Junk Food Joe

 Acrylic  5x7 on Cradled Board   SOLD

Maybe you see a sloppy crow with his feathers a tatter, but the kids in the neighborhood love him as Junk Food Joe the Crow. He hangs out in the park waiting for a bit of ice cream cone, or a hot dog. His diet is not the best, but his heart is open and bold. He says bugs in fact do not taste like chicken. He delights the children with his low flights over their head to attract their attention. They happily share their snacks for a chance to be near him, and watch his silly antics. He likes to tease the dogs in a good natured way. But mostly he considers himself a teacher. He shows that his species is not a dark entity associated with scary witches at Halloween, but a fun loving comrade with a vice for pizza, more like his human friends than the myth of the bird.

Yellowstone Wolf

 Acrylic on Canvas Board  12x16

"The gaze of the wolf reaches into our soul," a quote by Barry Lopez noted author. Of wolf books my favorite is, "A Wolf Called Romeo," by Nick Jans. Sometimes the only way we can know the beauty of wolves is by reading about them, or painting them. You can see more of my larger paintings of wolves here.

Wolf in the Willows

 Acrylic on Canvas Board  12x16

Several years ago I visited a research park where they study wolf behavior. I was able to enter the enclosure to photograph the wolves. It was not easy to get good reference photos as we were not allowed to kneel, or sit on the ground lest the wolves see us as vulnerable and try to push us around. There was a very large pond in this habitat, and one of the wolves decided to swim across to an island and back.  As he emerged dripping wet he pushed his way through the willow growing on the bank. This is the first in a series I am working on. To see more in this series click here.

Coyote at Dawn

 Oil on Cradled Board  8x10

Coyotes are also known as "song dogs" because of the variety of yips, howls, growls and sounds they make. They have made themselves at home in our urban areas. If you want to learn more about how they live, a woman in San Francisco has an interesting blog at coyoteyipps.com. The more we know the less we fear, and come to appreciate these beautiful animals.

Puff the Raven

 Acrylic on Cradled Board  6x6

A raven can fluff out his neck feathers to show status and dominance. They also have "ears" or feathers at the top of their head that they can raise to communicate. "Pants" the feathers at the tops of their legs are more pronounced than in the common crow, and it is one way you can tell these two similar birds apart. I painted this with many layers of transparent glaze to emulate the iridescent coloring of the feathers.

Loyal Sheltie

 Oil on Board 6x6   SOLD

Have you ever woken up in the morning to find a stick on your pillow? No? Then you don't have a Shetland Sheepdog. On walks, sticks tend to follow them home hitching a ride on their velcro like under fur. At night, while you are sleeping these crafty sticks migrate their way into your bed via your sheltie's self groom. At least they don't hog the covers. The sticks I mean, the shelties take up most of the bed, AND the covers.

Little Bear Blueberry

 Oil on Board 5x7   SOLD

It seems as I paint animals I tend to make up stories about them in my head. Maybe it helps me bring out their expression, I don’t know, they just pop into my head. So I will let little Blueberry tell you his story in his own words as he told it to me.

My momma told me not to sniff on the ants because one could fly up my nose and get stuck there! But I gots to! I gots to know if they really smell like licorice like my brudder said. If they do I’m gonna eats all of dem. Many as I can find! Signed, Love, Blueberry.

 

Snowy Wolf

 Oil on Board  5x7   SOLD

I sometimes like to paint with more exacting detail like some of my favorite wildlife artists Robert Bateman and John Seerey-Lester. I was aiming at capturing the intense stare of this wild wolf, and the fluffy flakes of snow piling up on his fur.

Morning Dog Walker

 Oil on Board  5x7

My dog insists on his morning walk no matter the weather, or if I am not feeling well. He doesn't care! I have to admit once he drags me out there I really enjoy it and appreciate the still quiet of the mornings. This particular cityscape is a scene I would see on my drive to work in the mornings. Fortunately we have green spaces near by, and historic homes and gardens on our route.

