R.I.P.

When you meet all the animals whose portraits you paint, sometimes they die. And you learn about it. Most of them have lived long and well-cared for lives, but not all. When I learn another has passed, it suddenly makes them seem more real than ever. The most recent to pass was Rudi Valentino. He […]

Art Lover: Indah Swinging

This short video is an edited GoPro time-lapse shot as I painted INDAH DUSTED this last summer. I met Indah in 2015 and again in 2016 at the Houston Zoo. She was eleven then, breeding age. Since all her fellow orangutans in Houston were Bornean, Indah moved to Sacramento where she will hopefully find a […]

Art Lover Video: Stephanie & Arusi

Once a month I make an Art Lover video that takes one painting from meeting the animal through the finished product. This is the first that has incorporated a little time lapse video. My intent is to introduce my animal subject and show the bones of my process. And have it be fun, engaging & […]

Wild about Elephants

The more I paint elephants, the more I love them. Here are Thai and Simunye, just finished. Measuring 48×48, each portrait is close to actual size. Thai is a 50-year-old Asian male and Simunye a 20-year-old African female. They are so different: their skin, ears, foreheads, their texture and coloring. They may be the most […]