Laura and John wanted something personal for their wedding invitation. They sent me a photo of a tree on the Miami University of Ohio campus where they found a connection. This little painting came to mind and it is of "Our Favorite Place."

I really like this painting of a little orphan girl by sunflowers. She is a blend of many images of children.

"Playful Wisdom" was done after Natalie came into the office wearing that wide brim red straw hat. I especially liked the specks of light that danced down her cheek and nose. She wanted so to laugh and smile as I photographed her, but it was the moment she paused that gave me the greatest insight into her spirit. The spirit of wisdom, of quiet, of watching her children, younger people, knowing all the time what they face, and giving them all of her heart, and all of her strength as a woman. She is playful and she is wisely watching, filled with the deep joy only years can bring.

This painting has been one of 58 paintings accepted into the Mississippi Grand National Watercolor Exhibition. There were 225 paintings submitted for this show at the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson. That is truly an honor. It will hang there from October 7, 2006 through January 7, 2007.

Madison White loves to run, play soft ball, sing, ride 4 wheelers, and she loves to pray. Her mother, Tammy, nurtures all of these activities as a single parent. Tammy has worked for me as a dental hygienist for many years, and I hope we have many more together....she is wonderful!

Laura loves her grey cat.

"Katrina" was painted in the fall of 2005 following the flury of hurricanes that left the Gulf Coast devistated and so many people devoid of hope. The light is reflecting from within the cup of cool water someone has given her to quinch her thirst and ease her suffering heart, and most of all give her hope. Most interestingly the painting is of a little girl who is helpless against the elements and the system. If God wanted to He could wipe out all tears, all pain, and all suffering. If He so chose to it would make Him the great Geanie; not the Almighty God. God uses us as His instruments of hope to offer the suffering a cup of cool water.

"Bubbleline" is an expression of the surface bubbles beneath which hungry trout eagerly await their next meal. Place your fly elegantly in this foam with a perfect drift and your next sensation will be a tug on the end of that delicate tippett. Pull too quickly or to hard and the trout will be gone, with the fly. Let the rod do the work; it's finesse that wins this game. Bubbleline.

Rainbow trout are among the most beautiful creatures on earth! The soft North Arkansas morning light especially illuminates the vibrant colors of the rainbow and releases the luminosity of the reflective stream surface and bottom. To truly enjoy these fish one must treasure them enough to let them go once caught. "NO MAN IS A FOOL TO GIVE UP WHAT HE CANNOT KEEP TO GAIN WHAT HE CAN NOT LOOSE."

Jim Lipscomb is a fishing guide friend of mine from Pocahontis, Arkansas. He owns Two Rivers Fly shop in Norfork, Arkansas. I was visiting with Jim last year, and we fished a couple of days together. He told me he was getting married soon to the woman of is dreams. Turns out that Rick Gillespie and I were having dinner at Gastons' Restaurant a couple of months earlier with our wives, Leslie and Tammie, and our waitress was the lady of whom Jim was speaking. I already knew that she had been a high school art teacher, and we spoke of our common interests in visual expression.
I remembered Jim's big white beard (Tammie says he looks like a beautiful SANTA), and the dim light from the lamp by his fly vise. Jim can tie flies in his sleep, and he can FISH. I sent a copy of this painting as a card congratulating Jim on his wedding...his new bride intercepted the card and never showed it to him. She tried to secretly negotiate for the original, so on a trip to fish the Norfork river last fall, I gave the painting to Jim. He was totaly surprised and awed with gratitude. You can see it where It is hanging in his fly shop at the confluence of the White and Norfork rivers.

Emily is the daughter of Jeff and Keiko Ervin. Emily is gifted vocally as well as artistically. She is a senior at Harding Academy where she studies art under Stacy Smith. Emily has already won several awards for her paintings. Here she is singing her heart out at the Sycamore View talent show benefitting "Hope Works."

Bruce and Kerrie Klemm adopted Elisa 5 years ago in Abeline, Texas. Elisa's mother elected to give her up for adoption, and Elisa was the Klemm's answer to fervent prayer. When Elisa was 4 she began feeling ill, and the doctors diagnosed her with Lukemia. The news was devistating for Bruce and Kerrie, but they took Elisa to St. Jude. Elisa has been treated, and is recovering now. She lost her full head of "BIG" hair. She tires easily, but she is a great trooper through it all. We continue to pray for her full recovery.

These are the Swims children. Their father, Todd asked me to do a painting of them earlier this year.

SanGimagiano Sunflowers
One of my favorite days of my life was spent with Tammie and Laura at SanGimagiano. It's a neat Tuscan hill town near Florence, Italy. This painting is the only one I have done on Fredrix watercolor canvass. I do not like the way it takes paint.

Jayme is a sweet little girl belonging to Chris and Doug Ezell. I have known Chris since her single days as the appartment manager at English Village where we lived in 1986 while building the house we live in now. She became a patient of mine, and by the way referred many friends and family. Mean while, Chris met Doug, and married, changed job locations and met a host of people associated with Harding Academy and the Sycamore View church. John French, my friend and partner in all things sporting and spiritual was fulfilling a landscaping contract at the appartments where Chris worked in 2002. He invited her and Doug to church and to lunch many, many, many times. They finally began coming, and their girls, Lexie, Gabbie, and Jaymie loved it. So they kept on coming, and began studing God's Word and became baptized believers shortly after. They continue to be faithful, and we love them.
Kelsey is the daughter of Buddy and Carolyn Jones. She is the reigning runner-up in the Tennessee pre-teen girls Golf Tourney. Kelsey is filled with energy, laughter, and pranks. She is such a delight to be with and to paint. We love Carolyn, Buddy, and their children.


Barharbor Light, Acadia National Park, Maine








Pemaquid Lighthouse, Maine