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.