Another one in the “Tastes Of Home” series – this one is #30 in the series. Pretzels, especially soft pretzels, are my go to food. Love pretzels in all forms. Good thing I live in “America’s pretzel capital” – there are more pretzel bakeries in the Reading, PA area than any other city in the U.S. Last year (2024), I visited Germany – spent time in a city known for pretzels. Had some – enjoyed them – but, gotta admit, they weren’t as good as the soft pretzels in Philly. Hear it’s the water – think there’s something to that – our pretzels just taste better. My “Tastes Of Home” series features food brands local to Reading/Berks County, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and the greater Philadelphia area.

Amazing Labor Day 2025. In Philly at my daughter’s apartment. She had this great rooftop view of the city. Did some plain air painting using gouache (opaque water color). Fun painting fairly loose and free.

Another painting in the “Tastes Of Home” series – #29 in the series. Tastykake pies and cakes are a convenience store staple in my area. Their peanut butter Kandy Kakes are addictive. Sponge cake, peanut butter, and chocolate – especially good frozen. My “Tastes Of Home” series features food brands local to Reading/Berks County, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and the greater Philadelphia area.

This painting is similar to one I completed in 2021, “Cross Keys Sunset.” Painting is of a sunset at a family farm in the late Fall. Wanted to create a similar painting, later sunset, Winter/snow scene, colder pallet. Was painting to capture a vide/feel – happy with the result.

Excited by this one. 9 months worth of work. Celebrates all things from Philadelphia. Our sports teams and moments (Sequon’s leap, The Doctor, Tugger’s celebration, our boxing scene), music (Philly soul, Doo Wop, Chubby Checker, Hall & Oates), our foods and restaurants (Pat’s and Geno’s cheesesteaks, tomato pie, Tasty Kakes), our history (Founding Fathers), and too many other things I love about the City of Brotherly Love. I hope you love this painting as much as I loved creating it.

Excited by this one. 9 months worth of work. Celebrates all things from Philadelphia. Our sports teams and moments (Sequon’s leap, The Doctor, Tugger’s celebration, our boxing scene), music (Philly soul, Doo Wop, Chubby Checker, Hall & Oates), our foods and restaurants (Pat’s and Geno’s cheesesteaks, tomato pie, Tasty Kakes), our history (Founding Fathers), and too many other things I love about the City of Brotherly Love. I hope you love this painting as much as I loved creating it. Giclee is smaller than the original size (23” X 46” for the print vs. 36” X 72” original)

Had fun with this one. I usually draw with a heavy hand, sometimes too heavy. Applied color with this one very lightly and stayed away from burnishing pencils. Used my subsequent layers as the burnishing layer. Was working with a very blurry, weak reference photo – actually worked to my advantage, I think, having less detail to work with.

Completed from a series of photos taken while on vacation in Costa Rica in 2023. Made the stand more robust and interesting – added additional bread bags and juices than the actual vendor displayed.

In May 2025, was at the Portrait Society of America Conference in D.C. Amazing couple of days. The Society brought in a few professional models to use during their sessions. Loved this model “Steve” that was used during Quang Ho and Kevin Macpherson’s portrait session on color and structure. Caught Steve in the hallway – allowed me to take a few great reference shots. Here’s my first drawing from those photos. I purposefully made Steve a little shorter than reality. Think it adds to the mystique of the image.

In May 2025, had the privilege to attend the Portrait Society of America Conference in D.C. Spent most of the first day in a working session with Dan Thompson – renowned artist and teacher – learned about hatching. Excellent session and critique. Some outstanding work by other artists in the room. Created this drawing of the model in the class while hanging/drawing with artist Rose Frantzen.