Water Surfaces: Darby and Wissahickon Creek

A beautiful spring day along Darby Creek.  The shadows, reflections and movement of the water turn into a puzzle I enjoy trying to fit together.

Rocks and Shadows, Darby Creek Oil on canvas, 20 x 20" 

I perched on a large rock overlooking Wissahickon Creek.  A wood duck swam by so I included her in the painting.

Surface Movement, Oil on linen, 16 x 24" 

Detail, Surface Movement

Leaves began changing, seemingly overnight, after I started this view.  I adjusted my painting to include yellow-green and yellow-oragne additions.  The goose silhouetted against the varied yellow reflections was a welcome surprise.

Valley Green Reflections, Oil on canvas, 24 x 24" 

Detail, Valley Green Reflections 

I balanced on rocks to paint this view.  I saw a Water Thrush bobbing its tail along the bank, so I included it too; still not sure if it was a Louisiana or Northern Waterthrush.

Wissahickon Rocks, Oil on canvas, 24 x 36" 

Detail, Wissahickon Rocks

At Bell's Mills I wanted to paint how the roots wrapped around this large mossy rock.

  

Root-Wrapped-Rock, Wissahickon Creek, Oil on Linen 16 x 24"

Again along Bell's Mills I painted this view of Wissahickon Creek.  I love the feeling of being in the woods, peering out from the shadows.

Wissahickon at Bells Mills, Oil on linen, 24 x 36" 

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

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