Top 10 Art Pieces of April 2026
April 30, 2026
#10 — Campfire in a Cave
I started painting this camp fire outdoors, but as I continued to work on it, the piece felt like it was supposed to be in a cave. I don't know why, but I went with it and I am glad I did.
#9 — Suspicious Cardinal
What to say on this piece? Started out as a permanent marker drawing from imagination on a small sketchbook page. My first attempt at linocut with two blocks. One block for the red and one block for the black (the key block). I cut out a hole in a cardboard box to attempt to do registration on the prints. They turned out pretty well for a first attempt. Oh, did you notice the cardinal is staring at you? That side-eye is why the piece is titled Suspicious Cardinal.
#8 — Purple and Gold Movement
After trying out abstract art concept with Heat, I wanted to try it again. However, I felt like using purple and gold since my daughter recently graduated from UNI. It has a different vibe even though a lot of the brush strokes are the same. Art is so much fun!
#7 — Lich with Knife (sketchbook)
Really excited to paint this some day. This dark character is a lich — a powerful undead sorcerer. I write under the pseudonym Kalvin Thane and I have been working on a novel that has him as one of the villains. It's fun to see a character come to life.
#6 — Heat
In the article where I talk about why I enjoy the artist trading card format, I mention how the size gives me permission to experiment. This was one of those experiments. It may not have been number 1 this month, but it won me over to the abstract side of painting. I will do both, but I never would have tried painting abstract pieces if not for these little art cards.
#5 — Resting Hare
After burning in the shape for the rabbit, it was time for burning in the fur. I sort of zoned out and kind of remember waking up from a daze and it was done. Probably the most creative part of an art piece I have done yet. It was calming to work on and I feel it exudes peace and relaxation. Thus it was named Resting Hare.
#4 — Wooden Cross (not on the site yet)
I was so happy with how the art card turned out that I decided to do a pyrography piece of the same subject. It was interesting since I had three posts related to Easter just ready to go without consciously planning it.
#3 — Crown of Thorns (sketchbook)
I have a piece in my head, but don't want to spoil what it is yet. This sketch was a practice towards that piece and I was really happy how it turned out. Especially since it was permanent marker on paper. Sometimes the constraints can be more of a benefit (to me at least).
#2 — Remember the Cross
In high school, I remember doodling wood grain patterns. I had also been practicing volume and shading with pencil so I thought I would give this painting a shot. Glad I did.
#1 — Red Roses
I ran across a picture of some roses I had given my wife for our anniversary and I felt like painting them. I felt happy with how they turned out, but did not expect them to be this month's number one art piece.