Tower Raven

 Oil on Cradled Board   8x8

I was influenced to paint this while reading the book, "RavenMaster" by Chris Skaiffe. I thought it was going to be mostly about the ravens at the London Tower, but unfortunately it was mostly about his life and very little about the ravens. I'm not quite finished with it but find myself skipping large sections of it. It's not that it's a bad book, but just not my interest. I wanted to know about the ravens. None the less it prompted me to think of them again and paint this character.

Budgie Gossips

 Oil on Cradled Board   8x8   SOLD

These two look like they are up to no good. Are they sharing the latest details about their hooman care givers? Are they plotting to fly to the top of the curtain rod so they can shout orders to the family dog? Only they know, but you can bet they will make you laugh with their bold antics.

Indoor Coconut Tree

Oil on Cradled Board   6x6

This was a coconut palm we grew indoors. I worked as an interior landscaper for many years in this amazing garden. The office space was like nothing you could imagine. Eventually the tree got so big it had to be cut down. It was a sad day for me.

My Budgie Can Count

 Oil on Cradled Board  6x6   SOLD

My bird can count, can you fly? An old joke, but so true that we can not underestimate the talents of such small creatures. Budgies are not "disposable pets" as I once heard them called! They are amazing, intelligent beings worthy of great care and respect. I once had the privilege of caring for a prolific talker named ironically "Whistler." 

The Howling

 Oil on Canvas    8x10

The eerie sound of wolves howling in the distance evokes ancient feelings long forgotten in the city dweller. Perhaps it is why we are drawn to such images. A relic of our past lives, when living closer to nature meant relying on these sounds to understand our surroundings. The call of the wolf is a primitive musical passage lost in the clack and din of the modern world.

Wolf on a Rock

 Oil on Cradled Board  6x6

This wolf reminds me of my dog. He likes to stand on top of the chair back and look out the window surveying his domain for danger. This alpha wolf is doing the same thing from his rock perch. Where as my dog wants to protect his pack from the mailman, this wolf is looking for intruders to his territory that might cause harm to his family

Two Finches Bookends

 Oil on Board  5x7     SOLD

These two have different ideas about where to build the nest. There is still time to decide, and if you are lucky they will end up somewhere in your backyard where you can enjoy their twittering songs.

Snow Starlings

Oil on Gessoboard   6x6    SOLD

Two Starlings braced for a winter snow storm.

Sparrow on a Rusty Fence

 Oil on Cradled Board   8x8

Sometimes just looking out the window at the right time of day provides inspiration for a painting. I love to photograph birds, and morning light is a good time to capture interesting colors. This sparrow while not the most exotic avian species still makes a good subject, especially for the urban nature lover. These cute little birds can be fun to watch, and the warm light in this painting adds to the drama of a typical day, making it a morning to appreciate nature in all it's forms.

Fledgling Sparrow

 Oil on Cradled Board  5x7    SOLD

This baby sparrow caught my eye as he perched on the telephone line as the sun was setting. Many people believe they have found orphan birds because when just out of the nest, they may appear tame and unable to fly. They are just learning, and the parents are always near keeping an eye on things. It's best to watch a baby bird before assuming it needs your rescue.

Take My Picture

 Oil on Cradled Board  6x6

This cheeky budgie demands to be the center of attention. So much personality in a little bird, even if they don't talk budgies make wonderful, lively companions. Some are more easily tamed than others as their temperament varies within individuals. My intention with this painting was to accent the complimentary colors of yellow and violet, as well tell the story of this bossy little bird.

Fall Blue Jay

 Oil on Cradled Board 8x10    SOLD

Bright blue brilliant flash of intelligence, so clever is the Blue Jay. They are known to clear a backyard bird feeder by mimicking the call of a hawk. Not mean, smart, and just trying to survive like the rest of us. I wish I had them as a regular visitor, but they seem to have many options in my neighborhood.

Sunrise Drive

 Oil on Cradled Board    8x10

This was a view most mornings on my way to work. It was one of the highlights of the day. I loved the warm colors of the building, as the sun was rising, and the unique architecture. This is a small suburban area outside of Chicago. The downtown has kept some of it's old days character. Starbucks and Panera have moved in, but there is still some small town charm left. I originally painted this digitally, but it meant so much to me that I recreated it here as an oil painting. It's the simple scenes of life that seem to stick in our memories.

