Making Bubbles 8x10 oil

This is one of my grandaughters having fun making bubbles.
I want to concentrate doing more figurative work this year, painting people going about life, whether walking their dog, or standing in line waiting for water ice.
I usually paint landscapes and things dealing with nature.  Now I'll branch out a bit and try painting human nature.

Moonlight

I like trying to capture the mood on moonlit nights. This image was from a  flyfishing vacation my brother and I take every year in Northcentral Pa. When you don't have to go to work the next day you can afford to stay up all night making sketches of the landscape as the moon works its way across the sky.
Once your eyes adjust you can see remarkably well by moonlight, enough to walk all around the park taking pictures and sketching.

Moonlight  8x10 oil on Gallery wrapped canvas.

Tree Reflection

Tree Reflection 12"x12" acrylic on cradled wood panel.

This is a stream that runs thru the state park we stay at when on vacation in the fall. 

The second picture shows the sketch I did on location that day -sorry about the white line going down the sketch, I accidently painted on it while doing another painting months later.

And me sitting on a blowdown where I did the sketch. The cigar paintbox is convienent for when you have other things you are doing (fishing) besides painting but you still want to do some sketches during the day. You carry it on shoulder and its out of the way until you need it.

Tulip

Tulip 5x7 acrylic

My wife's flower bed provided the inspiration.When I leave for work at 6:30am  they are closed up when I get home they are spread open like this.

Valley Forge Resident

Valley Forge Resident 12x12 oil

We go to Valley Forge National Park at sunrise to photograph the deer and other wildlife that lives there. They have a deer herd that has grown considerably (over 1200 deer) and now the park service is in the process of eliminating most of the deer which could take up to four years.

From November to March sharpshooters culled 600 deer during the nighttime hours, away from areas being used by public. I wonder if this guy made it.
I spend time at the park with three of my brothers. My brother Tom and I flyfish Valley Creek which runs thru the park, my brother Phil and I photograph at the park and my brother Chris and I paint at the park.

I think I'm going to go there this weekend.
Thanks for stopping by,
Pat

Flyfishing, Tying One On

Tying One On  6"x8" acrylic on a cradled wood panel.

A stream running thru a forest is probably the enviroment I enjoy being in the most. I love the peaceful feeling you get being in a place like this and I wanted to do a painting portraying those feelings.
I used predominatly cool colors to reinforce the quiet peaceful feeling, and placed the flyfisherman in an area away from any distractions. His relaxed stance as he ties on a fly tells of a patient angler at home in this enviroment.

Ringneck Pheasant

Ringneck Pheasant  15x30  Acrylic on masonite panel  

I like the bold colors the male pheasant has. I painted this pheasant in warm afternoon light  and provided him with an escape route in case danger approaches. Years ago when there were still pheasants around in good numbers you would be walking the fields and all of a sudden be surprised by a pheasant that flushed right at your feet.

When we were young there was a pheasant that came out of the woods crossed the road walked  along the side of our house and dissapeared somewhere out back. So every day before school we would be waiting by the window watching for our friend to make his appearance. 
I'm amazed what sticks in your mind after all these years.
Thanks for looking,
Pat

Valley Creek

Valley Creek  8x10 original oil painting       

I painted this early in the morning as the sun was starting to light the landscape. Usually we are here flyfishing but on this day I was here to paint.Valley Creek holds a good population of wild brown trout which we have caught and released over the years.

Almost Gone

With the higher tempertures we are enjoying the snow is just about gone revealing the dormant winter grass. Alot of people don't care for the snow, in the beginning when its new its ok but after a while they tire of it.

Artists look at it differently, snow provides us with new seasonal painting material. After painting the greens of summer and the colors of fall, snow presents us with another challenge, to capture the moods of winter.

Here are my attempts to capture those moods of winter over the years.

Hope you enjoyed these scenes, thanks for looking.

