Three Aspens

I don't know which lake this was but I do remeber these aspens and the light on them. We were exploring the Eastern Sierras three years ago and we pulled over to this wonderful patch of trees. This is the intitial study in pastel. I first started out with small 2 by 2 sketches of this area in my sketchbook. This painting is small but I think it packs a little bit of a punch.

Hide And Seek

I remember playing hide and seek as a child. These children are family. The image was taken on the day that we laid my sister Tammie to rest. We tend to keep the children away from funerals. Those that can be spared are. These guys were playing hide and seek. They are cousins both blood and not. It's hard being the older sibling when you have to bury a younger one. Its the protective hawk that feels permanently disarmed. Anyhow, I was drawn to the joy of the children that afternoon.

Losing My Religion

I hope the title doesn't turn you off as its a song from my past. It was the first thought I had when I opened the image in my computer. I grew up in a small town in Texas. Like a lot of places, we had an abundance of churches. This one is around the corner from where I was raised. The painting is not true to form of course. This church is one of my many muses around my home town. Prior to the pandemic, there were rumors that it was set for demolition. Anyway, I hope you all are well and comfortable with our experimental new normal.