Time To Live The Dream

Alaska...

My plan is simple.   I will get into my rusty 1997 Ford F-150 pickup, packed with supplies, towing my 25 year old popup camper and begin the drive from Upstate NY where I live to Alaska; a distance of some 4,500 miles.  Welcome to the road-trip of a lifetime! 

For over a decade, my mind has wandered over the possibility of a project like this.  Was it truly something I truly wanted to do?  Was it realistic?  Was it even possible?  I doubted the feasibility.  I doubted myself!  Now though I realize, one cannot fail at something, if one does not even attempt it.  That is where I ask for your belief in me.   Recent events in my life have taught me some valuable lessons.  None more valuable than the time we have here is short.  There may not be a next time.  That is why I am doing this.  My greatest fear is laying in a hospital bed, starring at the white ceiling tiles, tubes going in and coming out of me, and have the following thought wander through my mind: “I wonder how my life would have been different if……”  

There are two thing I enjoy more than just about anything else.  One is painting, the other is Alaska.  I have been blessed on more than one occasion to see the Great Land with my own eyes.  Don’t misunderstand me.  It takes time, extremely hard work, financial discipline, and some rather creative bookkeeping shall we say to be able to swing such an endeavor while working as a special ed assistant.  But that is how much I love Alaska.  I'm willing to do anything to get back.  I honestly believe I was allowed to see that incredible place so that a tiny spark could be lit deep inside my soul.  A spark, which in time would grow into a roaring inferno of creative energy allowing me to show the world what an astonishing place Alaska is.  Over every rise in the road, around every corner, behind every tree there is an example of nature’s beauty unequaled anywhere else on earth.  I want to show that to you.

I've figured out a preliminary budget and I need to sell roughly $7,500 worth of paintings, woodworking pieces, and yard art to have a shot at going.   If you are interested in any of my pieces, please contact me. I will be pleased to speak with you.  

Follow me as we travel through the next year as we make strides towards the Great Land. It'll be one hell of a ride!

Fresh Coating

16x20 acrylic on canvas

$225
SOLD

Just something about pine trees and snow.  They're a synonymous combination.  

10 Pointers Coming Soon

18x24 Acrylic on Canvas

You know you really like your hunting stand when you have somebody paint a picture of it!!  Thanks Shaun!  Give me some tender loins if you get one. 

The Peace Tree

 "Peace Tree - Clans of the Onondaga"

16 x 20 Acrylic on Canvas

I was approached by a lady who is part Native American.  She asked if I would paint her the "peace tree" by Native American artist Oren Lyon's.  I was apprehensive to say the least.  This to me is a huge deal.  I hope I did it justice. I followed his basic design, but added touches of my own.  This is probably the most significant work I've ever done.  I consider it an incredible honor to be asked to paint this.

Some recent additions

With the return of the winter season, I have once again had those urges to do snowy cold scenes.  There's something about the way the snow drapes over the bows of a pine tree.  Something about the oranges and yellows the snow pics up from the sky on a winter evening.  Even the play of bright white and dark blue in the highlights and shadows all make me want to smear some color.

 "Snowy Pines"

9x12 on masonite

$25

SOLD

 "All Plowed Out"

$25

SOLD

 "Snowy Fields"

11x14 on canvas

$25

SOLD

 "Winter Sunset"

9x12 on masonite

$25

Available

"Silence after the snow"

6x16 on masonite

$25

SOLD

CNY Spring-Time Road

"CNY Spring time road"

$150
SOLD

The sun was nice today.  I think spring might actually happen this year...

"Froze Up Good"

"Froze Up Good" 

 Dwyer Memorial Park, Little York, NY

16x20 Acrylic on canvas

$125
Available

Anybody who grew up in the Homer/Little York/Cortland area spent at least a couple summer days splashing in the small creek that runs between Green and Little York Lakes. So many great memories of hunting for crabs, floating coke can boats, and dam building. Here is a different look at the same creek. The recent cold has the creek bound with ice but the gorgeous red caught my eye as it clashed with the brilliant white of the snow.