Westheight, Rainy Evening

In the spring, I was commissioned by a former native of Kanas City, Kansas to create a painting of Westheight, the Historic district developed in 1915. My students, at Sumner Academy created a book of architectural drawings of the city with Larry K. Hancks, writing the history of the architecture. The book is entitled A Gift To The Future. His description of the beautiful district is as follows:
The design that was developed had streets in gentle curves that followed the slopes of the terrain, large lots with generous setbacks, utilities underground or restricted to the rear property lines, and landscaped parklets at the principle street intersections. At the time, it was one of the most advanced subdivision plans to be prepared anywhere in the Kansas City area. And as the area developed in the 'teens'and early '20's, much of the architecture was equal in quality to the planning.
The paintings was displayed to the Westheight Association August 13th.

A.M. Departure
I've been painting a series on trains this summer. I reworked this several times, as I wanted the focus to be on the city at the end of the bridge. I did like the door at the bottom as it reminded me of Edward Hopper's paintings. He also did many of railyards. I painted the door lemon yellow, but

that distracted from the city. My solution was-darken the yellow to orche. The train paintings are small, but who knows I might enlarge one. I haven't posted the other two, as I am still trying to make corrections.

West Bottoms After Rain
It has been a while since I have posted-not that I haven't been working-I have 8 new paintings for The Late Show Gallery in September. West Bottoms is the view from our bedroom. We have lived here a long time and have seen many changes. I have painted this view any times, starting in 1990. This is the lastest work.

Bright Lights, Saturday Night
A long struggle with this painting. I had finished it a few weeks ago and just didn't like the outcome-I have been looking at it out of the corner of my eye, and finally decided to make some adjustments. Is it done?

The National Weather Center Biennale
I returned from a great weekend in Norman at the National Weather Center Biennale opening. The art was diverse and with the theme of weather, provoked the viewer to appreciate the visual beauty of our planet and the drama of weather  changes in the environment. The juried show was stunning in the atrium of the National Weather Service. I entered Rainy Night, Kansas City and was pleased at the placement of the piece. The text was mixed up with a statement I made for another piece (this painting is not of the Plaza) but the theme fit both pieces so not much of a problem. The catalog is available at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum in Norman, Oklahoma. There are 100 pieces in the show.

Evening Stroll

This is going to get a "paintover" decided I hate this painting;large panel-I will use it for something else-the sky is really flat.Oh, Well!

Block in for Evening Stroll