Winter Painting: Stones, Reflections, and Animals

A day in early November that would have been impossible not to paint: sparkling blue skies, crisp shadows and sunlight warming my back.  On days like this it can be hard to decide what to paint because everything looks so beautiful.  Here, the shadows along the white fence, orange holly berries, and the geometry of the stone house against the blue sky all appealed to me.

Springfield and Crefeld, Chestnut Hill, oil on canvas,16 x24" 

Stones and Water in Ridley Creek.

Rocks, Ridley Creek, oil on canvas, 10 x10"

Painting along Cobbs Creek in October.  I liked how the light was coming through the leaves and cat tails, casting strong highlights on the water and rocks. 

Cobbs Creek, Fall, oil on canvas, 8 x 10"

On Thanksgiving I headed out to paint reflections at a nearby creek.  After bringing the finished painting to my studio and looking at it further, I decided I like it better upside down (as presented below).

Reflections, oil on canvas, 12 x 12"

Horses in Chestnut Hill staying warm in the melting snow. I like painting animals because of the concentration required to quickly capture the essence of their forms, and the relaxed state it puts me in to do so.

Horses, Melting Snow, oil on canvas, 12 x 12"

Painting in Media, PA on a beautiful winter day. I love how winter light is often sharp and crystal-clear.  I was enjoying the architecture and colors in this view when a woman with her dog approached.  I quickly painted them in, hoping to capture the spring in her step and the gestures of both as they passed by.

Dog Walking, oil on canvas, 12 x 12"

Another red house in crisp winter light...

Red House, oil on canvas, 20 x 20"

We got more snow and I was determined to paint blue sky and purple shadows on a street I regular drove through.

Sycamore on Maple Street, oil on canvas, 18 x 24"

Here the lush snow shadows and a relatively simple composition made for a wonderful morning outside painting.  There's another woman walking her dog which is turning out to be something I'm gravitating to in my work.

Snow-Cleared Path, oil on canvas, 18 x 18"

Adirondack Trip

I headed up to Paul Smiths College in June for a week of painting with many other artists in an event sponsored by Plein Air Magazine. The challenge for me was taking in all of the migratory birds while painting.  I had to keep my binoculars by me at all times.  The red-breasted nuthatch with its young was a highlight.

Cloud Reflections, 12 x 12” oil

When I arrived at this spot to scope out a view a Green Heron took off.

Heron Habitat, 12 x 12” oil

While painting I wanted to dip my feet in the water; I slipped and fell in.  It was a reminder that rocks are hard and I have to be careful.

Distant Water, 12 x 12” oil

AuSable River, Adirondacks, 12 x 12” oil

Though I didn't see them, the entire time I was painting this I was serenaded by the singing of nearby Wood Thrush.

Crows and Hey, 10 x 10” oil

Some of us painted at the beautiful historic White Pine Camp.  I ended up jumping in the water about half-way through working on this painting.     

White Pine Camp, 10 x 10” oil

Bog River Falls, 10 x 10” oil

We visited the Rockwell Kent studio which had amazing views of surrounding mountains. In his preserved studio, recently closed to visitors, I discovered a trapped Eastern Phoebe trying to escape by a closed window.  With help getting the window open, the phoebe quickly (thankfully) flew out.   

Mountains and Tractor, 8 x 8” oil

Storm Clouds, 8 x 8” oil