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Mill City Morn
Minneapolis, nick-named “Mill City” because of it’s
grain processing, storing and distributing, has grain
silos throughout the city. These large imposing
structures make for fun painting. I painted these early
in the morning as they were catching that first orange
light. They have since been taken down. 6 x 8 in an
artist-made, gilded, traditional frame. |
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Catalina
Icon
The green Pleasure Pier (as it is known) on Catalina
Island is a favorite of artists and photographers. It's
one of those iconic structures that make for an obvious
post card painting. But I'm a sucker for that kind of
subject matter and sometimes can't resist. I painted
this one early in the AM while sipping a coffee from
Joe's cafe. (A nice way to start the day in Catalina). 6
x 8”, oil on canvas on board in a gilded
turn-of-the-Century style frame. |
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$4 a Gallon
I didn’t paint these gas tanks to make a political statement. I was
actually attracted to the colors, the style and the
setting the tanks were in. Just another example of one
of the millions of things you wouldn’t give a second
look at unless you were out driving around South
Minneapolis looking for painting subjects. 6 x 8 in an
artist-made, gilded, traditional frame. |
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Winter's Dawn
South Minneapolis has a beautiful inner city creek that
runs through it with many fine bridges that are built of
indigenous stone. Tastefully designed, they have nice
lines and a real good Arts & Crafts feel to them. This
one is located at 54th & Upton and I’ve painted it many
times, in all seasons at all times of day, never tiring
of it. 6 x 8” in a gilded frame hand carved by me. |
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Gold Medal
Highrise
These grain silos at the Minneapolis Riverfront are an
iconic symbol of Minneapolis’ roots and industry. The
city was founded on the transportation, storing and
milling of grain grown on the great Midwestern plains
then shipped by rail to Minneapolis. The silos are now
the center of the riverfront and it’s grand rebirth. 8 x
6”, oil on canvas on board, in a turn-of-the-Century
style gilded frame. |
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At the Border
I painted this in southern Arizona near the town of Arivaca
close to the Mexican border. It’s typical of the
dilapidated shacks surrounded by mesquite that you find
in that part of the country. I was attracted to the
color and character of the place and felt it would not
be there much longer. 6 x 8 in an artist-made gilded,
traditional frame. |
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Bail Bondsman
I don’t have much experience with bail bondsmen or
getting out of jail, but I do know that bail bondsmen
don’t have as cute of offices as this one. It was
surrounded by planters and the different colored lights
hitting them made it irresistible. This is in
Mississippi near Natchez. 6 x 8 in an artist-made
gilded, traditional frame. |
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Lilac Drive
In the 30’s when cars and car trips were still a
novelty, the Twin Cities had a beltway around it at the
cities’ edge that is now part of Hwy 100 or then known
as Lilac Drive. The city built picnic areas at
interchanges with Beehive BBQs and tables. People would
have lunch and watch the traffic go by as entertainment.
The remnants of these picnic areas are still there
today. 6 x 8 in an artist-made gilded, traditional
frame.
SOLD |
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Once a Prairie Home
This old, abandoned house in northern Minnesota spoke
of an older, by-gone way of life. “One large room held
an entire family”, I was told by some neighbors who saw
me painting this. The threatening sky just seemed to add
to the story. 6 x 8 in an artist-made, gilded,
traditional frame. |
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Madison County
Yes, this is one of the famous covered bridges in
Madison County, Iowa, glamorized by the book and later
the movie starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood. Most
of the bridges are well preserved but no longer in use.
They attract visitors from around the country. The thing
I remember most about this painting was almost getting
attacked by a pack of angry farm dogs. Had it not been
for a quick acting owner – who knows? 6 x 8 in an
artist-made, gilded, traditional frame.
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The Hockey House
I found this old boat house on the west end of Lake
Minnetonka in Minnesota. A large lake, it serves
sportsmen year around. This shack that sat between the
lake and an adjacent pond served as a hockey warming
house in the winter. The sight of many hockey games, I’m
sure. The early morning view at sunrise looking east
seemed to give it a nice feel. 6 x 8 in an artist-made,
gilded, traditional frame. |
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One of Ten Thousand
Minnesota is known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” and
they all add to its richness and culture; inner city
lakes, suburban lakes and wilderness lakes. This is Lake
Itasca in northern Minnesota. The river flowing from it
is the beginning of the Mississippi River. 6 x 8 in an
artist-made, gilded, traditional frame. |
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Elvis’ Place
This is the house that Elvis Presley was born and
raised in. Located in Tupelo, MS, its representative of
many of the small sharecroppers or Hurricane houses of
that period. Built by his father in the early 30’s, it
is two rooms, one behind the other. Today it is a museum
visited by fans from around the world. 6 x 8 in an
artist-made, gilded, traditional frame.
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CCC Tower
The Civilian Conservation Corps was an offshoot of
FDR’s WPA Program and New Deal. It employed young men
who did rural construction projects that ranged from
building bridges, roads, cabins, etc. that were part of
our parks and wilderness areas. The structures were of
indigenous materials and were always beautifully
designed with an Arts & Crafts feel. They are just today
being appreciated as an art form and social program.
I’ve painted many of them and plan to do more. This one
is on the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. 6 x
8 in an artist-made, gilded, traditional frame. |
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Mississippi Modern
Old Art Deco styled trailers are a favorite of mine,
particularly the ones with that forward leaning design.
It’s like they’re going nowhere fast. I found this one
in an impoverished, run down area of rural Mississippi.
It looked “modern” in comparison to it’s surroundings. 6
x 8 in an artist-made, gilded, traditional frame.
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The Petrol Shack
This old corrugated tin shack is in south Minneapolis
is the office of a wholesale gasoline station. With the
old truck along side, it felt like it was 1940…and I’m
always a sucker to paint something that feels like 1940.
6 x 8 in an artist-made, gilded, traditional frame. |
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Preservation Hall
This is what many consider to be the home of New
Orleans jazz and American jazz in general. Long a venue
and gathering place for great musicians it still has
nightly sessions featuring seasoned vets and younger
gifted musicians who will carry the torch. Never having
seen a coat of paint since the original, I believe, I
tried to capture that in this sketch. The instrument
cases over the door serve as a sign and logo and are
known the world over. 6 x 8 in an artist-made, gilded,
traditional frame. |
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