This painting is for sale at my Etsy store!
If only I had an anvil like this I would build myself a FORGE! I am looking forward to the day I get my own anvil. It is especially important to me as an object to paint because of work ethic it symbolizes to me. This one is from the McCarthy Museum and I look forward to continuing with this series, the artifact series. There is a beautiful Art Deco cash register that inspires me to paint. Maybe there will be a later painting of it. What is it about things from the past, Why are older objects more stylized. Why do Modern and Post Modern peices lack any kind of style? I feel that these oversimplified aesthetics are relying too heavily on mass appeal, while the older styles have more design value. Here is a painting dedicated to the older style and to the symbol of work ethic. Maybe I will bring back Art Nouveau and Art Deco as Neo-Art Deco-Nouveau…a revival if you will. I think it could make for some beautiful paintings…
This Year my wife and I decided to spend the entire summer in McCarthy Alaska in the heart of the Wrangell St. Elias National Park! I have a 10 acre lot on the south side of the town of McCarthy. It was fun, but since we had yet to have built a building, I spent almost all my time outside in the fresh air. Since this is a bit different than my usual life I would jump at any chance to get some time under a roof (especially this summer as we have had so much rain). I decided it would be nice to give back to the community, and get some inside time so I volunteered at the McCarthy Museum. The Museum used to be open to the public without an attendant, however due to recent objects walking off without anyone to observe their departure, the board of directors decided it was imperative that an attendant be present. I stepped up to the plate and volunteered several times this summer. I painted this from the deck between the building and rail-car which houses the collections. McCarthy and Kennecott have such rich histories although these settlements are only around 100 years old, aside from Nome, and Cordova, this is one of the oldest industrialized areas in Alaska. It is extra special due to its rich history and well preserved artifacts. It is especially interesting because the entire town shut down all at once when the Mine closed. What was once a bustling mining district became instant ghost towns. The towns of McCarthy and Kennecott became devoid of life except for a few hardy hermits, pirates, and homesteaders. Although the park has almost as many tourists and summer residents now as it had prospectors during the 20’s and 30’s, in the winter months the whole park just about shuts down except for a few hardy souls whom winter over the dark and frozen months. I love the McCarthy Museum and I enjoyed making this painting. Later in the season, I gave it away as a birthday present to the Notorious B-Mack, at his classic birthday party “The Endless BBQ.” The Endless BBQ is an awesome party held every year, this year with great music by the Grannies and an amazing performance by a lady that goes by the name of Saucy Yoda.
Back from the Wrangell St. Elias National Park. I painted some in the park this summer all plein air, as I was in the process of creating my indoor painting studio while I was there. My wife and I had the most Amazing summer, camping out, and building our little hut that will be a painting studio with a little sleeping loft. One of the best experiences we had in the park was when we hiked to the Jumbo Mine. This is the first and only time I have had the opportunity to climb up into this part of the Bonanza Ridge, to the ruins of the Jumbo Mine. Not much left of the buildings and I decided to hike to the top of the ridge. I was a little bit ahead of the others and sped quickly to the highest point under the cliffs on the ridge. With a few minutes to spare as I was waiting for the crew, I painted this painting looking back towards the Chugach Mountains. While on the ridge, I found lots of green rocks, (Chalcocite with Malachite) a whole vein up on the mountains! It feels so great to be on the top of these amazing bodies of metal. I was glad that I made it down with minimal damage to my painting. Hiking 10+ miles with a plein air kit is not too difficult, but making it successfully home with a wet oil painting is more difficult that most people might imagine, so I always sigh a breath of relief when I get home successfully with a new plein air piece.
This painting is for sale at my Etsy store!
It was a fun little excursion to Talkeetna yesterday, finally making it out of Anchorage around Noon. Stopping to pick up our friend Dani, and for some espresso, we made it to Talkeetna around 3:00 in the afternoon. We of course made it to the Denali brewery and were surprised to find very good craft brew! We took our booty down to the River and sat around a makeshift fire for several hours taking in the view here is what came of the painting effort. Too bad I started to run out of white on the third one who would think there would be so much white in Alaskan winter! at least I am finally outside again and painting!
On My last trip to Wrangell St. Elias in McCarthy, Alaska I had what I call the tripple M, the most marvelous Mcarthy experience, It was amazing. Another Super-friend has been dubbed, and the pursuit of happiness was achieved. I painted this after bringing out three large windows, with a load of stuff for next summer, riding 60 miles whithin’ the park, climbing to near 7000 feet, and drinking several liters of homebrew a night! Overall it was a very successful vacation/building trip in the national park. The last day we rode to the Nizina River and saw the breathtaking Chitistone Valley. After the near 20 mile ride we were pooped sitting around our campfire drinking a treasured bottle of homemade Pinot Noir from the vineyard Jared works at, my old time friend Mark Wacht showed up and reminded us that we said we would attend a party with him. 20 minutes later we were sitting in this tiny cabin on a lot in the Wrangells sipping rose’ wine from the Willamette Valley, swapping tall tales in McCarthy, Alaska. I painted this painting for Kyle, a new friend out there, as a hospitality present. Kyle, I hope your winter is beautiful out there. This last trip was so remarkable I am considering making new t-shirts stating “Ileft my heart in McCarthy, Alaska”
Well here is a toast to you Jim Drewry. (sp?) We couldn’t have asked for a better fish in return for this painting! So I was hanging out at the footbridge at the end of the road, and painted this but I had no way to take it back to the property safely. (a common problem for me) I decided to tip the parking lot attendant a painting. In return he invited us to a salmon dinner (copper river red salmon!!!) but we had way too much on our social plate to attend, so he simply gave us dinner instead! What a great guy! Maria excellently cooked the fish over the open campfire and it was delish. Perfectly roasted, way to go M! It was one of those things that made our last trip truly grand! Best regards to Jim and everyone in McCarthy as I really enjoyed your company and fellowship! I look forward to August when I will finally return to my home(campsite on my lot) in the park. I hope you stay tuned as I will be putting new work up from my trip to the Kenai for the Fourth! 
hello all, I recently returned from my last trip to the Wrangell St. Elias National Park(McCarthy Side) and I grabbed my paintings from my last trip out there. I have a lot in the university heights subdivision on the Dan Creek road behind McCarthy. I went up to the top of Bonanza peak three weeks ago with my buddy Seamus and my favorite exchange student(FES) Hanif. I dragged them up the mountain with me and it was a nine hour grueling ascent, after making these guys hang out improving my lot out there. I did these two paintings on the hike, the first is from the old mining transfer station for the tramway, and the second is from the ridge-line of Bonanza peak. There was only one injury as Seamus was subjected to a sprained ankle… bumdilly. As for the most recent trip I have another work to show you but will have to wait for a few days as I left it with Jim Drewry the parking lot attendant as a tip. My buddy Mudhole Bailey took a pic of it and I will receive that photo tomorrow evening, so stay tuned to see it… I painted today too, so look for a nice coastal trail piece looking at downtown Anchorage…
