At an early age – say around 6 years old, I learned to draw and paint by drawing and painting people. And as I got older, I had lots of people heroes, such as astronauts, presidents, musicians, celebrities and so on. I was never happy unless I captured their essence, which is much more than just getting the features right. I’ve worked from live subjects and from photos, and the key is to nail the eyes especially, as well as the most subtle of facial features in order to make the subject come alive.
Because I learned to draw famous people starting out, I was determined to make the artwork look right, but also to make the artwork look alive. This helped me transition to doing dogs and horses. Each one of them has a distinct personality too.
Labs and Handler Graphite Portrait – “Nothing Runs Like These Deeres.”
Puppy and Child Oil Portrait – “Will and Friend”
I saw this little boy holding his yellow lab puppy and painted it several years ago.
Pet Portrait Acrylic Painting – “Taylor and Her Puppy”
I saw Taylor at a field trial up near Logan Lake, British Colombia and posed her with one of the several yellow lab puppies she had.
Retriever Field trial Acrylic Portrait - "Rex Carr"
Legendary Retriever Trainer Rex Carr.
Field Trial Labs and Handler Oil Portrait - "James and Friends"
James and his Champions, Jazz and Smoky.
Mahi Mahi and Fisherman Oil Portrait – “Walsh’s Trophy”
I get a commission once in awhile that departs from the dogs and sporting life, although this is of the fishing life, complete with a freshly caught mahi mahi. Background is the Bahamas.
People Portrait - "Cherry Social"
Oil painting of a little girl feeding cherries to her stuffed teddy bear.
Hunt Test Lab and Handler Oil Portrait - Susan and Her Friend
Susan commissioned me to do this of her and her hunt test Black Lab. The Sutter Buttes near Live Oak, CA are in the background.
Original acrylic painting and portrait of Mike Lardy
Original commissioned acrylic painting and portrait of Mike Lardy that now hangs in the Retriever Hall of Fame.
Commissioned Oil Portrait – “Jimmy and Kids”
One of my closest friends commissioned me to paint this of him and his two kids in front of a favored tree the kids played around frequently.
Oil Painting Portrait – “CJ”
CJ and I rode together on the wagon at the green handler’s trial at Longpine Plantation one year.
Bird Dog Oil Portrait – “Burt at Borderline”
Burt was one of the employees at Borderline Plantation and I had a lot of fun with him and Marty when we went out quail hunting.
Watercolor Portrait – “Buckminster Fuller”
I decided to paint a watercolor portrait of Buckminster Fuller or Bucky as we called him..
Hunter Oil Painting Portrait – “Bob Timberlake”
his was a rare commission of another accomplished artist – Bob Timberlake of North Carolina.
Farmer and Tractor Graphite – “The Planter”
This is a graphite of family friend and Iowa neighbor getting ready to plant in the early spring.
Bird Dog Field Trial Oil Painting – “The Congregation”
I had a lot of fun doing this because many of the folks in this picture are friends. It’s a scene from the Georgia/Florida owner’s trial.
Iowa Farmer Graphite Drawing - "Resurrecting Old John Deere"
Going over old photos of family and places I ran across a couple of my uncle trying to get an old John Deere tractor running again.
Iowa Farmer Graphite Portrait – “Homestead”
I was visiting one of my best friend’s family who are basically neighbors of ours in Iowa, and got his dad to take me around the old homestead.
Watercolor Portrait – “Souvenirs”
This was based on a photo posted by a friend of a friend on Facebook whose daughter was collecting sea shells and was another scene I couldn’t resist painting.
Bird Dog Field Trial Graphite – “Yielding the Right of Way”
This is a scene from a field trial which basically looks like the horse and rider are yielding the right of way to a gallery going by.
Horse and Rider Graphite Portrait – “Short in the Saddle”
Maybe a companion to my graphite of "Cowboy Woodard", because this is mini-Cowboy Woodard.
Horse and Rider Watercolor Portrait – “Running Order”
This is a portrait of a friend of mine looking at the running order at the Georgia/Florida “owner’s trial.”
