Just a few images of a young lady in perpetual motion!

Thank you for stopping by the studio! Santa looks forward to seeing and visiting with all of you every year!

http://www.therenaissanceofaurora.com/jollyoldelf2017

Scare the Square 2017

Thank you for stopping by on such a cold and windy evening!

And, for making memories for years to come.

Happy Halloween!

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Find your little goblin here!

I have been busy in the studio! On to Skyscape with this new oil painting.

"Of a Feather" Oil on Canvas.

Merry Christmas from the Renaissance!

Mr. and Mrs. Claus listen carefully to the description of just the exact toy.

Lists are important to bring along just in case you may forget something!

A few "First Timers" today!

And sometimes just laying in Santa's arms is just so relaxing!

Enjoy the portraits!

http://www.therenaissanceofaurora.com/candycanechristmas

It's a Candy Cane Christmas!

This Saturday December 3rd, 2016

Santa will be in Aurora all day!

Stop by the studio for your portrait

with Santa between 10:00am and 11:00am

Here is the schedule for this Saturday!

Happy Halloween 2016

Somewhere back in my memory of Halloween I remember being dressed as a ghost and running in snow with a overstuffed Safeway sack filled with candy.

We kids knew we needed to ditch the big bags of candy and go to the doorstep of the next house with nothing but pitiful looks and empty bags in order to get even more treats.

Flash forward a few years and I am walking through my parents door with my family of 4 - we were all dressed up and we were all a sight. Our intention was to pay visit to my aging parents and brighten their otherwise slow Halloween. And it worked very well, another cherished memory in the books.

More recently having landed in Aurora I now have the yearly phenomenon of "Scare the Square" which as a photographer has provided great memories of all sorts of little beings.  I am always happy to oblige when the opportunity to preserve the Halloween memory comes along, no candy however, but if you stand in front of me for 250th of a second I may get to hand you a photo of you when you were frighteningly cute!

When you light your candles this evening I hope you have fond memories of those who are no longer with us but whose spirits surround us in love this Halloween night! Happy Halloween Everyone!

Scare the Square 2016

Scare the Square

Aurora's Much Loved Halloween Tradition

Will be Celebrated this year on

Thursday, October 27th

from 5:00pm until 7:00pm

Stop by the Studio for some Halloween fun!

This brings together my work in painting and photography and adds yet another dimension

of touring and meeting new people along the way. From time to time I will post the new paintings and 

show schedules in hopes that you may want to see the work first hand at a venue near you.

"Elemental" will be showing at the Stuhr Museum, Grand Island Nebraska, from September 16th until November 11th, 2016.

My painting entitled "Sheridan County Gem" will be on display as well as many other fine works by Nebraska

artists from all across our great state.

"Sheridan County Gem"

The oil painting on panel was inspired by the many small ponds that dot the Sand Hills of Nebraska along the Highway 2 Scenic byway.

These are a few of my favorites from both in studio and out.

http://renaissance.zenfolio.com/leta17

Just my top 35 favorites with more to come! Enjoy!

http://renaissance.zenfolio.com/matthew

Aficionado's Paradise

Lights I

Lights II

Our aim shall be to broaden and deepen the creative art experience of the people of Nebraska.

And so, the Association known by its acronym, ANAC, has been moving from community to community in Nebraska for 51 years, bringing with it the artists, and clubs, workshops, and internationally known instructors, to teach and share with fellow Nebraskans, the love of art and the creative process.
Each year at the annual conference the top award winning art pieces are chose to represent ANAC and are sent on the road for a year as an exhibit of work to venues across Nebraska.  The ANAC Travel Show will open this Wednesday afternoon April 27th.

The Travel Show will reside at the Renaissance at 1210 L St. in Aurora, and will be open to the public until Friday, May 13th.  A reception for the public is planned for the afternoon and evening of Thursday May 5th.  The Renaissance is open daily from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm and by appointment, after-hours and on the weekends. Please stop by and see this wonderful body of artwork from Nebraska artists from all across our state.

I hope to see you here!

IT WAS THE PERFECT EVENING FOR A GALA....

THE DESSERTS WERE ALL JUST AS TASTY AS THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL.......

EVEN THE TABLES WERE DRESSED UP.......

THE ROOM WAS FILLED TO CAPACITY......

After being in the art world for over 35 years, and the photography world for 25, I will admit that there are times when inspiration is a much needed ingredient to the daily task of creation.The simple pursuit of a new aesthetic find to dwell on and deconstruct, only to reconstruct and make my own. For some time I have wanted to try to repaint a chair beginning with the gesso process, and then designing a new colorful skin, so to speak.

