Joe Kaz - Landscape Painter

Dramatic Skies

2012-01-13T11:23:00.000-05:00

My paintings at Artists' Gallery this month feature some of the cloudscapes and skyscapes that I've been working on lately. Here are a few of the paintings on display:

"Clover Hill Sky"
24x18" oil on canvas

"Amwell Valley Winter Sunset"
8x10" oil on board

"Pleasant Valley Barns"
11x14" oil on canvas

"Ottos's Farm, Springtime"
5x7" oil on board

"Winter Sunset, Skillman"
by Joe Kazimierczyk
20x30 oil on canvas

These paintings are available now through Feb 5, 1012 at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Gallery hours are every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm.

Artists' Gallery December

2011-12-09T19:43:00.001-05:00

My big show at Artists' Gallery is over now, but some of the paintings will remain there for "Holiday Lights" - a group show with all 18 gallery artists. Here are some of the paintings I'll have up for this show:

"Winter Sunset, Skillman"
by Joe Kazimierczyk
20x30 oil on canvas

The "Holiday Lights" group show runs Dec 9, 2011 through the end of the year at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Gallery hours are every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm.

Opening Reception is this Saturday, December 10, 2011, 3-6pm

Get Lost #14, Closing Reception

2011-12-03T14:00:00.000-05:00

"The Derwood Farm"
6x8" oil on canvas

Throughout my show at Artists' Gallery, I've been posting the paintings I have in this show. But all good things must end and this is the final batch - you can see all 21 of my "Get Lost" paintings via this link: "Get Lost".

"Get Lost" ends this Sunday and I hope you can join Beatrice Bork and myself for "coffee & conversation", a closing reception on Sunday, Dec 4, 2011 from 2-5pm.

"Autumn in Hopewell"
11x14" oil on board

Artists' Gallery is located at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Gallery hours are every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm.

"Grandview Sunset"
18x24" oil on canvas

Thanks to everyone who came out and helped make this a successful show!

Get Lost #13

2011-12-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

"South Branch November"
South Branch of the Raritan River,
near Three Bridges, NJ
6x8" oil on board

"Wickecheoke July"
The Wickecheoke Creek
between Sergeantsville and Stockton, NJ
8x10" oil on board

Both of these paintings are of places I never tire of returning to, and I've painted each of these locations many times. In the summer, I sometimes see blue herons flying along the Wickecheoke stream corridor, and what a magnificent sight to have one of those creatures fly by as I'm painting there.

These are just 2 of the paintings currently on display in "Get Lost" - my 2 person show with Beatrice Bork.

"Get Lost" is ending tomorrow, and I hope you can join us for "coffee & conversation", a closing reception on Sunday, Dec 4, 2-5pm at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
map & directions
Gallery hours are every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm

Get Lost #12

2011-12-02T11:23:00.001-05:00

"Clover Hill Sky"
24x18" oil on canvas

This scene is on Rainbow Hill Road, in East Amwell Township, NJ. The Clover Hill Reformed Church is in the distance, in the town of Clover Hill.

This is one of the paintings currently on display in "Get Lost" - my 2 person show with Beatrice Bork, running until December 4, 2011 at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Gallery hours are every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm.

"Get Lost" is ending soon, and I hope you can join us for "coffee & conversation", a closing reception on Sunday, Dec 4, 2-5pm.

Get Lost #11

2011-11-29T19:32:00.001-05:00

Most of my smaller paintings are done en plein air, which basically means they are painted outdoors, on location. (But it sounds more impressive in French, no?)

Painting large outdoors is very challenging, so most of my larger works are painted indoors in my studio. For reference, I'll use my photographs, memories and/or my smaller plein air paintings.

The two paintings below are an example of how I sometimes create a larger studio painting from a smaller plein air piece. The larger painting is usually pretty faithful to the original, but at some point it has to take a life of it's own and not be just a copy of the smaller one.

The 8x10" piece was painted on location in Mercer County Park North West on the first day of spring last year:

"Mercer Meadows" (small)
8x10" oil on board

Sometime later, probably on a rainy day when I couldn't paint outside, I did this 18x24" painting in the studio, based on the smaller 8x10 plein air piece. This larger version has some more detail, and I added the tree on the right to improve the composition. I muted the ochers of the field to better balance the colors in the distant tree line and mountain:

"Mercer Meadows" (large)
18x24" oil on canvas

These 2 paintings and more are on display in "Get Lost" - my 2 person show with Beatrice Bork, running November 11 to December 4, 2011 at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Closing Reception: Sunday, Dec 4, 2-5pm

Get Lost #10

2011-11-27T09:30:00.000-05:00

"Pleasant Valley Farm"
11x14" oil on canvas

A group of old barns along Wilson Road on a late summer day, near Harbourton in West Amwell Twp, NJ.

This painting and many more are on display in "Get Lost" - my 2 person show with Beatrice Bork, running November 11 to December 4, 2011 at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Closing Reception: Sunday, Dec 4, 2-5pm

Get Lost #9

2011-11-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

"Farm Lane"
8x10" oil on linen on board

These 2 paintings were done at the Folusiak Farm off of Hollow Rd, Montgomery Twp, near Skillman, NJ. The farm lane in the above painting leads to the group of old barns in the scene below. No one lives here anymore, and the land is owed by the township, but someone still maintains the fields and cuts hay every summer.

"Rusted Roofs"
8x10" oil on canvas on board

These paintings are just a few of those on display in "Get Lost" - my 2 person show with Beatrice Bork, running November 11 to December 4, 2011 at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Closing Reception: Sunday, Dec 4, 2-5pm

Get Lost #8

2011-11-25T19:11:00.001-05:00

"Otto's Farm, First Day of Spring"
5x7" oil on board

This is another spot where I paint pretty often - Otto's Farm Park, near Neshanic Station, NJ, just around the corner from my home. Otto's Farm is on the north slope of the Sourland Mountain, and this scene is looking across Amwell Valley towards Cushetunk Mountain, visible in the distance. Cushetunk is the ring shaped mountain that forms Round Valley Reservoir.

This painting and many more are on display in "Get Lost" - my 2 person show with Beatrice Bork, running November 11 to December 4, 2011 at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Closing Reception: Sunday, Dec 4, 2-5pm

Get Lost #7

2011-11-25T10:57:00.001-05:00

"Neshanic Summer"
8x10" oil on wood panel

The Neshanic River in Hillsborough, NJ, near where Amwell Road / Rt 514 crosses it. This spot is less than 2 miles from my house and I've painted here often - as long as the water is low enough to wade out into the river. Great place to spend a summer afternoon!

This is another of the paintings I have in "Get Lost" - a 2 person show with Joe Kazimierczyk and Beatrice Bork, running November 11 to December 4, 2011 at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Closing Reception: Sunday, Dec 4, 2-5pm

Get Lost #6

2011-11-23T20:40:00.001-05:00

"Amwell Sky"
12x24" oil on canvas

Another one of the paintings I have in "Get Lost" - a 2 person show with Joe Kazimierczyk and Beatrice Bork, running November 11 to December 4, 2011 at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

The galley is closed Thanksgiving Day, but open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11am-6pm, as usual.

Closing Reception: Sunday, Dec 4, 2-5pm

And Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Get Lost #5

2011-11-19T14:00:00.000-05:00

"Horseshoe Bend"
Horseshoe Bend Road near Frenchtown, NJ
7x14" oil on board

Another one of the paintings I have in "Get Lost" - a 2 person show with Joe Kazimierczyk and Beatrice Bork, running November 11 - December 4, 2011 at
at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Gallery hours: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm

Closing Reception: Sunday, Dec 4, 2-5pm

Get Lost #4

2011-11-18T14:00:00.000-05:00

"Bowman's Tower"
by Joe Kazimierczyk
at Washington Crossing Park, just south of New Hope, PA
8x10" oil on canvas on board

"Go With the Flw"

by Beatrice Bork

watercolor painting

Some more of the paintings available in "Get Lost" - a 2 person show with Joe Kazimierczyk and Beatrice Bork, running November 11 - December 4, 2011 at
at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Gallery hours: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm

Closing Reception: Sunday, Dec 4, 2-5pm

Get Lost #3

2011-11-17T14:00:00.000-05:00

"East Amwell Spring"
On Cider Mill Road looking at Welisewitz Road
5x7" oil on board

"Springtime on the Neshanic"
the Neshanic River near Montgomery Road
5x7" oil on board

My paintings in "Get Lost" range in size from a small 5x7 inches, up to 20x30 inches for my largest piece. Here are 2 of the smaller paintings I have in "Get Lost" - a 2 person show with Joe Kazimierczyk and Beatrice Bork, running November 11 - December 4, 2011 at
at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Gallery hours: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm

Closing Reception: Sunday, Dec 4, 2-5pm

Get Lost #2

2011-11-16T14:00:00.000-05:00

"Raven Rock Farm"
11x14" oil on board

Another one of the paintings I have in "Get Lost" - a 2 person show with Joe Kazimierczyk and Beatrice Bork, running November 11 - December 4, 2011 at
at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Gallery hours: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm

Closing Reception: Sunday, Dec 4, 2-5pm

New Hope Arts League Juried Show 2011

2011-11-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

"Rainbow Run Winter"
Rainbow Run Farm on Rainbow Hill Rd, Clover Hill, NJ
12x24" oil on canvas

These two painting are in the New Hope Arts League Annual Juried Show being held at:

Prallsville Mills
27 Risler St (that's Rt 29 just north of town)
Stockton, NJ
(map)

The show runs Nov 16-27, 2011 and is open daily 11am to 6pm (closed Thanksgiving Day.)

Opening Reception is Friday, Nov 18, 6-9pm

"Autumn Gold"
A woodland stream off of Wertsville Rd, East Amwell Twp, NJ
16x20" oil on canvas

These 2 paintings are scenes located very close to my home, just like most of the work in another show I have going on right now: "Get Lost" at Artists' Gallery in Lambertville.

Get Lost #1

2011-11-13T08:29:00.001-05:00

"Cider Mill Winter"
by Joe Kazimierczyk
12x24" oil on canvas

"Fall Flyer"

by Beatrice Bork

watercolor painting

These are some of the paintings available at "Get Lost" - a 2 person show with Joe Kazimierczyk and Beatrice Bork, running November 11 - December 4, 2011 at
at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Gallery hours: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm

13th Annual Holiday Small Works Show at Canal Frame-Crafts Gallery

2011-11-12T14:00:00.000-05:00

"Thomas Clarke's Barn"
at Princeton Battlefield Park
5x7 oil on board

I have 2 paintings in this holiday group show at:

Canal Frame-Crafts Gallery
1093 General Greene Rd.
Washington Crossing, Pa 18977
(map)

"Hortulus Farm"
at Hortulus Farm & Gardens in Bucks County, Pa
14x11 oil on canvas

This show features smaller scale works by the Canal Frame Gallery artists, and runs from November 13 to December 31, 2011.

Opening Reception is Sunday, Nov 13 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.

Get Lost Begins

2011-11-11T14:25:00.001-05:00

Getting ready for an art exhibition is always a lot of work, so I've been very busy the past week. But now, the show is hung and the doors are open! Today is the first day of "Get Lost", my 2 person show with Beatrice Bork.