City Crows

 Oil on Cradled Board  6x6     SOLD

Two crows survey the city in the early morning light. I recently read that some crows have memorized the routes of garbage trucks in their territories so they might follow behind and collect any edible scraps. Always observant crows adapt to their environments and have used this information to survive successfully.

Blue Jay "Rosie"

Acrylic on Canvas  6x6    SOLD

 A Blue Jay who loved roses.

Budgie Blue Boy

 Oil on Cradled Board   5x5

A tiny little parrot that packs the punch of a much larger bird. Ranked in the top three for talking ability. It is not true that only the males can talk.They are intelligent, friendly, interesting, bold and cheeky, easier to care for and less messy than a larger parrot.

Clever Crow

 Gouache on Paper 5x7    SOLD

Crows are not only clever, they are among the smartest of the avian species. While some seem to detest these birds and think they are mean, many more love them. I have met so many crow admirers who share stories about these special birds with me, sometimes at art shows, or because of the book I wrote, "Caw of the Wild." I like to imagine this one is looking skyward watching for hawks in attempt to keep his family safe from their surprise attack. Crows often bravely harass these bigger birds and escort them out of the area. This painting includes a white mat to fit a standard 5x7 frame.

African Grey Parrot

Oil on Cradled Board   6x6

African Grey Parrots are considered one of the smartest birds in the world. They have the ability to talk, sometimes even with an understanding of the meaning of words they say. My bird spends most of the day asking for various foods by name. Most of the time dwelling on the ones I tell him I do not have. He succeeds in putting a mental grocery list in my head, only to reject and throw the food on the ground when I finally buy it for him. It's his idea of a joke, and I fall for it every time.

 

The Sweetest Cookie

Gouache on Paper  4x5

Cookie expects to be paid for all her good deeds. Not barking at the mailman…two cookies. Not unraveling the toilet paper roll…one cookie. Looking pleadingly…one cookie. No one can resist Cookie. In fact if you buy this painting…she gets a cookie.

 

Millie the Speedbump

 Watercolor on Paper   4x5

Millie considers herself a service dog. She keeps her family from rushing around and getting all stressed by laying in the middle of the action and slowing them down like a furry speed bump. Such a valuable service is not always appreciated! Nevertheless she persists.

Jake the Scholar

 Watercolor on Paper  4x5

Jake is a serious student, and smarter than most. He graduated puppy class and then went on to earn his canine good citizen top of his class. Today he is a therapy dog brightening the days of senior citizens in his home town. Never a slouch he received highest AKC honors of THDX…therapy dog excellent! His alphabet soup of titles to his family spells L O V E. And that he is.

Bernie the Lovable Pest

 Gouache on Paper  4x5

Bennie weighs over 85 pounds and doesn’t understand why guests to his home run the other way or brace themselves in their chair when they see him coming. He is sweet enough, but with a head like a bowling ball he is not exactly the lap dog he thinks he is.  His family thinks he is amazing for the way he can shovel the snow from sidewalks when looking for his favorite lost ball.

Stan the Gossip

 Gouache on Paper   4x5

This is Stan. Some say he likes to gossip, but he thinks of it as a public service. He keeps his ear flapping in the wind in search of a news bomb. Then he passes the important info to his canine buddies with his flapping tongue. Everyone in the neighborhood should know where the squirrels are hiding!

Not Scared of Heights

Oil on Canvas 8x10

 A bear stands a top his lookout point surveying his vast kingdom.

Endangered Mexican Grey Wolf

 Oil on Cradled Board  8x10     SOLD

This painting is from a photo I took of a Mexican Gray Wolf. I have known this wolf for several years. He lives in a zoological park where he is part of a breeding program as these wolves are endangered in the wild. On this particular day there was a snow storm, and I was literally one of a handful of souls who braved the weather. I will never forget the feeling of being alone with these wolves. There wasn't another human anywhere near, and the only sound was the squeaking of my boots on the snow, and the flakes as they hit my hooded jacket.