Those who live in higher elevations–whether the hills of my part of New Hampshire, or the much taller Green and White Mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire–have incredible, unbostructed sky views, not available to us down here in the valleys. “Upland Dusk” 30″ x 40″ o/c
New, larger piece…another in what seems to be becoming a series on meadows and grass…”Grassland” 48″ x 60″ o/c.
I know I should cut down our ornamental grasses in the fall, but we like the look of the tall dry gold stalks, with the wispy seeded tops. They provide an interesting element to the otherwise cold, white and barren New England winter landscape. “Dry Grass” 24 x 36 o/c
Both of these barns are now gone, having succumbed to age. They are a favorite scene that I’ve painted quite a few times. They stood side by side in the middle of an empty meadow. One was slightly taller than the other, and the two together stood where they were for a century or more, until time and weather claimed them. “In The Shadow” 36 x 36 o/c.
One of the local farms grazes their flock of sheep on the meadows within the stone walls that surround their property. I’ve noticed over the years they fence of parts of the meadow to let the grass grow for a season, then move the fence the following year, to another location. The abrupt line where the sheep’s grazing keeps the grass cut, against the fenced in taller grass, caught my attention. “Meadow Fence” 30 x 40 o/c
As a kid, our back yard was a large meadowy hill that was mowed each fall by a local farmer. Before the bales could be packed onto the back of a hay truck, my brothers and I would slide together the heavy square blocks to make a forts. I’m sure the farmer didn’t really enjoy taking apart our constructions, but the horses need to be fed. That meadow is now gone, replaced by classroom buildings that belong to the school our house was a part of. There are many local meadows that are mowed and baled every fall. This one is part of an educational farm next town over. “Autumn Hay” 48 x 36 o/c
I love the remote, rugged landscapes of coastal Cape Cod. At any time of year, these barren stretches of sand, dunes, seagrass and scrub juniper are places of serenity, despite the harsh weather they are subjected to…which makes it so only the strongest can survive. “Windswept” 24 x 28 oil on canvas.
I’ve painted this scene many times, from many different angles, in very different light. The one thing all those pieces have in common, and why I think I come back to this subject often, is the actual location is remote and peaceful. The barn does not appear connected to any farm, and there’s really no property nearby that it could be part. It’s by itself, in the middle of nowhere, seemingly content. “Serene” 24 x 24 o/c.
Came across this scene after turning onto a dirt road, off route 110 in Vermont, and caught a glimpse of the fiery red paintbrush bush and the rusty metal roof of the old shed. Painted it in a larger format a while back, but revisited it on this smaller canvas. “Meadowlight” 24 x 24 o/c.
On the way back from Vermont, heading South on Rt 89, in Grantham, NH, I passed the meadow where the subjects of a good number of paintings can (could once) be seen. Two twin barns sitting in the middle of a valley meadow, aging and abandoned for years. A few years ago, someone contacted me that one of them had fallen under heavy snow. On this trip back from Vermont, passing that meadow, the other barn was gone. It obviously succumbed to age and/or weather. All that was left was the empty golden meadow. This piece is based on one view of these structures, from when I first discovered them over a decade ago. “Monuments” 16 x 20 o/c.
