August 2024, was on a business trip in Alaska. Real early one morning, had to drive to a meeting at a resort outside of Anchorage – saw this black bear mother and cub on the side of the road foraging in the grass – got some great shots. Use two different photos to compose this drawing. Fun to do similar subjects in different mediums and styles. A week before I drew this, I completed a black bear black-and-white drawing for my son and his girlfriend. That drawing was more about texture, expression, and detail. Can see eyes, fur, and claws. This drawing is more about the general impression and mass, texture and detail is limited in purpose. Included the impression of grass – relaxes the scene. Like the difference and happy that both convey what I wanted to convey. Hope you enjoy.

July 2026, my son and his girlfriend moved to West Hartford, Connecticut. They live next to a trout stream and reservoir – in a developed area, but surrounded by plenty of parks and nature. When we moved them in, my wife was walking to the door of the apartment, my son came out to greet her. Behind my son, to my wife’s shock – a huge black bear, just wandering through the development. Over the next few weeks, my son and his girlfriend saw that momma bear with her three cubs patrolling the creek and captured some great video. My son isolated some stills from his videos and asked me for a drawing to hang in their new place.

In 2019, took a family trip to Italy. Captured a bunch of great reference photos while on a gondola ride in Venice. Some included my beautiful daughter, Sarah. Finally got around to painting this one for her by combining elements from a few different shots.

Keeping the pencil skills sharp. Last year at The Portrait Society Conference in DC, I captured some awesome reference photos of one of the models brought in for the show. “Steve” was used during Quang Ho and Kevin Macpherson’s portrait session on color and structure. Caught Steve in the hallway – was kind enough to let me take a few great reference shots. Love the white beard and hair, the yellow tobacco staining around his mustache, and the outfit. Tons of character. In my first drawing of Steve, I exaggerated/shortened him a bit – gave the drawing a whimsical, fantastical feel. In this pose, I liked how Steve gripped and rested on his cane and wasn’t making direct eye contact – made him a feel more refined and dignified, so I emphasized his length in this drawing.

Painted this self portrait because, 1) always wanted to do a self portrait “my way”, and 2) there’s a few portrait/self portrait competitions I haven’t been able to enter because I haven’t had work to enter. When you think of someone, your view of them is formed on the context by which you know that person – we only know a facet or 2 or 3 of that person. Impossible to capture all of a person in a “snapshot” self portrait. Wanted to do better. Wanted a portrait that captured as much of me as possible – the dad, the husband, the son, the brother, the uncle, the gas company executive, the teacher, the classmate, the friend, the teammate, the artist – all in one painting. And, I’m a product of so many influences and have been developed and changed by so many great people that I wanted a self portrait to celebrate those others as well – my family (my wife and kids, mom, dad, sister, brother, grandparents, niece, nephews, and others), my friends (Dave Carswell, Don “Elmo” Mothersbaugh, John “Gonzo” Kyriazis), my mentors (Clayton Leach, Bill Roberts, Jeff Palmer), just to name a few. I’ve included macro influences as well – artists Frank Frazetta and Salvador Dali, other creative influences like MADD magazine, a King Kong comic I wore out as a kid, the music of my youth (Bowie, The Smiths, REM, U2, New Order, James Brown), and other creative influences (Mr. Roger’s, Bob Ross, Rankin Bass, The Muppets). I’ve included my favorites – food to make (eggs benedict w/ my mushrooms, pickled jalapeños), food to eat (golumpkies, pretzels, Tastykakes (especially their lemon pie)), color (yellow), movies (Godfather 1 and 2, Wizard of Oz), books (Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, The Lord Of The Rings series), sports teams (anything Philly, when I was a kid, Yankees, Steelers, Dolphins), athletes (Mean Joe Green, Ali, Mike Schmidt, Dr. J), restaurant (Pappasito’s). Painting includes childhood memories (club feet/wearing leg braces, “The Barracks”, Bozo The Clown, the air show, my toy dinosaurs, my Hot Wheels cars), places (The Silo, work locations The Gap and York Steak House), activities (FBLA, racquetball, going to live boxing matches), sports (baseball, football), pets, things I’m known to say, and tons of other personal stuff. Penn State, Lehigh, Delta Sigma Pi, “Lefty”, nickname “Shemp”, my time living in Houston, my Mont Blanc pen, “The sun is shining, the birds are singing.” Those who know me, hope you enjoy seeing yourself or something about our shared past in the details. And, hope you enjoy this attempt at a different take on portraiture/self portraiture. Hope you like.

