20 X 32"

Vermillion Valley Vineyard hides among the hills rising from the Vermillion River, just east of historic Birmingham, Ohio. While the winery has long been a personal favorite, it would not be until the spring of 2017 that I would visit during growing season and discover the amazing cloak of green that ensues. I had found a painting view and would work deep into summer to capture it on canvas.

Joe and Kristi Juniper are the heart and soul of the vineyard. With the help of partners who share their vision, a dedicated staff, and volunteers, this close-nit couple has presented fine wines and a warm welcoming atmosphere year after year to a loyal following.

Joe’s passion for making wine was born out of a life-long interest in plants. He is a self-taught winemaker whose work ethic is evident in the long hours he keeps. By mid-day his signature white t-shirts are heavily colored with a leaf stain, grape juice, and soil. Like a busy artist’s palette his shirts offer promise of wonderful creations to come.

Kristi not only assists in all aspects of wine production but also manages the tasting room, and facilitates special events. The acute people skills and confident product knowledge she and the bar staff demonstrate, are fine-tuned from years of serving costumers with varying backgrounds of wine appreciation.

Upon arrival to the vineyard one can expect to be approached by a four-legged greeter named Gordy. This vineyard canine is also in charge of deer patrol, hors d’oeuvres inspection on the patio, and shaking pond water on unsuspecting artists.

Toward mid-summer the Junipers welcomed new partners, and sought out new adventures as they expand their dream and develop plans for increased wine production.

Shortly after completion of the painting, renovations began on the buildings and property, greatly changing the appearance of the vineyard. This painting does capture the early years for the Junipers, depicting when the entire harvest could be handpicked, and represents the promising beginning for these young winemakers.   

32 x 20"

Built in 1821, Marblehead Lighthouse is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes. The daily commute to this painting site involved a pleasant picturesque drive through lush North Central Ohio farmland, across Sandusky Bay, and along the north shore of Marblehead Peninsula. Despite a rain-plagued June, most days afforded at least four hours of painting, and the opportunity to gaze out over Lake Erie during breaks. Not a bad way to spend summer days.

Each day the tower continually proved to be a welcomed view. To have had the opportunity to spend extensive time in the shadow of this magnificent gem of architecture was a rewarding experience in itself. I will particularly miss the rare quiet moments when the tourist traffic faded, when the brush could be laid aside, and one could take a moment to simply look for the sake of looking. 

18 x 30"

This painting involved 284 hours of on-site work during the summer of 2013. Having grown up in the suburb of Kettering, it was an extremely meaningful experience to paint the skyline of the Gem City. This view depicts Dayton from an area just east of the confluence where the Mad River flows into the Great Miami. 

Exhibitions: "The View" (2014) - The Rosewood Gallery, Rosewood Art Centre, Kettering, Ohio - Honorable Mention Award

Painting on location requires handling all that a particular setting brings your way. Having chosen to paint in Marblehead Lighthouse State Park, I was well aware of the potential problems a strange insect known regionally as the Mayfly could cause. Mayflies rise from the lake bottom sometime in May or June, and take wing. Although harmless, swarms of these creatures are capable of covering everything in their path during the short out-of-water portion of their lives. I was fully anticipating a week or two of forced down time due to the swarms. Fortunately when the creatures did finally arrive, they found the parking lot and wooded area of the park more attractive. The few rogue Mayflies who did find their way to the canvas, seemed to prefer the yet unpainted surfaces. 

22 x 34"

This 2011 Ohio painting involved over 260 hours of onsite work. It was painted from North Bank Park in downtown Columbus. The painting captures an autumn view that looks across a bend in the Scioto River to the tall office buildings beyond. It is by far the most detailed of my cityscapes due to the close proximity of the buildings.

Exhibitions: "The View" (2012) - The Rosewood Gallery, Rosewood Art Centre, Kettering, Ohio

 2014 Alumni Exhibition - Robert & Elaine Stein Galleries, Creative Arts Center, Wright State University, Fairborn, Ohio

28 x 36"

Summer 2010 – Long Beach, California

20 x 32"

Painted during the summer of 2009 from Cleveland Lakefront State Park in Lakewood, Ohio.

20 x 32"

This 2008 work was painted from a shore-side park several miles south of downtown Chicago. This was my first extensive cityscape, and only painting done in the state of Illinois. The painting was completed when the Trump Tower was still under construction.

16 x 20"

This 2007 work depicts a sky-filled view of a portion of Aliso Beach; a small beach located south of Laguna Beach. The painting captures the view looking north to the distant hill crowned by the Montage Hotel complex.

14 x 18"

This 2006 California painting involved my first painting effort on a beach. The painting depicts Huntington Beach Pier, decorated with flags for the annual Fourth of July celebration. Catalina Island peers out of the haze.

28 x 34"

This painting depicts the high school near Olivesburg, Ohio in which I taught for 28 years. It was worked on during weekends throughout the winter of 2003, and completed that spring. The work was produced from inside a car; an experience I found challenging but enjoyable. The painting was purchased by the Crestview class of 2003, and hangs in the high school office.

24 x 30"

This California work was painted during the summer of 2002. Heisler Park is located one-half mile north of downtown Laguna Beach. The painting view looks northwest from the picnic area of the park.

Memorable moments: Heisler Park attracts large family groups on weekends. Visits from curious picnickers were frequently accompanied by offers of food. On one occasion, an Armenian gentleman walked up, placed a full plate of delightful food into my hands, and pronounced “artists must eat”. I highly recommend this painting location to any artist; starving or not.

