Layers

3 12"x12" panels

3 12"x12" panels

So these are 2 pieces I've been working on. Both done after Moms' passing. I feel different now and the idea of thick juicy paint doesn't make sense currently. I wanted to apply thin paint and really scrub it into the panels. Perhaps getting the most out of what was left...........

Far off horizons

As some of you know my mom has been fighting cancer for 3 years. Well she finally left her cancer filled body and moved on leaving just a shell of what was once a very spirited woman. It seems silly to say it on a blog, where pages are changed daily. And most will probably never read it. But just the same I feel I have to say it.

Approaching Belleayre Mtn.

6-6" square panels

As you approach the ski areas in the Catskills you will be treated with some pastures and creeks. I really liked the light this day. These 6 paintings all fell off of my board upon completion. 2 landing face down, the others in various states of disarray. I tried to touch em' up.

pepacton reservoir

24"x36" oil/canvas



As you drive southwest out of the catskills, it is likely you'll be on county route 30. We were and for what seemed like the first time in a month, the sun was out and no clouds. The road weaves all around the pepacton reservoir making for spectacular views of the frozen lake and catskill mountains. I wish they had more pulloffs to soak in the scenery. It is truly a spectactular east coast drive. And no tolls!!! So here is a rare bluebird day painting from me. No eerie darkness, just glorious sunlight and shadow.

Catskills' Longhorns

30"x40" oil/canvas

Spring is approaching and I'm still doing winter livestock. This time the boys make an appearance. We saw this image just before the Catskills received their 4 ft of snow. Thats just after we received our 4ft. I purposely keep the figures vague. It's a mood scene not neccessarily a landscape.

uptown Harrisburg, really?

14"x11" oil/canvas

plein air

There is a very interesting landscape as you drive north out of Harrisburg, PA. this is a view from north front street....almost.......The scene from the top of canvas to about 3/4 's down is generally how it appears. The bottom 1/4 in reality is a McDonalds, lawyers offices and massive traffic at rush hour. I painted it plein air but couldn't allow myself to put in the traffic and McDonalds. I've always liked the cliffs up there and they remind of the scenery out west.....but to a much lesser degree. It's like a gateway to new topography. City to country. I opted for country and manipulated the foreground. This is always an issue for me. I spent many years painting out of my head... Good art therapy. But in the last decade I get an incredibly uncomfortable feeling when "making things up". I now have goals for each and every brushstroke and a non visual approach is quite difficult for me. The minds eye certaintly should be credible information. Right? Maybe it's time for more therapy...........

I will do a large piece of this scene with the traffic. I think it could be a strong dichotomy. McDonalds however, won't make it through editing.

Blue Mountain diving into the Susquehanna

12"x12" oil/canvas

plein air

Struggled big time with this one yesterday. Had a narrow timeframe to paint so wanted to do backlit blue mtn. Crazy glare with the sun in my eyes, couldn't see much. The river was hard to determine. Stuck with the original sensation I got at the scene. I liked how the mountain seemed so big. In reality it might be 1900 feet tall here. I only liked this one til about 20 minutes in. Once I was blinded by the sun I felt like it was a total fabrication I struggled to keep it honest. I almost wiped it but was too tired. A day later... I decided to post it. I still don't feel that great about it but it represents the struggles that we continue to battle day to day.....

Taking care of details

Being overwhelmed with things to do can unconsciously affect our work. I didn't get to paint much today. Touched up a few of the big boys for the Philly show. Started framing in the morning and just kept at it. Organized paintings for the van, loaded the van, prepared the van for some plein air work tomorrow...yippee...spent way too much time figuring out Illinois' tax crap....printed out Illinois tax crap.....doing at least 3 shows there this year so I gotta do it...the Philly stuff is done, listed and labled! As the sun sets so do I...Tomorrow work will be produced....I have a semi clear head now.....Pandora radio plays my Death cab for cutie channel and I'm gonna listen...................................

More cows

3- 6"x6" oil/canvas

Yep, still doin' em

running on 3 hours sleep and firing on 3 cylinders...back at it tomorrow.....hopefully the turbo kicks in...

The stomping grounds of James Fenimore Cooper

16"x20" oil/canvas



This is a piece I did recently. It is a scene that I see regularly as it is only a mile from our cabin in New York state. In the summer it feels remote. In the winter it feels like total isolation. That is my favorite time in upstate New York. Probably couldn't live there though. Winters are long. At any rate I'm a huge fan of James Fenimore Coopers writings and his leatherstocking tales were written about this area. I get a very alone feeling when I'm there and frequently imagine Uncas walking through the woods while I'm there also walking through the woods. I'm getting nostalgic but it is amazing what a good read can do alongside experiencing the place.......I'm still expecting to find an arrowhead someday....

More cows to come! I actually already painted another triptych. I'm busting for the upcoming Philly exhibit. I viewed the space and indeed its HUGE. I'm working on the 36 x 48's and 30x40's but these will even be relatively small. I'm putting in two little 6"x 6" triptychs. Sometimes in a huge space little things can grab the eye. The show starts in April and runs 3 months so I have to keep booth work also to last 3 months. It's hectic but exciting! More shows are a go so I'll be updating soon. Off to the framer thursday and then down to the Chester county studio tour meeting. I actually remember days that I thought "what should we do now?" There's no longer time for thinking...just doing..........

