EARLY EVENING II

Another evening sketch, this time concentrating on a layer of clouds close to the horizon and the associated colors found at this time of the day. I purposely kept the colors of the landscape subdued and used a harmonious palette throughout. Although I consider these sketches finished works in their own right, I do them most often as a kind of experiment, some develop into larger works, some into a series of their own. But all through I try and capture the feeling that I have for the landscape, and the simple joy I feel when I'm out painting. This oil is 9" x 12" (20cm x 30cm), private collection.

DECEMBER EVENING

Although this is a medium-sized painting, I still consider it a study. I have yet to do the larger version but hope to get to that as soon as I have finished the painting currently sitting on my easel (another sky painting). Again this is a view near to where I live looking over the relatively flat landscape of Montgomery County towards the setting sun. In the larger work, I'll probably push the vales slightly in the hope of creating a slightly more dramatic work. December Evening is 18" x 24" (46cm x 61cm). Oil on Canvas. Private collection.

LATE EVENING SKY

In this medium sized painting I attempted to capture the feeling of a late evening landscape when the sun has just set but there is still enough light in the grasses to give them definition. Some of the clouds are catching rays of sun on their undersides causing a subtle glow - a theme that I am exploring in a much larger painting currently on an easel in my studio. This time of the day holds a special meaning in my heart so no wonder then that I do so many paintings like this. Late Evening Sky is 16" x 20" (40cm x 51cm). Oil on Canvas, private collection.

CLOUDS ABOVE LAKE ANNA

Keeping with the Dawn and Dusk series, I painted this smaller study that shows the ridge line trees and lake close to where I live. It was a little later in the morning when I painted this one and the rising sun is off to the right of the scene. I was primarily interested in the early morning clouds so this is what the painting is mostly about. The main reason for posting the one though is that I have been working on sky paintings all week (I'll post some of them later) and since most of the studies have gone well, I am planning a larger work of one or more of these studies but still can't decide how much of the landscape to show at the bottom. Do I want the painting to be more like the one above of just have a thin line of trees and grass showing making the work more of a skyscape? To resolve this problem I'll probably do a series of watercolor studies in my sketchbook and see which one I like the best. 'Clouds Above Lake Anna' is an oil on canvas, 9" x 12" (23cm x 30cm), private collection.

DAWN AND DUSK SERIES

Paintings of the dawn and the dusk has been an ongoing series for me almost since I began painting full time. In many of these works, I have been trying to capture the freshness of a new day. Most important is the sky and the associated cloud effects as light slowly grows in the East - usually the landscape plays a secondary role. Sitting in the pre-dawn stillness, I often have no idea what to expect and am always surprised, no two dawns it seems are the same. Evening skies are of course different and they, even more so than in the morning, can develop into something that I had no inclination of. I am often surprised and delighted, the process is one of discovery and wonderment as I try and capture what I have seen. Most works in this series  are 9" x 12", oil on canvas.