A visit to Creed, Colorado is a trip into an unbelievable mountain setting.  It is also the home, gallery, studio, and workshop room of Stephen Quiller, one of the greatest of all watercolor and acrylic artists.  This place will take your breath away.

My son, Lew, took a photo on a trip into Wyoming and I couldn't resist trying to capture it in watercolor.  These animals are true "royalty of the plains" in the U. S. midwest and southwest.

Southwest Images

The southwest U. S. tricultural society yields an unending trail of changes as our nation ages. The older ways merge with the new.

 Sometimes there isn't enough time to get the whole scene correct so I just go with the atmosphere!

Venice Canal Scene

Almost everywhere I looked, there was a scene I wanted to paint.  I took lots of photos for future reference.  The city looks great from almost any vantage point.

Watercolors make it fun to think about places I would like to visit.  This is from a photo by my son, Lew when he and Christine were in Amsterdam.

Wet Palette Flowers

Once in a while, I unload a bunch of colors to make way for new and fresh ones.  I always hope to make something pleasing from the "dump." This painting is from a while ago but still holds up.

Pikes Peak over the Garden of the Gods

The purple mountain majesty of Pikes Peak is always an interesting watercolor subject with its always changing light, shadow, and color.  The Garden of the Gods monoliths in the foreground are a plus in this view.  Other views, from the Woodland Park area are just as exciting.

Taos Street Scene

These visits to Taos make me feel that I am in a foreign country.  And, the town is only 3.5 hours from home.

Cottonwood Creek Beaver Dam

The beavers in this pond are really messing with the forest.  But I trust they know more than I about what the creek and banks need.  If I go  there next fall, what will I find?

Manitou Springs Stairway

The historic Manitou Springs Stairway which leads from Manitou Avenue to: NOWHERE! Perhaps it once led to a prominent building which is no longer there.  To get this view, I had to paint in the median of the avenue on a Sunday morning when traffic was very light.

Beaver Dam Nine

I am not sure how many more paintings of the beaver dams are left in me but it surely is fun when I get the urge.  These animals are awesome in their work habits.

Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico

As an architect, I came to appreciate the beautiful sculptural forms of the church at Ranchos de Taos in New Mexico.  Ancient, indigenous and lovingly maintained, it was an easy watercolor to become emotionally involved.

Eleven Mile Canyon on the South Platte River

The north entry to 11-Mile Canyon is a great place to spend a fall day.  And, if you fish, as does my son, it is a fantastic fly-fishing experience.  Fifty miles west of Colorado Springs will get you into spectacular county.

Road to Phantom Canyon

For fall colors in Colorado, you can't beat the Road to Phantom Canyon (Cripple Creek to Canon City). This is a wild, winding, slow drive where I once saw a mountain lion.  I have to paint here more often.

Painting Outdoors

When painting watercolors en plein aire (at an outdoor location), real problems exist for me that aren't present in the studio:  the dryness, wind, temperature, etc.  Watercolor paints dry very quickly, the watercolor paper dries out too soon, bugs get in my paint, sometimes people even interrupt me to see what I am doing!  I enjoy that last part but must keep working to avoid weather conditions.

This watercolor of a small Catholic church in Manitou Springs was painted from the curb on a great morning.  I was using Arches 140 lb paper clipped to a piece of masonite and Windsor - Newton watercolor paints in a travel box.

Travels of My Children

Many of my watercolors are painted from photos taken by my children on their interesting travels.  Above are paintings from an Oregon fishing trip by a son who is with the National Wildlife Federation and an outing in Djoubuti from my other son who is in the U S Air Force.

Old Taos

I first visited Taos with my parents in 1944.  I had never seen Pueblo Indians or the ancient culture around the town.  Since then, I have made many trips to see the wonderful tri-culture scene and the terrific art colony.

Beaver Dam at Cottonwood Lake

The beaver dams west of Buena Vista, Colorado have always been a favorite place to get inspiration for a watercolor.  This is the seventh time I have painted from my photos at the site and I plan to visit there many more times.

Los Pinos River in Winter

This watercolor is from from a summer scene which I painted to resemble a winter scene.  We don't visit my brother's place in southern Colorado in winter but I have a lot of photos of our time there in the summers.