Exhibitions: Realism 2003 (national) - The Cultural Center of Fine Arts, Parkersburg, West Virginia

30 x 24"

This 2001 painting was completed in Corona del Mar, near the inlet for Newport Harbor. It depicts the neighborhood that rises above a small cove named for a Chinese style house that once served as the focal point in the area. Two foreground palms travel the height of the canvas in a cloudless California sky. The painting includes depictions of textured images such as bark, brick, leaf, rock, and shingle contrasting with smooth images of sky, and water. Catalina Island is visible on the horizon. China Cove involved 280 of onsite painting, making it the longest of my landscape efforts.

Exhibitions: National Art Exhibition 2002 - The Visual Arts Center, Charlotte County Art Guild, Punta Gorda, Florida

24 x 30"

This was the first of my paintings done during summer visits to an aunt in Corona del Mar, California. This 2000 painting depicts Little Corona Beach, and the foliage filled cliff above. The cliffs of Crystal Cove State Park show in the distance. I particularly enjoyed painting the gamut of blues found in the ocean.

Exhibitions: 35th Annual Open International Exhibition (2001) – Fine Arts Institute of the San Bernardino County Museum, Redlands, California

26 x 34"

This Ohio painting involved over 250 hours of on-site painting, done over a five month period in 1999. Nearly six weeks of work went into the large maple that consumes the top portion of the painting. The painting captures the essence of downtown Bellville, while not overstating the town’s centerpiece; an historic bandstand.

Memorable moments: The community of Bellville offered endless support throughout the project. Their kind compliments, stories about their town, and support were most appreciated. Bellville residents are deservedly proud of their fine town and community.

Exhibitions: Realism ’00 (international) – Period Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska – Award of Excellence

26 x 32"

This 1998 painting depicts a farm in Crawford County, Iowa that has been in our family for more than one hundred years. The view shows the barnyard, the farmhouse peaking through the trees, the lake, and the dirt road leading north through the fields. In the distant can be seen the water tower of the nearby town of Charter Oak.

Exhibitions: 11th National Realism Exhibition, Realism ’99 – Parkersburg Art Center, Parkersburg West Virginia, and “Celebrate the Hills” Juried Art Show 2002 – Moorhead Cultural Center, Moorhead, Iowa – Award of Excellence

50 x 36"

This 1996 Cleveland work is the largest of my landscapes paintings. Collision Bend is an area in which a bend in the river was widened to allow large freighters to make a turn in the Cuyahoga River. The painting was done from the yard of a fire station that sits at the river’s edge. The painting depicts the side yard of the station, a slice of the river, and industrial facilities leading up Cleveland’s professional sports facilities. The painting effort required a daily 170 mile round trip drive, and more than 260 hours of on-site painting, over a period of five months.

Memorable moments: The painting location offered many surprises including screaming fire truck sirens, and the occasional explosion of aerial bombs celebrating home runs produced by the baseball team. 

8 x 10"

This 1995 work was painted from the levy on the west bank of the Sandusky River, just north of downtown Fremont, Ohio. It depicts the view to the south, showcasing the old, rusted train trestle that veils the downtown buildings. Only the patina covered church steeples rise into view above the dark bridge. Although small in size, this has always been one of my favorite works.

8 x 10"

Lake Tapps is located thirteen miles east of Tacoma. This 1994 painting was done from Lake Tapps County Park. It captures the view across the lake where homes on the far shore are dwarfed by the forest, and Mount Rainier rising upward beyond the tree line.

14 x 18"

Summer 1992 - Tacoma, Washington

29 x 31"

This 1991 work was painted from an empty housing lot a short distance north of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The painting depicts the view of the Tacoma Narrows looking north towards the Olympic Mountain Range, and the entrance to Gig Harbor. As with many of my works, the scene leaves one wondering what is beyond the next bend.

30 x 42"

Tacoma Narrows Bridge is the famous suspension bridge that collapsed on a windy November day in 1940. This 1990 painting was the first of my more extensive landscapes, and the first of several done in the Tacoma area. The painting involved 175 hours of on-sight work, and was completed in seven weeks. Passing seagulls, seals, and fishing boats added to an already splendid setting, making it one of the favorite places from which I have had the opportunity to paint.

Memorable moment: I arrived at the painting site one morning to discover that a rare high tide had deposited jellyfish carcasses on the rock I had been using as a seat. The unpleasant clean-up process took away an extensive portion of my painting time that morning.

30 x 36"

Amann’s Reservoir Park sits one mile south of Galion, Ohio. This 1989 painting depicts a late fall view of the reservoir, and the picnic area beyond. The distant trees can be seen hanging onto the last remnants of their fall foliage. The foreground consists of evening tree shadows reaching across lawn, dirt, and gravel.  The painting captures a moment where a slight breeze is stirring up the water surface.

20 x 24"

This 1988 work was painted from a pasture located on a farm north of Mansfield, Ohio. The view looks across a open grass area towards a neighboring farm. The painting captures the depthless, hazy sky, and lush green grass found on humid August days in Ohio.

Humorous moment: Several weeks into the painting, I had a surprise visit when a bull walked up from behind and stopped within arms reach. He stood motionless behind my supply stand, drooling over the paint palette. After ten long minutes of pondering possible escape options, I cautiously arose from my chair, gently lifted the canvas, walked to the nearby fence, and climbed over to safety. The bull’s willingness to let me leave was as much a surprise as his ability to sneak up so quietly in the first place. Needless to say, I was far more cautious on subsequent excursions to the painting site.