I have 21 pieces in the show, painted at 20 different locations. (One of the paintings is a larger studio version of a small plein air painting). Visitors to the gallery are generally interested in knowing the location of my landscape paintings, so I created this map for the gallery wall:

I know that my paintings are all very local, but I was surprised to see that over half of the paintings I have in this show are scenes located within 5 miles of my house. I am fortunate to live in such a beautiful area!

Here are some shots of our paintings hanging in the gallery:

Joe Kazimierczyk - landscape paintings in oil

Beatrice Bork - animal art in watercolor

Opening Reception is tomorrow, Saturday, November 12, 2011 from 5-8pm at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street
Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Gallery hours: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm

I hope to see you there!

Get Lost this November

2011-11-07T16:00:00.000-05:00

Beginning 11·11·11

"Get Lost"
a 2-person show with Joe Kazimierczyk and Beatrice Bork
at Artists' Gallery in Lambertville, NJ

November 11 - December 4, 2011
Opening Reception: Saturday, November 12, 5-8pm
Closing Reception: Sunday, December 4, 2-5pm

Top: "Go With the Flow" by Beatrice Bork
Bottom: "Mercer Park NW" by Joe Kazimierczyk

This month, I'm having a 2-person show with Beatrice Bork at Artists' Gallery in Lambertville, NJ. I'll be showing my newest work, where I continue to explore the local landscape with an emphasis on skies and cloudscapes. Beatrice is a very accomplished, award winning animal artist who paints birds and other animals in watercolor - the creatures who inhabit my landscapes but never seem to make it into my paintings.

The show runs November 11 through December 4, 2011.

Opening reception is Saturday, November 12 from 5-8pm at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street
Lambertville, NJ
map & directions
Gallery hours: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm

"Winter Sunset, Skillman"
by Joe Kazimierczyk
20x30 oil on canvas

Get Lost? Painting is much more than holding a brush in your hands, it requires a great deal of exploration, observation and discovery. Through field and forest you explore, discover and be inspired. You get lost in the moment, tune out your everyday worries and really see what's in front of you. It's in this "getting lost" where the artwork is born. Beatrice and I invite you to Get Lost this November at Artists' Gallery!

Over the next few weeks, I'll post some more of the paintings that I have in this show, just so you don't forget about it. :-)

Friends in Field & Forest

2011-10-16T19:54:00.002-04:00

"Coventry Farm"
11x14" oil on canvas on board

"Friends in Field & Forest: Celebrating Partners in Preservation" - an art and photography exhibit highlighting partnership lands protected by D&R Greenway in Princeton: Greenway Meadows, Coventry Farm and The Institute Woods. With a special exhibit of plein air paintings created on Green Acres lands, in celebration of the New Jersey Green Acres Program's 50th anniversary.

"Cedar Ridge Fields"
at Cedar Ridge Preserve, Hopewell, NJ
8x10" oil on board

I have 14 of my plein air paintings in this show, all of which are on land preserved by the D&R Greenway. The show runs October 24 through December 2, 2011 at:

D&R Greenway's Marie L. Matthews Gallery
at Johnson Education Center
One Preservation Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone: 609-924-4646
[map & directions]

Opening Reception: Sunday, November 4, 4-6pm

"Farm Lane"
at the St. Michael's Preserve, Hopewell, NJ
5x7" oil on board

Please note: Other than the opening reception, there are no weekend hours for this gallery. The Marie L. Matthews Gallery is open Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm, but it's best to call the Greenway at 609-924-4646 first to confirm that the facility is not being used for other purposes.

"Mount Rose Boulders"
a very rocky trail off Crusher Rd, Mount Rose, NJ
8x10" oil on board

Lambertville Area Paintings

2011-09-09T20:52:00.001-04:00

Gallery artists hang new paintings each month at Artists' Gallery and I usually don't try to have a theme for my own work, but last month I hung all winter paintings and had a lot of fun with that. So this month I'm doing another theme: Lambertville and the surrounding area - paintings done in town or fairly close by.

Here are a few of the paintings I'm showing for September:

The Lambertville Station restaurant - as always, I somehow manage to paint busy, bustling city scenes without getting a single person in my painting:

"At Lambertville Station"
8x10"
oil on board

From the Lambertville Boat Club, looking across the Delaware at New Hope:

"Bucks County Playhouse"
8x10"
oil on linen

This is the D&R Canal Bridge at the Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead at the northern end of Lambertville, with the Rt 202 bridge in the background:

"D&R and 202"
11x14"
oil on board

Thanks to the recent rains, the Delaware River is very high, but flood waters were nowhere near the gallery - we remain high and dry. If you visit this weekend, Saturday from 4-8pm is the opening reception for Artists' Gallery's current show, "Freewheeling", featuring Rich Harrington and Charles Katzenbach. For this show, Rich and Chuck created artwork inspired the by the bicycle. Cycling is my favorite way of seeing the countryside, so I can really appreciate this show - I hope you get a chance to see it too.

Winter in August

2011-08-03T16:56:00.000-04:00

This month at Artists' Gallery, I'm showing nothing but winter snow scenes. Hopefully this will make visitors feel a little bit cooler during August. This group of work will be up through Sept 4, 2011. (At Artists' Gallery, we rotate wall space and hang new work each month).

As I was hanging these, it occurred to me that many of these are very close to my home, like these three in particular:

"Winter Afternoon, Sourland Mountain"
8x10" oil on board
This is the road I live on and my house is just beyond the crest of the hill.

"Winter Drive"
24x18" oil on canvas
This is my driveway, looking out toward the road.

"Amwell Valley Winter"
18x24" oil on canvas
And this is the farm field just across the street from my house - the same field you can see in the distance of "Winter Drive".

I guess I don't travel very far on snowy winter days!

Also at Artists' Gallery: this month's featured artists are Paul Grecian and Materese Roche in a show entitled "A Sense of Place", with an opening reception this Saturday, August 6, from 5-8pm. Visit the Artists' Gallery website for more information.

Sourland Music Festival - Looking North

2011-07-16T10:34:00.000-04:00

"Looking North"

original: 8x10" oil on board
(giclees prints available)

Today is the 8th Annual Sourland Music Festival and Silent Auction, Saturday, July 16, 2011 from 4-11 pm.

A giclee of my painting "Looking North" will be one of the items available in the silent auction. This scene is on Longhill Road on the north slope of the Sourland Mountain, a short walk from my home, so I thought it would be appropriate for this event.

The Music Festival if a fund-raiser for the Sourland Planning Council - a non-profit organization working to protect the ecological integrity, historical resources and special character of the Sourland Mountain region.

Besides the musical lineup, there will be food vendors and tables where local artists and craftsmen will show their wares. Should be fun - bring your own chair or blanket, and something to protect you from the sun (it's held in an open field). More information available on the Sourland Music Festival website.

Local Landscapes at Bell's Tavern

2011-07-07T21:05:00.000-04:00

From July 5 through August 31st, 2011, I'll be showing my local landscape paintings at Bell's Tavern in Lambertville, NJ - a mix of older and newer work, large and small, about 14 pieces in total.

Bell's remains my favorite place to eat in town and they have a long tradition of exhibiting artwork by local artists. Their food is great, prices very reasonable and a good selection of beers on tap. I hope you get a chance to stop by:

Bell's Tavern
183 North Union Street
Lambertville, NJ 08530
[map & directions]

Please note that Bell's has dinner and evening hours only:
Mon-Thurs 6pm-9:30pm,
Fri & Sat 5pm-10pm,
Sun 5pm-9pm

"Buttinger House Porch" 24x30 oil on canvas	"At Lambertville Station" 8x10 oil on board
"Barns and Fences" 11x24 oil on canvas	"Taylorsville" 11x14 oil on canvas

My next big event will be "Get Lost" - a 2-person show with Beatrice Bork at Artists' Gallery this November. I'll send more information on this closer to the show.

Get Lost at the Artists' Gallery this November!

In the mean time, go visit Bell's.

Best in Show for Painting at Artsbridge 17

2011-06-09T17:35:00.003-04:00

"Grandview Road"
18x24" oil on canvas
© Joe Kazimierczyk

Artsbridge is the Lambertville / New Hope area's premier arts organization and each year they run one of the best juried shows in the region. Their 17th annual juried show is taking place now, and my painting was awarded best in show for painting. Awards were also given out for best in other media categories, and one overall best in show.

Opening reception is Saturday, June 11, 6pm - 9pm.
The show runs June 4 to June 26 at:

New Hope Arts, Inc.
2 Stockton Ave (corner of Bridge St and Stockton Ave)
New Hope, PA
[map]

Gallery hours: Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays 12-5pm; Sundays 12-7pm

The sunset really made this scene a grand view, but the road is actually named Grandview Road - it's between Skillman and Belle Mead, NJ.

In The Moment - 10 painters, 1 farm

2011-04-28T18:29:00.000-04:00

"In the Moment" - 10 artists, 1 farm: Over the past several months, 10 plein air painters were invited to paint at Glen Oaks Farm in Bucks County. I was one of those 10 and "In the Moment" is the exhibit of the work that we created. The show runs May 1-28, 2011 at:

Canal Frame-Crafts Gallery
1093 General Greene Rd.
Washington Crossing, Pa 18977
[map]

Opening Reception: Sunday, May 1 from 1-4 pm.

Glen Oaks Farm is a beautiful place with a classic old Bucks County stone house, a pond, acres of trees, shrubs and fields, an old lime kiln built into the hillside... but I was fascinated by the big old rambling barn and that's what I painted each time I visited the farm. These are the 4 paintings I have in the show - 4 views of the same barn:

"Glen Oaks Barn"
6x8" oil on board

"Glen Oaks Roofs"
8x10" oil on board

"Roofs and Windows"
8x10" oil on canvas on board

"The Barn Door"
11x14" oil on board

The 10 artists in this show are: Bob Beck, Gail Bracegirdle, John Ennis, George Thompson, Joe Kazimierczyk, David Hahn, Jo-Ann Osnoe, Peter Hunt, John Kane and Simon Mauer.

I hope to see you at the opening reception, Sunday, May 1, 1-4 pm. To make things even more interesting, Peter Hunt will be doing a painting demonstration during the reception - I'm a big fan of Peter's work so here's your chance to see a great artist in action. Don't miss it!

Ellarslie Open XXIX

2011-04-23T18:15:00.000-04:00

"Winter on the Towpath"
12x24" oil on canvas

My painting of the D&R Canal towpath in winter was juried into this year's Ellarslie Open at the Trenton City Museum, aka the Ellarslie Mansion:

Ellarslie
in Cadwalader Park
Trenton, New Jersey
Phone: (609) 989-3632
(map)

The show runs April 22 to June 12, 2011.
Opening reception: Saturday, April 30, 5-9 pm

The scene in my painting is looking north on the towpath near Washington Crossing Park at Titusville, NJ. The bridge across the Delaware River is just beyond the left edge of the painting. The backside of Faherty's Pub would be visible across the canal on the right, but I left it out of this painting - Faherty's is better for beer than for painting.

