Sleepy Sun Bear, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper.

I took some great photos of this sun bear soaking up the sun on a warm winter day at the Fort Worth Zoo in Texas – what a character. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Asian Sun Bear as vulnerable because the population has declined by 35% in the past 30 years.

Mossy Melody – 2018, 14H x 20W inches unframed size, watercolors

Accepted in J. Mane Gallery Seasons 2020, exhibiting online through November.

Japanese Maple, Trask River, and January Thaw, all done in 2020 and are 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper, unframed size

Australian White Ibis, Brisbane city Botanic Gardens, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Autumn Bouquet, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Not sure how successful the effort is. Sometimes I can’t tell. It does remind me of 1970’s couch fabric! Detail images below show the different phases of work.

	phase 01		phase 02		phase03

Cumulonimbus: Montana Sunset, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on 90 lb watercolor paper. For many years I’ve wanted to try painting night skies. In July 2007, I was driving through Montana to Alberta as the setting sun bounced golden-pink hues through the already fantastic storm clouds. I pulled over and took some photos, thinking that even if they didn’t turn out, something is better than nothing. Reference photos don’t have to be perfect to bring back the awe of a particular moment; they are just a starting point. I intend to paint this with acrylics when I’m through with my soft pastel kick.

The Steeples mountain range, part of the Canadian Rockies seen from the Hwy 95 (Crows Nest) near Cranbrook BC – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on 90 lb watercolor paper

Sunflowers and an abandoned homestead in Nebraska, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on 90 lb cold pressed watercolor paper.

January Thaw 02, Dogwood along Fallowfield Road near Richmond ON – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Framed size 27H x 33W inches, white wood frame, crackle finish.
In eastern Ontario, usually about mid-January, snow melts with mild weather for 2 weeks or so. It’s a pleasant break, but winter hits with a vengeance after that and temps don’t warm up again until about mid-March.

Showcased in J. Mane Gallery “Seasons 2020” online exhibition.

Summer Forest, Tualatin Hills Nature Park, Beaverton OR – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on 90 lb watercolor paper. Phases of work are in thumbnails below. It might have been ok if left alone after phase 02, but it seemed too ordinary, so I pushed it beyond.

	phase 01		phase 02		phase03

The Angel Oak on Johns Island, South Carolina – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on 90 lb watercolor paper. The Live Oak with massive branches is estimated to be 400-500  years old. We visited during a tropical storm, so we were lucky to experience the magnificence of this tree all be ourselves.