Lake Ontario Dream

This was done as a demo piece using a photo- graph taken several years ago on Lake Ontario. I really hate using photos as reference. A camera doesn't see the world the way I do, but sometimes there's no choice but to use a picture. Anyway, I pretty much used the photo only for general information and values, then really went to town using my imagination to build up colors, texture and to get the feel for the subject. I was very happy with how it came out.

Purple Loosestrife

There was this great patch of purple loosestrife growing along this gravel road which was very eye-catching. I see this stuff growing all around the area. I know it's an invasive weed, but it really is very beautiful.

Clouds Over Canandaigua Lake

Clouds Over Canandaigua Lake - available 

This has been a tough summer for painting for me. Rainy, over-cast weather is not conducive to working in pastels. Even this particular day, which started out sunny, changed into one with tons of clouds and a very brisk wind blowing across the lake at me. I really loved the pattern of the cloud shadows across the hills in the distance, however.  And yes, the color of the water really was pale green!

Can be viewed at the Pat Rini Rohrer Gallery in Canandaigua, NY.

Size: 12"x18"

Workshop

I will be doing a workshop this Wednesday, August 12 in Wyoming New York. It is part of the Coonley - Ward Summer Art Workshop Series. It will be held from 9 am to 2:30 pm at the Village Hall of Wyoming, 15 S. Academy St (Rt 19), Wyoming, NY. The workshop is $15. Please contact Linda Metcalf at 585-591-2406 or Sally Almeter at 585-591-1764 for information and materials list. I'm looking forward to it.

Around the Bend

I have always had the perception of March as being a "blah" month - just an other month of waiting until the real spring of May gets going. But recently I've come to appreciate the subtle colors along with those very rare teaser days when the temperatures get above 50 degrees.


size unframed is 6" x 9"

https://www.etsy.com/listing/110149534/original-pastel-landscape-painting-by

Clouds Clearing Over Braddocks Bay

This was done last summer, but never photo-graphed - probably couldn't find my camera. Anyway, it's a very nice piece. The clouds were just clearing out after another of the many down-pours we had last summer.

9"x12"

https://www.etsy.com/listing/107563386/original-pastel-landscape-painting-storm

Fields of Dandelions

I came upon this great field in the spring when the dandelions were in their full glory. When you see then like this, I have to wonder why we perceive them as weeds. I once heard that weeds are just plants growing in the wrong place. This was definitely the right spot, though.

The Erie Canal from Perinton Park

I had the oppor-tunity to hang a couple of pieces at Riki's Res- taurant in Fairport, but decided they should be something from the area, so I headed to Perinton Town Park and did this from under the Rt. 31F bridge over the canal. Lots of people stopped by to chat while I worked.

Technologically Challenged

That's me. I had taken some pictures of some more recent paintings, but in the process of trying to make space on my camera for my kids to shoot videos, deleted all of my art photos! The images were of paintings that are currently hung at Riki's Restaurant in Fairport. Once I get them back (assuming they aren't sold) I will photo them again and put them here!

Shadows Across the Path

Over the past few years, I have been drawn to scenes like this one; a road or path leading off some place. I wonder if it has some deep psychological meaning, maybe representing some inner struggle of mine. More than likely it doesn't though, and I just like the inviting way it feels: a path leading into the woods and on to new neat things to see.

Hot Off the Presses! My Newsletter

I have recently developed a newsletter which I have emailed to anyone interested in what is happening with my art. If you would like to receive future editions, please send me an email and I will be sure that you name gets added to the mailing list. In the meantime, just click on the image and the current newsletter will come up full size.

Technicolored Hedgerow

This was done in October 2008 at Brad- docks Bay. Beautiful clear day and the leaf colors were spectacular. This was actually a clump of trees surrounded by bushes and covered with grapevines. I think every color in the rainbow was represented in that grouping and the clarity of the day intensified everything. Great fun to paint.

Pastel Workshops

I have recently been asked to teach a couple of pastel workshops this summer. I am pretty excited about the prospect of teaching others about painting in pastels. While I have done demos for art groups in the past, they usually have to be done quickly due to time constraints. The nice thing about these up-coming workshops is that they will give me a chance to really get more in-depth with explaining my painting technique. I really enjoy sharing my love of the medium.

Currently, I am scheduled to teach workshops on July 28th with the folks in Livingston County Arts Council in Lakeville, NY and on August 12th at the Coonley-Ward Artist Community in Wyoming, NY. I will be sure to pass along more info here as it becomes available.

Also, if you would be interested in taking one of these workshops, or in having me do a demo or workshop for your art group or gallery, please drop me an email and I will get right back to you.

The Greece Post

I was interviewed the other day by reporter Jessica Spies from the Messenger Post Newspapers for an article about the Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters winter show which is on display at Barnes and Noble in Pittsford Plaza during the month of January. She interviewed several members of the group who live in the town of Greece about the experience of painting outdoors. I enjoy talking about it because it is something that I really love to do and I enjoy sharing that experience with the rest of the world. Hopefully that feeling will come across in the article whether I am quoted or not. I hope that if you happen to see the Greece Post on a news stand next week that you'll pick up a copy. By the, stop in to Barnes and Noble to see the show if you are in the Pittsford Plaza area during the month of January. Here's the link to the article and the one for the article which ran in the Canandaigua Post. Copy and paste them into your browser. There's a picture of me turning in one of my paintings!
http://www.mpnnow.com/towns/greece/x1060493760/Braving-the-elements-for-art-s-sake
http://www.mpnnow.com/entertainment/x512370450/Painting-in-the-biggest-studio-around

Smooth As Glass

This was painted along one of the lakes in Durand Eastman Park on an unusually warm day in early November. Because the hills surrounding the lake blocked the breeze, the water was completely still, reflecting the side of the hill which was in the sun. As the morning passed, the sun eventually burned off the haze which hung in the air. SOLD