Grandview Sunset

2011-04-03T14:36:00.001-04:00

"Grandview Sunset"
18x24" oil on canvas

Here's a scene from this winter, a sunset over appropriately named Grandview Road near Skillman / Belle Mead, NJ. It's been a rough winter around here and I'm looking forward to painting some greenery soon!

Final weekend for Painterly Poetry of Quiet Places

2011-03-23T18:23:00.003-04:00

"Autumn Gold"
16x20" oil on canvas

This weekend is your last chance to see 'Painterly Poetry of Quiet Places', my solo show at The Gallery at Verde. Stop by if you have a chance:

The Gallery at Verde
4492 Route 27 (between Eno Terra & the D&R Canal)
Kingston, NJ
map & directions

Hours: Wed - Sat 11-5pm, Sun 12-4pm, or by appt.
609-865-5456 or 609-865-5812

"Neshanic River"
5x7" oil on canvas

The Gallery at Verde, Kingston, NJ

Painterly Poetry in the News

2011-03-11T13:13:00.017-05:00

It always feels awkward to be tooting my own horn, but I do want to share this news: My solo show at The Gallery at Verde is getting some great coverage in the press. This full page review by Janet Purcell appeared in The Times on March 4:

And this article by Sam Slaughter was in The Sentinal - a New Brunswick area paper:

And this one in the Time Off section of the Princeton Packet Publications on March 11:

My show runs until March 30, at:

The Gallery at Verde
4492 Route 27 (between Eno Terra & D&R Canal)
Kingston, NJ

Hours: Wed - Sat 11-5pm, Sun 12-4pm, or by appt.
609-865-5456 or 609-865-5812

Weather reports looks good for the next few days so I hope you get a chance to see the show.

Solo Show in Kingston - reception this Sunday

2011-02-25T19:14:00.001-05:00

Painterly Poetry of Quiet Places
Landscape Paintings by Joe Kazimierczyk
Feb 27 - March 30, 2011
Opening Reception: Sunday, Feb 27, 3-5pm

The Gallery at Verde, Kingston, NJ

My solo show at The Gallery at Verde is hung and open to the public, in case you wanted to go a day early. Otherwise, the Opening Reception is this Sunday, February 27, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.

Here are a few pictures of the show:

The exhibition is taking place at:

The Gallery at Verde
4492 Route 27 (between Eno Terra & D&R Canal)
Kingston, NJ

Hours: Wed - Sat 11-5pm, Sun 12-4pm, or by appt.
609-865-5456 or 609-865-5812

Please note that the gallery is located between Eno Terra restaurant and the D&R Canal in a building called The Artists' Collective at Verde, which it shares with 3 other shops. If you get directions to this address from a GPS or a mapping website, you'll end up several blocks away. Just park near the canal and you'll easily find the gallery. And you'll see some of the scenes that I painted for this show.

In case you're looking for something to do after the reception, I hear that Eno Terra is an excellent place to eat. And, it's right next to the gallery.

Painterly Poetry of Quiet Places

2011-02-16T16:40:00.000-05:00

During the month of March, I'm having a solo show of recent landscape paintings at The Gallery at Verde in Kingston, NJ. I'll be showing mostly new work, including a few paintings done just a short walk from the gallery door.

Painterly Poetry of Quiet Places
Landscape Paintings by Joe Kazimierczyk

Feb 27 - March 30, 2011
Opening Reception: Sunday, Feb 27, 3-5pm

The gallery is located in a beautiful spot in Kingston that's rich in history and I've painted here quite a few times in recent years. The Gallery at Verde is right next to the D&R Canal at Lock Number 8, with a charming old locktender's house and the only surviving canal telegraph office on the canal. Just above the lock is a canal basin where barges could pull over to load and unload cargo.

"The Lock Tender's House"
11x14" oil on canvas

A short walk from the canal is the Millstone River with a 4 arch stone bridge crossing it. This bridge was built in 1798 to replace a wooden bridge that was destroyed by General George Washington's troops to prevent pursuit by Lord Cornwallis following the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777.

Across the stone arch bridge is the Kingston Flour Mill, built in the 1870's on the site of Jacob Skillman's grist mill from 1748. There's a small mill dam right here and just beyond it is the larger dam that creates Lake Carnagie.

"Kingston Mill"
11x14" oil on canvas

From here you can walk for miles in either direction on the towpath or on other connecting trails. Check out the trail maps of the Kingston Greenways Association and plan a day of exploring the area. There's even a pair of bald eagles nesting in the nearby!

As I said, I've been painting at this location for a while, so I was glad to learn that an art gallery had opened up here and I'm very grateful for this opportunity to show my work. I hope you can see the show!

The Gallery at Verde
4492 Route 27 (between Eno Terra & D&R Canal)
Kingston, NJ

Hours: Wed - Sat 11-5pm, Sun 12-4pm, or by appt.
609-865-5456 or 609-865-5812

Please note that the gallery is located right next to the D&R Canal in a building called The Artists' Collective at Verde, which it shares with 3 other shops. If you get directions to this address from a GPS or a mapping website, you'll end up several blocks away. Trust me on this, and don't trust your GPS!

Besides the local Kingston paintings, I'll have some from further travels, like this one which isn't Kingston, but Kingwood Township near Frenchtown, NJ:

"Horseshoe Bend Road"
7x14" oil on board

And this one in Pleasant Valley, West Amwell Township near Harbourton, NJ:

"Pleasant Valley Barns"
11x14" oil on canvas

Love That Art!

2011-02-11T16:23:00.002-05:00

At the 18 member Artists' Gallery artists' cooperative, we're having a group show this month, entitled "Love That Art!" running from Feb 10 through March 6, 2011 at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street
Lambertville, NJ 08530
map & directions

Opening reception is this Saturday, February 12, 4:00 to 7:00 pm

"Black Eyed Susan"
5x7" oil on board

The February group shows at Artists' Gallery always have a theme loosely tied to Valentines' Day and love. I thought that my flower painting was the closest thing I had to fit this theme.

But if you still love snow, I'm also showing this winter sunset - a scene along Wertsville Road near Ringoes, NJ:

"Winter Sunset, Amwell Valley"
8x10" oil on board

Or, if you're tired of snow and no longer love the stuff, here's a recent painting that I'll also have on display, and it has no snow in it. It's a November scene on the Raritan River near Three Bridges, NJ.

"South Branch of the Raritan"
6x8" oil on wood panel

I'll have 4 more paintings hanging in addition to these 3. And with all 18 gallery members showing their work, you'll find a great variety of artwork at the gallery this month, so please try to stop by.

Home for the Holidays at Artists' Gallery

2010-12-09T16:00:00.001-05:00

"East Amwell Winter"
5x7" oil on board

At the 18 member Artists' Gallery artists' cooperative, we're having our annual holiday group show. This year it's titled "Home for the Holidays" and runs from December 10, 2010 through February 6, 2011 at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street
Lambertville, NJ 08530
map & directions

This year's theme is especially meaningful to us as this is our first Christmas at our new location on Bridge Street. If you haven't seen our new home yet, please visit us and help us celebrate.

Opening reception is Saturday, Dec 11, from 2-5pm.

"Prallsville Winter"
6x8" oil on board

Celebrating the Seasons at desChamps Gallery

2010-11-30T11:54:00.000-05:00

"Winter on the Towpath"
12x24" oil on canvas

DesChamps Gallery, one of the galleries I regularly show at, is having it's annual holiday exhibit from December 1, 2010 to January 9, 2011. The exhibit is called "Celebrating the Seasons" and I have 8 paintings on display there.

"Lambertville Station"
8x10" oil on board

Open House is Saturday, December 4, 3-6pm, and features a painting demonstration by gallery artist Phillip Carroll.

desChamps Gallery
7 Lambert Lane
Lambertville, NJ 08530
(map)

Gallery hours: Wed-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat & Sunday 11am-6pm

"Wickecheoke July"
8x10" oil on board

Sunflowers, Agriculture and Audubon

2010-11-19T20:02:00.000-05:00

"The Derwood Farm"
5x7" oil on canvas

It's hard to tell from the point of view of this painting, but the yellow on the left of this farm lane is a huge field of sunflowers. It was such a beautiful sight driving down the road this past summer, and there's an interesting story behind it too:

The New Jersey Audubon Society (NJAS) has a program where NJ farmers grow sunflower seeds in support of the society's program called "Support Agricultural Viability and the Environment", or S.A.V.E. - the Derwood Farm is one of nine farms in the state growing sunflowers for S.A.V.E.

The S.A.V.E. initiative promotes the production of agricultural products that are economically and ecologically sustainable. Revenue from the birdseed benefits New Jersey farmers and directly supports NJAS's conservation mission. For every 5 acres planted for birdseed, NJAS manages and maintains 1 acre of grassland habitat for threatened and endangered birds.

Farmers participating in the project not only grow the seeds, they also process and package them, cutting out the middleman which of course helps the farmers even more.

S.A.V.E. birdseed is available for sale at many locations throughout the state including Sergeantsville Grain & Feed. Check the NJAS's website for a full list of retailers and more information about the program.

And now go feed some birds!

12th Annual Holiday Small Works Show

2010-11-05T13:30:00.000-04:00

"Ottos Farm, First Day of Spring"
5x7 oil on board

These 2 paintings will be on display at the 2010 Holiday Exhibit, a group show at Canal Frame-Crafts Gallery, running Nov 7 - Dec 31, 2010. Reception: Sunday, Nov 7, 1-4pm

at:

Canal Frame-Crafts Gallery
1093 General Greene Rd.
Washington Crossing, Pa 18977
(map)

"Dory Dilt's Barns"
6x8 oil on canvas

Wildness in Out Midst - The Greater Sourlands Eco-Region

2010-10-25T09:00:00.001-04:00

I have 3 paintings in a show entitled "Wildness in Out Midst - The Greater Sourlands Eco-Region" running Oct 25 - Nov 26 at the D&R Greenway headquarters in Princeton, NJ. This show celebrates the Sourland Mountain, a truly unique region covering about 90 square miles and including the largest contiguous forest remaining in central NJ. It also includes my home, so I know the area very well and paint on the mountain often.

"Rock Brook"
8x6" oil on board

The waterfall in my painting "Rock Brook" is really an old mill dam, and you can see many old stone foundations in the woods nearby. According the book "New Jersey's Sourland Mountain", there were 5 mills operating on this small creek in the late 1700's. And the artist George Bellows sent a summer living nearby and did a number of paintings within a mile of this spot.

"Amwell Valley Clouds"
11x14" oil on canvas on board

My painting "Amwell Valley Clouds" was done just across the street from my house. I can only see woods out of my windows, but this is the view from my mailbox, looking northeast across the valley towards the Watchung Mountains.

The show runs Oct 25 - Nov 26 at:

D&R Greenway's Marie L. Matthews Gallery
at Johnson Education Center
One Preservation Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone: 609-924-4646
[map & directions]

Artists Reception: Friday Evening, November 5, from 5:30 - 7:00

30th Annual Mountain Art Show

2010-10-22T08:00:00.001-04:00

I have 2 paintings juried into this year's Mountain Art Show, which runs Oct 22 - Oct 31, 2010 at St. John on the Mountain in Bernardsville, NJ. St John is a really charming, rambling stone church perched high in the Watchung Mountains, and the surrounding area feels more like Vermont than New Jersey to me. Also, the fall foliage is really spectacular around there right now.

