Ausable River from Stebbins' Porch- work in progress

 

 I'm working on a series based on this view from a great camp in the High Peaks. It's become quite a challenge since there is so much information  to deal with. I'm trying to simplify and bring out the beautiful blues of the river. 16x24 pastel

Winter pictures begin

 

the Bell On the Keene Valley firehouse 18x18 oil

 

White Pines in the Fog  24x14 pastel

Ausable River from Stebbins' Porch  16x24 pastel

The school year doesn't allow me to do much painting but things slow down in winter and I can hunker down and work when its dark and cold outside. I've had some time off for Christmas and was able to get into the studio.

Harford County Plein Air Festival

 I participated in Harford's 1st paint out and had a pretty good time. Great party after.

Some answers to some important questions

Over the years my students have been curious about" how I became an artist" and other questions. Here are some answers :

 

I was in 4th grade when I knew I wanted to be an artist. Mrs. Donohue, My 4th grade teacher let be draw through a  math class once. I also assisted an experienced teacher in a summer program when I was in High School. I didn't know at the time she was the Art Supervisor for Anne Arundel Co. Schools. 

 I prefer to paint landscapes. in oil and pastel. I enjoy being outside , in the woods or along rivers. I feel close to nature and find spiritual sustenance there. I try to capture the effects of light in the early morning and evenings, the “golden hour.” But mostly I am attracted to colors and how they change when they travel in and out of shadow.

 I have had many mentors, living and dead. Artists are constantly learning from other artists. Andrew Wyeth and Vincent Van Gogh were very early inspirations. Later, in adulthood, I fell in love with American Impressionism and the painters of the early 20th cen. Edward Hopper, Rockwell Kent, George Bellows, and the paintings of Fairfield Porter and the Canadian Tom Thompson. Those guys still paint better and fresher than many artists working today.  Living mentors were my teachers, Frank Kelly, Duane Sabiston, John Sauers, Eugene Leake, Robert Stark, and many others . My wife has always supported me emotionally in producing art. She has always encouraged my art making. 

When I met gallery owner Martha Corscaden in New  York, who wanted to show my work, I was really inspired to produce. I have had annual shows since 2009.

I always liked teaching. In Boy Scouts I used  to give "lectures" on stuff. I then became an Arts and Crafts camp counselor in high school through college. I  learned a lot on my own.  I found teaching something was the best way to learn something. I always enjoyed sharing what I had learned. I studied art teaching in college and got a job right out of school based on all my experience with kids in my summer programs. I”ve been teaching high school art since 1974.

  Advice? Paint what gives you joy. Paintings are more than just the objects you draw. In my case they are about light, or color.  And Don't be afraid to take risks.There are no mistakes in art, only adjustments and discovery.  When you face your fear you find your art

Sleeping Giant

 My last painting in Keene Valley this summer on Johns Brook. The day started out sunny and hot and when I finally got all my gear together and set up my palette it began to rain. I'm glad oil and water don't mix. I was able to get most of this down under an umbrella. 6x12in oil  

Noonmark Mt. , from Keene Valley.

 A larger version of a small 8in study I made on site. I had a perfect view from Pat Quinn's camp in Keene Valley. The sun was behind th mt so Noonmark looked like a purple cutout against the sky. 11x14in oil

New Batch - Birch Raku Vases

 My new batch of Ichibana vases done in both raku and electric kilns. To get my effects I had to glaze ,fire up to 3 times for each vase.

Last Light on Chapel Pond

 11x17in Pastel

Marcy Field

 This is the view of Marcy Field and Baxter Mt. looking  West from the parking lot. Not the view most people see as they travel east from Keene. In painting this pastel I used 3 or four blues to create the sky and then blended the pigments with water and brush to create a new , sharp color that seems to have less moisture (hence less cerulean ) art geekness aside, I really respond to the clear crystalline blues of High Peak skies.

