Sunset in the tropics can be a magical time. The colors and subject matter can never be exactly replicated. The detailed fronds of the palm trees silhouetted against the apricot sky along with a single figure walking along the beach is an image most people can identify with.

Water and work are an essential part of Vietnamese culture…especially in the Mekong Delta. In this painting a woman is paddling a round woven boat filled with greens to the market. Women are hard workers and you can see the effort that is required for her to paddle. Her dress is also very typical…everything from her hat to her brightly colored clothes….and who needs shoes? Her flexibility is also amazing. To sit in that position working for long periods of time is something Western culture is not familiar with.

I painted this miniature when I was in Vietnam in 2010. Flowers are a major export for the country. They are grown mostly in the Central Highlands. This image is from a city called DaLat. The painting captures a moment of a girl hauling a woven basket of flowers to market. This iconic cone shaped hat is ubiquitous and quite effective in dealing with the intense tropical sun. The colored roses, in contrast to the green foliage, are a central part of the painting.

This simple black and white painting captures a thrilling moment during a race. The speed the driver is carrying into the turn is so great that his back wheel is sliding out to the side and he has to balance himself with his opposite leg. (notice the weighted shoe which is dragged for stability). The tension has to be just right…too fast and he will lose control of the motorcycle; too slow and he will lose valuable time…the razor’s edge!

This is a close-up of an un-restored Indian motorcycle engine circa the early 1900’s. It has a single piston and is belt driven (no chain). I enjoyed the simplicity of the image from an artistic perspective…lines, curves and circles for the most part. The color was also interesting and challenging. I wanted to capture the un-restored qualities, the weathering of metal and rust. It had been uncared for but was still in pretty good shape for its years.

This image is of my girlfriend’s grandfather and female companion (not her grandmother!) sitting/posing on a 1915 Harley Davidson. This portrait is interesting because it freezes a moment in time. The serious look on his face and the smile on her face…memories that would last a lifetime and more. The motorcycle itself is an engineering marvel. When painting it, I didn’t understand all the mechanical parts but ask anyone who knows and they’ll be able to tell the exact year of the motorcycle (i.e. the chain guard appeared in 1915).

I became interested in antique motorcycles, and this bright yellow Indian captured my eye…a classic. The curving fenders and the whole design are very well crafted…an example of art deco in my opinion. The contrast between the black ink line and the yellow color enliven the image. The reflections also add depth and texture to the painting. I now have a partial understanding as to the appeal of antique motorcycles.

Once again I find myself attracted to the colorful plumage of a bird. This female, set against coldness of a snowy autumn day, seems full of life ready to brave another day. Her colors are more subtle than the male’s but I was pleased with how they blended. The colorful crown, beak and observant eye all draw the observer into the painting. The texture of the bark of the limb was created with several washes and many brush strokes giving a sense of solidity for the bird to rest on.

Everyone can remember how much fun hot summers and water can be. This painting is of my girlfriend when she was 5 years old at Lodi Lake. She seems totally in the moment…feeling the water pour out of the bucket and on to her torso. I was pleased with the action/movement of the water, the surface water and the expression on her face. A moment in time that is frozen forever.

This rose grows in our backyard. I have no idea how its name originated (from the cartoon character?) The reason this variety interests me is the transition the flower goes through. When it is a bud, the colors are deep and rich….pink, red, orange. But as the bud opens and matures it turns almost white with light pink edges. I darkened the background so the flowers (as well as stems/leaves) stand out more.