"Montgomery Winter Sunset"
18x24" oil on canvas

"On Cider Mill Road"
18x24" oil on canvas

Artists Reception and Awards Presentation:

Sunday, Oct 24, 6pm - 8pm ($30 per person)

Exhibit dates:

Saturday, Oct 23 from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday, Oct 24 from 12:00-4:00 pm
Mon-Thurs, Oct 25 – 28 from 10:00 – 6:00 pm
Friday, Oct 29 from 10:00 – 7:00 pm
Saturday, Oct 30 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday, Oct 31 from 12:00 – 3:00 pm

at:

St. John on the Mountain
379 Mt. Harmony Road
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
[map & directions]

In addition to the 2 large paintings, I'll have a number of small 5x7" paintings in the show's "Small Treasures" section of smaller, lower-priced works. Proceeds from the Mountain Art Show directly benefit the church and its outreach programs.

Gallery 24/7

2010-10-17T19:18:00.003-04:00

The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission initiated a new Public Arts project this year called "Gallery 24/7" where New Jersey resident artists were invited to submit artwork for display on traffic control boxes (TCBs) throughout Somerset County. The intent of the project is to promote the arts in non-traditional venues and this certainly is non-traditional! TCBs are those large steel boxes you see along the roads near traffic lights and pedestrian crossings.

The Commission received 72 submissions from 40 artists, and my painting "On Cider Mill Road" was one of the 10 pieces chosen:

"On Cider Mill Road"
18x24" oil on canvas

Of course the painting isn't actually hanging outdoors, the selected artworks were reproduced on a vinyl film and then applied to the TCBs. The work is expected to remain in place for at least 3 years.

My painting is installed at the intersection of Skillman Road and County Rt 601 in Montgomery Township, next to the Skillman post office. It's funny that from some angles, my painting really blends in with the surrounding farmland:

You can read more about "Gallery 24/7" at the Somerset County Public Art Project webpage.

Country Roads - Cityscapes

2010-10-02T21:00:00.001-04:00

"Hill and Dale Farm"
12x24 oil on canvas

"Country Roads - Cityscapes" is the name of Tewksbury Historical Society's 21st Annual Art Show, running Oct 5 - Oct 9. I have 3 paintings in this show and ironically, not one of my paintings has a road in it, in spite of the show's title and the fact that I seem to be known for painting country roads. I'm not sure how that happened. But I did include some local scenery and 2 of my paintings are Tewksbury Township scenes like this farm at the corner of Hill and Dale Road and Rockaway Road.

Reception:

Tuesday Oct 5, 6pm - 8pm
Ticket cost, $ 20 in advance, $ 25 at the door

Exhibit dates:

Wednesday, Oct 6, 10am - 6pm
Thursday, Oct 7, 10am - 8pm
Friday, Oct 8, 10am - 8pm
Saturday, Oct 9, 10am - 3pm
(Show Admission: $3 per person)

at:

Zion Lutheran Church Christian Education Building
corner of Church St & Miller Ave
Oldwick, NJ 08858
[map & directions]

Phillips Mill 81st Annual Art Exhibition

2010-09-21T15:32:00.000-04:00

"Rainbow Run Farm in Winter"
12x24" oil on canvas

My painting of Rainbow Run Farm was juried into the 81st Annual Art Exhibition at Phillips' Mill, 2619 River Rd, 1 1/2 miles north of New Hope, PA. [map & directions] The farm is named Rainbow Run Farm after the little creek you see in the foreground, and it's on Rainbow Hill Road near Clover Hill, NJ, just a few miles from my house.

The show runs Sept 25 through Oct 30.
Phillips Mill is open daily from 1-5pm. Adults - $4, Seniors - $3, Students - $2.

For information call 215-862-0582.

Where Farmland and Conservation Meet

2010-09-14T19:13:00.001-04:00

I have 3 paintings in a group show called "Preservation of an Integrated Landscape: Where Farmland and Conservation Meet" running Sept 12 - Oct 15 at:

D&R Greenway's Marie L. Matthews Gallery
at Johnson Education Center
One Preservation Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone: 609-924-4646
[map & directions]

Opening Reception: October 1, 5:30 - 7:30

"Sunflower Patch"
8x10" oil on board

The D&R Greenway has been very active in preserving land in Central New Jersey, and has recently extended it reach into South Jersey. In 2008, the Greenway worked in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to preserve the 1,900-acre Seabrook Farm in Salem County. In 2009, two more farms around the Mannington Meadows were preserved resulting in over 2,729 acres of preserved land surrounding the 18,593-acre Mannington Meadows.

"The Updike Barns"
18x24" oil on canvas

The purpose of this exhibit is to showcase the fertile farmland and the magnificent marshes of the Mannington Meadow in Salem County. Some of the artwork in this group show will be of Mannington Meadows and Salem County, but the general theme is farmland preservation. The 3 paintings I have in this show are on preserved farmland in Mercer County.

"Oliver's Barn"
11x14" oil on canvas

Please note that there are no weekend hours for this gallery. The Marie L. Matthews Gallery is open Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm, but it's best to call the Greenway at 609-924-4646 first to confirm that the facility is not being used for other purposes.

August Sky / The Visitation

2010-08-16T20:25:00.005-04:00

"August Sky"
11x14" oil on linen on board

I painted this one recently at a farm near Skillman, NJ.   It's township-owned land that someone still farms, but no one lives here anymore.   I almost never see another soul at this farm and there's a very lonely feeling to the place. The day I painted this was hot, the sun was brutal, and a strong wind was picking up.

So there I was, painting, and I see a figure way in the distance on the other side of the field - a long way off but it seems to be walking towards me.   I keep painting, watching this figure approach, and holding my easel with one hand to keep it steady in the wind. It seemed to take forever for that person to reach me - it's a pretty big hay field, but eventually I could make out some details: a tall, thin, older fellow.   Long gray hair flowing down his back. Blue jeans, no shirt, great tan.   Standing there in that big open space, hot wind a-blowin', being approached by this stranger, I felt like I was in a scene from High Plains Drifter.

Fortunately he was no outlaw or gunfighter, he just wanted to see what I was up to and he sat down on the ground to chat for a while. His son used to paint. We talked about the hot, dry summer we've been having and he said that the spring on the farm has dried up and that that almost never happens. He told me about the farmer who used to live there - after being seriously gored by one of his bulls, the farmer gave up farming and sold the land to the township - that's how it became Montgomery Township Open Space. After some more chit chat, he said farewell and walked back across the field.    I was alone again under that hot August sky, listening to the music of rusty sheet metal roofing flapping in the wind, and thinking of High Plains Drifter and the mysterious stranger. And moments like that, I wouldn't rather be anywhere else.

Visions of Summer

2010-08-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

This month at the Artists' Gallery, we're celebrating summer by having a group show with work from all 18 gallery artists. I'll have 8 paintings on display, including these:

"Adirondack Chairs"
11x14" oil on board

These chairs were beside a big old hedge at the Woolverton Inn in Stockton, NJ, and I thought that made the perfect backdrop for this painting.

"Stockton Bridge"
24x30" oil on canvas

This painting is looking south on the Delaware River from behind Prallsville Mills. The bridge connects Stockton, NJ (on the left) with Center Bridge, PA (on the right).

"Along the Raritan"
8x10" oil on board

To be perfectly honest, this painting was done in the spring but I think it looks summery enough to fit the Visions of Summer theme. This is the Black River and Western railroad bridge over the South Branch of the Raritan River about midway between Flemington and Three Bridges, NJ.

"Visions of Summer" runs Aug 8 - Sept 5, 2010 at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street
Lambertville, NJ 08530
map & directions

Opening reception is Sunday, August 8, 2pm to 5pm.

(Note that we're not doing our usual Saturday evening reception this month).

Images of the Mills 2010

2010-08-04T10:57:00.001-04:00

"Prallsville Winter"
8x10" oil on board

My painting of Prallsville Mills in winter will be part of this year's "Images of the Mills" annual juried show at Prallsville Mills in Stockton, NJ, just north of town on Rt 29 (map & directions). As always, this show features images of the Prallsville Mills complex and the immediate surrounding area. This year it's being held in the newly renovated Sawmill Gallery.

Opening reception is this Friday, Aug 6, from 5-8pm.

Show dates: Friday, August 6, 2010 from 5 to 8pm; Saturday, August 7, 2010 to Sunday August 29, 2010: open Fridays to Sundays, noon to 5pm; also available to be seen during docent tours, Mondays to Thursdays, 1 to 4pm.

The First 40...

2010-07-09T17:08:00.001-04:00

"Wertsville Road"
24x30" acrylic on canvas

In 2005, I entered my first juried art exhibition, my entry in that exhibition won an award and was purchased by the Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commission. I consider that a pivotal point in my journey from a hobbyist to a serious artist, and that painting of Wertsville Road will now be on display in:

"The First Forty..."

an exhibition of work from

the Mercer County Art Collection

celebrating the 40th Anniversary of

Mercer County's Cultural & Heritage Commission

The show runs July 9 - July 31
and is taking place at:

Artworks
19 Everett Alley
Trenton, NJ 08611
(map & directions)

The County's art collection has more than 350 works of art, so not all pieces will be on display in this show. The Commission selected a representative sampling of the work they've collected over the past 40 years, and I'm happy that my painting is one of the pieces selected for this show.

Solo Show at Bell's Tavern

2010-07-09T17:05:00.001-04:00

I'm happy to say that once again, I'm having a solo show of my work at Bell's Tavern in Lambertville, NJ. Bell's has a long tradition of exhibiting artwork by local artists and this is my 3rd solo show there. It's a great little restaurant, Italian cuisine, with a nice bar, and some good beers on tap. They've recently made some renovations so it's worth checking out if you haven't been there lately.

"Oliver's Barn"
11x14" oil on canvas

The show runs June 30th through August 31st, 2010 at:

Bell's Tavern
183 North Union Street
Lambertville, NJ 08530
[map & directions]

Dinner and evening hours only:
Mon-Thurs 6pm-9:30pm, Fri & Sat 5pm-10pm, Sun 5pm-9pm

I'll have about 15 paintings on display in the dining room - some of the smaller works that I paint on location, as well as some of my larger studio pieces.

"Cloudscape, Opie Road"
18x24" oil on canvas

St. Michael's Farm Preservation Celebration and Art Exhibit

2010-06-10T20:33:00.002-04:00

"St. Alphonsus From St. Michael's"
6x8 oil on canvas

"St Michael's Creek"
6x8 oil on board

The D&R Greenway Land Trust recently preserved the 340 acre Saint Michael property just outside of Hopewell Borough and this weekend they're having a celebration to mark the occasion, featuring:

live music
food and beverage vendors
the First Annual Hopewell Valley Trail Run
information about the Preserve
an exhibition & sale of plein-air art of the St. Michaels Farm Preserve (which is how I fit in)

"Hopewell Valley"
8x10 oil on board

The Land Trust invited artists to paint and photograph the Preserve last weekend. It was my first visit to the property, and I was amazed at what an absolutely gorgeous piece of land it is - 200 acres of farmland, 140 acres of mature forest, creeks and streams, views overlooking Hopewell and Hopewell Valley. I am so thankful that this was preserved! If it were developed, it could have been covered with up to 1,020 homes plus commercial space.

