Richard's space - Welcome to California!

Here are some paintings I have done recently. I have been enjoying painting in a new way for about 2 years since I began doing some projects with a friend in Thailand named Bua. We have been an encouragement to each other to paint the same subject and compare them afterward for style and so on. It has been a great experience. Some of these I have done as co-projects with her. Others I have done on my own. I also have added new paintings to my art photo album. Take a look! If you want to see the largest size, go to the album.

"Music Is My Best Friend" ~ watercolor

. . . a detail of the same painting

"Night Ship" ~ watercolor ; and "Ohio Countryside" ~ oil painting

"Lord Bless You and Keep You" ~ watercolor

. . . a detail of the same painting

My Wife and I traveled to Mongolia in June. It was a wonderful time. We have many friends there, so we visited them, stayed in the homes of some of them, traveled through two cities - Ulan Baatar and Darkhan - and to places in the countryside. It was great! Here are three photos for you to see. I have put about 70 in a new photo album, also. The countryside is getting green in June. It is beautiful in so many ways, and rugged in other ways. The people we visited were so nice, helpful, fun, friendly....  I wanted to stay longer!!!

I have had fun recently trying new watercolor ideas. My wife has written a childrens' book and is hoping to have it published sometime. So I plan to do some drawings for it. Here is the first one I did... of Bub who is one of the main charecters in the story. I hope it puts a smile on your face!!!

Below are two details of the watercolor.... :)

Merry Christmas to everyone!!

For my friends and family and I, Christmas is a special time to get together and have a really nice time giving gifts, eating big meals and taking a break from our busy lives. For those of you who don't celebrate Christmas or don't know too much about it, it all began the day that a little baby was born in a little shack and placed in a feeding trough used by farm animals because the city was too crowded and there were no hotel rooms available. This baby was Jesus, who, though He is God and one with His heavenly Father, was sent to experience all the things of human existence and show to us the amazing love and life of God. So much about it is mystery, but Jesus knows how we feel, He knows about our hurts and sorrows, and He knows how to help us and heal us. And more than anything He came to bring us back to God. The true meaning of Christmas is recognizing and experiencing the amazing happiness that God has brought us by sending His Son to save us for eternity ~ to save us from our sin and sadness and prepare us to live with Him for ever! No wonder that such joy moves us to give gifts to each other!

God contracted to a span,
Incomprehensibly made man!

Much love to all of you!!