Another oil painting in the “Tastes Of Home” series. Called clear toy candy, clear malt candy, malt sugar candy, or any combination there of. Brought to Pennsylvania by German settlers, this candy was a staple during the Christmases of my youth. My mom and dad always gifted a few pieces in our stockings. And, my dad’s work had an annual children’s Christmas event at the Rajah Theater in Reading – watched cartoons and Three Stooges. Exiting the theater, all kids were given a toy, an orange, and some candy which included clear toy candy. I also have a vague memory of my dad taking me into center city Reading, where a neighbor of an aunt always had a big clear toy candy display – one year it was a Christmas scene, another year it was a manger scene. Traditional colors are clear/yellow, red, and green, but I’ve seen others. Getting harder and harder to find this candy each year – becoming a lost tradition. In many of my paintings, I use temperature, value, and saturation to create depth. In this painting, used subject clarity to create depth. Enjoyed the challenge of blurring out the background items to put the focus on items in the foreground. My “Tastes Of Home” series features foods and food brands local to Reading/Berks County, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and the Greater Philadelphia area.

Another painting part of the “Tastes Of Home” series – this one is #34 in the series – “Wos-Wit Bacon Dressing.” This one is one that only hard core Pennsylvania Dutchmen will understand. Bacon dressing is a sweet and sour creamy dressing with hunks of cooked bacon in it. Bacon grease, flour, cider vinegar – It’s heated up and served over fresh spinach – the spinach wilts slightly in the dressing. Then sliced hard boiled eggs are added as garnish. Spinach is the most common base, but some eat the dressing over dandelion greens in the Spring. My Mom made bacon dressing when I was little – I loved it. I like the Wos-Wit brand of products because the name and graphics represent PA Dutch culture well. My “Tastes Of Home” series features food brands local to Reading/Berks County, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and the greater Philadelphia area.

Another painting in the “Tastes Of Home” series – this one is #33 in the series – “Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews.” For those not familiar with this Philadelphia staple, imagine a Snicker’s bar – caramel, peanuts – but wrapped in dark chocolate and in nugget form (“6 pieces per pack”). Firmer and denser than a Snickers. And, the dark chocolate coating adds the perfect bitterness to the sweetness. Goldenberg’s are my movie go-to candy (when I can find them). My “Tastes Of Home” series features food brands local to Reading/Berks County, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and the greater Philadelphia area.

Part of the “Tastes Of Home” series – this one is #32 in the series – “5th Avenue Candy Bar.” The 5th Avenue candy bar used to be manufactured in Reading, Pennsylvania, my home town, at a factory on 5th Avenue, hence the name. Original factory sold to Ludens, the cough drop people, and then ultimately sold to Hershey, and the Reading plant was operational until the early 2000’s. The bar is still produced by Hershey, but not in the area anymore (I think production moved to Michigan). My “Tastes Of Home” series features food brands local to Reading/Berks County, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and the greater Philadelphia area.

Early Spring 2026, my wife and I were driving home from Connecticut – coming down Route 100 from Allentown before sunset. “Golden hour.” Setting sunlight bouncing off of dozens of small clouds and a small storm created these amazing oranges contrasted against deep purples and blues. The storm appeared as if it was on fire. Breathtaking. Pulled off the road – “what are you doing?!” – to get some reference shots. Almost as soon as I snapped some good reference shots, the colors changed and scene was gone. Painting pretty true to the actual scene/photos. Colors didn’t seem real – Mother Nature is something – tried to do her justice.