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"

Summer Painting, 2012

I painted at Bartram's Garden in southwest Philadelphia with a former student.  Great day, even in the heat.  While I was working one of the gardeners came along to work and I quickly added her to the painting.

Tending Bartram's Garden, 18 x 18” oil

I must be on a figure kick, because I started this painting, thinking 'if only there was something pink or red in the composition'.  I had a hunch a cardinal would show up, and sure enough, a male flew overhead.  Then, to my surprise, a woman from the house shuffled out in a pink blouse!  She took the leaf bag with her, but later returned it and I was able to paint them both into the painting. 

Leaf Collector, 10 x 10” oil

Detail

Here I was attracted to the statuette in the foreground of this lush garden.

Antiquity, 24 x 24” oil

Visiting friends in Williamstown, MA, gave me a chance to paint their yard.  We had dinner at this table the night before, and I loved how the tablecloth looked in the yard with Tiger Lilies in the background. 

Noah and Simon's Yard, 12 x 12” oil