HILLSIDE SYCAMORE, oil, 14x18

   This sequence of paintings shows a damaged painting with a hole dead center.  I decided to repaint it since the frame was spared.  I changed several limbs on the tree and made it more substantial in its girth.  The overall painting is richer in colors and I think better.

DOWNED TREES, oil, 11x14

November 11, Veterans Day, and I found these two trees hanging over into Lake Marburg, Codorus State Park.  I guess they are down due to the recent tropical storm "Sandy."  

SUNSET COLORS, 11x14, oil

Late Summer sunsets are always strong and make for a beautiful background.  This is painted looking across Lake Marburg above the sail boat launch area.   

A Practice Painting, 8x10, oil

I painted en plein air at Codorus State Park on Wed. the 24th of Oct. The trees were so brilliant and the light was reflected in every leaf.  I find it difficult to zone in and simplify a painting when so much colors and beauty is everywhere.  This scene, looking into the forest from the edge of an open field was a simple study to try to capture the light and shadow, warm area and cool areas.  Just a practice painting.

CONVERGING WATERS, 11x14 oil

A cold Fall day when your bones get cold.  This painting was done in my studio and I used a reference  pastel study I did last year on location at a fellow artist's property.  I love to paint small, intimate scenes and I especially like to paint the small creeks that criss cross South Central Pa.

SMELL THE HONEYSUCKLE, 12x16, oil

The fragrant honeysuckle grows everywhere in Pennsylvania and I have smelled this vine as I have painted en plein air at Cordorus State Park.  This was painted from a photo in my studio. 

NOVEMBER'S COLD, oil, 12x16

An early morning depiction of the Conawago Creek, Hanover, Pa.

WINTER'S LIGHT, 12x16 pastel

A pastel painting of the shore line of Marburg Lake in Cordorus State Park, Pa.  The painting was recently juried into the Keystone Nationals' Works on Paper that will be held Sept. 22nd thru Oct. 19th at the Art Center in Mechanicsburg, Pa.  with a reception on Sat. Sept. 22nd 5 - 7 p.m. 

THE RIFLEMAN, graphite, 12x16

This is a drawing of a civil war re-enactor who was checking the sight on his rifle.

A MONET MOMENT, 20x16 oil

The Monet poster hangs in my studio and usually I hang fabric on it to create a back drop for my still life paintings.  I couldn't decide on a fabric so I just put in the poster.  I like the cool hard surface of the pitcher in contrast to the softness of the Monet.  

MY REALLY BIG PALLET

Many artists and people who watch me paint when I'm on location have asked me why I use such a large pallet.  Well, as you can see, I need the space to mix all those juicy colors I use.  I have had this pallet for 30 + years and probably couldn't paint without it.  I do use a full spectrum of colors, warm and cool of each primary color and then I add some exotic colors for a little excitement in my work. 

ROWS OF FLOWERS, 8x6, oil

I managed to paint another floral at the Wirth gardens.  This was painted looking the opposite way along the creek.  Also painted with my pallet knife.

A SPARKLE OF LIGHT, 12x9, oil

I painted today with the Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters at the Wirth home and gardens.  What a lovely place.  I was interested in painting the light coming through the canopy of tall trees.  This was painted with my pallet knife and a full spectrum of oil colors.

FROSTED GLASS AND VELVET, 16x12, oil

Glass that is frosted is handled a little differently, much like a cloudy day landscape, the values are closer together and there is very little reflection.  The velvet fabric makes for a soft composition. 

HAY BALES, 14x15, oil

The farm behind my house had their 20 acres cut and baled and they did it in two days.  The machines and tractors were very efficient and the pastures were empty in no time.  I wanted to paint this scene en plein air, but they took all the bales away so quickly that I had to paint from my photo.

MEMORIES OF EGYPT, 16X20, oil

A studio still life with an Egyptian theme.  The objects are new pottery pieces found in Spring yard sales.  The glasses are gold rimmed and belonged to my tiny great grandmother.

A DISTANT BARN, 9x12 oil

Another day of plein air painting with the Gettysburg Festival.  This is the George Spangler barn painted form a distance.  The farm is part of the battlefield but is currently  fenced off and awaiting some much needed renovations.

WINTER'S LIGHT, 12x18 Pastel

Another Winter painting that I worked on in my studio on a rainy day.  This was created from a photo of Lake Marburg in Codorus State Park.  It was a clear, cold day in January when the sun light was beautiful.  I think I have posted this before, but I refined it today and I think I'll frame it and submit it for a show. 

SPRING FEVER, 12x18 Pastel

Raining today so I'm working in my studio.  This painting is on the Gettysburg campus and it has been hanging around my studio waiting for a frame.  I simplified the ground shadows.  Sometimes less makes a better painting.

VINES BELOW HAUSERS WINERY

Painted in oils at the Hausers Estate Winery on Sunday, 10 June.  This painting will be exhibited at the Majestic Theater Gallery, June 15 -  17.
SOLD

FARM, EAST CALVARY RD., GETTYSBURG

Painted during the Gettysburg Festival.  It will be exhibited for sale at the Majestic Theater Gallery on Friday - Sunday, June 15 -17.
SOLD

GARDEN POTS, 16x20, oil

"Garden Pots" was a demonstration painting I did at the "Art at the Straw Bale House" last Sunday.  I did the initial painting using strong colors and values and tweaked it today in my studio. 

Maj. General Slocum

Painted en plein air on the Gettysburg Battlefield.  This painting will be available at the Majestic Theatre Gallery during the Gettysburg Festival, June 1 - 17.  I will be painting en plein air with the festival from June 9 - 17th.  The paintings I create will be exhibited for sale at the Majestic during an evening reception on the 16th.

STILL LIFE SHELF

I've been working on this difficult still life for several weeks.  The center of interest is the clown doll, but the bottles are competing with all their reflections.  I think I'm going to sign it and be done with it. 

SPRING BUSH, 9x12 oil

Painted at artist Vivian Brandler's farm.  The day was sunny, then cloudy and very windy and cold.  I hope to return another day when the weather is warmer and the trees are in leaf.

SEASONS OF CODORUS STATE PARK

April 7th - 30th I will be exhibiting for sale 32 oil and pastel paintings done over the past ten years in Cordorus State Park.  The park is just outside Hanover, Pa. and is a mecca for boaters, fishermen, hikers, hunters and campers and one plein air painter (me).  There is a 2,000 acre crystal blue lake and many beautiful coves and marshes.  The Hanover Area Arts Gallery, 32 Carlisle St., Hanover is open 10 - 5, Mon. - Sat.  The opening reception will be on Sat. 7 April, 1 - 4 p.m.                       

A DANCE BY THE CREEK

This is a rework of a painting I posted in Feb.  I enriched the colors and tried to make the light stronger.

PATHWAY

A plein air painting in March.  I choose this simple scene to get started painting out of doors again.  After painting in the studio for much of the winter, it is hard to look at the landscape and eliminate what is not needed to create harmony and say what you want to convey to the viewer.

EVENING SKY, 12x18, Pastel

Painted from a photograph taken at sun down near Chapel Flatts in Cordorus State Park.  This is my first attempt at painting strong sun sets. 

HILLSIDE SYCAMORE, Oil, 24x18

 

Another day of reworking paintings.  This may be the final going over of this painting.  I may put in a few more small limbs.

SNOW DRIFTS, 9 x 12 Pastel

I like the way snow patterns are created when the wind blows.  Painted in 2011 from my back door.