Process · February 14, 2024
Painting the Aurora: Notes from a February Night
Temperatures hit -15°F that night. I had my sketchbook and a headlamp. The aurora lasted four hours and I barely moved. Here's what I learned.
Writing
Studio Journal
Technique · January 8, 2024
Why I Stopped Using Black
Pure black on a canvas can kill a painting. I threw mine out three years ago and haven't looked back. Here's what I use instead.
Subject · December 2, 2023
On Painting Fish: Respect for the Subject
Alaska's salmon are extraordinary subjects — the way they change color during the spawn, the energy in a jumping sockeye. You can't fake knowing them.
Alaska · October 22, 2023
The Kenai at Every Season
I've painted the Kenai River in all four seasons now. Each one demands a completely different palette and approach. Here's what I've discovered.