Pat

A Dozen Red Roses

A Dozen Red Roses  8x10 oil    

An image for Valentines Day.
Enjoy,
Pat

Fading Light

A quick sketch Sunday afternoon capturing the fadng light on the neighbors fence and yard. I like the shadow thrown by the top of our house on the fence. I happened to be looking out the window to see if any birds were at the feeders when I saw the sun on the fence. I grabbed a 5"x7" panel that had a sketch on it already and painted over it.
Constant pratice keeps you sharp and helps build your knowledge of light and how it affects the landscape.
I do alot of these sketches, the good ones you keep for reference, the bad ones you paint over.

Thanks for looking,
Pat

Autumn Lineup

 Autumn Lineup  11x14 original oil painting  $224.50 

I usually spend the late fall looking for the last spots of color that are left in a now drab landscape. Its like a treasure hunt, each day that passes gets harder and harder to find some brillant color. And when you finally do it like finding a treasure.

 I found this set of trees at sunrise on Nov 20th  and painted this 5x7 study on location. The sun moves so quickly at this time of morning so  I hurried to catch the shaft of light that lit up the trees.

This is the photo reference I took sitting in my truck BEFORE I started painting.
Sometimes I forget to do this step when I'm in a rush to catch the light.
You can see I edited out some things, the bare tree in the foreground and the blacktop.
I only included the things that re-enforced my initial feelings about the scene, the reason it made me stop.
Everything else is unimportant.

It was a great morning treasure hunting.

Thanks for looking,
Pat

After the Blizzard

5x7 oil

This is the view looking out the kitchen window. The storm has passed and now the sun shines brightly throwing shadows on the snow.

Once Bitten,Cherry Cordial

Once Bitten,Cherry Cordial 4"x4" oil on gallery wrapped canvas  

I wanted to try to paint the sensation of biting into a cherry cordial.
At Christmas I bought a small box of them with the intent of painting at least one of them before they dissapeared....you know.
I did a pratice painting on a longer piece of scrap masonite. This painting is based on the study I did at Christmas.

The sides of the painting are painted black, and the decorative easel comes with the painting, or it can be hung on the wall as is, either way  no framing is needed.
The painting is for sale in my Etsy shop. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Thanks for looking,
Pat


I

Conservation Island,Promised Land State Park

9x12 oil on stretched canvas- Fredrix float canvas- no frame needed.

This is the view we get when fishing from our boat. We usually head to this cove( we call it Keystone Cove) when we want to escape the winds on the main part of the lake. This cove is good for some bass when you fish the first dropoff from the side. On days when we are not trailering the boat we walk the trail on Conservation Island.

Last Plein-air Trip of the Year

I took my brother Chris and his two sons out today for the last plein-air trip of the year. We took a 15 minute drive to Neshaminy St. Park. We found a spot free of snow to stand in, but with a good view.

We wanted to try to capture the mood of a overcast winter day.  The spot we picked afforded us a range of values to work with. 
Father and son plein-air team. Both my paintboxes were being used so I was the  designated photographer for the day.

Here is Chris getting a start on his painting 

Eric with his completed painting and Chris putting the finishing touches on his.

Happy New Year

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Year.
I met some new friends this year and got to meet other artists thru the internet that I would'nt have met otherwise.
Thank You to all the people that purchased artwork from me, I appreciate the encouragement and support you give me.
I got a new painting partner this year, my brother Chris. This coming year will be filled with plenty of plein-air painting trips.

I want to thank my wife Maria for being so supportive and understanding,  because being an artist takes alot of  alone time, whether out plein-air painting or just learning to improve your craft and doing the business end (which she excels at thank God), she has been a tremendous help to me.

The painting above was the wine we had at Christmas. I thought it would make a suitable model for the New Year celebration.  Enjoy!
Pat

Cross Country Skier 8x10 oil on canvas

I had a little time at the end of the day so went out to look for a snow scene. I was about three quarters of the way done when this woman on skies crossed in front of me. I quickly captured the motion of her gliding across the snow.
I love the light you get at the end of the day.
My fingers were frozen by the time I finished but it was worth it.

Feeding Time,Cardinal 5x7 oil

This is one of the cardinals that come to our feeders. They are the first to arrive and the last to leave at sunset.

Cream Donut 5x7 oil

I have been thinking about painting a cream donut for a while now, the other day I finally did.

I have been thinking about eating a cream donut for a while now.........  
Enjoy!
Pat