A Few More Journal Paintings

February 2, 2026 Brush Man

I’m back to painting a large acrylic National Park ‘mural’ for Thomas Stone National Historical Park, but still moving forward with these little oils. Quite the challenge of switching from oil to acrylics and back throughout the day. These are all available and $125 each, including the frame. Shipping is free.

Pacific Wren: This top painting is available here on my Etsy store. 7″x9″ framed as you see it, oil on canvas. My model was right outside on the mossy log I’ve painted before.

Then this square little Chestnut-backed Chickadee came from the same place, a rotten red-alder that has been torn apart by the woodpeckers. This one is 9″x9″ framed as you see it, and available here on Etsy.

Wilson’s Warbler is also new this week, varnish isn’t even on it yet. I was interested in loosening up the feather structure details and how the foot gripped that little twig – wrapped it. I loved the contrast with the frame color – like the entire thing is glowing. Wilson’s Warbler is available here.

When I started to seriously paint back in the 1970’s, my method was to go out and park beside a country lane that held promising ideas. I learned to paint this way, making an average of 250 paintings a year, most of them by sitting beside dirt roads. It appears to have become a habit, because here I am, decades later and getting involved much the same way with these little oils. Back then it was gauche and watercolors but now it’s oils on canvas in the studio. Judging by the dozens I’ve found homes for in the past couple of months, I think I’m getting better at it. Want to see one of those 50 yr old paintings. Here it is, available on Ebay for $447.00.