Notans and Black and White Sketches

Creating notans and simplified black and white sketches -before committing to a painting- help us determine if the distribution and size of dark and light masses will form a balanced and pleasing configuration. Here is were the format, composition, pathway of the viewer's eyes, and other abstractions of the painting are examined and decided. Once a notan or sketch is approved, we keep it nearby to help us stay within the mass distributions; preventing us from getting too distracted with drawing details and color.

Simple, but Crucial

Oil painting

Typically a sunset theme requires good control of color gradients and values. Oil on archival paper.

Fields at Sunset

Sunset

Another watercolor sketch.

Sunset by the Beach

Abstract Shapes

Attention to placement of abstract tones is essential to imply structure complexity.

Safely Leaving Port

Sketching with Watercolor at the Market

These sketches were executed as fast I could.

Shopper 1

Food Tasting

Volketswil in the Canton of Zürich

Volketswil at sunset. Gouache and watercolor on paper.

Volketswil. Original 8.5 x 11 in.

Implied Detail in Landscape Painting

Classic style in gouache and watercolor media.

The Bridge and The Stream

The Beauty of Landscape Art

Nature offers an endless source of inspiration for art. Watercolor and gouache on and 11.5 x 8.5 in. watercolor paper.

Foggy Day in Autumn

Farm House Still in Use

A view of an old farm.

Farm House

Albuquerque Overview

A thunderstorm at dusk. Gouache on mixed-media paper.

Between the Two Evenings

Cape Elizabeth, Maine

A serene seascape of Portland, Maine. Gouache and watercolor on mixed-media paper.

Portland Head Light