 Pastel 11x14in

ADK Chairs

 WESTPORT -Spotted this chair outside of the Dartbrook Inn sitting along side the road. Fit right into my favorite theme of " Big shot of cadmium red in a green landscape" that began with my paintings of the Keene Valley fire engine. The  Westport chair is a purely American ADK design originating from the town of Westport along Lake Champlain. 10x10in oil  

 HAPPY CHAIR This little chair I spotted outside the  Birch Store in Keene Valley. Even though in was leaning next to the house I placed it in a field of green to contrast with the bright red. It just made me happy to look at it so that's why I titled it so. 8x8in oil  

 Keene Valley Days.  This painting is where the theme of "Bright color in the landscape"  originated.  10x10in oil

Last Light

 A"borrowed view" looking towards the Great Range. It was just before the sun disappeared behind the mountain. If there was a overarching theme in my work this year I guess it could be " First Light- Last Light" Pastel 16x20in

Cascade Brook diptych

 Sometimes I  begin a painting and it tends to expand. When that occurs I grab another panel and add to my composition.   oil 8x16in  

Last Light at Chapel Pond

The banks of Chapel Pond are as beautiful as the cliff face. On hot days we sit on the bank and swim out into the cold water. Chapel Pond is one of our favorite places where we reconnect with Nature. B Miller calls in his "spiritual home" and I have to agree. oil 10x10in.

Morning Garden

 On a clear, sunny morning we drove around Keene, up along the Ausable River, to see what we would find. I found this sweet little white farmhouse. Just the subject I love to paint. oil 10x10in  

New Work - Corscaden Barn Gallery ADK's

Boquet  sketch 8x10in pastel

 Boquet sketch II 8x10in pastel

Chapel Pond  11x17pastel

  Lower Lake 18x24in pastel

Marcy Field  16x20in oil

St. Brendans 10x10in oil

 Getting ready for my 2015 show  at Corscaden Barn Gallery in Keene Valley , NY in August.

 Last Light

 In the pines, Raking Shadows

 

 

 Lower Lake from Indian Head

 Naiad

 Guideboat

Adirondack landscapes

 First Light On Chapel Pond 18x18in pastel

Last Light on Giant Mt.   11x17in pastel

Based on my own photo studies I edit and scratch, suggest and smear soft pastel into a toned sandy surface. I try to stay accurate as to skylines (it's not Everest) but take lots of liberties as to how I apply the pigment. The sites of these two scenes are only a couple of miles apart. Chapel Pond is at the base of Giant. What is in the foreground is a golf course at the Ausable Club.

Little Pine.

  The sun behind me really lit up the trees on this very cold  day. Pastel 15x20in

Young Studs

 Two bulls from the Sayer farm. I sketched them in charcoal on very large sheets of arches watercolor paper starting with black and erasing all of the white. 30 x40 in.

Redboat, Portland Harbor ME

 A memory piece from the summer .11x17 pastel

In the Pines

 I drove through Loch Raven reservoir last tues. just as the  sun was setting. It was below freezing temp but since the day was clear there was incredible light raking from behind. This piece is unfinished. What I want to show was the bright yellow light cast on the opposite shore. 16x20in pastel

MfA Members Show 2015

 

I was honored to receive 2 awards at the Md Federation of Art Members show (juried) , a Jurors award for Actons Cove (my homage to Sisley) and Waterboys, which sold before the show even opened.  Wow. didn't see that coming.

Navy Bridge- Christmas eve fog

 I had Christmas Eve dinner with the family at the Severn Inn on the river just below the Naval Academy Bridge in Annapolis. I remember eating crabs there as a boy many years ago. what's left of the old marina is in the foreground.  I was bowled over by the lights shining through the fog. I took a few shots and from them did a large charcoal, 22x30in.

I started with a toned charcoal surface and used an eraser to create the whites and tones. I blended with fingers , rubbed out and redrew many times.

It was accepted in the MfA Gallery show in Annapolis and is hanging there now till the 24th .