On the Stump, watercolor

One of Ben and Frances' cats sitting on a stump chair. This painting was a gift to a politician friend's wife and there was a pun intended.

Snow Shelter, drybrush watercolor

Ben had a collection of bee hives which were placed on long boards supported by stumps and concrete blocks. They were under a group of white pines which provided the title to the painting in that they protected the hives from the elements. Ben was proud of his hives and more so of the honey they produced. Thankfully he never had to be concerned with the devastating mites which have recently wiped out many of our local hives.

Snow Shelter, Detail

Ben placed bricks on top of the hives to keep the wind from blowing the covers off. The ground was covered in a rich carpet of pine needles.

Snow Shelter, watercolor and graphite study

Snow Patches, watercolor

Another view of the barn at Nicholson's. The snow was melting quickly. Ben had several locust posts leaning against an old tree stump to dry.