Last weekend I did the 4 small paintings shown here and they'll all be exhibited at the celebration being held this Saturday, June 12 from 11:30 to 2:30. (Rain date June 13.) Park at the Hopewell Elementary School on Princeton Ave, and shuttles will be taking people to the park entrance on Aunt Molly Road. It's recommended to bring a blanket or lawn chair with you. Visit the D&R Greenway website for more information.

35% of the proceeds from all artwork sold will go to the D&R Greenway, so your purchases will help support a good cause!

"St Michael's Barn"
8x10 oil on linen

The Preserve takes it's name from the St. Michael's Orphanage and Industrial School built there in 1896 by the Diocese of Trenton. The orphanage closed in 1973 and the land remained undeveloped until the Diocese approached the Greenway in 2004 and set the wheels in motion for preserving the property. Fortunately for us, that came to pass, and the land was officially preserved as of Jan 19, 2010. I hope you can attend the celebration and see St. Michael's for yourself.

By the way, I painted inside the barn one day because it was so hot and windy outside. The barn provided some nice relief, and a group of barn swallows provided some nice entertainment while I painted.

Artsbridge 16

2010-06-03T20:03:00.001-04:00

"On Cider Mill Road"
18x24" oil on canvas

My painting "On Cider Mill Road" was accepted into the Artsbridge 16th Annual Juried Show. Artsbridge is the area's premier arts organization and this annual show always includes some of the region's finest artists. The show opens June 5 and runs through June 27, 2009 at:

Riverrun Gallery
287 South Main Street (Rt 29)
Lambertville, NJ 08530
609-397-3349

Opening reception is Saturday June 5, from 6 to 9 pm.

Cider Mill Road is on one of my regular cycling routes and I go by this farm often. I'm always intrigued by the little group of farm building surrounded by wide open fields and not much else in sight. But on this day it was they sky that really grabbed my attention. The sky was was doing that a lot to me last year. Lately my attention is shifting to something else, but more on that later. I hope you get a chance to see the show.

Best in Show

2010-05-21T19:08:00.000-04:00

My painting "Rainbow Run Winter" was awarded Best in Show at the Hillsborough Cultural Arts Commission's 6th Annual Art Exhibition last night.

"Rainbow Run Winter"
12x24" oil on canvas

Same as last year, the show was divided into adult and student categories, and just like last year, some the student work was really impressive. But the star of this year's show was last year’s grand prize winner from the student category, Gabrielle Fiorillo - she was commissioned by the Cultural Arts Commission to paint a portrait for the township's Public Art Collection. When the portrait was unveiled last night, it was hard to believe that this was the work of the 17 year old student standing next to it, it was that well done. It was a beautifully painted portrait of Hillsborough resident Anna Case, daughter of a South Branch blacksmith, who in the early 1900's, rose to become a star at the Metropolitan Opera, a best-selling Edison recording artist, an in-demand concert performer, and a pioneer in both radio and motion pictures. (I plagiarized that bit from Arts Commission chairman Greg Gillette who hosted the event last night).

The Hillsborough Art Show gets better every year, and when some of these students start entering in the adult category, I could be in trouble!

6th Annual Hillsborough Art Exhibition

2010-05-19T15:01:00.003-04:00

"Rainbow Run Winter"
12x24" oil on canvas

My painting "Rainbow Run Winter" will be in the Hillsborough Cultural and Arts Commission's 6th Annual Art Exhibition. That confuses me a bit because last year's show was billed as the 4th Annual - I wonder what happened to the 5th? Hillsborough is the Township that I live in and I selected this painting because it's a Hillsborough Township scene. The farm is named Rainbow Run Farm after the little creek you see in the foreground, it's on Rainbow Hill Road near Clover Hill, NJ. I keep looking for rainbows there and someday I'll see one!

The show takes place at:

Hillsborough Twp Municipal Complex
379 South Branch Road
Hillsborough, NJ 08844

Unfortunately it's a very short event and the only time for the general public to see the show is at a reception this Thursday, May 20, from 7:30pm to 9:00pm.

Springtime Travels

2010-05-02T19:43:00.000-04:00

I had a springtime cold or virus recently, or maybe it was an allergy since the pollen is so bad this spring. I was feeling pretty miserable for about 2 weeks and didn't have the energy to drive anywhere to paint. And I didn't want to be far from my medicine cabinet! So one day I wasn't feeling too bad, I took my paintbox across the street and painted "Amwell Valley Clouds", the view from my mailbox:

"Amwell Valley Clouds"
11x14" oil on canvas on board

Once I was feeling a little better, I took the long 2 mile drive to the bottom of the hill I live on, to a nice peaceful spot on the Neshanic River and I painted this one:

"Springtime on the Neshanic"
7x14" oil on board

I'm feeling much better now, but I'm kind of grateful that my illness forced me to have a better look at some of the things right under my nose. Sometimes it's so easy to overlook the obvious!

Small Ones

2010-04-13T19:46:00.000-04:00

"Otto's Farm, First Day of Spring"
5x7" oil on board

For the paintings I do on location, en plein air, I typically paint 8x10" or 11x14". These are convenient sizes to carry around and to complete in a short span of time. Every year my goal is to paint a few larger works on location and this year is no exception, but right now I seem to gravitating towards even smaller works. These 3 5x7" paintings are some of my recent efforts.

"Springtime on the Neshanic"
5x7" oil on board

"East Amwell Spring"
5x7" oil on board

Philadelphia Sketch Club 147th Annual Small Oils Show

2010-04-07T19:49:00.000-04:00

"Dusk, Amwell Valley"
11x14" oil on board

This painting was accepted into the 147th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings at the Philadelphia Sketch Club. The exhibition features over 150 works by prominent and emerging artists and runs April 9 through April 24, 2010 at:

The Philadelphia Sketch Club
235 S. Camac Street
Philadelphia, Pa 19107

Opening reception is Sunday, April 11 from 2 to 4 pm.

The oldest continuing artists organization in America, the Philadelphia Sketch Club was founded in 1860 and is celebrating its 150 th anniversary this year.

Gallery hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1 pm to 5 pm.

Finding Color

2010-03-30T19:54:00.000-04:00

After a long, cold and snowy winter, spring has finally arrived and it's nice to be able to get back outside to paint again. But as nice as it was to paint outdoors, one problem was that everything appeared so gray and colorless, more so than usual - maybe because of the brutal winter we had. The challenge was to find some color in the scene and exaggerate it enough to make a good painting while still keeping it realistic.

This painting was done on the last day of winter along the D&R Canal in Ewing, NJ. The foreground bridge is the Septa commuter rail line running from West Trenton to Philadelphia. The bridge in the distance is Lower Ferry Road:

"D&R Canal, Last Day of Winter"
8x10" oil on board

The rusted railroad bridge provided a nice bit of color, but I really played up the warmth of the trees and the blue of the sky reflecting in the water. I think this contrast of the blue and the warm browns in the water really brings some life to the painting.

This next one was done on the 2nd day of spring at the still undeveloped Mercer Park North West off of Cold Soil Road in Lawrenceville, NJ:

"Mercer Park North West, Beginning of Spring"
8x10" oil on board

Here, the sky really was a beautiful blue, but the field needed some help. In real life it was a cool gray but had some warm browns in the distance. I played up that warmth and also the hint of red in the tree line caused by the swelling buds on the trees. The color was there but you really look to find it.

And speaking of color, this coming weekend is the last weekend of my show "Local Color" at Artists' Gallery in Lambertville. The gallery is open regular hours: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 6pm each day. We're not closed for Easter.

Opening and Grand Reopening

2010-03-11T13:00:00.006-05:00

In my last post, I mentioned that Artists' Gallery had moved to a new location. What I failed to mention is that this is a pretty significant event for us. Artists' Gallery is an artists' cooperative of 18 equal partners who staff and run the gallery - there is no gallery owner to fall back on, we do it all ourselves. So after 15 years of being on Coryell Street, an opportunity came up to move the gallery to a much nicer space at a much nicer location. It was too good to pass up so we signed the lease in mid January and have been working hard ever since so that we were ready to open for business at the new location in March. Physically, the building was in great shape but there were still so many details and unexpected complications to work on. Did you know that you need permits and approval from 3 different local government bodies just to put your business's sign out front? I certainly didn't. I bet you don't know how expensive a gallery full of new halogen light bulbs is either! So the permanent signs are not up yet but the inside is well finished, well lit, and if I say so myself, the gallery looks absolutely gorgeous. We started with a pretty blank slate:

and finished with this (permanent signage yet to come):

The photos above are from my 2-man show "Local Color" with Michael Schweigart. The wall of black-framed paintings are mine, the gold-framed paintings are Mike's. I'd love to say that we planned this show so thoroughly, right down to the frames that each of us would use... but that would be lying - it was pure chance but I really like the end result.

Besides the main room where our 2-man show is hung, the gallery has other rooms, nooks and crannies where the other members' works are on display:

If you made it this far, I'd like to remind you that the Opening Reception for "Local Color" is Saturday, March 13 from 5-8pm.

And this opening also serves as the Grand Reopening of Artists' Gallery at our new location:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street
Lambertville, NJ 08530
map & directions

Saturday may be rainy but at least it's not snow.
I really hope you can make it out to see my show and our new space!

Local Color - Landscape paintings by Joe Kazimierczyk and Michael Schweigart

2010-03-03T19:51:00.001-05:00

"Local Color"
Landscape paintings by

Joe Kazimierczyk and Michael Schweigart
at Artists' Gallery in Lambertville, NJ
March 5 - April 4, 2010
Opening reception: Saturday, March 13 from 5-8 pm

top image: "Almost Spring" by Joe Kazimierczyk

bottom image: "Carried Away" by Michael Schweigart

During the month of March, I'm having a 2-man show with Michael Schweigart at Artists' Gallery in Lambertville, NJ. As things stand now, this is the biggest show I have scheduled in 2010 so I hope you have a chance to see it.

Mike Schweigart is also a painter of landscapes, but his work is much more detailed than mine - it's really amazing to look at his work up close. Me on the other hand, I take a much looser approach and tend to use the character of the paint to suggest detail. The collection of new work that I'll be showing includes a number of sunsets and cloudscapes - a subject that's really been catching my eye as a painter this past year.

This is one of the newer paintings I'm showing - it's a farm near my home right after the big showstorm we had just before Christmas. This scene was a short while before sunset:

"Rainbow Hill Farm"
12x24" oil on canvas

The show runs March 5 through April 4, 2010.
Artists' reception and Grand Reopening reception for the gallery:
Saturday, March 13 from 5-8pm at:

Artists' Gallery
18 Bridge Street ←new location!
Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Gallery hours: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm

What's with the new location for Artists' Gallery? After 15 years on Coryell Street, an opportunity came up to move the gallery to a better location at 18 Bridge Street, right in the heart of town. We've all been very busy making this move happen in a pretty short period of time, and the gallery's first day of business on Bridge Street will be this Friday, March 5.