Cowboy and Horse Graphite Portrait – “Cowboy Woodard”
This was an early graphite I did for a friend’s grandfather on his ranch near Miles City MT, getting ready for a parade to celebrate President Theodore Roosevelt coming to town.
Retriever Field Trial Oil Portrait - "Sletton's Champ"
I knew Paul Sletton back when he was a helper for Mike Lardy and knew back then he’d eventually be going places. He won the national and I was able to paint his portrait.
Black Lab and Hunter Watercolor Portrait - "Sam and Colonel"
Colonel was a beloved favorite hunt test lab, hunter and friend of my friend Sam.
Retriever Field Trial Oil Portrait - "Rorem's Champ"
One of my paintings given as a sponsorship of the National Retriever Championship of Dave Rorem and his champ.
Oil
Size: Apx 26″ x 25″
Yellow Lab and Owner Oil Portrait – “Rebecca’s Splash”
This was an oil fo my friend Rebecca who would show up as a colorful character at the hunt tests and I asked her to pose – especially with that scarf.
Retriever Field Trial Oil Painting "On the Line"
Another of my series of National Champions retriever portraits given to the nationals.
Labs and Handler Graphite Portrait - "Nothing Runs Like These Deeres."
It’s so named because my friend is a direct descendant of John Deere.
Black Lab and Owner Watercolor Portrait - "Marvin's Shadow"
If you look at the painting, it lives up to its name. Shadow’s shadow is on Martin.
Watercolor Painting of Mark and Nugget
Original watercolor painting of a hunter and his yellow labrador retriever
Field Trial Black Lab and Handler Watercolor Portrait – “Mac and Zinger”
This was a commission by Mac of him and his National Champion Black Lab named Zinger. It is one of my earlier portraits completed in 2002.
Black Lab and Girl Oil Painting – “Look at All the Wishes”
I posed this scene of my daughter and a black lab to illustrate something she once said while about 3 years old.
Hunter and Yellow Lab Oil Portrait – “King Chuck”
This is Chuck from South Dakota with his beloved yellow lab. It reminded me of a regal king with his lion in the foreground.
Retriever Field Trial Watercolor Portrait – “Jim and Ramblin’ Man”
The first of several National Champion portraits donated to the National Amateur Retriever Club. Jim Powers and Ramblin’ Man are shown here posing on their grounds in Wisconsin.
Hunt Test Retriever and Handler Watercolor Portrait – “Janet and Keeper”
This was a commission through the Master National Hunt Club – of Keeper and her owner Janet.
Hunt Test Poodle and Handler Watercolor Portrait – “Jack and Ten”
I had no idea poodles were actually bred to retrieve and they are quite good at it...
Setter and Children’s Oil Portrait – “Harvey’s Crew”
Quite a large commission of my friend’s kids and setters on his quail wagon.
Bird Dog and Handler Watercolor Portrait – “Getting Ready to Go”
This is a watercolor of a handler and helper at a South Georgia Plantation several years ago.
Setter and Hunters Oil Painting – “End of the Day”
One of my favorite places to be is on a friend’s property near South Hill, MN. It hosted a lot of hunters from the Ruffed Grouse Society’s national hunt and this is a scene from one of those days.
Yellow Lab and Owner’s Watercolor Portrait – “Cutter’s Kiss”
My friend Brett commissioned me to do a painting of his yellow lab’s successful hunt test and told me that we was more nervous than his dog Cutter.
Vizsla Oil Portrait – “Jeff and Ruby”
A rare commission from close to where I live. And a rare opportunity to paint a Vizsla.
Mule Wagon and Driver Graphite – “Wagon Number One”
A scene from a field trial of rider, mules and wagon. I wanted it to be a panorama.
Handler and Field Trial Lab Watercolor - "Danny and Rocket"
This is a watercolor donated to the National Championship for Danny Farmer, whose dog won that year.
Watercolor
Size: Apx 18" x 28"
People Portrait - Cyrah and Ursula
This was a commissioned portrait. Had to do some reference work to get the lion in the background.
Oil
Size: Apx 16" x 22"
