Oregon Grape Spring Flowers

8x10        Oil             $125

I've just completed these two paintings for an upcoming exhibit at Champoeg State Park in Oregon. My art guild (North Clackamas Arts Guild) has been invited to show paintings pertaining to Oregon's landscape, and  state history. The exhibit will be held June 5, 6, 2010.

The Oregon Grape plant is the State Flower. It grows abundantly in the Willamette Valley, where I live. The berries are edible. But, I've tasted them and would have to be very hungry to enjoy them!

Oregon Grape Fall Berries

8x10        Oil       $125

Portchester Castle, Hampshire, England

5

                 5x7               Oil                    $125

Every so often I get nostalgic for my homeland. I was in that mood when I completed a series of castle miniatures (not technically-but small). This is my favorite, perhaps because I love this place. It's close to where I grew up and is steeped in history. Though not much more than a shell, there is a  room where prisoners were held. The walls are covered in graffiti, mostly in French and dating to hundreds of years ago. The Romans built well, and all the perimeter walls are standing. Beyond this gate is the Solent, where kings and queens launched their galleons to continue the national pastime - fighting the French and Spanish.

There are four paintings in this series. If you'd like to see the others, email me ( the address is at the bottom of my bio on the right). All of them have a black background, with a barely detectable purplish glaze.