“Ferris Wheel.” Oil on Canvas, 4x4.” 2020. Central Washington State Fair, Yakima, Washington.

Moons and Junes and Ferris Wheels

February 5, 2020

Ferris' idea was a wheel, a giant wheel large enough to provide a bird’s eye view the entire Chicago exhibition and surrounding landscape. A wheel made of steel that Ferris said would "out-Eiffel Eiffel." The idea was too ostentatious for even Burnham. "Too fragile," was his reply to the concept of a giant wheel held up by slender rods rivaling the height of the recently opened Statue of Liberty.

Naches Heights in the distance seen from Selah ridge. Below the Heights flows the Yakima River. — Naches Heights in the distance seen from Selah ridge. Below the Heights flows the Yakima River.

Landscape of Naches Heights - Scouting Locations →

April 10, 2015

The land.

I traveled to Eastern Washington February 13 and 14 to scout locations for a new series of landscape paintings (details below). My subject is the Naches Heights, about ten miles outside of Yakima. This project is especially meaningful to me because it is the home of my family on my mom's side.

En Plein Air

March 8, 2015

In the 19th century, an artistic movement actively took painting outdoors--from within the walls of the academic studios outside into the elements. "En plein air" , in the open air, is the French term that is used to describe this manner of painting. This method of painting was used primarily by a group of 19th century Paris-based painters that fostered the style of artwork known as "Impressionism."