Again, I do occasionally paint other genres. Portraits can be quite entertaining, and I will wander in that direction if it feels intriguing. So again, not a one-trick pony, I just have a solid preference. The pic above was taken while I was painting an in-progress piece of a girl looking at her phone. An accurate portrayal. And yes, sometimes I paint upside down; it can help you see things differently. But what I really enjoyed was doing the hair. You can see the beginning of the texture in the hair on the left. (Just zoom in if you are on your phone.) Unique, not just hair but a textural tapestry. That made it fun for me. It is these little things that I enjoy the most, otherwise...meh. Back to my brushes.  

"Life is a great tapestry.  The individual is only an insignificant thread in an immense and miraculous pattern."  - Albert Einstein

A while back, my eldest requested some flower paintings for their home. As you well know, flowers aren’t really my area of interest (except conceptually, of course). When my grandmother died, I went to her home and dug up some of her iris bulbs to put in my garden. Along with echinacea, daylilies, and hollyhocks (my personal favorite), I had plenty of flowers in my backyard from which to choose. I only own a couple of other items that were Grammy’s, but her birdbath sits outside my studio window and provides great entertainment for me while I paint.
 
My eldest’s only requirement was that the paintings had to be a certain size, which was quite small—perfect, because I didn’t want to spend much time on them. I thought they turned out all right and she loves them. Win-win.
 
I share this to point out that artists paint all kinds of things that you never expect or know about. Oscar Wilde said “Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.” I believe every subject painted is a portrait of the artist, but some are more accurate than others.
 
P.S. I climbed the fence at Grammy’s house and lost my balance, cutting the back of my leg open from the back of my knee to my ankle on the chain link. I also found out I was allergic to the tetanus vaccine. That was some day. Back to my brushes.

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"I believe that life is chaotic, a jumble of accidents, ambitions, misconceptions, bold intentions, lazy happenstances, and unintended consequences."  - Steve Jobs

I am so gratified to be included as a finalist in this year's The Best of Watercolor: Splash 27 presented by Artists Magazine and American Artist (Golden Peak Media). This painting took way too long to complete, but I am very pleased with the result. The digital version of the magazine will be released on the 17th of June and the print edition will be available shortly. Pick up your copy soon!  Back to my brushes.  

"It does not matter how slow you go as long as you do not stop." - Confucius

I'm pleased to share that my painting Remnants of Enchantment has been awarded the Celia Clark Memorial Award at Watercolor USA 2026.  My thanks to the judges, George A. Spiva Center for the Arts, the Watercolor Honor Society, the Springfield Art Museum and all those that make this exhibition possible.  (You can also see this in The Best of Watercolor: Splash 27 published by Artists Magazine and American Artist at bookstores in July!) 

I'll spend a moment sharing some insights about this work. If you saw my article in the spring issue of Watercolor Artist, or saw the painting Ekman's Enchantment in Kenosha or an earlier blog post, you might recognize the composition. Yes, the proof of concept for this painting was Ekman's Enchantment. And after seeing this I believe you will understand why I needed a POC. I think this painting is enjoyable on its own, but its inspiration might surprise you because really it is about... fluid mechanics. Although after reading the narrative at WUSA, you will understand the ghostly quality of the water and its movement and how this childhood experience hit my every nerve. (I'll add the narrative after the exhibition opens at some point). I've stated in the documentary section of my blog some time ago about how, as a child, I would copy my uncle's chemistry book formulas for fun because I thought they were lyrical and beautiful. (Yeah, my cousins weren't too happy about that at the time.) I admit those experiences have stayed with me. So when I want to put formulas to paper now, this is how I do it. I feel it is a form easily experienced and understood; and in this particular painting it encompasses the cold calculations of fluid mechanics and the warm, ghostly presence of kindred spirits all in a single frame.  

Again, the brutal pain to my arm left me in no way capable of lifting a brush for the following four months after completing it, which is the same experience I had with Twenty Thousand Stones.  I will have to paint something else for a while and continue this series another time. Or not. Back to my brushes.  

