"And if you look intensely 
at the pure blue of a serene sky, 
you will see that there is a variety and fullness 
in its very repose. 
It is not flat dead color, 
but a deep, quivering, transparent body of penetrable air, 
in which you trace or imagine 
short, falling spots of deceiving light,
 and dim shades,
 faint, veiled vestiges of dark vapor; 
and it is this trembling transparency 
which our great modern master 
has especially aimed at and given." 
~ John Ruskin

Whiskey Dog

Man's best friend, a dog named Whiskey. This dog doesn't bite. He just wants to play and have some fun. He may look like a mutt but he's a good and loyal dog.

Watercolor on archival paper. 11 x 14 inches. 2015. 

Greyhound on Grey Paper

Greyhounds are very popular pets in my area. Many have been rescued from the track.  Although they are large and can run like the wind, they are a very sweet, gentle dog. They are quite graceful and rarely bark (something that appeals to me since I have a 'barky boy' in my household). 

I did this drawing as a study for a painting that I plan to do, although I think it is nice in it's own right.

Graphite pencil on drawing paper. 12 x 12 inches. 2015

White Ibis in the Surf

The White Ibis is one of my favorite shore birds. Here on the west coast of Florida we see them everywhere ~ on the beaches, in marshes and estuaries, even on our lawns and city parks. They are a sociable bird often traveling and feeding in groups or pairs. We used to call the Durante birds because their long bill resembled Jimmy Durante's nose. Like Jimmy Durante they are comical with a long curving bill and beautiful blue eyes that stand out against the orange skin of it's face.

The White Ibis is a wader. It wades along the beaches foraging for food, sweeping its head from side to side in the hopes of catching some little fish or sea creature to eat. I, too, do a fair amount of wading in the shallows of the surf looking for shells and interesting sea creatures. When at the beach I love the feel of the sand and surf on my feet even when the water is cold. I don't feel like I've been there unless I get my feet wet.

Mixed Media on archival paper. 16 x 20 inches. 2015.

Ready for Winter

I have become interested in paintings dogs in a variety of media and poses.  This fellow is ready for winter.  Bring it on!

Watercolor on archival paper. 14 x 17 inches. 2015.

Light in the Darkness

"Heron comes into our lives to teach us the power of precision. When we make decisions in our lives with precision, everything we do reaches a heightened level of effectiveness. 
We waste no energy, we conserve our internal power, and we save time! 
 Heron teaches us the value of watching and waiting in order to get what you need. In other words, heron teaches us the value of patience. It is not a passive patience, but an active one. We wait in our lives to grab opportunity when it arises, it is not a passive patience waiting for life to happen to us. . ." ~ Matthew James.

Watercolor on archival paper. 16 x 20 inches. 2015