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.