Christmas Eve at Birch Grove

A beautiful day. Merry Christmas Everybody. I'm sure I'll be back before the New Year. There's plenty more snow to do paintings of. 9x12

Off's Pond

It was quite pleasant the first hour painting this. Then a strong wind started up. By the end of the second hour my extremities were numb...but god it was pretty! 12x9

Cold Cardinal

Road behind the Dunes

Plein Air. 9x12

Keeping the Time of Day

It's been less then four months since I went out to Colorado to study with the Masters. This painting deals with some of the technical concerns I learned of while there. I wanted to keep certain areas and shapes loose and abstract with interesting brush strokes and at the same time bring focus to others with tighter detail and sharper contrast. My usual instinct is telling me to sharpen everything up...but I'm not going to...I really like the idea of how abstract the wetlands can be...with tight little houses plopped down in the middle of nowhere. And then slowly (sometimes quickly) those houses succumb to nature. 16x12

Update

I spent last week completing two commissions and my christmas cards. None of which I'm ready to post here. I've also been taking some time to reorganize the studio, update my bio and other information as I prepare for the New Year and my upcoming Solo Show in March. Also did something different this holiday season...all my Christmas shopping has taken place on the internet! No more Malls! Stay tuned I've got a clean palette and an itch to start painting for me again. "Wet Paint:Low Tide" 5x7

Mainland Flag at Sundown

A great studio show yesterday. It's amazing how much an event like that helps me to feel validated as an artist...and how much that inspires me to go on. Six years ago I remember being introduced to someone as an artst ...and feeling ashamed and embarrased because I wasnt really producing any art work, nor had I for a few years. I don't ever want to feel that way again. I may have to get a full time job soon and I worry that I won't be able to keep this painting thing going...and yet somehow I know I will. It's what I was born to do.

Geese in a splash of color

SOLD

When I did the painting of two canadian geese for my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary present, I took well over 100 reference photos. This 5x7 image is from that batch.

The Inn at Sugar Hill

SOLD
This Sunday is my 7th Annual Studio Art Show. I started with two small events back in the late nineties after my back operation. This Sunday marks 5 consecutive years of holiday art shows. They've been a great way to see how my work has progressed. If you're in the Area do stop by and say Hi. There will be good food, hot mulled cider and a crackling fire to greet you....along with some very interesting oil paintings. 6x8

Patcong Creek with the Mill Pond Dam

A second version. The first was an early 9x12 plein air from 2008. 5"x7"

A Grateful Heart

Today and everyday I try to keep a grateful heart, lest I lose that which I value most.
Yellow Tree 8x10

After the Storm

SOLD

8x10

Sunset with Pier

A quick (chilly) study from the Ocean City Beach.

Waterway

SOLD

5x7

On the Beach

In the past I've often been really dissapointed with my plein air beach scenes. I realized recently that one of the problems was too cool of a palette. Here I warmed things up considerably. I can't wait to have a go at it again. 8x10

Cathedral

SOLD Retitled from work in progress: White's Bog. After finishing this I really wanted to give it a more spiritual title. Nature makes me feel that way. 20x16

Studio Show December 6th

SOLD

My 7th annual Studio art show this year is set for December 6th. I find it hard to believe that I've already done six of these open house shows...the first two were tentative starts where I sold mainly small paintings of snowmen and other whimsical subjects. Not at all in sequence with the past four...chronologically or stylistically. This year I will be featuring a small series of 4x6 winter scenes, slightly remeniscent of those first holiday themed works from the mid 1990s.
Mainland Sledding Scene 4x6

November Sunset

SOLD

In memory of my friend Chun-Yan Hilyard whose life was tragically cut short. She was an exceptional artist and indeed a beautiful person. 5x7

Karen Painting

My good friend Karen went with me to go painting at Birch Grove Park. She occasionaly models for me. Each time she does, she earns credit towards a painting of mine that she wants. You're almost there Karen! Thanks for beautiful afternoon.
8x10

October Grey

SOLD

5x7

East Point Lighthouse

Memory of a fine summer day. 5x7

Purple flowers,Yellow crab apples

SOLD

It was probably about two years ago when I built the little shadow box I've been using for these dramatically lit still lifes. They've been fun to do. I'm curious to see how my collectors will react to them.

Pewter and Grapes

SOLD

One of my rainy day still lifes...looks like I'l be doing more today! 5x7

Welcome Fall

SOLD
10x8

Daisy Break

5x7

Birch Grove Light

8x10

Still Life

5x7

Bread, Knife, Grapes and Cranberries

SOLD
I used the stormy days to do several small still lifes and to finish up a commission that I've been putting off. I must admit I was thinking of Julian Merrow-Smith when I set up this still life. Postcard from Provence is one of my favorite blogs. Julian is one of the original daily painters and he still puts out top quality work on a very regular basis. 5x7

Full Fall Throttle

SOLD

Fresh off the easel. A few minor adjustments may yet be made. I made sure to go out and paint today as this was the last clear day for a while. We are expecting two back to back "Nor'easters" ....rain, cold air and high winds for the next six days! Kind of cool really. 8x10

Mussels

Heavy clouds and a minor cold kept me indoors yesterday. I love the colors of mussel shells and I always return to them from time to time. 5x7

Monti Casino

I was really interested in the little white flowers ( monti as we call it in the flower business )...but the pine tree kind of took center stage...then it got dark really quick.

October Bouquet

Sunrises, sunsets...sunflowers! This is the first time I arranged florals since last June...they were much more fun ( and challenging ) to paint ! 16x12

Sunset from the Beesley's Point Bridge

This was fun, but I'm growing a little weary around the edges of doing unadorned sunrise/sunset paintings. It's time to sink my brush into something a little more challenging. Just began a studio version of of the mist at Estelle Manor...I love that orange mist and really wanted to explore it a bit more. Will post that work in progress soon.

October Blueberry Fields

12x9

Morning Mist at Estelle Manor

What a stunning morning to paint. I stood out on the floating docks at the Atlantic County Park in Estelle Manor. Estelle Manor is a neighboring county...I just love the name. 9x12

9th St Causeway Sunrise

8x10

September Blush

8x10

Mainland Oak

12x9

Glenn Eyrie, Colorado Springs

Most of my works from Colorado were excersizes in value, shape & composition. This 8x10 was done predominantly with a palette knife in Joseph McGurl's workshop.

Split Rail with Sedum

6x8

Boulevard Sunrise

sat on the roof of my car to paint this 6x8

September Wetlands: Incoming Tide

Extremely windy with a rapidly rising tide. I painted this with the voices of Macpherson in one ear and McGurl in the other. 10x8

Estelle Manor

Asbury Ave from 10th to 9th.

Final evening on Asbury painting event. Thankyou Ocean City Merchants! 9x12

Start of the Day; Hamilton Avenue

6x8...a new size! The three immature Mallards actually did swim into the scene, just as I was finishing up.

Pink and Blue

I've had trouble in the past capturing the pink and blue type sunrise over Scull's Bay. This one is a little better I think. I've lost count, but I believe this is Scull's Bay Sunrise #12. oil/panel 9x12

Inlet Fishing

8x10

The Flowershop on the Corner

aka "Manic Botanic" 9x12 The results of another Wednesday Night in Ocean City...one more week to go!

Outlaw Towels

SOLD
Ocean City has an ordinance that forbids hanging your towels over porch railings in the business district..I thought they made a fine subject for last weeks painting event. 8x10

Hey Miss Sun

What could I say?
16x12