The Watercolor Paintings of John Louis Kokalis...
SEASCAPES · WESTERN SCENES
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Ludington Lighthouse
Behind the lighthouse are the 'Three Sisters', dunes covered with forest right down to the beech along Lake Michigan. These sailors spent the night at sea, unable to enter the harbor due to the storm on Lake.
Lighthouse At Peggy's Cove
Peggy's Cove, on the east coast of Nova Scotia, is a windswept place. A beacon for the local boaters and for the ships arriving to the coast of North America.
Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, Michigan
The Great Lakes, in the winter, is a cold, windy place. And, this lighthouse, stationed on northern Lake Superior, catches the winds off of the Great Plains, coming from Wisconsin, and by the time those winds cross the lake, they are reaching high levels when they crash on the shore.
Skipper
It is not at all unusual for sailors to have animals along when they go to sea. Dogs, and cats, are great comfort, and often are great guards as well.
Harbor Springs Inlet
One of the best kept secrets on Lake Michigan is the little town of Harbor Springs. This painting depicts the old cannery row, which today is a remnant of another time.
Fowl Weather
Fowl weather or foul weather - whatever you call it, the seagulls are going to meet and congregate, because that's what they do.
Go'in Fishing
Morning on the Inter-Coastal Waterway, in South Carolina, is the perfect time to have a cup of coffee, pull together your fishing gear and see what you can catch. You can try, first, the shoreline under the trees, and if that doesn't get you any action, then you can move out towards the channel going out to the Atlantic Ocean, where you just might get one or two of the big ones. Whatever you decide, you can be sure the experience will be one to remember.
Evening Sail — Lime Kiln Lighthouse
A sailors treat, packing a bottle of wine, some snacks and a jacket for later on, and going out for an evening sail with family and friends. You can watch the sun go down, then search for the navigation lights along the North Channel. You might even see an ocean freighter heading south.
Drought on the Plains
The drought that swept across the Oklahoma and Texas panhandle left its mark on the land and the people who worked it. The windmill stands as a sentinel over a parched landscape, a reminder of the resilience required to survive on the plains.
High Cotton
The old farmhouse and windmill stand as testament to generations of families who worked the land in Western Oklahoma. The cotton fields stretch to the horizon, a symbol of both hardship and hope for those who called this place home.
Texas Longhorn
The Texas Longhorn is an icon of the American West. These hardy animals roamed the open range for generations, and today they remain a symbol of the rugged independence that defines the spirit of the Southwest.
Cactus Flower
The cactus flower blooms in brilliant color against the harsh desert landscape. These vivid blossoms are a reminder that beauty can be found even in the most unlikely places.
Carried Away
Vanessa, the little girl, was six years old, as depicted in this watercolor painting. She grew up on a ranch in Northwestern Oklahoma, where her family raised wheat. This is the same area where the dustbowl devastated a generation of families, driving many of them off the land. The children and grand children of those who stayed, today continue to till the land!
Don't Get Wet!
The simplicity of this subject speaks for itself. It was painted for friends, from a photograph of their grand daughter, and the subject was perfect. Children are hard to resist.
Waiting in Atlanta
A painting of a lady sitting in the airport in Atlanta, I noticed this lady and immediately took her picture. Not wanting to ignore her concern, I walked over to her and introduced myself, and let her know I wanted to paint her. With the agreement I would give her a print of the painting, she agreed, and told me she was African and Cherokee, and that she lived in Dallas. The photo was an opportunity to find a great subject and get to know a great lady.
Homeless
What can we say about this painting? Today, thousands of men and woman live on the streets of America, because we can't seem to put our national priorities in order. Many are ex-military, Americans who have served our nation, who can't find work, who have medical or mental issues. How we treat our veterans tells a lot about who we are as a people.
