Behind the Cover Art: July, 2025

For this month’s Crier cover, I wanted to capture the spirit of the Fourth of July. Fireworks, while a fitting subject, are notoriously difficult to paint and even harder to photograph effectively. Fortunately, my neighbor, photographer Terry Whittaker, generously provided several high-quality fireworks photos for use. Rather than trying a time-intensive painting, I created a collage from his images to display the vibrant displays. Although extracting each firework from its background proved labor-intensive, I am pleased with the result and grateful for Terry’s contribution.

See more about this photo HERE.