Upstate New York Farm

2- 20"x16" oil/canvas'








Another attempt at abstract cows in snow. Please pardon me while I obsesse and transgress with this subject. I don't expect that too many people are as fascinated as I am with cows in snow but I can't get enough. I especially enjoy walking up to them and seeing their reactions.

Cows at the trough

30"x40" oil/canvas




Back from a weekend of cross country skiing at Gilbert Lake state park and some downhill at Bellayre Mtn. in New York state. I took a bunch of photos and made color notes in the wonderful countryside that is upstate New York. Found some cows close to camp....it was supposed to be partly sunny....it was snowing.....again....so I have more cows DURING snow stuff.... as we headed towards the catskills the sun came out and blessed us with some unbelievable scenery. Those scenes, the camera can't do justice and I know the after the fact painting couldn't either. So I'll stick to composition and massing and leave the postcard stuff for postcards..........

morning light 3

6"x6" oil/panel



Third in the series. I'm heading to upstate New York tomorrow (Otsego County) to collect even more cows in snow material. Believe it or not the snow is so deep here it's hard to see the cows! I'll be there all weekend and maybe get in some skiing. No internet though so no posts. Interesting side note, today got above freezing...The garbage collectors took the week off...everyone put out their garbage last week....garbage cans were placed on uneven snow piled surfaces....snow began to melt albeit not much....enough to change leveling dynamics....garbage cans fell over...the snowscape road scenes are now looking like the leaning tower of pizza boxes roadscapes...not so different than any other garbage day but the cans are all full...make that partially full...I've seen how the crews pick up spilled garbage on a normal day... should be interesting... Maybe Mondays predicted snow will cover the spilled garbage and we'll have another beautiful winterscape...and perhaps collapse a few more roofs. The country side really is fantastic right now!

Morning light number 2

6"x6" oil/panel

As time is fleeting, Here is number two of the early morning studies.

twilight

6"x6" oil/panel

I'm starting a series of work from early morning studies. Here is number 1.

Winter day on the Susquehanna

3 6"x6" oil/panels

I'm finding a genuine interest in simplicity of stroke....edgework....and atmosphere. As reality moves to the back burner and emotion and personal feeling takes over I feel a freedom of expression. Do I paint trees?......no...........well not literally...........

The water hole

11"x14" oil/panel


This is a spring that is along side of my parents driveway. The field beyond is the still undeveloped Traver's farm. We affectionately call the spring "The Water Hole". Since it's Valentines day I guess I'd better make my date with the triptych.

Susquehanna winter

30"x40"

oil/canvas

I found out that I'll be exhibiting in center city Philadelphia in a major corporate complex beginning in April. On top of normal anxiety now I'm feeling the heat to produce more work. The space is quite large so I want to put in big work. My muscles are aching from digging out of so much snow but one must move upwards and onwards. I tackled this one today. The river always captivates me and I plan on doing a small triptych tomorrow. Doesn't apply to Philly but does apply to my other shows.

round 2

The local weather folks(I hesitate to say meteorologists) hyped this storm as the "little brother" of last weekends storm. Turns out they were twins! Weather prediction currently is entirely mathmatical. I say why not throw in intuition? You can be wrong either way and there are no penalties.............this is my sidewalk and a fresh 2o"













If the big bad wolf went to my grandmas house he would see this........... a propane tank covered and a door that won't open........













here's my pride and joy. A 2,000 sq. ft timber frame built entirely by me with reclaimed lumber or chainsaw milled beams/boards all mortise and tenon joints. I raised the frame with block and tackle. No small feat. Dad helped also with the toughest parts. 20" stone and concrete foundation waiting for strawbale walls....someday....Currently this is where I make my biodiesel...albeit not in awhile. Oh yeah, the big white blob in the foreground is my grease hauler. A 1994 4 runner, not a small vehicle but completely covered....


















My backyard........Bar-b-que anyone?
I'll be painting soon enough....

Blizzard

No visual this post so I'll attempt to create one. The friday opening/ preview party was decent. No snow. Smallish turnout I'd say, 7 to 10 pm opening. I'll mention the fact that you shouldn't take express lanes on the Parkway when going short distances, I did and it cost me 20 miles and 20 minutes.Woops! Wonderful food,wine and champagne. I man the booth and watch perhaps 200 people stroll through with beverage in hand. Strike up dialogue with several interested people............all participating artists........view a few interested people. Watch the majority stroll with beverage in hand....the minority with nothing in hand ...the absolute minority with an original in hand. Talk about the weather and other things with my neighboring artist. Everyone is talking about whats to come.Leave the ended opening of the show.... Find my hotel...after 3 tries...I'm terrible with keeping track of these things!It starts to snow... Go to sleep.....Wake up to a white out.. Email confirms No show today... we'll go as scheduled for Sunday........So I stare out the hotel window most of the day....I watch an American flag on the fringe of being ripped to shreds...I watch cars being covered up to their bumpers in snow while others are bare due to the wind. All the while vehicles are attempting to go somewhere on the street. The plows come through then I see 2 snowmobiles ripping through the intersection followed by a coupe. Crazy.......We'll see what Sunday brings.........I have no idea how much snow fell today,I would guestimate 2 feet but the drifts are unreal.....