Zinnias are flowers of endurance. I like their style, bright and joyful in the face of searing summer heat. Because not much stops a zinnia, they were my flower of choice in my childhood gardening days. I couldn’t wait to see what colors the flower packets produced. This painting is a homage to simple pleasures. […]
Category: Fresh off the easel
Blue Moon
Growing up on the Kansas prairie strongly influenced my love of nature. Here it is so dark that the moon takes center stage amid a canopy of stars, inspiring wishes in the hushed silence. It inspired a new series of minimal moons featuring an orb of heavy stone on canvas molded with organic grain to […]
Anchorite Crosses
In the ancient faith, an anchoress retired from the world to lead a prayer-focused life. She took a vow of place, promising to dwell alone in a cell of solitude and prayer. Anchoress Julian of Norwich was such as person. She received visions that even in tribulation, all shall be well, all shall be well, […]
New Pieces at Kansas Earth & Sky Candle Company
If spring cleaning bites you with the decorating bug, please drop by the Kansas Earth and Sky Candle Company in Ellinwood for a new flower power painting lovingly made with earth materials. […]
The Prairie Hill
It is a misnomer that the prairie is as flat as a pancake, for there are some really lovely hills undulating like slow green waves. Mysterious places where I imagine many a traveler has stopped to listen to the wind and marvel vast expanse of what lies ahead. Created with stone, embedded grain, rust, paint […]
Burning the Flint Hills
In the spring, plains ranchers burn off last year’s tall grass to clear the pasture, in doing so the Earth releases the old and makes way for something new. Within days, bright growth rises above the charred earth and the world grows again. Created with stone, embedded Kansas grain, tarry earth pigments, rust and paint. […]
Running Grass
This piece celebrates the shortgrass prairie. The root system of prairie plants are deep. Often with more biomass below than above, they preserve the soil, and in doing so, nature reminds us of the importance of inner strength. Made with stone texture and colored with earth pigments, iron, acrylic and the fresh ash of Eastern […]
An American Quilt
I’m excited to show a collection of autumn earthy works with ceramic artist Barbara Jo Stevens beginning October 19 at the Hays Arts Council. Here’s a preview of one of my newest pieces, An American Quilt. This 13 section painting is my take on an American quilt, a quintessential staple of the pioneering life. My grandmother […]
When the Grass Changes
If you ask me what the prairie’s most magical season is, I’d tell you it’s the onset of autumn. The time when the earth burns off an abundance of energy before resting. A grand opus to growth. And for a glimpse, we are surrounded by that majesty. Tall Indian Grass inked in deep russet. Families […]
Lughnasadh
The Celtic Wheel of the Year focuses on the change seasons. It is a reminder to pause and take stock of our life. The cross-quarter of late summer is Lughnasadh, a celebration of the early grain harvest. It is the first Gaelic harvest festival, a reminder that small things well nurtured mature into great things. […]