While attending a recent sale, that particular chair caught my eye and I brought it home for the sole purpose of trying the painting process.  This is the before image of the chair. I loved the shape, the color and fabric not so much.

Down the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem that day The soldiers tried to clear the narrow street But the crowd pressed in to see A Man condemned to die on Calvary He was bleeding from a beating, there were stripes upon His back And He wore a crown of thorns upon His head And He bore with every step The scorn of those who cried out for His death (chorus) Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King, But He chose to walk that road out of His love For you and me. Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary. Por la Via Dolorosa, triste dia en Jerusalem Los saldados le abrian paso a Jesus Mas la gente se acercaba Para ver al que llevaba aquella cruz Por la Via Dolorosa, que es la via Del dolor Como oveja vino Cristo, Rey, Señor Y fue El quien quiso ir por su amor Por ti y Por mi Por la Via Dolorosa al Calvario y a morir The blood that would cleanse the souls of all men Made its way to the heart of Jerusalem. Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King But He chose to walk that road out of His love For you and me Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.

The main speaker for the evening was Debbie Anstein, former Mrs. Nebraska 1998.  Debbie gave us all an inside view of the pageant world and the demands that come with appearances and titles.  She also spoke in tandem about her life and the "being too busy setting" that we all create for our selves. She spoke about adopting the saying "will it matter in 10 years" to daily priorities. Pointing out as an example her choice to make an appearance for Mrs. Nebraska or attend her sons basketball game. She chose the basketball game. She too spoke of loss in her life and her path of finding her way. And, along with finding her way helping others to find theirs. Proverbs 27:17 -As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. She recommended two books, neither had I heard of, and both I want to read now: The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey and Strengths Finder by Galluphttp://strengths.gallup.com/110440/about-strengthsfinder-2.aspx  She encouraged us to close the gap in our journey in life and walk with purpose. It was a very eloquent and powerful message.

The evening was made more perfect by the fact that some of the ladies in attendance allowed me to photograph them, I talked to them about their families and grandchildren and that is why they have smiles on their faces and a twinkle in their eyes.  The ladies in the following gallery are the backbone of our communities and families, and are the very fabric of our nation. I know you will recognize some of them.

inward and reflect on how quickly all of this passes by?

Find your moment, enjoy your silence. Spring is on the way.

Nothing is more beautiful that a home decorated with personal portraits and meaningful art. I'm told that my view is different because of my creative genes and that not everyone see it that way, but can you not deny the fact that when you walk in to a home with personal portraits and original art, it feels more personal, more authentic, and more rich.

It is the autumn season of decorating and so many great ideas are in the works. I'm seeing baskets, leaves, sconces, candles, figurines, and glassware, but what about the centerpiece for all of this to exist around. What is that centerpiece in your home? Does it smile back at you with familiar and loving eyes or does it simply cover the wall.  Surround yourself with the things you love it's simple and so rewarding.  As for me I've added a few favorites to my decorating collection this year! P.S. Now to get the house done! : )

Yob in concert

These are a few of my favorite images from a recent session featuring the newly arrived Miss Gracie Mae.

These happened to be from an evening session which was a great time for this particular family.

First sessions are perfect for capturing beautiful images for the babies birth announcement.

Just arriving today!! A sample of the Christmas Greeting Card- Luxe Pop!  Custom designed card/ornament -  featuring two styles and two sides!

Stop by and see the possible design choices of this beautiful card and book your Holiday Session! It's easy and affordable.

ask any photographer.  2 year olds make us sweat. Period.  They are their own entity.

It may take a few appointments to even get them into the studio. Why?

Because sometimes for a 2 year old the last minute before the walk out the door could be

the moment of the big forehead goose egg, or the tiny finger in the big door or even the

revenge of the applesauce, banana diaper.  Somehow though, they get here and it is always

fun!  And really, the hardest part of all is getting parents settled down and out of the

"corral that baby" mode into the more relaxed "whatever happens, we're going to love it" mode.

So a little advice for parents on picture day would be:

1.Learn deep breathing exercises, (much like you learned when they were being born)

 and use them on picture day.

2. Dress them in something simple and plain, simple is good, patterns only detract from their beautiful

little faces.

3. No candy, no bribery of any sort, no deals, not when they're two, believe me you'll wish someday that

you had never began this cycle.

4. Bring something they love, be it their favorite toy or their blanket, let them suck their thumb! It's O.K.

5. Remember that they are still babies and that they just want to play.

And that is what we will do,  we will play and I will take their portrait while they are having fun.

And in between the shots I'll be sweating!