Friday, November 19, 2021

 "Hollis Farm"


This is a scene along the side of the road in Hollis, NH. A beautiful, small town. I painted this from a photo and I was just learning so I merely copied the photo to the best of my ability. I ended up selling it at a Greely Park Art Show one year. Thanks for visiting!

SOLD

 "Serenity"


This is a scene I saw on my way to work at a new job one day. I went back to the area in Chelmsford, MA and took some snapshots. This was earlier in my career so I created a painting from the photos. The darks are too much but the composition and rendering are good so I'm happy and you can see the light in the work pretty good. Thanks for visiting!

SOLD

 "Lake Sunapee"


This was a commission for a friend. We hiked up the ski trail in Summer and I snapped some photos of what she wanted. Then when it came time to start the commission she wanted me to use several photos in a composite! I worked it out but when I finished she thought the lake would be larger. She was satisfied anyway. It was to be a wedding gift to her daughter out west. This is an earlier piece so I was still learning a lot.  I wanted to punch up the color and make sure the distant mountains looked misty and far away. I think I accomplished that. Thanks for visiting!

SOLD

"Meadow Ledge Farm"


What a beautiful barn and property. This place is a working farm with a wonderful store. I approached the owners and made a deal. I do this painting and they gave me some cash and $200 worth of goods in their store. What great products they had! Nice people too. The husband came out once and commented he's been meaning to wash the white boards. I told him I thought the dirty boards gave the barn more character. I paint what I see so that is what made it in the painting. BTW, he did not ask me to paint it white. Thanks for visiting!

SOLD

 "Shaker Village Trail"


I joined a plein air group here in NH years ago and we had a running agreement with Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury, NH where we could paint on their property w/o having to pay to get in. This is an area I found at the bottom of a hill and it was quite a bucolic scene. I love the orange/yellow tree to the right. This was entered into a show they did at the village and I ended up making a sale. Thanks for visiting!

SOLD

 "Christmas Snow"


This scene is actually deep in the woods right after a snowstorm. I went out the next morning just as the snow had stopped and the sun came out. The colors were amazing and the sky was such a deep blue. I snapped some reference photos and created this painting from them. I pushed the color as it seemed to need it. Thanks for visiting!

SOLD

 "My Sis Deb and Phoebe"


This was my first portrait that got me started in charcoal drawing of portraits. It's a very small picture but I wanted to see if could get a likeness of my sister. The dog, Phoebe, is just in a supporting role. It was quite a struggle but I definitely captured her likeness. When my sister saw it she bought it. That got me started in charcoal portraits. I don't do them this small. I do a standard size of 9 x 12 on Bristol vellum. I now have a skill in portraits. Next would be to try an oil portrait. Someday... Thanks for visiting!

SOLD

 "Dead End, Winter"


I sketched this scene near my home on a cold winter day. It's at the dead end of Moores Crossing Road in Bedford, NH. I liked the way the house stood out from some of the woods and the road leading down with the ranch style fence posts leading to the house. I sat in my car and faced the scene. It was too cold to work outside. It's very sketchy but the house grabs you as it's the focal point and has a bit more detail and careful rendering. As you move about farther away from the house the rendering diminishes as it's not necessary unless one wants to sketch it fully. I don't usually do that. I sketch like I paint - with a composition and a focal point or subject. Thanks for visiting!

SOLD

 "Nicholas"


This was a commission for a friend of mine. It was quite a challenge as I was given a few photographs and had to do a composite to get it going right. Would not normally do that but it was a friend so I said I'd try. When I finished and showed it to her she cried. I guess I was successful! Getting the eyes and the glasses were difficult as everything seemed too small. The shirt was tedious to render. After this portrait I now have guidelines and in them I don't do detailed garments unless they want it, then I'd have to charge more. Anyhow, I succeeded with this one and the artist and client were both happy. Thanks for visiting!

SOLD

"Peanut"


 This is my great niece that I decided to draw one day. What a challenge! The shapes of babies faces are so different and the hair was so thin and wispy. With lots of care and devotion I was successful in getting a very good likeness I believe. My sis ended up buying it. Thanks for visiting!

SOLD

 "Baby Jesus"


When I saw this image I felt I just had to see if I could do a good job on rendering it and do it justice. I think I succeeded. That hardest part was the little face of Jesus. The actual size of the image is about 7 x 5 so it's pretty small. I am very pleased with the drawing overall and I really like the softness in the folds of the garment and the scratchy look of the pile of straw surrounding the baby. Thanks for visiting!

SOLD

 "Midday"


This is a scene right along the Merrimack River in Merrimack, NH. Just past the trees is a steep drop-off. It goes down about 50 feet or more to the river which is relatively wide in this area. Not very deep though. I liked the two 'sister' trees on the edge and the colors of the distant trees with the foreground fall grasses. Nice little scene to paint. The sky was blustery and filled with sun and clouds. I hope I captured the sky convincingly. Thanks for visiting!

SOLD

 "Midafternoon"


This is a pic of a friend of mine who sent me some Fall pictures one year. It was a beautiful scene so I painted it. She has since bought it. The hardest part for me was the figure. I'm more of a landscape painter but I think I did a decent job. Love the color and the composition. Thanks for visiting!

SOLD

"Acadia" 


This is a recognizable place in Acadia National Park. There is such beautiful scenery along the coastline. All natural, all good. There is plenty of light and color in this piece. The dark shadows and bright rocks really show how bright and stark the sunshine was on this beautiful day. Thanks for visiting!

SOLD

"Countryside"


A nice path winds through this field that has opened up in the forest. I like the different colors in the verge and sky. This is a very small piece 4 x 6 and I enjoyed bringing life to a vista on such a small format. Thanks for visiting!

SOLD

Saturday, November 13, 2021

 "Mandy On The Lawn"


This is a black lab I used to own way back when. She was very sweet and fun. I was out training her one day in a sit and wait position and snapped a photo. I loved the color of the grasses so I decided to attempt a portrait in the landscape. I like the looseness of the surrounding area with the detail of the dog. Thanks for visiting!

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

"The Old Barn"


This is an old barn in Hollis, NH that is somewhat of an icon and the property too. This is a painting of the original barn but it is long gone now and a replica has been built. It was later in the day and I wanted to capture that warm glow in the early evening. Thanks for visiting!

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

 "Conservation Area Concord"


A sketch done from the parking lot of the Concord Conservation Area in Concord, NH. There was a nice tree sitting right by the stream so I thought I'd sit down and sketch it. Done in pencil although I usually sketch in charcoal but I mix it up once in a while. A loose sketch with minimal detail but just enough to capture the essence of the scene. Thanks for visiting!

Monday, September 13, 2021

 "The Old Ice House"


This is a popular motif in New Hampshire. It's an old ice house that was reproduced and sitting on a farm in Hollis, NH. I sketched this sitting in my car with the AC on because it was so stifling hot outside and I was weak from my current condition. I feel I captured the essence of the scene on this bright and beautiful sunny day. Enjoy!

Sunday, June 6, 2021

 "The Other Tree"


This scene is down the road from the town center of New Boston, NH. It's easy access because it's right by the road but it's down below a bit so it's away from the road and the traffic. It's such a nice place and a bucolic scene. I usually favor the tree on the left but this time I favored the tree on the right hence the title 'The Other Tree'. I really enjoy sketching here. I just sit in my lawn chair down by the riverside and sketch away. I was lucky once and saw a black mink in the water. A minute later he had a fish in his mouth. Such a nice way to enjoy nature. Thanks for visiting!