My Mother's Hands

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took this photo of my 90-year-old mother's hands as she held my sister's hands shortly before her passing.  Orange County Catholic Magazine used this photo in an article in their May 16, 2021 issue.

George Harrison

This is a drawing that I did in 1974 for Tracie Lipton, while up at Humboldt State University.  I haven't seen this picture for forty-five years.  Tracie sent a photo of it to me recently after she came across my blog and my article about my year up at HSU.  I am humbled that she has kept it for all these years.

Left Coast Coach--a novel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            So many times throughout my coaching career I have had coaches tell me one crazy story after another about dealing with players, parents, the press or administrators.  We would always say that this could be a chapter in our collective book about coaching football.  Well, I tried to take some of those tales and incorporate them into this novel. 

            This story follows two high school football coaches; one from New Jersey and one from California; who end up coaching at Elam Academy in Georgia.  Not only do they face tough competition on the field—they face racism, politics, and cancer.

            AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM 

Wind Chimes

 

This was a recycled art project.  The copper pipes were from an old water heater from my parents' house in Fountain Valley.

 

"It's Okay"

My wife found this picture on the internet.  We both felt that it was a very tender, comforting  moment--maybe between siblings or friends.  I tried to capture it in watercolors.

 

Maori Warrior

 

 

This is a watercolor of a Maori Warrior.  I used a photo by Art Wolfe as a model.  His photograph was of George Hare at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii.

Super Bowl XIX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have always admired Manny Rubio's photo of Super Bowl XIX.  It is very complex with a lot of details in it.  I felt like I was painting little toy soldiers.  I think it is best to look at from a distance and just feel the swirl of colors on the paper.  I dedicate this one to my good friend,  Joe Rea who is a big 49ers fan.

The Edmund Fitzgerald ("The 29")

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 1976 song, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot has always had a big impact on me.  I wanted to do a painting of that ship.  It was difficult to find a photo that I thought I could use as a model for my painting.  I looked at a stern shot for quite sometime.  The very talented artist, Stephanie Moran used the same photo for her painting, "Sailing Away."  I was reluctant, but gave it a try.  Because of the ship's detail, I used pen and ink as well as watercolor.  

Pacific Sunset

I did this painting for my granddaughter, who loves dolphins.  I have always been a big fan of Bob Wyland.  He seems to be able to put a few splashes of paint on a canvas, and then add a dash of white for the reflection of light off the eye, and "boom," you have a whale, or a dolphin, or a mermaid--in perfect perspective, and underwater lighting.  He is amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

California, A Poem

 

      CALIFORNIA

FAST AND PRETTY

SHINY AND NEW

 

ANCIENT REDWOODS

PACIFIC BLUE

 

HER LONG TAN LEGS

AND GOLDEN HAIR

 

WARM SUNNY SKIES

AND DAYS SO FAIR

 

DOLPHINS SWIMMING

THE SURFING GREAT

 

MAJESTIC BRIDGE

THE GOLDEN GATE

 

OFF NEWPORT COAST

THE SUN SETS LOW

 

IN THE DESERT

THE CACTUS GROW

 

SIERRAS RISE

TO GRANITE PEAKS

 

IF YOU CLIMB IT

IT’S QUITE A FEAT.

 

VERDANT VALLEYS

AND RUSHING STREAMS

 

AN ARTISTS’ REALM

A SPORTSMAN’S DREAM

 

THE SAN JOAQUIN

CROPS GROW SO TALL

 

THE RICH FARM LAND

IT FEEDS US ALL

 

OLD JEANS, LOOSE TOP

AND FLOPPY HAT

 

SHE COULD BE RICH

HOW ABOUT THAT

 

CASTLES AND KINGS

ONLY THEY’RE REAL

 

CASUAL DRESS

IS NO BIG DEAL

 

THE YOUNG AND OLD

CREATE THE DREAM

 

CALIFORNIA

ALL THAT IT SEEMS

 

The Creek Fire

 

This is a watercolor of The Creek Fire in California.  I used a dramatic photo from the Associated Press as my model.   As I post this, the fire is still burning.  I dedicate it to Cal Fire and all the people working to put out the many fires in California right now.

Wine Making

35 lbs. of grapes from our vines.

Pressing the juice from the grapes.

 Must starting second fermentation.

The final product.

