SOLAR FIELDS

Inspired by Google Earth images, these are solar field landscapes. Experimenting with the use of geometric vs. organic shapes that contrast the stark angles of the solar panels with the fields,  trees and water.  Still trying to find the right balance of color and contrast. Very fun experiment.  These painting are now for sale. 

CLASS STILL LIFE

I'm currently taking an oil painting class with Pat Tribastone in Canandaigua. It's a very traditional approach to still life painting, which slows me down a bit and is a great tutorial in color theory and old-world painting techniques. Painting is finished and now for sale. 

VASE AND SUNFLOWERS

Haven't done a pastel in a while, so I'm just getting used to the process again. This subject was inspired by a sunny day in our new house and my grandmother's Roseville vase. Still playing with the shadows and detail. 

FINGER LAKES FIELD

I'm starting to get inspired for some plein-air work in my new hometown. So many great vistas for sky and field, so it should be fun.

For these studies, I start in the field and then get as many visual references as I can to continue working in the studio. This is my first attempt. 

Still playing with the foreground a bit and the sky is starting to take shape.

ISLANDS AERIAL VIEW

Some experimenting with bright underpainting and an aerial view of the Champlain Islands. 

GIRL BY THE LAKE

I haven't done an oil painting in a while, but this image had been in my sketchbook for a while and I really liked how the background and the lake framed the figure. 

Had some trouble with the details on the dock and blanket. Luckily the light source was very strong, so I let that guide my choices. Finished and sold!

BLUE FLOWER PATH

I'm having fun with color on this one. It's a rather large oil painting (42"x 22"), but I think my recent pastel work has influenced it. Showed it at Art Hop and it's now for sale.

BOATS AND WATER

Here's the progression of the Clifford's painting. Finally got the values corrected in the background. It's finished and delivered now.

VINTAGE SKI INSPIRED

This is the background colors and landscape inspired by a vintage ski poster.  I've decided it needs to have a Vermont mountain background, so I've altered the mountain shapes and colors a bit.  Still refining the background.  This painting went to a good home at the Children's Trust Fund benefit auction.

This is a more skier-focused image, still inspired by an old vintage poster.  I loved the yellow shirt and the simple gray and white for the background.  I hope people notice Camel's Hump!  Here's the finished piece, which is enjoying its new home in Stowe, Vermont.

MID CENTURY MEMORIES

Here's the evolution of my Big Dad painting.  I'm experimenting with a new surface here - some smooth artboard instead of canvas.  It's a bit difficult, just because I'm not used to it.  My biggest challenge is painting such a non-forgiving subject like a mid-century house with lots of perspective angles and the car itself.  Trying to preserve a "paint by numbers" feel to go with the mid-century theme.

PORTRAIT PROGRESSION

I thought it would be interesting to see these side-by-side and observe how things progressed from the underpainting to the middle stage of color application.  I'm pretty much finished now, but I'm sure I'll be tweaking a bit.