I haven’t done a purely botanical painting in ages. I think the last one I did was of Fringed Polygala back in 1999! I’m always painting plants as backgrounds for insects and birds, so they aren’t foreign; they just haven’t been … Continued
This flamingo painting is based on photos I took at the fantastic Toledo Zoo. I’ve been going there for more than 20 years. My second trip there was probably the most memorable. I was living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the time … Continued
The Numata Longwing Butterfly is native to most of South America. Its yellows, orange and black contrast really well with the dark greens of the leaf and background on this painting. Macro views of butterflies take a long time to … Continued
It’s been about 18 years since I last painted a butterfly. At that time I created several to decorate our infant daughter’s bedroom. I used to paint them life-sized, but these magnified views posed more of a challenge. Those tiny facets on the wings took a long time to … Continued
This painting of a Black-and-white Warbler was based on photos I took at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area in Ohio. I think the first one I remember seeing was at Shaker Lakes in the Cleveland area. In my mind I thought … Continued
I rendered a bunch of Indigo Buntings in a previous painting but had never done a painting with one as the main subject. Last spring I captured many serviceable, close photos of a cooperative male that came to our yard in the spring. Unfortunately, … Continued
Flamingos are spectacular, but strange. This sketch is from photos I took at the fantastic Toledo Zoo.
Magnolia warblers make for beautiful subjects. I’ll never tire of looking at them. This sketch is from photos at Magee Marsh in northern Ohio. That was a quick sketch of a pose you seldom see drawn. Now that I’ve stepped … Continued
Here’s another sketch from photos I took at the Hershey Gardens’ Butterfly House. I look forward to painting it! This butterfly is native to most of South America.
Sandhill cranes are gorgeous birds, and their eyes are almost hypnotic. In between trips and a crazy work schedule I was in a hurry to get something painted, so I went with a quick and simple portrait. I got great photo … Continued