Franco Harris

My father and I were watching the Steeler-Raider game on TV.  In it,  Franco Harris made the Immaculate Reception.  It was amazing.

Wakinyan--Thunder Spirit

This is a watercolor of a Wakinyan, which is a Thunder Spirit to the Lakota people.  My model was a drawing called "Dream of a Wakinyan" by Black Hawk.  He describes the picture as the Thunder Spirit riding a buffalo.  The buffalo's tail forms a rainbow.  The white spots represent hail.  If a Wakinyan visits a person in a dream, they might become a Heyoka, which is a kind of sacred clown to the Lakota.

Fence Post Sculpture

I made this, but I am not sure what it should be called.  Maybe it is a "Fence Post Sculpture" or a "Spirit Pole."  Anyway, it is just a bunch of old stuff from around the yard that I hung on a fence post.

Dave--Santa Rosa Plateau Nature Preserve

Dave, my wife's friend's husband, riding his horse at the Santa Rosa Nature Preserve.

Winchester '73--Case Colored

Original sketch.

Partially painted.  My gun-expert friend said the colors were too "psychedelic." I muted the oranges to browns in the final version.

This is what a real Winchester '73 looks like with case-coloring.

Dairy Milk Can

We have an old, antique milk can sitting on our patio.  The rusted patina was so interesting that I decided to try to capture it in a watercolor painting.  I used a very wet paper so the colors would bleed into each other.  As I worked on this painting, I thought about all the people who work on farms and orchards.  I appreciate so much all their hard work that puts food on our table.  I especially appreciate my farming cousins, Amy and her husband, Jesse; and Jennifer and her husband, Dan.

Our Lady of Guadalupe--Leather Carving in Barnwood Frame

George Floyd

I used a beautiful and dramatic painting of George Floyd by Brian Carlson as a model for this watercolor painting.  I know there are good cops out there and I support them 100% in their difficult job.  However, as in ANY profession, when someone does something wrong, there needs to be accountability.  BLM

I Am Gone from Here

I AM GONE FROM HERE

Standing at my grave,

Please don’t shed a tear.

My spirit’s left this place,

And I am gone from here.

I’m in my childrens’ veins,

And in their memories dear.

I’m in my artwork done,

For friends both far and near.

My spirit’s in the ground I’ve worked,

And plants I’ve nurtured there.

And in the grapes and wine we’ve made,

And toasts that we have shared.

And at the high school games,

On cold November nights,

I’m in the mist that swirls,

Beneath the stadium lights.

So do not cry and do not weep,

My spirit’s all around you see.

And all I’ve done and all I’ve made…

—is me.

Inspired by:  Mary Elizabeth Frye

Just Go-- In the Authors Hall Collection at Cal Poly Humboldt

In 2025, this book was included in the Authors Hall collection at Cal Poly Humboldt.

This is my first attempt at writing a short novel.  It was not so much the story I had to tell, but I wanted to go through the thought process of creating a novel. 

This story follows a naïve young man through his freshman year of college and his first time living away from home.  Searching for one’s destiny is mentioned several times and emerges as the students’ greater goal—more so than the goal of just passing classes and working towards a diploma.  Several of them have serious issues to deal with during the school year including, racial issues, long-term commitments, dealing with guilt and forgiveness.  This romantic comedy-drama is loosely based on my college experiences. AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

The paperback, a great read at the beach!

New Orleans Trolley--Garden District

I have always wanted to do a painting of some part of New Orleans.  I did one of St. Louis Cathedral awhile ago, but that was more of the building itself.  I decided on doing a Trolley in the Garden District.  The most challenging part was doing the windows.

Coronavirus Project: USNS Mercy--Hospital Ship

I was looking for a Coronavirus/stay-at-home project.  I decided to make a toy ship for my grandchildren.  Originally, I thought of doing a battleship, but a hospital ship seemed more appropriate.  I only used material I had on-hand in my garage. (except for the dowel for the smokestack) I completed the project in about two weeks.  I was in no hurry and tried to do a little each day.  This is the Hospital Ship Mercy.  You can tell by the forward-facing Red Cross, which is off-centered.  This was the ship that was sent to Los Angeles during the pandemic.  On the Hospital Ship Comfort, the forward-facing Red Cross is centered.

This is the real USNS Mercy out at sea.  It is a beautiful sight.  It must be very emotional for people in need to see it arriving on the scene to help.

This is my project with the unpainted pieces assembled.