Here's the Mayor of Lambertville with gallery members Jennifer Cadoff and Carol Sanzalone at the ribbon cutting ceremony for our new space:

We're also having a small reception this Sunday afternoon, March 7 from 2-5pm since it's our 1st weekend of business in the new space and we'll need to work out the logistics of doing receptions here. Please join us if you can, and check out our new digs!

And for a bit of nostolgia, this painting which I'll have in "Local Color" is scene from near the front door of our old gallery on Coryell Street - a view I'd see often when leaving the gallery in the evening. And I just realized how appropriate the title is, as we've just ended our 15 year stint there:

"Sunset on Coryell Street"
8x6" oil on board

Rally the Troops!

2010-02-12T07:53:00.001-05:00

"Taylorsville"
11x14" oil on canvas

Rally the Troops is a group show at Canal Frame-Crafts Gallery to benefit Washington Crossing State Park. For a special treat, George Washington and his troops will be standing guard at the opening - how cool is that!? That would be the group which reenacts the famous Washington Crossing the Delaware every Christmas.

This town on the river here was once called Bakers Ferry. When George Washington crossed the Delaware here in 1776, it was called McKonkeys Ferry. Sometime after that, it became Taylorsville - the buildings in my painting above are from that period. The town's name was changed again in 1918 to commemorate Washington crossing the Delaware here, and it's since been known as Washington Crossing, PA.

A portion of the sales made during this show will be donated to the Friends of Washington Crossing to be used exclusively for the Park. Besides the painting shown above, I'll have 2 other pieces in this show.

Show runs Feb 6 - March 6

Reception with George Washington and his troops:
Friday, Feb 12, 5 - 8pm & Saturday, Feb 13, 5 - 8pm
at:

Canal Frame-Crafts Gallery
1093 General Greene Rd.
Washington Crossing, Pa 18977
(map)

Lambertville and the Surrounding Area

2010-02-04T11:00:00.002-05:00

"In Kevin's Garden"
8x10" oil on board

The 30th annual "Lambertville and the Surrounding Area" juried art exhibition organized by the Coryell Gallery along with the Lambertville Historical Society is taking place soon. The painting I have in this year's exhibition is a garden I visited on one of the annual Hidden Gardens of Lambertville tours - it's located at the east end of Coryell Street, a block away from the Coryell Gallery.

The show runs Feb 7 - March 21
Opening reception: Sunday, Feb 7, 3-6pm
at:

Coryell Gallery at the Porkyard
8 Coryell Street
Lambertville, NJ 08530
(map)

Artsbridge Members Show

2010-02-03T16:37:00.002-05:00

"Montgomery Winter Sunset"
18x24" oil on canvas

Artsbridge is the Lambertville / New Hope area arts organization dedicated to improving the public understanding of the arts, and this is the annual show of it's members works. My painting in the show is a sunset over a farm lane off of Hollow Rd, near Skillman, NJ - just a few miles from where I live.

The show runs Feb 6 - 21
Opening reception: Friday, Feb 12, 7-10pm

at:

Prallsville Mills
Rt 29 (just north of town)
Stockton, NJ
(map)

Note that the reception for this show was originally scheduled for Saturday, Feb 6 but due to predictions of heavy snowfall that day, it's been rescheduled for Friday Feb 12. Weather permitting, the show will be open to the public on Sunday Feb 7.

Saturday Openings in Lambertville

2010-01-15T15:23:00.000-05:00

"Lambertville Station"
8x10" oil on board

In addition to the opening for "All Together Now" at Artists' Gallery on the evening of Saturday, January 16, there's also an opening reception for Susan Blubaugh's show at the des Champs Gallery. I had a preview of Susan's show and it looks great! So if you're in town this Saturday, stop by both galleries and you won't be disappointed. I have about a dozen paintings at des Champs Gallery right now.

Artists' Gallery opening reception: Saturday, Jan 16, 6-9pm

Des Champs Gallery opening reception: Saturday, Jan 16, 5-8pm

All Together Now

2010-01-14T05:00:00.001-05:00

Artists' Gallery is celebrating it's 15 year anniversary with a special exhibit were we invited past gallery members to join us and exhibit a couple of pieces. Over the years, a lot of really good artists have passed through the gallery, and it's great to have so many of them joining us for this show - there's never been such a wide variety of artwork at the gallery. All current members, including myself, will have a few pieces on display as well. The show is called "All Together Now" and is running now through Feb 14, 2010

Opening Reception is Saturday, January 16th from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

Thanks to Artists' Gallery member Andrew Werth for the panoramic photo!

The Gift of Nature - Show Extended

2010-01-08T14:40:00.003-05:00

"The Updike Farm"
5x7" oil on panel

The show "Season’s Greetings: The Gift of Nature" at the D&R Greenway headquarters in Princeton, NJ has been extended a few weeks, and the new end date is Friday, Jan 29, 2010. This is a group show of smaller works and I have 3 paintings on display.

The show is free and open to the public, but please note that the gallery is only open Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm, and it's best to call the Greenway at 609-924-4646 first to confirm that the facility is not being used for other purposes:

D&R Greenway's Marie L. Matthews Gallery
at Johnson Education Center
One Preservation Place
Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone: 609-924-4646
(map)

Winter on the Towpath

2009-12-27T10:24:00.002-05:00

"Winter on the Towpath"
12x24" oil on canvas

This scene is on the D&R Canal towpath at Washington Crossing Park, NJ. I love snow scenes but don't paint very many because we usually don't get much snow around here. Some winters, we get no snow at all, or else it melts soon after it falls. Last weekend we had almost 12 inches of snow here but today, six days later, there's barely a trace of it left on the ground. At least the snow lasted until Christmas, and that was nice. Oh well, I did get a lot of photos after last weekend's snowstorm and I can work from those for a while. I love painting outdoors in the summer, but in the middle of winter when it's 20°F outside... photographs can be very useful!

Ellarslie 2010 Calendar

2009-12-06T13:59:00.004-05:00

"Hopewell, 3pm"
16x20" oil on canvas

My painting "Hopewell, 3pm" was selected as one of the images for the Ellarslie 2010 Calendar, published by the Trenton City Museum. My painting is Mr. July.

Images were chosen from paintings which were juried into this spring's Ellarslie Open XXVII. My painting is a scene on Broad Street (rt 518) in the heart of Hopewell, NJ, across the street from where the Hopewell Frame Shop used to be.

The 2010 calendar is available at the Museum Store and other area shops listed on the store's web page.

Holiday Gems at Riverrun

2009-12-02T13:24:00.001-05:00

"Winter on the Sourland"
8x10" oil on board

Riverrun Gallery is celebrating the holiday season with a double-header exhibit including the watercolors of Steve Zazenski and a collection of small paintings by some of the areas best known artists. I have a few small landscapes in this show along with a couple of my newer flower paintings.

The exhibit runs December 4th to December 31st at:

Riverrun Gallery at Laceworks
287 South Main Street (Rt 29)
Lambertville, NJ 08530
609-397-3349
[map & directions]
Gallery hours:11am - 5pm daily (closed Tuesdays)

"Day Lilly"
5x7" oil on board

The Gift of Nature

2009-11-25T10:29:00.005-05:00

"The 1869 House"

8x10" oil on linen

I have a few paintings in "Season’s Greetings: The Gift of Nature", a year-end show at the D&R Greenway headquarters in Princeton, NJ. This is a group show of smaller-scale works, inspired by nature, and just in time for the Holiday season.

The painting above is The 1860 House, which used to be the Montgomery Center for the Arts in Skillman, NJ. Unfortunately, the art center closed a couple of years ago and the house is now up for sale. (I wonder if the new owners will let me paint there again?) The other paintings I have in this show are scenes of land preserved by the D&R Greenway Land Trust.

The show runs Nov 9, 2009 to Jan 8, 2010. at:

D&R Greenway's Marie L. Matthews Gallery
at Johnson Education Center
One Preservation Place
Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone: 609-924-4646
(map)

The show is free and open to the public, but please note that the gallery is only open Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm, and it's best to call the Greenway at 609-924-4646 first to confirm that the facility is not being used for other purposes.

First Place Award at Images of the Mills

2009-11-14T13:16:00.000-05:00

I'm pleased to announce that my painting in this year's Images of the Mills show was given the First Place Award at the opening reception last night.

The show runs now through Sunday, Nov 29 and is open daily from 1 to 4 pm except: Sunday, Nov 15 (due to some other function at the Mill) and Thursday, Nov 26 (Thanksgiving Day of course!).

The show is at:

Prallsville Mills
Rt 29 (just north of town)
Stockton, NJ
(map & directions)

Images of the Mills 2009

2009-11-11T17:58:00.001-05:00

"Almost Spring"
12x24" oil on canvas

"Almost Spring" is my entry in this year's Images of the Mills show at Prallsville Mills in Stockton, NJ, an annual juried art exhibition featuring... you guessed it - images of the Prallsville Mills Complex and the immediate surrounding area.

Opening reception is Friday, Nov 13, 6 to 9 pm.
The show runs through Sunday, Nov 29, open daily 1 to 4 pm (closed Thanksgiving Day).
(map & directions)

29th Annual Mountain Art Show

2009-10-21T11:03:00.000-04:00

"Solebury Farm"
8x10 oil on canvas on board

My painting "Solebury Farm" was juried into the 29th Annual Mountain Art Show. The scene is a farm on Mechanicsville Rd in Bucks County, PA that I painted this summer.

Artists Reception and Awards Presentation:

Sunday, Oct 25, 6pm - 8pm ($25 per person)

Exhibit dates:

Saturday, Oct 24, 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday, Oct 25, 12 - 4 pm
Mon-Thurs, Oct 26–29, 12 – 6 pm
Friday, Oct 30, 12 – 8 pm
Saturday, Oct 31, 10 am – 4 pm
Sunday, Nov 1, 12 – 3 pm

at:

St. John on the Mountain
379 Mt. Harmony Road
Bernardsville, NJ 07924

Paintings from the Gardens

2009-10-12T10:31:00.010-04:00

For the third year in a row, Artists' Gallery teamed up with the Kalmia Club. Back in the spring, we painted on the annual "Hidden Gardens of Lambertville" tour. This coming weekend we're having a special exhibit of our paintings from the gardens. A portion of the sales is being donated to the Kalmia Club in support of the Club's community efforts.

You can see the show Friday, Saturday & Sunday, Oct 16-18 during normal gallery hours of 11am - 6pm. Or join us for the Gala Reception on Saturday, Oct 17, 4:00 to 7:00 pm
at:

Artists' Gallery
32 Coryell Street
Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

I did something a little bit different this year - instead of painting vistas of the gardens, I did a series of small 5x7" flower portraits:

I hope you can make it to the show. If you need some additional incentive, the Kalmia Club always puts on a very nice reception at our gallery and I'm sure that this year will be no exception.

Color My World

2009-10-02T11:08:00.006-04:00

"Color My World" is the 20th Anniversary Annual Art Show presented by the Tewksbury Historical Society. The show only runs 5 days but I'll have 3 pieces on display, including this one:

"Winter Sunset, Amwell Valley"
8x10 oil on panel

This is the first year I've entered this show but I'll have to keep it on my list for next year. And I'll have to explore Tewksbury Township better so I can do some paintings up there - it's a beautiful area that I'm not very familiar with.

