Deep End

detail

Heart Lake is a small lake in the Adirondack Mts at the foot of Mt. Jo near Lake Placid. It's nestled in the heart of the High Peaks at the Adirondack Mt Club and makes the most refreshing swim after a day of climbing. When seen from the mountain the lake is heart shaped. I was attracted to the patterns in the water and how the rope led my eye into the distant mountains. The water allows me to play with different markmaking, like with my rocks. I will live with this one for awhile to see if I want to break the shapes up more. 18x26in pastel

Okatie River SC 9am

I am down in Oldfield, South Carolina painting on the Okatie River. It's early in the morning and the day hasn't reached the 90's yet. It's only in the 80's. The air is hazy, like fog because of the wildfires in Georgia. You can smell the smoke in the air. I painted these on site on two little 8x10 panels to create a diptych. As a composition, I find this preferable to one large panel for some reason. Why is that? 8x20 oil

The Peninsula Series

Over the past year I have been fascinated with a singular part of the Severn River landscape. This peninsula juts out into the river like a crooked arm shielding and protecting what we called as kids the "lagoon"or Brewers Pond. I find it restful just looking at it. It is the last piece of land on the Severn without palatial houses and the last wild place. Some call it "the Green Cathedral" and parts of it are protected. I used to explore and go camping here as a boy and I always loved what the sun did to it at different times of the day , especially at dawn. When I was a teen and trying to be a painter I attempted to paint it and failed miserably because I had no idea how to do it. It was 40 years before I tried again.

Boathouse on Round Bay

The Severn river still has a few remaining historic boathouses. Here is one of them in perfect condition. The owners have been on this site for 15 years and have built a beautiful home on the bluff (just completed). I was commissioned to do a drawing of the house but instead of driving there the builder took me over by water. I completed the drawing but was so impressed with the site that I felt compelled to do a little painting. High texture on a small surface area appeals to me so I built up the surface with a thick application of a turquoise acrylic paint and let little pin holes show through the green in the trees. The water always gives me fits. Because the Severn is green the water rarely ever looks blue.10x10in oil on birch panel