Boo

Debbie, a good friend of my wife, had a horse named Boo for many years.  Recently, Boo passed away.  This painting is from a photo of Debbie and Boo in a Barrel Race competition at a rodeo.

Ocean View Seahawk Runningback

I painted this one in 1986 when I was the Head Coach at Ocean View H. S.  CLAW stands for Class, Loyalty, Aggressiveness and Work. 

Serengeti Sunset

This is my Coronavirus-Stay-At-Home painting.  I took a photo from a PBS Wildlife show on our TV last night (See below) and used it for my model.  For all the scrubbing I do on paintings like this, I think I need to use heavier paper.

The Trinidad Coast

A photo of the Trinidad Coast in Northern California.

The Carson Mansion

A photo of the Carson Mansion in Eureka, California

Poetry Collection

I have always enjoyed the poetry of Carl Sandburg and Pablo Neruda.  Over the past many years, I have written a few poems.  Most are pretty sappy.  The last one was inspired by reading Edgar Allan Poe.  Here are two of them...

I SELDOM SAY I LOVE YOU

I seldom say I love you

It’s such an easy thing to say.

Especially when we’re warm and tender

And the world’s so far away.

Three short and simple words

That people say so fast.

No, I’d rather show my love

In ways that‘ll always last.

I’ll tell you that I love you

By the way I hold your hand

And the way I hold you close to me

As we walk along the sand.

And you’ll always know I love you

By the way I treat you

The way I hold you

And the way I care for you.

So when we’re sitting quietly

And those words you’d wish I’d say,

Remember that I’ve said them to you

In a thousand different ways.

 I HATE YOU CLOCK...

I hate you clock

quiet and slow

It's as if you know

the time I must go

You seem to know

when I must die

You hold the knowledge

I wish had I

Yet how can a clock

made of springs and gears

Know something

that won't happen for years.

 

I hate you clo.....................

The Milky Way from Cranberry Island, Maine

This is a watercolor of the Milky Way from Little Cranberry Island off the coast of Maine.  I used a beautiful painting by Jennifer Lawson as a model.  Twice in my life, I have seen beautiful views of the Milky Way--once at an evening lab session for an Astronomy class at Humboldt State University; and the other time was when I was camping with my wife and children at the Grand Canyon.  Both times, the view was awe-inspiring.  This painting could not be used in an Astronomy class, but I hope it captures some of the beauty of the Milky Way.

China Lake Petroglyphs

This is a pencil drawing of a Native American Petroglyph found on the grounds of the China Lake Naval Air Station in California.

Steel Mill Interior

As I mentioned in my painting, "Pittsburgh Steel Mill," I had wanted to do a painting of the fiery interior of a steel mill but could not find a good subject for a watercolor painting.  Recently I came across a great artist named Henry E. Jones (henryejones.com) whose watercolor painting I thought I could use.  His is much more dramatic and his use of a wet paper is excellent.  

I dedicate this one to my Uncle George Klipa who passed away on September 21, 2019.  He worked for many years for U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh--spending many years at the Edgar Thompson Plant.  When I was in 2nd Grade, he gave my father and me a tour of his steel mill.  No painting can capture the feel of being there in person.  The deafeningly loud sounds of the huge machines; the acrid smell of the fire, coal and steel searing your nostrils; and the burning hot temperature on your skin while you look at white hot steel--all combine to overwhelm the senses.

Angel of Bridge Street (Franklin, Tennessee)

Sitting next to a driveway on Bridge Street in Franklin, Tennessee is a statue of an angel. The weather, taking its toll on it, just seems to enhance its beauty.

Redwood Forest

This is a watercolor of a Redwood forest similar to the ones near Humboldt State University where I attended school.  I have found that it is extremely difficult to capture the size and majesty of the Redwoods while painting or photographing them.   While reading a children's book, "You are Home" by Evan Turk, I came across a painting of Redwoods that was very beautiful.  I used it as a model for my painting. The top portion of the painting is supposed to be washed out as it is trying to show the tops of the trees lost in the mist.

Almost Home

This is the first painting I have ever done for someone who requested it.  A friend of my wife asked her son, "When do you feel like you are almost home?"  He said, "When I see the barn."  She asked me to paint a picture from a photo that she had taken of that barn.  The barn is located near Joseph, Oregon.

This is another attempt of the same barn.  I wanted to try a looser version of the subject.