Reception:

Tuesday Oct 6, 6pm - 8pm
Ticket cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door

Exhibit dates:

Wednesday, Oct 7, 10am - 6pm
Thursday, Oct 8, 10am - 8pm
Friday, Oct 9, 10am - 8pm
Saturday, Oct 10, 10am - 4pm
(Show Admission: $3 per person)

at:

Zion Lutheran Church Christian Education Building
corner of Church St & Miller Ave
Oldwick, NJ 08858

Creative Flow

2009-10-01T09:00:00.005-04:00

My painting of the Lambertville Boat Club was accepted into "Creative Flow" - a juried exhibition to benefit the Friends of the Delaware Canal, an organization which works hard to restore, preserve and improve the Delaware Canal and its surroundings. The theme of this show is artwork related to life along the Delaware River corridor.

"The Boat Club"
11x14 oil on panel

When I did this painting last year, I had forgotten to bring along the tripod which I need to mount my paintbox on. That really limited the choices of where I could setup to paint because without the tripod, I needed to find something the right height to rest the paintbox on. I was ready to admit defeat and head back home when I spotted a picnic table in a nice shady spot... it made a good place to work from, and that's how I ended up painting the boat club clubhouse.

The show runs Oct 4 - 31
Opening reception: Sunday, Oct 4, 1pm - 4pm
at:

Canal Frame-Crafts Gallery
1093 General Greene Rd.
Washington Crossing, Pa 18977

gallery hours: Tues. thru Sat. 10-5; Thurs. 10-7

Present In Nature

2009-09-19T18:17:00.006-04:00

"Plum Brook"
near Sergeantsville, NJ
11x14 oil on panel

As part of their 20th Anniversary celebration, the D&R Greenway Land Trust has organized an exhibition entitled "Present In Nature" featuring the work of 18 artists who paint outdoors on location, and I am proud to be included in this group of artists. All of the work I have in this show was painted this summer on land preserved by the D&R Greenway Land Trust.

Opening Reception is Friday, Sept 25, from 5:30pm - 7:30pm at:

D&R Greenway's Marie L. Matthews Gallery
at Johnson Education Center
One Preservation Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone: 609-924-4646
[map & directions] (please note the detour mentioned below!)

The show runs Sept 14 - Oct 30, 2009.

The gallery is open Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm, but it's best to call the Greenway at 609-924-4646 first to confirm that the facility is not being used for other purposes.

"Cornfield Trail"
at The Institute Woods, Princeton, NJ
11x14 oil on panel

Please note: a bridge is being replaced on Rosedale Road and you cannot reach the Johnson Education Center by driving east on Rosedale from Carter Rd. You must take Rosedale west from Elm Road / Great Road.

D&R Greenway Land Trust Anniversary and Silent Auction

2009-09-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

"Cedar Ridge Woods"
11x14 oil on panel

As I reported back in May, the D&R Greenway Land Trust invited a group of artists including myself to paint on some of the properties they've preserved and our work would be shown in September. Well, that time is approaching! In addition to a group show of our work, each of the artists is donating 1 piece to the Land Trust for a silent auction. "Cedar Ridge Woods", shown above, is my donation.

The silent auction is just part of the D&R Greenway's 20th Anniversary, Celebrating 20 Years of Land Preservation & Stewardship which will be held:

Sunday, Sept 13, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Johnson Education Center
One Preservation Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone: 609.924.4646
[map & directions] (please note the detour mentioned below!)

Reception - 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm: Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres prepared by The Ferry House (where I have an ongoing exhibition of my work), an auction of specially commissioned D&R Greenway landscapes followed by an Award Presentation at 6:30 p.m. where Representative Rush Holt will be presented with the 2009 Donald B. Jones Conservation Award.

Tickets for this event are $100 per person, RSVP by September 8 - you can reach them at 609.924.4646.

To preview the paintings which will be auctioned, visit the Johnson Education Center or visit www.drgreenway.org - an Auction Gallery link should appear there sometime this week.

A separate reception for the group show of our work will be held on Friday, September 25, 5:30 - 7:30 pm, and I'll post more about that later. (This event will be free of charge).

Please note: a bridge is being replaced on Rosedale Road and you cannot reach the Johnson Education Center by driving east on Rosedale from Carter Rd. You must take Rosedale west from Elm Road / Great Road.

Art on the Move

2009-08-24T19:28:00.010-04:00

Ribbon of Life, part II

The "Ribbon of Life" exhibition, celebrating 175 years of the D&R Canal, is moving from Princeton to Stockton. The painting I had in this show in Princeton is now in the possession of it's new owner, so I'm moving my painting "D&R Canal Bridge" from the plein air show at Riverrun Gallery to the "Ribbon of Life" exhibit in Stockton - it just seemed a really good fit for this show. Art is on the move!

"D&R Canal Bridge at Holcombe Farm"
11x14 oil on panel

The opening in Stockton will be at, and coincide with, the Grand Opening of the Sawmill at Prallsville Mills. Renovation of the sawmill building was recently completed and this will be the first public event held here. I had a peek inside the sawmill and it's a really nice space - very open, airy and rustic, with nice views out onto the rest of the Prallsville Mills complex of historical buildings. I didn't know that the mill race still ran under the sawmill but you can hear it clearly from inside the building.

The Grand Opening will be on Sunday, Aug 30 from 1 to 4 pm at Prallsville Mills Sawmill, Stockton, NJ. For more information, visit the Delaware River Mill Society website.

The festivities also include a Family Fun Day Picnic,$5 per adult - it should be a fun day at the Mill! (Admission to the art exhibition is free).

Behind the Barns

2009-08-23T15:12:00.005-04:00

"Behind the Barns"
11x14 oil on canvas on panel

Wow, was it hot when I painted this one! I had a nice shady spot to work from, but it was still pretty brutal. This is at the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association Nature Preserve off Titus Mill Road near Pennington, NJ. I've painted this group of barns many times before but I never get tired of painting here.

Keeping Things Whole

2009-08-12T19:45:00.002-04:00

And now for something completely different...
I'm not a big poetry reader but this one really strikes me and I wanted to share it:

Keeping Things Whole
by Mark Strand

In a field
I am the absence
of field.
This is
always the case.
Wherever I am
I am what is missing.

When I walk
I part the air
and always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body's been.

We all have reasons
for moving.
I move
to keep things whole.

Kaz and Katzenbach

2009-08-05T19:26:00.005-04:00

I'm showing my work along with Charles Katzenback all of August and September at:

Bell's Tavern
183 North Union Street
Lambertville, NJ 08530

Chuck creates multi-layered assemblages of painted glass and mirrors that are quite fascinating to see, and quite a contrast to the landscapes that I'm showing. The work went up today so stop in and have a look (and a beer or a bite to eat too).

As always, I want to put in a plug for Bell's - the food is always great, the prices low, the staff friendly, a good selection of beers on tap, it's one of my favorite places to eat. If you've never been there, you're missing one of the best neighborhood restaurants around. And if that isn't enough, they've always been big supporters of local artists. How can you top that?! I hope you get a chance to stop in.

First Annual Plein Air Invitational at Riverrun Gallery

2009-08-05T07:00:00.001-04:00

"D&R Canal Bridge at Holcombe Farm"
11x14 oil on panel

Riverrun Gallery in Lambertville is hosting it's First Annual Plein Air Invitational, where 18 of the region's finest plein air painters were invited to show their work and I'll be one of the exhibiting artists.

The above painting is one that I'll have in the show. It was done earlier this summer at the Holcombe-Jimison Farm near Lambertville, NJ.

Truth be told, I had a small part in planning this show with gallery owner Ty Hodanish. Ty is a strong advocate of plein air painting and he thought it would be great to have a show where all of the work exhibited was painted on location. Plein Air simply means that the work was painted outdoors, on location, as opposed to being painted in the studio from photographs. At it's best, plein air paintings have a freshness and spontaneity that's hard to achieve in studio paintings.

Opening Reception is Saturday, Aug 8 from 7pm to 9pm.
The show runs August 8 through August 30 at:

Riverrun Gallery at Laceworks
287 South Main Street (Rt 29)
Lambertville, NJ 08530
609-397-3349
[map & directions]
Gallery hours: noon - 5pm daily, closed Tuesdays

Each artist will have 5 or so pieces in the show and with 18 artists, there should be a good variety of work to be seen: oil paintings, watercolors, pastels, with scenery ranging from Bucks County to New Mexico to NYC. It should be a good show, I hope you can make it!

Solebury Farm

2009-07-29T11:23:00.003-04:00

"Solebury Farm"
8x10 oil on canvas on board

For this scene, I went to Carousel Lavender Farm in Bucks County, Pa to paint the lavender fields in bloom, but I ended up painting the view looking across the road at a different farm. You just never know what's going to inspire you until you get there.

Stony Brook Boulders

2009-07-25T19:20:00.000-04:00

This painting was done at a place I discovered while exploring D&R Greenway properties for their upcoming plein air show. It's at the Northern Stony Brook Preserve, deep in the woods between Featherbed Lane and Mountain Church Road in East Amwell, NJ. I've walked the trails here before but never this section and WOW what a nice surprise it was when I reached this spot! It was such an incredibly peaceful place to spend a few hours painting (even though the mosquitoes were brutal). Stony Brook really lives up to it's name here.

"Stony Brook Boulders"
11x14 oil on panel

It's interesting how different my painting is from the photograph I took at the exact same spot. This illustrates one of the key ideas about painting on location: that it's not about copying what's in front of you, it's about capturing the artist's vision and feelings. When I look at my painting, it really is the place I remember being at. When I look at my photograph, I hardly recognize the place. It is the same place, I guess I just see it differently than my camera does:

People often tell me that my paintings are so good that they look like photographs. I know that's meant as the highest compliment but I hope people can appreciate that a good painting is much more than a photographic representation. Ideally it shows the artist's very personal way of looking at the world, and it gives you some sense of what inspired them enough to stop and paint.

Distant Pines

2009-07-24T05:00:00.001-04:00

"Distant Pines"
8x10 oil on panel

This scene is on a D&R Greenway preserved farm near Lawrenceville, NJ. It's in a little valley very close to some major highways, but felt so isolated there that I may as well have been in Maine.

Palisades Highway Art Gallery

2009-07-23T07:54:00.005-04:00

"Round Valley Dam Triptych"
16x60 acrylic on canvas
(3 * 16x20 canvases)

Palisades car insurance company will be exhibiting original works by area artists on some of the largest and most-viewed canvases in the state – New Jersey highway billboards! Artists are submitting work in an online contest where works will selected for the Highway Art Gallery. Visit their website and vote for your favorite submissions - I've submitted 10 paintings for consideration, which you can find by looking for my full name, Joe Kazimierczyk. Voters are also entered into a contest where you can win a 'New Jersey driving destination prize' (but just cancel out of that box if you don't want to enter your contact information your vote will still count).

The painting above is one of my entries. It's an older painting of the roadway atop one of the dams at Round Valley Reservoir near Lebanon, NJ. Looking out over the reservoir is beautiful, but I just love the patterns of drainage channels and access roads on the side of the dam.

On the contest website, all of my entries were cropped to a format required for the billboards. So what you'll see isn't the entire painting but I tried to pick some that worked well in that format.

