I'm ready for my closeup now (painting the geometry of it)

I break all the rules on crab color with these red crabs. I like red and the blue green feels cool and that's what I know about painting. (red and turquoise) I do know something about design. Fine design has recognizable geometry. Red crab or blue the geometry of the thing has to be sound. If it is all else can be forgiven. I painted on this with my camcorder running, and then I painted on it some more. I had a sandwich a little later and then I painted on it some more. After a while I painted it some more and then I signed my name to it when I liked it. Acrylic on Canvas 16"X16". You can buy this painting directly from the artist for $195.

1 2 3 4 (on painting by the numbers)(SOLD)

In a phone conversation someone said to me "Just the color".

Just the color. I have been trying to achieve that. It sound easy doesn't it. The which color and where is the ghost in the machine. I am trying to use brushes like pens. I found myself holding a pencil like a brush. We've all been there. Acrylic on canvas 12"X16" and photo shop sketch. (SOLD)

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY I'M TALKING TO YOU(SOLD)

On painting with confrontation. This was a fun paint. Ok, here's today's true story. I caught a crab while fishing for trout. An obvious sign that I was working the lure too slow. I hooked him in the front left claw. Growing up in South Dakota did little to equip me with the knowledge of handling live blue crabs. He got me! **SON OF A BlueCrab##@! As I slung my hand around wildly to get it loose I managed to remove the hook and his left claw. Screw this. I returned him to the canal and studied the severed claw very carefully.

After a while it started to smell bad, so then I put it in the garbage........and then a little while later I painted this, and then I made a sandwich. Acrylic on canvas 24"X24" (SOLD)

Saturday Tease (painting with envy)

For the brave but not so brave. Wait near an intersection. Best to even the odds and try to catch him in the heavy sand near the gate. On saturday morning the tease would appear out of the crowds dressed in white. His weekend pastime was toro le taunte . Everyone laughed in quiet terror as he dodged in and touched the horn. Everyone smiled in commonality at his bravery. Everyone is happy. Just inside the gate death awaits.....the bull has picked a beautiful day to die! Acrylic on canvas 12"X16". Buy this painting for $130.00 or take your own trip to Spain.

Crouching Rooster (Hidden Puppy)

Painting the unpaintable (Hidden Puppy) Go away Mean Kitty. Rather than looking for the puppy, just say "Come on Boy....." wait.... He may scare away Crouching Rooster. Acrylic on panel. 6"X8" NFS

mug and flowers (painting with loathing)nfs

I started this painting yesterday with freshly picked hybiscus. This morning the flowers were dead dead. The problem began yesterday when I was looking for my shoe. I often rearranged my studio in attempts to find stuff. The act of looking for my shoe is not unlike a treasure hunt but for the treasure. On other ocassions a voyage of discovery into the past, and then there's the stuff nobody should have to touch. Dang...There it is, stupid shoe. .......Dang.I moved the stuff I had been painting. Still life means the stuff doesn't move around while you paint them. A real no no for still life painter's. Everything was different and the flowers were, you know, dead. I winged it, all the while loathing the flowers in their withered repose and new shadows. Acrylic on canvas. 16"X12 (GOOD LUCK TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM)

I blame myself (SOLD)

The photo does not do the painting justice. too much flash. Another few hours with washes and bob ross clouds. I think it wise to set this aside and move on.
I felt I should slow down on this painting. It just seems like I ignore it and attack it in short bursts. The house probably has 9 coats of paint. pretty much oxide red. the sky has changed colors about 6 times. I had some great clouds that resembled potatos. The green area has only about 3 to 6 coats of paint. I scraped off paint a couple of times. I read in an artblog today "if you can't paint, paint big." People like that. this painting is definitely lowercase. all the way. My camera caught this at 35 miles per hour. I don't know how I have missed this beautiful little red cottage. I doubt that it will be around long. I will look for it now on my trips back and forth along North Carolina Highway 12, the beachroad. When it meets the wrecking ball it may be replaced by a 12 bedroom 14 bath McMansion. Glad I caught it.

Check out this artblog. Its a riot. http://onpainting.wordpress.com/

Acrylic on canvas 18"X36. (SOLD)Thanks Debbie from Richmond. I hope you like the painting. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Well Just Because

More of those shore birds making a living. Acrylic on linen 9"X12". You can buy this painting directly from the artist for $75.00

Debbie's foal

Debbie is an internet friend. her blog is on the bottom of the page. see the foal there. This painting is kicking my but. lots of hours. some progress. I am down to 40 layers of paint on poor debbie's face. The good new's is she lost 20 pounds, but I can't finish the face. I tried a cap and that didn't help. how can an area 1" X1" be so tough. Acrylic on canvas 16"X18"
this painting is no longer available.

BANG BANG (painting with remiss)

Two bucks by the lake. Take careful aim. Do not miss. Your bullet may ric-o-che, and kill somebody! Take a deep breath and say goodnight. Acrylic on canvas 36"X24".This painting is no longer available.

State Bird

South Dakota invites "out of state" hunters to come hunt their state bird. Every year the bird literaly runs for its life. Can we discuss open season on the cardinal. I have fond memories of shotgun blasts blowing these beautiful birds out of a red morning sky. The ring neck pheasant was imported to the great plains from China. Acrylic on Canvas 18"X18"

Round (SOLD)

This is a familiar scene for me. I guess I have painted this house in a variety of ways maybe 5 times. I should be tired of it. But this is another scene along North Carolina Highway 12 ( the beachroad) Acrylic on canvas 12"X30". (SOLD)

Mile Post 3.5 (Donation)

Just over this mound of sand lies the entire Atlantic Ocean. Its awesome. I moved the power pole to a more prominent position in the painting. It's shadow showed up on the roof, and meanwhile, another scene is happening out there, somewhere along North Carolina Highway 12 ( the beachroad). Acrylic on canvas 12"X18" I donated this painting to the Dare County Arts Council. $150.00 (I hope the new owner enjoys it as much as I did.)

Clinton's Cow (SOLD)

I couldn't call her 7211. This girl brings back a lot of memories. My uncle Clinton Nilson and his son Craig operate a dairy farm. Clinton is probably 80. He jokes that if life and death are just, then he will die with a teat in his hand. (pronounced "tit)" Dairy farmer humor. Acrylic on canvas. 24"X24" (SOLD)

Broken bicycles

Old broken bicycles out in the rain. I have wanted to paint this building but it seemed a bit too much going on out front. More than what I am showing now, but less than July 4th. Acrylic on Canvas 16"X20" $275.00+S&H

The Grey House (SOLD)

I did this painting in Nov. 2007, and just now posting what was a page element. 18"X22" Acrylic on Canvas (SOLD)

Rooster in Bamboo

Rooster in bamboo. 5.5"X8" Oil on panel Sold!

SPF100

I started this painting over trying for one good toenail. What if it gets out that I am painting women's toenails up here? Oil on panel 6"X6" NFS