NEAR BLACKWATER

A plein air painting done overlooking the marsh near Blackwater NWR on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Often these smaller studies don't come to anything, but are extremely useful non-the-less. I always learn something from doing them and I can often use them as the basis for larger paintings. Or even combine certain aspects from a few different studies to work them into a painting. For me, its all about discovery and experimentation. I do a lot of looking and thinking before actually painting anything and I hope my work has improved because of it.  Near Blackwater - Oil on Canvas, 9" X 12".

ORNATE HAWK EAGLE

A study of a female Ornate Hawk-eagle from before. In the past I made many studies and drawing of this amazingly beautiful bird. Large and powerful, it really had an imposing presence. Incredible markings too - almost art-deco like and with a wonderful crest that could be laid flat as in the above painting. A bird of the forest, in flight it had short rounded wings and a long tail - built for maneuverability. I did this study in watercolor - size is 11" X 7.5".

SUMMER LANDSCAPE

This painting needed only a few touch-ups to it before I called it finished. A difficult painting to photograph properly - in reality the work is a little darker (especially the foreground) and the grasses are more subtle in their tones. This painting - along with a few others, are being exhibited at Berkley Gallery in Warrenton, Virginia - I'll be having an exhibition there later in the year and will keep you posted.
The farm painting that I mentioned in my last post has become bogged down so will be awhile in coming. In the meantime I am happily working my way through some of the other unfinished painting in the studio. Hopefully more pics soon. Summer Landscape is an oil on canvas, size 16" X 24".

SNOW AND FARM PAINTINGS

Both of the above oil paintings were done just after dawn trying to capture the freshness of the crisp snow and the early morning light. Often these works are kept small as I find it easier to work out the composition etc, then when I'm happy, I use these studies work up into larger paintings. I have such a large work in progress at the moment and will probably feature in the next post. It is a new farm painting also in the morning light but is taking some time as there are rather a lot of details that I'm slowly working through. 

UPPER COUNTY FARM - MORNING SNOW

This painting was another in the studio waiting for a re-work. I started on the sky deepening it somewhat and  then adding a few high thin clouds. The wood-line behind the barns was deepened slightly and extended in height to slightly above the forward-facing building - this helped the anchor the buildings within the scene somewhat. I also re-painted the snow adding a slightly warmer underpainting to the mid-ground then getting cooler towards the foreground. The barn buildings were slightly deepened in tone and then a few details picked out in places finishing off with a little work to the grasses. In the frame it looks fine but I'll give it a week or so - who knows, by then I may find something else to do to it! Size is 9" X 12" - oil on canvas.

WINTER SKY STUDY

I did this study awhile ago and developed the lower foreground slightly later on when back in the studio. As is usual with these smaller studies, the idea is to try and capture an idea or mood then translate this into a larger painting. I have actually started the larger work but am struggling with it a little so have set it aside for now while working on other paintings. As mentioned in an earlier post, I'm trying to work through the unfinished painting I have here in the studio before starting some new ones. While that is the general idea, in reality I am often swayed by a new and exciting idea or thought. I am trying to keep any new paintings small at the moment so as the give the larger ones more of a chance of being completed.
Winter Sky study is an oil on canvas - size 4" X 6".

SUMMER FIELDS

Sorry for the long delay between posts - here is something to tide you over. Yet another small study of the evening sky. I have been working on a quite a few different things but have yet to finish anything other than this study - lots of unfinished paintings lying around the studio : (
Perhaps it's an unsettled feeling of the in-between seasons that is throwing me off - still cold and wet here and looking as if spring will never arrive! I hope to have more to show you soon. Summer Fields is an oil on canvas, 8" X 10".