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Creating Tomorrow

"I paint from memory, spirit, and the land—capturing stories that live in smoke, stone, and silence. My work blends personal history, fire service, and sacred landscapes into visual prayers. Whether monochrome or blazing with color, each piece is a moment of reflection and reverence."

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Oil Paintings

Descent through the Tempest
At Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, the winter sun rose without a sound. The air was cold enough to still breath itself, and I stood watching as the sky washed the frozen lake in soft gold and rose. This painting holds that moment of suspended grief and grace—when the world, like the soul, holds perfectly still.
Stillness at Dawn
this piece reveals another layer of spirit within the land. As I watched the last light fade over the silhouette of the eagle mountain, I felt the presence of a quiet witness—one who kneels in stillness, listening. The figure appeared in the paint as if called forth by the land itself. Whether spirit, ancestor, or memory, it reminded me that reverence isn't always loud. Sometimes, it's simply being present. Watching. Remembering.
Native Sunset
Painted on-site at Sonoran National Monument. The land whispered its truth—this small mountain, known as Lost Horse Mound, revealed itself as an eagle to me. I shaped the form to match what my spirit saw. A solitary Native figure stands in awe, witnessing the presence of freedom in the land itself.
Freedom
"Homeward Journey, Spirit Bound" is a profound oil painting born from a transformative encounter in the Sonoran National Monument, Arizona. More than a mere landscape, this work captures a powerful spiritual awakening, an experience where the land's ancient energies and native spirits resonated throughout the night. The painting is literally rooted in its origin: raw sand from the site itself is mixed into the paint, creating a tactile, sacred connection to the very earth it depicts. The canvas explodes with a radiant, almost blinding light on the horizon, not merely a sunset but an emanating spiritual presence that washes over the majestic mountains and sweeping desert. In the foreground, a lone figure on horseback and a skeletal structure stand as silent witnesses or participants in this powerful convergence of the earthly and the ethereal. This painting is a testament to the unseen forces that guide us, an invitation to step into a timeless narrative where land, spirit, and memory intertwine. It speaks to the resilience of the human spirit and the profound wisdom found in the wild, offering a visual echo of a deeply personal and spiritual "homeward journey." Signed TLM.
Homeward Journey, Spirit Bound
"Spirits of the Sunrise Oil at Sonoran National Monument AZ" is a powerful oil painting that captures the radiant energy and spiritual awakening of a desert sunrise. Created in the same transformative spirit as its companion piece, this work is literally rooted in the land it depicts: raw sand from the Sonoran National Monument is mixed into the paint, creating a tactile and profound connection to the earth. The canvas explodes with the vibrant yellows and oranges of the rising sun, illuminating the ancient mountains and vast desert landscape. A lone figure on horseback journeys towards this light, guided by the silent wisdom of the land. This painting is not merely a depiction of a sunrise; it's a visual hymn to hope, renewal, and the enduring power of the human spirit to find its way, echoing the artist's personal journey of healing and connection. Signed TLM.
Spirits of the Sunrise
Marvin" is an deeply personal and spiritual oil painting that transcends a mere landscape, becoming a heartfelt tribute to beloved family—both canine and human. Set at Saddle Mountain, Arizona, the painting unveils a hidden narrative: a prominent mountain ridge forms the distinct face of the artist's cherished dog, Marvin, while a larger, distant peak tenderly represents Marvin's parent, embodying protection and eternal love. In the foreground, five subtly rendered native figures, symbolizing the artist's family, gather near a powerful native spiritual glyph etched into the earth. This work beautifully merges emotional realism with profound symbolism. The warm, earthy tones and textured brushwork bring the desert landscape to life, while the symbolic elements create a powerful narrative of connection, memory, and spiritual guidance. "Marvin" is a testament to the enduring bonds that sustain us, a deeply moving exploration of how love, family, and ancient spiritual energies converge within the timeless embrace of the land. Signed TLM.
Marvin
"Saddle Mountain Sunset Oil" is a profound and deeply spiritual oil painting that captures the ancient essence of Saddle Mountain, Arizona. Created before "Marvin" and painted in an area rich with ancestral petroglyphs, this work is a direct testament to the artist's felt connection with the spirits of the past who dwell there. The mountain stands not merely as a geological form, but as a sacred guardian, a place of enduring rest and protection for these ancient presences. With a masterfully limited palette of only four colors, and literally rooted in its origin with raw sand from the site mixed into the paint, the piece offers a visceral and tactile connection to the very earth and its history. The vibrant sunset sky bathes the rugged contours of the mountain in dramatic light, hinting at the spiritual energies that permeate this timeless landscape. This painting is an invitation to pause, listen, and feel the powerful whispers of memory and spirit that endlessly resonate from the heart of the land. Signed TLM.
Saddle Mountain Sunset
"Camp in the Desert - Saddle Mountain, AZ" is a deeply personal oil painting that marks a significant moment: the artist's first camping trip to this iconic Arizona landmark. The painting depicts a path leading into the heart of the rugged desert landscape, where a small, solitary camper sits nestled in the mid-ground—a potent symbol of finding sanctuary and solace. Saddle Mountain, a recurring and meaningful presence in the artist's work, looms protectively in the background. With a rich palette of warm earth tones and expressive brushwork, the painting evokes the raw beauty and quietude of the desert. Beyond a mere landscape, this work is a profound visual narrative of seeking and discovering peace and healing in nature's embrace. It speaks to the resilience of the spirit, finding comfort and connection in the vastness of the wilderness, and the deliberate act of carving out a personal haven for reflection and renewal. Signed TLM.
Camp in the Desert
