas City Southern. It will eventually be enlarged into a 16 foot wide mural for the room, while the painting will hang in the KCS headquarters building.

Fleet Mount Farms 60x80" painting for the Studio at St Albans

Kauffman Kansas City mural installation

Installation of the 8x32 foot mural is complete with help of friend and gallery owner that represented my work with the client and continues to support me in many ways, Jack Olsen of American Legacy Gallery. Placing the twenty interlocking panels took about four hours and went smoothly, Kauffman staff and principals being very pleased.

Kauffman Foundation Kansas City mural 8x32 feet (detail)

This detail of the mural, my favorite of the 16 48x48" panels, I will actually be disappointed to see go. It depicts the early stage of Kansas City history on the far left of the mural base.

Kauffman Foundation Kansas City mural 8x32 feet

Finally complete after almost three years of stops and starts, mostly waiting on decisions from Kauffman and the placement of over two hundred (?) individuals, I finally get to see the piece all together. After all these months I was never able to see more than six 48x48" panels on a makeshift easel because of the limited size of my studio. Now, with a digital capture just under two GBites - I can see it turned out pretty much like my initial color study. Now, to process and create a full size print for installation on site in Kansas City.

Bear 16x24"

This little painting suggests a new direction for me. Instead of worrying about "over-designing" the natural elements as I have for all these years; bending a limb to create a curve I want or setting up a dead-fall to complete a diagonal. I am not apologizing any more! I am going full bore in the direction of making these organic elements do as I need them to do! Perhaps it will make a pleasing and fun scene, not meant to be realistic, but tell a story... In this case, celebrating the return of Black Bears to Missouri.

Gateway Arch Mural - study

This 24x36" preliminary study for the Gateway Arch mural 1964 Arch construction scene was dusted off and "finished" the other day. Kodner Gallery (of Ladue) suggested I frame and deliver as a client that collects only studies of notable works is interested in seeing the piece. This began with a sienna "ground" as a base over the drawing, something I haven't used in years, but I am reminded of the overall warmth it gives to the finished piece, and am thinking it might be good for a large painting to be started in a few days.

Studio Mural series - 48x72" painting "Dr. Kinkaid"

Dr. Peter Kinkaid (1795-1861), a Scotsman and founder of St. Albans, Missouri in 1837 wrote in his diary describing a night when he was called out to tend to an ailing neighbor. Traveling through the thickly timbered bottom land along the Missouri River returning from his doctoring call, a violent storm began to sweep over him and while still mounted, he took refuge in the hollow trunk of an enormous sycamore tree. The 48x72" painting is now installed and hangs in the staircase of the 1925 restored "Studio" of St. Albans.

Behrer Woods 9x24" study

Intending to get to this years ago when I snapped a series of views at my friends John and Carole Behrer's land near Rhineland, Missouri, I have finally created a little study that I think has promise for a larger version. It was tempting to include a little crooked man with a little crooked cane, but instead I think I'll emphasize the geometry of the right angles of the trees against the softness of the rolling shapes beyond. I think it satisfies because of the monochromatic nature of the season. I'm looking forward to getting to a size that challenges...

Augusta Bottoms Consort 16x24" painting

Depicting a wonderful October day in Treloar, Missouri, friends Michael,Gloria, Rebecca and Paul making up Augusta Bottoms Consort, play their original music to benefit the Katy Land Trust. The KLT hosted an unveiling of the Treloar grain elevator murals kicking off their purpose; to promote the idea of land preservation along the Katy Trail. There, under the shade of a huge cottonwood tree, the breeze blew softly and the music flowed rhythmically while friends and admirers chatted. Couldn't have been any better.

Taos Powwow, "Women Record Their Men" 24x36" painting

The 24x36" painting depicts a scene my daughter and I witnessed on a trip to Taos, New Mexico where Native American women recorded their men in a sacred drum circle. It will be included in a show of southwest subjects at American Legacy Gallery in Kansas City for the month of November.

"Legends of St Albans" mural series - painting 2

"German Settlement (The Murder of John Ridenhaur)" 50x34" - is the second in a series of paintings/murals for the historic Studio of St Albans, the original castle-like 1920's residence of the Johnson family. The current owner has commissioned the series to tell stories of the area gleaned from the book, "St Albans, the History of a Missouri River Town" by the late Lucie F. Huger. The painting depicts John Ridenhaur, the last "white man" killed by Indians in Franklin County in 1813. He repeatedly declined to sell his magnificent horse to the Osage, some of the braves wanting to give the horse as a gift to their chief.

Danforth Plant Science Center - Discover

The final of four 32x60" paintings to hang in the permanent collection of the Danforth Plant Science Center, "Discover" depicts the Greek goddess of the harvest Demeter: "She bids summon joyful torches of new discoveries come forth and scatter the shades of gloom in radiant light, and strews garlands before her," symbolizing photosynthesis and biofuels research. Her daughter Persephone, wife of Hades; “traveled down into darkness and gloom, but because all things fall back into the earth and also arise from the earth, Persephone represents the seed of Mankind that was hidden away, but also being of a bounteous mind, it is for Man’s health she sends a rich increase of various fruits from Earth," symbolizing plant research which could lead to new sources of medications for use against conditions such as chronic pain and cancer.

Installation of the Arch mural

Here is an in-progress shot of the mural being installed. It will greet visitors at the ticketing area below the Arch.

Resolution Copper Mine - trade show mural artwork

This 18x60" painting was commissioned by Parks&Co in Phoenix, AZ for Resolution Copper Mine's trade show mural project. It came through my rep in NY, Bernstein&Andriulli and is an 18x60" painting on canvas. It will be digitally enlarged to a 21 foot width for their use. From the first contact e-mail, to the finished product delivery was 10 days.

"Above the Beyond" 30x40" painting

To be installed at the Missouri Botanical Garden's - Best of Missouri Painters Show October 1st