"Be water, my friend." - Bruce Lee

My painting titled Seeking Balance received the Marsha Pratt Memorial Award at the Mid-Southern Watercolorists 56th Annual Juried Exhibition on display til May 1st, 2026 at the William F. Laman Library in North Little Rock. My thanks to the jurist, Nan Rumpf, the volunteers and board of the Mid Southern Watercolorists, and the Laman Library staff.  

At a young age my father introduced me to the writings of Martin Gardner which embedded in me an appreciation of probabilities, symbols, and yes - magic.  Not unlike the game hide-and-seek, I endeavor to integrate magic into all my paintings, but especially this series of maps that would have intrigued my father. He was a mathematician and military man who enjoyed both puzzles and spy novels.  Naturally I seek an artistic bond he would appreciate.  I am confident that he would have enthusiastically deciphered the arrangements and symbols in this map and found enjoyment in ascertaining the hidden destination. Back to my brushes.  

"When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions."  - William Shakespeare 

My thanks to Anne Hevener and all the staff at Watercolor Artist Magazine for giving me the opportunity to share part of my process when creating watercolors.  You can find the article under the Creativity Workshop header in the Spring 2026 issue.  Also, many thanks to those that kept these POCs so I would have the visuals for the article! (I barely finished the bird POC before it was tagged by someone and that person was happy to see it published.) The fact I usually set a match to these left me in a bit of a bind as to choice, but I was pleased to be able to share these lesser known paintings and stories. (The story for Ekman’s Enchantment can be found in a previous post.) But there's more! Having one of my favorite paintings Hashtag Harmony in the Society Showcase “The Best Paintings of 2025” was quite a treat for me as a full page image.  Asked to write a paragraph about how I painted it, instead of the narrative about harmony, was a twist for me because I am all about the story.  Even simplified to an almost graphic representation, it still took me almost four months to paint.  I’m serious when I tell y’all I am the slowest painter. You can pick up a copy at your local Barnes and Noble Bookstore or ArtistsNetwork.com.  Back to my brushes.  

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"If a story is in you, it has to come out."  - William Faulkner

Hope you are experiencing joy this first day of 2026 and not a headache. I shall pick up my brushes once again after a four-month break. I have something in mind, we shall see if it works out, but I'm afraid it will take awhile. Who was it who wrote "Nature doesn't rush.  Nor shall I. "? My mantra it seems.  

To backtrack just for fun, I am posting a pic of the puzzle we completed while celebrating the winter holidays. Seven adults and two kids and we all participated at one point or another. Everyone commented on the wonderful quality of this puzzle and the subject matter. I picked this up at my local Barnes and Noble bookstore. I'm sorry I didn't write down who made it, but when finished we take it apart after taking a pic and then donate locally.  I'm sure you could still find it if you're interested.  Only 500 pieces so it goes rather quickly.  Back to my brushes.  
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"When I find myself in the company of scientists, I feel like a shabby curate who has strayed by mistake into a room full of dukes." - W. H. Auden

Wishing you all a happy holiday season. The little creation above was the result of an art challenge a long time ago. A dear friend in Virginia owns it and brings it out every year about this time. I might give this one another version this year if I can find the time. Speaking of time, I finished 238 books this year - a refuge to be sure. So this year I gift to you the recommendation of a good read: The Art Spy by Michelle Young. May you enjoy it on the cold days ahead, wrapped warmly in your favorite blanket with your favorite drink beside you.  

"To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life" - W. Somerset Maugham

I hope everyone enjoyed a good meal and time with their loved ones on Thanksgiving this year. As usual, we sat around a table to talk and do a puzzle. Rules are that you can come and go at will and someone else will gladly take your spot. This year I got to choose the puzzle and picked one I thought the youngest might enjoy. They did! But now the darkest days are ahead, so I look forward to the turning point of the winter solstice when sunlight will start staying longer and longer. Back to my brushes.  

"I seldom use it myself, sir.  It promotes rust." - Robby the Robot