I don’t remember where I saw this scene, but it’s similar to other rural farms where time and lack of use allows tress, shrubs and vines the opportunity to take over the landscape. When these trees were just saplings, it’s possible the inhabitant figured he’d mow them down one of these days, but never did. “Twin Pines” 24 x 24 o/c.
The barn across the street from the studio has been the subject of many paintings…from different angles, different light, and different perspectives. It sits at the top of a slope, and from that lower part of the meadow, the perspective looking up gives it this massive presence, and the sky becomes as much a subject as the barn itself. “Skyward” 36 x 36
Up here in New Hampshire, the low valleys and hollows of our local meadows collect rain in the fall, and when winter comes, freeze to form small frozen pools, which kids often use for ice skating. As Spring approaches, these begin to melt, and come summer, completely dry up…until next year. “Spring Ice” 40 x 30.
With summer approaching, work is underway for my Cape and Vineyard galleries, where a few new pieces will be placed for summer shows. This place is in Wellfleet…made famous by Edward Hopper (a few times), and painted by many. It’s a landmark, notable for it’s gingerbread Victorian trim, but as unique as that element is to the house, I find it distracting, so I leave it out whenever I do a piece based on the place. This 12 x 12 will serve as a study for a larger piece by the same name….”Seaside Cottage (study)” 12 x 12
With it being March 1, hope is around the corner for warmer, sunnier days ahead… “Early Sun” 12 x 12
Juniper trees are abundant on the Cape, particularly along the shoreline, where the seem to thrive in sand and salt air. There are prevailing winds that come in from the Atlantic on the North side, and the Bay on the South. Unlike Junipers further inland, the ocean winds shape the trees as they grow, giving them a great sense of movement. “Westerly Breeze” 48 x 36 o/c.
This old shed is a couple miles down the road, and sits at the top of a hill looking over a low valley and neighboring horse farm. The slope leading up to the building is overgrown with saplings and more mature oaks and maples. In summer, it’s barely visible through the foliage, but with a bit of editing, it’s given more visibility and prominence, as is the ridgeline behind it. “Rose Ridge” 36 x 24 o/c.
This recently completed commission is a great example of the process working perfectly…sizing mockups done to determine the perfect canvas size, charcoals completed to work out the composition, palette determined based on buyer’s preferences…and the finished piece. “Western Sun” 28 x 28 o/c.
There’s an old farm in town that sits on dozens of acres of meadow that was, for years, kept mown by a flock of sheep. The sheep are gone, as are the farmer owners, and the land is slowly being taken over by trees, shrubs and weeds. There’s something mysterious about these old places, now that they are uninhabited and sit waiting for what’s next. “Farmyard” 40 x 30
The heavily weathered pine or cedar used on many old rural structures tends to darken and lighten over the years, depending on where the sun hits, or doesn’t. When the light is right, the darker and lighter areas appear bluish from a distance, though up close, the colors are more literally shades of gray. “Eastern Blue” 14 x 14 o/c.
