"The Ultimate in Peace and Solitude-" Lake Champlain, VT

"Afternoon glow" 11x14 oil

my painting spot!

Causeway crossing 11x14 oil

Majestic Solitude 12x24 oil

I was fortunate to spend a week on Lake Champlain in Vermont far north of  the noise and bustle of Burlington. In the morning I enjoyed watching the loons glide undisturbed as I had my first cup of coffee. I was even fortunate to observe a great show put on by a group of 11 baby loons. I decided to add loons to one painting as it gave it a sense of place. A few times during the week I saw a sailboat go by. In the evening my daughter and I enjoyed paddleboarding on the glass like surface all alone and undisturbed.  I decided to add the sailboats to the panoramic painting since they were the norm and I didn't see any other paddle boarders all week. I wanted to keep the focus on the distant mountains and the mood and feeling of the spot and not make the loons or boats the subject matter of the paintings. During the day I set up my easel and paints and painted in the morning facing the causeway that joined the mainland to the Islands. The sun would rise behind the Adirondacks which created a beautiful constantly changing skyline in the distance. The misty purples and blues were captivating and I tried to capture the serenity the place evoked. After a mid-day break for lunch and a long walk to photograph the surrounding area, I would return and set up facing in the opposite direction. Afternoons were for painting the rocky shoreline and the glow created by the setting sun. I exaggerated the blue violets with the warm oranges to heighten the effect. By the end of the week I was in love with Milton, VT.  I may have to return to paint some of the amazing sunsets that we enjoyed each evening directly across the lake.

It's all about the light!

"Afternoon Glow" 16x20 oil-Rock Harbor, Cape Cod, MA

One of our rituals when on vacation is to find the "perfect place" for viewing sunrise and sunsets. The hour before is a glow of great shadows, strong light and a warmth that inspires. Rock Harbor provides a multitude of great views with almost sculptural marshes, distant land masses that seem to dissolve on the horizon and a channel where boats come in at last light silhouetted against the purples, blues, reds and oranges of brilliant sunsets reflected in the ocean.  What caught my eye on this particular afternoon was the yellow orange marsh contrasting with the blue violets of the shadows and distant trees. The people strolling on the clam flats were all waiting for the sunset and gave scale to the painting along with the house being struck by a strong last light. I loved the abstract feeling of the distant masses juxtaposed with the detail in the foreground, but most of all, it was all about the light!

Bird Park Beckons

Welcome to Bird Park 12x24 oil

Painting the entrance to the park is a favorite of mine. I intend to paint all the different seasons, so I planned it for the late afternoon early summer sun. Inspired by the light reflecting off of the wrought iron gate, I headed down around 4:30 pm to get the right  angle. The summer afternoon sun makes the entrance glow with a welcoming warmth. Since the last time I painted this gate, a local boy scout working on his eagle project here, removed plantings and added new ones. On this particular day, other folks  were there taking photos and posing in the open gate on the right.  The reddish blocks along the walkway are a hallmark of the park and harmonize well with all the lush greenery and expansive lawns. The stone walls and iron fencing enhance the earthy tones and fit in beautifully with the park design. I used the panoramic format this time to accentuate the horizontal expanse of the entrance.

Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain Sunset- 9X12 oil

My daughter lives in VT and we spend many hours on and around Lake Champlain. By far, one of the most mesmerizing times is days end, when the sun sets. The lake glows with vibrant color and ripples create patterns of light in the water. The NY Adirondacks  become a bluish silhouette  and the vast lake becomes a hypnotic and seductive sight. This is one of many visual delights to be found by the shores of this beautiful, vast lake. It is a sight that I will always treasure seeing and I'd swear to you that no two sunsets are ever the same.

Sunflower surprise!

Sunflowers!  8x8

I arrived home the other day to a gift bouquet of sunflowers. After a cold and rainy spring, they felt so warm and cheerful that I knew I would be painting them before they faded. The next morning I set them up by the window and worked for several hours on an 8x8 painting. The flowers turned naturally in every direction giving multiple views of the same colorful "faces".  I decided to offset the dominant yellow orange subject matter with the blues in the negative areas. The small panel is a gallery wrap canvas, so the petals extend around the edges. They looked so happy that I, too,  felt happy upon completion. I think this painting defines a "sunny disposition".

Quick and Loose

The Rhody is the star!  12x16 oil May 2014

Painting some fragile pieces from the garden I knew would be a one-and-done session. I began, after a quick thumbnail, by mapping out the composition with a few broad strokes. Then I massed in the darks with a thin layer of paint. I knew I wanted a yellow-orange/blue violet harmony so I was able to mix some puddles of paint to blend with and start layering it on, blocking in my shapes and values. After, I was able to start applying the paint thickly and quickly to make the rhododendron the star, pop the colors and sharpen and blur edges to move the viewers eye rhythmically around the space. The rhythm corresponds to the manner in which I painted it: quick and loose.

BRUINS!

Living the Dream-2014 oil on board 9x12

Once again the Bruins were getting everyone excited with their post season series. The playoffs bring inspiration as excitement builds. A few pieces of memorabilia and team colors give the viewer enough information to know what it's all about. Unfortunately, I finished the painting just as they lost the series; but, as my friends tell me, it timeless. Go Bruins-there's always next year.