Early October presents summer weather tinged with the fire of early fall colors. Perfect weather for a family outing. It was late afternoon and the scene was almost magical. What intrigued me was the family looking out over the river from the bridge. Father, mother, and daughter each expressed their personality just by their stance. A passerby walking his dog across the span finished off the picture. 

The fish may not be biting much, but you can't beat the sun and surf the end of May. Part of the fun of being there to paint the scene is the new friends you make—including the fisherman himself!

The day is almost done, the light is fading, but still the last rays of the setting sun paint the magnificent Grand Canyon with unforgettable color. It is amazing how an ancient catastrophe can create such a breathtaking monument to beauty and power. And early evening is one of the best times to reflect on what it all means.

Every day on my way to work I pass this scene in all its seasonal variations. Because it presents itself along a power line clearcut, you might miss it. If you’re driving, it flashes by, and even if you look you might see just the towers and electrical lines. Beauty is often what we choose to look at. At this point I often don’t even notice the visual blight—just the rolling hills and lush vegetation, painted a variety of colors by changing angle of the sun.

Legend has it that Pilate--the Roman official who turned Jesus over to be crucified—is buried here. There are also reports that a dragon lived in the region during the late Medieval period.

Along the Place de la Concorde not far from the Obelisk of Luxor that Napoleon brought to Paris from his Egyptian campaign are fountains like this one. And thousands of people trying to capture their beauty on a sunny day. It’s the light that makes it speak to the soul.

s dear friends guided us through familiar sights near their home, they took us to Bayonne, France, where the bayonet was invented. But the scene does not feel like violence. Morning sunlight paints thick walls centuries old with warm light, while people like this woman enjoy a solitary stroll. In a world often at war, the human soul can still enjoy peace in the Creator’s light. 

Late afternoon, from the pier on Pinckney Island, just across the Intracoastal Waterway from Hilton Head Island. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney was a prominent SC lawyer, signer of the U.S. Constitution, and a commander in the Revolutionary War. Today the wildlife refuge speaks peace, not war--with life and beauty from the Creator.

Early spring, budding with new life, paints the landscape with soft greens and browns and makes it the perfect retreat for human relationships—like mother and child—to grow and to flourish. Beauty of color, beauty of committed love, beauty of young life full of promise. 

Wherever you find piers jutting out into the ocean, you find fishermen going after the saltwater harvest. Some fish to live and some live to fish—at least whenever they can break away from work. Sparkling water, warm salt air, human skill, and fish that do not want to be caught all combine for an experience that many go back time and time again to enjoy. A painting lets you visit even when you are thousands of miles away. And there’s no clean up afterwards.

Spring is on, earth's landscapes awash with soft greens.  The downtown park in Greenville is also springing to life with couples and families taking advantage of warm evenings and lengthening days. There's something almost magical about that last hour before dusk. The scene changes quickly, but a rapid plein air painting can capture the essence of it.  A few hours more in the studio brings memory into focus on canvas.

Palms