A Path in the Pines

An 8x10 study from my final day at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. I'm back a few days early. Will post more as I get them processed. Meanwhile It's time to adjust back to the cold north air.

Blog Closing for Two Weeks

I'll be heading to Florida for the next two weeks without any computer access. Will be taking the watercolors with as I did last year. I think I might just have to bring some oils too. I don't want to loose the rythm I have going with plein air painting. When I return there will be the Valentine's Rush at the flower shop then preperations for my one man exhibit at Atlantic Cape Community College Art Gallery for the month of April.

Walking with Sunrise and Seagulls

This is from a photo I took a few weeks ago, I asked my friend Jack to get out and walk along the beach and he willingly obliged. The colors are a little overly vivid..part of that is the photo, the other part: inexperience.

Wildlife Refuge

Taking my time with this piece...applying lessons learned with the plein air such as the value of values and lost edges to create distance and atmosphere.

note difference from overly intense first session

9th Street Bridge

This little sketch was done from my friend Jane's porch in Ocean City. Hopefully I'll be doing more from there in the future...the view is great!

Ocean City Music Pier

The weather has been very warm the last few days. I forgot how much colder it is on the beach and froze myself to the shivers doing this one yesterday morning. This building os one of the most popular painting subjects in Ocean City...I feel as though I've passed some rite of passage in finally doing a painting of it. Went back after I got home and fixed up some of the details in the architecture...it is a fine old structure!

Winter Beach Scene

Ocean City 8x10

Growing Pains

Painting #1


..........................................Painting #2

These are two 9x12 views of Patcong Creek with the Bargaintown Dam in the background. On number one I was pretty bummed when I saw the painting after I got home. Spent two hours perched on rocks to get that view, but the painting was all wrong..the values were off, the composition was a little stiff ...even the colors were funky. I posted a picture of it at the plein air forum on Wet Canvas where I recieved lots of good advice. A few days later I returned to try again..the view was quite different with a lower tide and a clearer sky. I was armed with knowledge, good paints and a delightfully warm afternoon. Needless to say I'm much happier with number two. If I had wiped off number one I never would have learned what I needed to know so it was well worth that two hours after all. I can't wait to paint this view when the grasses are green.

Congratulations Susie and Jerry

My Sister Sue got married last night at a beautiful B&B in Cape May...so here is a nice photo of a bunch of people that most of you don't know. That's me third from the left, back row. The requested wedding gift is a painting of the Virginia Inn. Hopefully I'll have it complete when they return from the honeymoon!

Faunce Landing Crows 5x7 oil

I was scouting for a place to paint yesterday and came upon these crows. Crows are cruel, but remarkabley smart. I like them despite how they kill baby birds. After shooting the reference photo, these three and several others all moved to one side of the road and stood in a line like they were waiting for me to pass...which I did. I want to paint more birds in the future. I guess I will have to rely on the camera to make paintings like this. A worthwhile compromise I think.

Wildlife Refuge

Here's a large ( 24x36) landscape just begun. The first from a photo reference. Well at least since 1992! Photo was taken same day I did this plein air piece. This place is a bird sanctuary in Brigantine...a wonderful drive!

Happy New Year

I'll post this self portrait even though I'm not liking it too much. I used to do these all the time..this is the first one in a while and it had about four other versions wiped clean prior. It's the first one since I took the mustache off last year. That was weird to paint ...as well as the ever growing forehead! I always start within the confines of the canvas. Anyway My birthday is in a couple of weeks but it always feels like it's on the first because of the date change. oh eight means 48!