ill

I think I'm sick. It makes me want to paint more than ever. My apartment gets really warm, and that combined with being ill kind of helps me focus. You know what I mean? It's that weird state of mind where it's way too hard to think about more than one thing, so I only think about the painting. It even helps focus on a specific part of the painting, so I don't rush as much as I usually do and the decisions I make are more careful (albeit slower).
This sounds like a weird argument for being sick. I don't like all of the side effects–the soreness, the throat thing, the leaking head–but it does force me to stay inside, and I like that.

This is the last piece for the Urban Winter series I've made for a show I'm having with Tiff. We hung it this weekend, so I'll take pictures and post them as soon as I'm able.

Cold Winter Night

I had a hard time with this one. Ultimately, I think it's one of my favorites, but boy oh boy did it put up a fight. I struggled with getting it as deep and vibrant as I had planned, and then when it was deep enough I was frustrated with the lack of subtlety that watercolor usually provides.
This also served to remind me that sometimes sticking with something is the best course of action, even when you want to start all over.

It's Coming

There is nothing prophetic about predicting snow at this point. I've been feeling more motivated to work on these urban winter pieces–possibly because of the upcoming deadline, but also because of the subject matter.
I'm really fond of this one. The thing about these pieces is that some I favor for aesthetic reasons and some I favor because of the moment they are meant to represent. This one I like for aesthetic reasons.


watercolor and ink on 300 lb rough press paper

Cozy Inside

I finished another piece in the urban winter series! There are a couple posts with process here and here. This one was kind of a challenge. I think I changed color palettes a few times while working on it in attempt to find the right...mood? Atmosphere, maybe.


watercolor, ink and gouache on 300 lb rough press


After working on a painting, nothing helps wind down like sketching whatever. My cat likes sketchbooks almost as much as I do.



This time she was just covering up this drawing I made of her. She's pretty modest.

Minneapolis progress

I did some more work on those pieces while Hercule Poirot solved some rich peoples' murders last night.

Urban Winter

I've been working on and off on a series of watercolor paintings inspired from winter settings in the Twin Cities. One of the things I marvel at the most is how easily the idea for the next image comes. I do have plans for the future ones, but until I start the next painting, there's no telling. The one I'm currently working on I hadn't decided on until the moment this one was finished. You can see the other two I've already done here and here.


watercolor, ink and gouache on 300 lb rough press