After the Rain

"After the Rain"
18x24 oil on canvas

This is is a little outside of my usual stomping grounds - I was visiting a friend in Bloomsburg, Pa and really enjoyed seeing the surrounding countryside up there. Unfortunately it was a pretty rainy weekend while I was there but hey, I do too many sunny day paintings anyway.

This painting is on Utt Road near Rohrsburg, Pa, and once again it shows my usual motif of a roadway running off into the distance. I don't know why I do so many paintings of roadways but they're an endless fascination to me. I sometimes think of the flat asphalt road as a blank canvas which nature paints on, and it's my job as an artist to just notice. This scene was missing any strong shadows across the road, which I really love to paint, but I liked the puddles and reflections on the wet roadway - without those, this road would have remained just a blank canvas. I also liked how the little barn echoed the bigger barn and I keep thinking of them as father and son (which might be a better title for this painting, now that I think about it).

The Art of Seduction

In celebration of Valentine's Day, February's show at the Artists' Gallery is called The Art of Seduction. This will be a group show of all of the gallery artists and we'll try our best to do justice to the show's title.

A sumptuous chocolate buffet will be provided for the opening reception on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14 from 6:00pm - 9:00pm. For a special treat, we'll have French Truffles and other irresistible chocolates, graciously donated by The Chocolate Box at 39 North Union Street. So come out and join us and indulge a bit.

Artists' Gallery is at 32 Coryell Street, Lambertville, NJ [map & directions]. Gallery hours are every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm (but do try to be there for the reception on Feb 14).

Since I paint landscapes almost exclusively, I had trouble finding something to fit the show's theme, but some people find cars seductive, don't they? I hope so because one of the works I'll be showing is this 1959 MGA Coupe - my only plein air painting of a car:

"1959 MGA Coupe"
11x14 oil on panel

Group Show at Bells Tavern

From now through the end of March, Bell's Tavern in Lambertville, NJ is hosting a group show of Artists' Gallery artists. I have 4 paintings hanging, including these:

"Duke Island"
8x10 oil on wood panel

This is the Raritan River at Duke Island Park, Bridgewater, NJ. It's a big park with picnic areas and ball fields, but you'll usually find me lurking around by the river.

"Homeward Bound, Winter Afternoon"
8x10 oil on panel

And this one is the street I live on, hence the title. I live just past the crest, on the right, but the hill climbs quite a bit more past my house. I'm sure I exaggerated the colors a bit in this painting, but the trees sometimes look almost like that at sunset.

Bell's is one of my favorite places in Lambertville - great food, low prices, nice bar, and a good selection of beer on tap. And always some good artwork up on the walls. It's always worth a visit:

Bell's Tavern
183 North Union Street
Lambertville, NJ

Montgomery Winter Sunset

"Montgomery Winter Sunset"
18x24 oil on canvas

This is a spot along my daily travels, but I'd never seen it look so nice - I was lucky to be driving by at the right time of day, and that little bit of snow on the ground seemed just the right touch. I should make it a point to get out of the house at sunset more often!

I suddenly feel inspired to paint more skies, cloudscapes and sunsets...

Artsbridge Members Show

This year's Artsbridge Members' Show is being held at the Prallsville Mill in Stockton, NJ. Opening reception is Saturday, Feb 7 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm, and the show runs until Sunday, Feb 22.

Folks might be tired of seeing snow around here, but I thought I'd stick with a winter theme and this is my entry - a view of my driveway from last winter:

"Winter Drive"
24x18 oil on canvas