Snow, Shovels and Leonardo DaVinci

February oil/canvas 16x12x.5 Snow Shovels are common winter accessories here in northeast Ohio. This small painting was a class challenge, the challenge being a painting inspired by 1) cold 2) containing two elements 3) the study of relationships...one element to the other. So.......the relationship between the blade of the shovel and the small mound of snow in front is the result of the challenge. Relationships are everything. It was indeed Leonardo DaVinci who said, "Realize that everything connects to everything else".

Recalling Pinehurst

Recalling Pinehurst oil/canvas 8 x 8 x .5 Our travels have been punctuated with lovely fragrances! Hikes along the California coastline were abundant with sages and wild grasses. The lush, moist air in Virginia held onto scents that filled us up spiritually. And....North Carolina.....ah....the pine scents that rush up to you as you exit your car.....that first trip to Pinehurst will be tucked into my olfactory memory forever. I adore these giant cones from the longleaf pines...in fact, I revere them. We collected the cones on hikes every year and displayed them during the holiday season. We also pitched them into flower beds to make them more interesting. I consider these cones to be objets d'art.....simple yet complex, enduring and appreciated in so many ways.

Recycling and P. R. Miller

OIL/CANVAS 20 X 16 X 1.5 P.R. Miller haslong been a fixture in the Akron, Ohio art scene. He is, admittedly, eccentric and calls himself The Grizzled Wizard. And he is quite a character. Many years ago, he posed for our local art group for, I believe, three sessions...that was 2007. Recently, I unearthed this painting from my archives. While I still enjoyed the likeness, the pose and the painterly quality, I was highly disturbed by the background. Texture, texture, too much texture everywhere! So....taking brush to hand, I gave the background a new sparse look. While I am happy with the improvement, it is definitely not the way I would approach the subject at this moment in 2021. And, yet.....I cannot help but think that this newer treatment is appropriate for P.R. Miller, the ultimate and foresightful recycler!