Byrd Avenue

I was walking my dogs one morning when I glanced up at a big, ol' crow perched upon -- what else -- the Byrd Avenue sign in my neighborhood.  Unfortunately I didn't have a camera with me at the time, but I was able to cobble together some photo references taken later to recreate the scene.

"Byrd Avenue."  Pastel, 14" x 11"

Pet Portrait Commissions

Here are a couple of pet portraits completed this year.  The Coonhound Bruno was a friend of mine and my dogs, and was a sudden, painful loss.  I created that portrait as a gift for my friends, to honor his memory.

"Bruno's Last Hunt" Oil, 16" x 20"

This portrait was also done for a friend, and is a memorial portrait of his brother's Bulldog Bosley, pictured in the back.  This will be a Christmas gift for his brother.

"Three Bulldogs" Oil, 16" x 20"

Jack Russell

Not sure how I feel about this one yet...probably since it's much looser than my dog pieces usually get...

"Jack Russell"  Pastel, 12" x 9"

Strawberry

This one started with some scribbling on a scrap piece of paper, and became a strawberry!  No photo reference, just playing with the pastels.

"Strawberry"  Pastel, 3.5" x 6"

Flowers in a Teapot

Just a fun little still life in oil pastel.  I worked over an oil painting that I didn't much care for, and with all the layers it ended up with some really nice textures.

"Flowers in a Teapot"  Oil Pastel, 9" x 12"

Mount St Helens

Another pastel work created from a reference photo from my trip out to Washington, this time the subject is Mount St Helens. 

"Mount St Helens" Pastel, 9" x 12"

Visiting Mount St Helens is a wonderful and fascinating reminder of the awesome power of nature.  So much has been learned about the nature of volcanoes by studying the activity there...humbling gratitude given to those who sacrificed their lives in the 1980 eruption in the pursuit of that study.

Nisqually Deer

Another work from a photo taken at Nisqually Wildlife Refuge in Washington:

"Nisqually Deer."  Pastel, 12" x 9"