"Starboard Tack" oil marinescape painting

Sailboats are a pretty common sight where we live. In fact Leigh's husband Jim builds them and works on them in his boat shop right next to the Knowles studio. This one is heading out for some day sailing up on Orcas Island in the San Juans.
7x5 oil on canvas panel. sold

"Cows on Whidbey Island" oil landscape painting

I am going to post warm-up paintings that have been accumulating in the studio for the next several days. Between larger work I like to keep my hand in tune by doing smaller studies from life or from photos. This one is from a photo we took on Whidbey Island last summer.
10x6 oil on panel  sold

"The Rendezvous" Seattle city scenes, oil cityscape painting

I couldn't help attempting to capture this story on canvas. It is based on one of those photos "shot from the hip" when I was lurking around in the city for reference shots. I can't remember the exact location but I was walking towards the Art Institute to meet up with my son Maury.
12x12 oil on canvas sold

"Marina Boats" oil marine landscape

I found these boats at our local marina in Poulsbo, Washington. I was drawn to the great reflection of the overcast sky moving in to a clear day and the contrasts that created in the water with the white boats. These boats are parked near the port office which is a floating "office boat" I think that would be a great job! ...Except that I would spend too much time fishing.....or painting the scenery!.

9x12 oil on oil proof textured paper mounted to gator board (works for me!..=])   sold


I have included the under-painting for this work.....For awhile now I have been drawing my compositions with a "drawing brush" and then working out values with a brush using the same paint.

"Family Trio" Seattle City scenes, figurative oil painting

I was captivated by this little girl, so excited to be visiting the city even though it was raining cats and dogs...I tried to convey an intimate moment between this family surrounded by the frenzied activity and noise of the city.
12x12 oil on canvas.sold

"Trumpeter fields of Whatcom county" landscape oil painting

8x6 warm up painting from images taken on the way home from Harrison Hot Springs. The Trumpeter Swans are amazing!... We saw them close up too....I have more paintings coming from this series........
8x6 oil on panel  sold

"Into The Woods" figurative oil painting,

I love it when I am able to rescue a painting!!...Awhile back I worked on several paintings of my friend Alexa. I felt only one of them was good enough to post on this blog......but there was one I didn't want to give up on because I liked the back ground........so I set it aside and when the opportunity came up to enter a juried show in Port Townsend at the Northwind Art Center......I pulled it out and decided to rework the figure. The theme of the show is "Into the Woods" and I thought that this painting would be perfect if I could resolve the problems. In the original painting Alexa was facing forward. Everything was rendered well except for her face...Try as I would, I could not get the feel of her expression and the overall "story"of the painting to say what I wanted .....Sometimes you just have to get a cup of coffee and sit back and study your options when resolving issues in a composition.....and remember you are the artist!.....I finally decided to turn her around, going "into the woods".....Also, I changed the color of her jacket from dark to light, enhancing the contrast in that area.....Did I save the painting?... What do you think?
11x14 oil on canvas

"Umbrella Girl" figurative, cityscape

As you can see.....it's still winter in Seattle!.....And that means rain...and lots of it!...This family was visiting Pike Place Market and having a grand time despite the rain...The little girl was excited to get on with exploring the city!
6x8 oil on panel.....sold