The Night Trout

 Thanks to my brother, I find myself thinking of moths more than I used to, and more than I would like to.  The more I learn about them, the less I am sure I like them.  From the Black Witch moth that is rumored to spell certain death if it flies into your house and manages to travel to all four corners of the room, to the bizarre and downright horrific acts committed upon defenseless cocoons by parasites, not to mention their equally repulsive defense mechanisms.  I have always thought of moths as mysterious night creatures, but now instead of looking up at the night sky in wonder, I am anxiously glancing over my shoulder. 
As for the trout, your guess is as good as mine...

The Marsh

 For nearly two months I had not been inspired or come up with any ideas for paintings, so I forced some inspiriation.  I looked through a book of nature photography, saw a nice picture of a trumpeter swan, and then built off that.  These paintings always feel weird to me because they require so much thought and planning and the emotion comes later.  They are like an arranged marriage that luckily works out in the end.