Fruited Almond Bread

Here is the first painting of 2009, depicting a Fruited Almond Holiday Loaf, the beautiful creation of Alison and Dan at Rise and Shine Bakery in Anchorage. It was really hard not to eat it before the painting was finished. It smelled yummy, looked wonderful, and tasted so good when I was all done.

You can have a look Alison and Dan's photo album to see more images of them and their breads. Alison is also a driving force behind the Farmer's Market and Local Foods movement in Anchorage. Thanks to her and her farmer colleagues, I have access to great vegetables for painting and eating, and she provides recipes too!

8" x 10" oil on linen panel
SOLD

Painted Egg

This is the last painting I did in 2008. I was looking forward to new beginnings, thus the happy little egg!

6" x 8" oil on linen panel

To purchase, contact Fireweed Gallery

While I was working on this piece I had a visit from Jill Shepherd, her daughter, her 2 granddaughters, and her great granddaughter. Four generations! Talk about new beginnings! Five fantastic Alaskan women. Here they are at Charlie's Club 25. Thanks, Jill for sending along this picture!

Insulator with Railroad Hardware and Raven

Here is a rare red insulator my friend Paul bought in an antique shop in Bisbee, Arizona. While I was painting this piece (one of my demonstrations at Charlie's Club 25 Cafe Gallery) a gentleman offered an explanation for why insulators were made in different colors. Seems the telegraph people were trying to find the best way to keep bees and other insects from nesting inside them (a hazard to workers) so they tried different colors to raise the internal temperature. Indeed, many of the clear insulators in my collection have the remains of insect nests inside!

I found the spike next to the rail line in Whittier, AK, and the old bolt in a pile of hardware left over from someone's campfire. They had burned some railroad ties and these things were all over the place. That was near Seward, AK.

The raven was a gift from my friend Jessica, years ago. I like him a lot, and he turns up in a lot of my work. He is the ultimate observer, as Edgar Allen Poe knew so well. Ravens are smart, wary, and comical. I always figure they know stuff.

8" x 10" oil on linen panel

To purchase, contact 2 Friends Gallery
907 868 4648