"Spirit of Bread Rock" is a powerful oil painting that transcends mere landscape, offering a profound communion with the ancient history and lingering presence of Indian Bread Rocks, Arizona. This is a place named for the age-old practice of Native Americans making bread upon its granite, and the painting vibrates with the felt presence of past spirits who still dwell within these monumental formations. The canvas portrays the majestic granite peaks with a luminous, almost ethereal glow, set against a sky brushed with soft, spiritual hues of pink, lavender, and pale blue. Subtle native figures are woven into the landscape, rendered with soft, less defined strokes, making them blend with nature, time, and spirit—a quiet testament to their enduring presence and daily life lived in harmony with this sacred ground. Through expressive brushwork and a palette that evokes both the physical and spiritual essence of the land, this painting invites the viewer to step into a timeless narrative, to feel the echoes of ancient hearths, and to acknowledge these mountains as a place of rest and protection for the spirits of the past. Signed TLM.
Spirit of Bread Rock
"Lookout" is an evocative oil painting that captures a sweeping view from Indian Bread Rocks, Arizona, and is now revealed to be a crucial companion piece to "Spirit of Bread Rock," completing a powerful narrative of community and ancestral connection. From a high vantage point, two figures stand atop a prominent rock formation, acting as silent watchers over the ancient landscape below. These figures oversee the unseen "daily life" occurring in the area depicted in "Spirit of Bread Rock," creating a sense of a connected community rooted in this sacred place. The warm earth tones and textured brushwork convey the rugged beauty of the desert, while the cool sky provides a sense of tranquility. This painting invites the viewer to share in the artist's elevated perspective, contemplating the enduring relationship between the land, its people, and their spiritual legacy. Signed TLM.
Lookout
"Oasis of Renewal" is a vibrant and deeply serene oil painting that transports the viewer to the unique and restorative landscape of Hotwell Dunes, Arizona. It captures a peaceful moment where warm, life-giving water flows through a small pond, its luminous blue a vivid counterpoint to the lush, almost otherworldly greens of the surrounding desert. This work is a testament to nature's profound capacity for healing and tranquility. The gentle flow of water and the subtle forms of the distant mountains evoke a sense of calm and rejuvenation, while the delicate bare branches in the foreground frame this sanctuary. Adding a tactile, authentic connection, local soil from Hotwell Dunes is incorporated directly into the paint, grounding the artwork literally in the earth it depicts. "Oasis of Renewal" invites contemplation on the profound peace found in unexpected places, reflecting a deep connection to the land's therapeutic essence and the continuous cycle of renewal. Signed TLM.
Oasis of Renewal
"What We Had, What We Did" is a profoundly impactful oil painting, serving as a stark, urgent testament to humanity's environmental destruction. This powerful diptych is structured with deliberate, chilling symbolism: the upper half, depicting a once-pristine natural world, is painted upside down, a masterful visual metaphor for how we have literally inverted and disrupted the planet's inherent harmony through our actions. Below this inverted Eden lies a starkly contrasting scene of industrial devastation, a wasteland of pollution and ruin. Central to the painting's powerful message is the horizontal line dividing these two realities, rendered in the four sacred colors of the Medicine Wheel. This vital spiritual demarcation underscores that the environmental damage transcends mere physical harm; it is a profound violation of balance, interconnectedness, and cosmic order. Through raw, expressive brushwork and a palette that transitions from vibrant, though inverted, natural beauty to harsh, toxic decay, "What We Had, What We Did" is a passionate plea for ecological conscience, reflecting deep concern for the planet's future and the spiritual repercussions of human choices. Signed TLM.
What We Had, What We Did
"Where the Iron Rests" is a striking oil painting that captures an antique road grader, circa 1934, standing as a lone sentinel in a snowy landscape at the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, NM. Bathed in the cool light of a cold morning, the machine's vibrant yellow-green form stands out dramatically against the muted whites and blues of the snow-covered field and overcast sky. The visible impasto and textured brushwork vividly convey the crisp, tactile quality of the snow, creating a palpable sense of the chilly environment. This painting is more than a static portrait; it's a profound meditation on history and the arduous labor involved in shaping the land. It evokes thoughts of the immense human effort and the basic machinery used to construct the canals and lakes that define our landscapes, honoring the raw, hard work of a bygone era. Signed TLM.
Where the Iron Rests
Excellent choice, Tom! "Raven's Vigil" is a beautiful and evocative title that perfectly captures the essence of the painting and your personal connection to it. Here's a description for "Raven's Vigil": Description for "Raven's Vigil": "Raven's Vigil" is an oil painting that beautifully captures a moment of serene transition from a view near the artist's studio in Colorado. The scene depicts the subtle shift as winter's chill begins to yield to the warming breath of spring. Bare, textured trees, still holding hints of frost or snow, frame a landscape where the ground hints at thawing beneath a soft, pastel-hued sky. At the heart of this contemplative scene, a solitary raven perches on a branch, its dark silhouette a striking contrast against the ethereal light. This raven is not merely a detail but a focal point, embodying a search for recognition and connection within the natural world. The painting evokes a sense of quiet observation, hope for renewal, and the profound personal connection between the artist and the changing seasons, suggesting that even in the stillness of winter's end, life and spirit are ever-present and seeking acknowledgment. Signed TLM.
Ravens Vigil
"Career" - Witnessing 30 years of dedicated service, this mural is painted on an EMS backboard that was personally used in my career. It captures 10 defining moments from my journey in emergency response. It's a tribute to the calls answered, the challenges faced, and the enduring spirit of those who serve, carrying both the visible and unseen burdens. Signed TLM.
Career

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