Dusk, Amwell Valley

2009-06-21T11:57:00.003-04:00

"Dusk, Amwell Valley"
11x14 oil on panel

It's hard to believe that today is the first day of summer - it's cold outside and seem like it's been raining nonstop for a month or more. So it's the summer solstice and I'm in the studio painting snowy winter paintings. I'd rather be outdoors, but rainy days are a good time to sort through my photographs and I found this one, which really wanted to be painted. This scene is overlooking some farm fields on Wertsville Road, near Ringoes, NJ.

Ribbon of Life Opening Reception

2009-06-17T19:22:00.004-04:00

Just a quick reminder that the opening reception for "Ribbon of Life" is this Friday, June 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

"Woolverton Lawn Chairs"
11x14 oil on panel

The exhibit features old photographs showing vintage views of the canal from the archives of the D&R Canal Commission, as well as contemporary views by regional artists, including my painting shown above.

The exhibit is presented by the D&R Greenway Land Trust in partnership with the D&R Canal Commission and Delaware Mill Society and is being held at:

Marie L. Matthews Gallery
at the Johnson Education Center
One Preservation Place, Princeton, NJ

Exhibition dates: May 18 - August 14, 2009
Opening Reception: June 19, 2009, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Artsbridge 15h Annual Juried Show

2009-06-05T09:38:00.006-04:00

My 2-person show "Connections" is over now and I'd like to give a really big Thank You to everyone who came - it was one of the best shows I've ever had. A few of the paintings from that show will remain at the gallery through the end of June. But this painting from Connections, I entered in the annual Artsbridge Juried Show, and it was accepted:

"Princeton Battlefield Winter"
12x14 oil on canvas

This scene is at Princeton Battlefield Park, the place where General George Washington defeated the British troops in a surprise attack on January 3, 1777, one of the turning points in the American Revolutionary War. But it's a very peaceful place now.

The Artsbridge 15th Annual Juried Show opens on June 6 and runs through June 27, 2009 at:

RiverRun Gallery at Laceworks
287 South Main Street (Rt 29)
Lambertville, NJ 08530
609-397-3349

gallery hours: daily from 12:00 – 5:00 pm, except Tuesdays
Opening reception is Saturday June 6, from 6 to 9 pm.

Coffee and Conversation

2009-05-30T16:50:00.006-04:00

Tomorrow, Sunday May 31, is the last day of "Connections" - my 2-person show at Artists' Gallery, and we're having a little closing reception called Coffee & Conversation. If you haven't had a chance to see the show yet, this will be your last chance. Beatrice and I will be there with coffee, ice tea and some nibbles, from 2:00 to 5:00 at:

Artists' Gallery
32 Coryell Street
Lambertville, NJ
map & directions

Hope to see you there!

Ribbon of Life

2009-05-26T20:24:00.003-04:00

"Woolverton Lawn Chairs"
11x14 oil on panel

My painting of the Woolverton Inn was selected to be part of an exhibit highlighting the history of the D&R Canal. The exhibit features old photographs showing vintage views of the canal from the archives of the D&R Canal Commission, as well as contemporary views by regional artists (that's where I fit in).

The exhibit is presented by the D&R Greenway Land Trust in partnership with the D&R Canal Commission and Delaware Mill Society and is being held at:

Marie L. Matthews Gallery
at the Johnson Education Center
One Preservation Place, Princeton, NJ

Exhibition dates: May 18 - August 14, 2009
Opening Reception: June 19, 2009, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

If you know the Woolverton Inn and how it sits up high on a hill, you may be wondering what it's connection is to the D&R Canal... The Inn was built in 1792 as a manor house by pioneer industrialist John Prall Jr, who owned and operated the Prallsville Mills complex at the bottom of the hill, and the Mill was very actively using the D&R Canal for shipping. It not a very obvious connection, but you can read more in this history of Stockton Borough if you're interested.

The Institute Woods

2009-05-25T20:09:00.007-04:00

Continuing to paint for the D&R Greenway Land Trust's upcoming plien air show, last week I was exploring The Institute Woods - a 589 acre tract of woods and farmland owned by The Institute For Advanced Study, the Princeton, NJ institution where Albert Einstein thought some big thoughts. There is an extensive trail system on the property and it's open to the public. The D&R Greenway folks were just one of the groups involved in the preservation of these lands. Here are 3 paintings from last week's explorations:

"Updike's Sky"
11x14 oil on canvas on panel

Although I love walking through the woods, it can be difficult to paint there - the overwhelming green and lack of any strong subject to focus on is not the makings of a good painting. When the trail left the dense woods, I found my subject - the sky over the historic Updike Farm whose farm buildings can be seen in the distance. The simplicity of the landscape and subtle interest in the sky really caught my attention. Across this field is the route that General George Washington took in the pre-dawn hours of January 3 to engage the British troops in the Battle of Princeton in 1777. There are a couple of granite monuments to mark the route:

"Cornfield Trail"
11x14 oil on panel

This scene is very near the location of the last painting, and the Updike Farmstead is across the field on the right side of this painting. This one was such a pleasure to paint because I was standing out in the open but in the most wonderful patch of cool shade the entire time. Simple pleasures are the best. :)

"Stony Brook"
8x10 oil on linen on panel

This spot on Stony Brook is on the other side of the Updike Farm. If the foliage wasn't so dense I think I'd be able to see the farmhouse to my right. I was confronted with that overwhelming greeness of being in the woods, but a creek can provide such lovely subject matter, I love doing scenes like this.

Further downstream on Stony Brook is the Swinging Bridge, and what an understatement that is! Walking across this bridge is more fun than an amusement park ride! Even walking at a slow pace, the bridge swings, it sways, it bounces, it creaks and it groans. But I trust that it was sturdy enough to carry me:
So if you're in the mood for a quiet walk in the woods, a ride on the Swinging Bridge, a walk through Revolutionary War history, then head to The Institute Woods!

Cedar Ridge

2009-05-17T13:05:00.010-04:00

The D&R Greenway Land Trust has been working hard for 20 years to preserve land in central New Jersey. As part of their 20th anniversary celebration, they've invited a group of plein air artists to paint on some select pieces of property that they've preserved, and I am privileged to be included in this group of artists.

The paintings we do will be exhibited this fall in the Marie L. Matthews Gallery at Johnson Education Center, Princeton, NJ. We'll also be donating some of this work to the Land Trust for a silent auction to help raise funds for, and awareness of their land preservation mission. I'll post more about this exhibit and silent auction as the time approaches later this summer.

Here are some of my first paintings related to this project. Both were done at Cedar Ridge Preserve near Hopewell, NJ.

"Cedar Ridge Fields"
8x10 oil on panel

"Cedar Ridge Woods"
11x14 oil on panel

One side benefit of this project is that I'll get to explore some places I've never been to before, and exploration is one of the things I like best about being a plein air painter. Cedar Ridge is not far from where I live but last week my first visit there.

4th Annual Hillsborough Art Show

2009-05-16T09:25:00.003-04:00

The Fourth Annual Hillsborough Art Show has just past. Unfortunately it's only a one day event so there's barely time to blog about it before the show is over. This year it was organized by a professional artist, Kevin Murphy, who recently founded the Art Academy of Hillsborough and it sounds like Kevin has some ideas about making this a bigger event next year.

The show has separate categories for students and adults and most of the show is comprised of students' work. You've probably heard the famous Pablo Picasso quote "It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child", and it's often said that we are most creative as children but somehow loose that spark when we become adults. I have to say that I was really impressed with the student work at this show! The level of talent was impressive, but what impressed me the most was how imaginative some of the works were. These kids have not yet lost that spark of creativity, and lets hope that they don't.

Being a bit too old to qualify as a student, my entry won First Place in the adult category - I've posted this one before, it's my driveway in winter:

"Winter Drive"
24x18 oil on canvas

Connections - a 2 person show with Beatrice Bork

2009-05-04T14:45:00.010-04:00

I've warned you before but now it's time for the official announcement:

"Connections"
A 2-person show with Joe Kazimierczyk and Beatrice Bork
at Artists' Gallery in Lambertville, NJ
May 8 - May 31, 2009
Opening reception: Saturday May 9, 6-9pm

My big show of the year starts later this week and runs the month of May. It's a 2-person show with Beatrice Bork. Bea is a talented watercolorist who specializes in wildlife paintings with a strong emphasis on birds. Her subjects range from the creatures found around her home in New Jersey, to the more exotic species she sees on her trips to the Caribbean.

My own work continues to focus on the New Jersey landscape but this time I'll be showing a lot of my smaller works. It's funny that my intent this winter was to work larger, but then I did a couple of little 5x7" paintings and had so much fun with those that it turned into a whole series. But I'll still be showing a few larger pieces to balance things out. I thought a wall of nothing but 5x7" paintings would look a bit odd!
The show runs May 8 through May 31.
Opening reception is Saturday, May 9 from 6-9pm at:

Artists' Gallery
32 Coryell Street
Lambertville, NJ
map & directions
Gallery hours: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm

Here are a few of the paintings I'll have in the show:

"Princeton Battlefield Winter"
12x24" oil on canvas

"Millstone River, Early Spring"
5x7" oil on board

"Canal in Winter"
5x7" oil on panel

If you can't make the opening, please join us for coffee & conversation, a closing reception of sorts on Sunday, May 31 from 2-5pm.

Round Mountain Farm

2009-05-01T09:54:00.003-04:00

"Round Mountain Farm"
6x8 oil on canvas on panel

I found this scene while exploring some trails near Stanton, NJ. This trail system connects some otherwise disconnected pieces of parkland, and the trails pass through some active farmland which made for a very pleasant walk. The trails were nicely cut through some grassland, but wow, the ticks are out in full force this spring - just one of the many hazards of plein air painting!

The Salon at Artworks

2009-04-30T09:10:00.004-04:00

It's time for Trenton City Museum's the annual Ellarslie Open, one of the best juried shows in the region. This show always attracts artists from a large geographical area and for the past couple of years has been struggling with the problem of not having enough room to show all of the work that they would like to show. This year Ellarslie is partnering with Artworks to present "The Salon Show" - a show of entries that didn't make it into the Ellarslie Open but are too good not to exhibit. My painting "Hopewell, 3pm" will be in the Salon Show at Artworks:

"Hopewell, 3pm"
16x20 oil on canvas

Opening reception: Friday May 8, 6 to 9 pm at:

Artworks
19 Everett Alley at South Stockton Street
Trenton, NJ 08611
In the Mill Hill Historic District
[map & directions]
609-394-9436

The show runs May 8 through June 27, 2009.
Gallery hours are Saturdays: noon to 4:00 pm, and by appointment.

Ellarslie is the Trenton City Museum, downstairs is used for changing art exhibitions, upstairs features exhibits that showcase the city of Trenton's industrial history. Artworks is Trenton's downtown visual arts center, offering classes, exhibits and events to foster an appreciation of the arts.

While you're in the area to visit Artworks, it's well worth your time to stop in the nearby New Jersey State Museum to see the exhibit of Mel Leipzig's work - I'm a big fan of Mel but it's the first time I've seen so much of his work in one place. Mel has a unique way of looking a the world and it's a really amazing exhibit, so go see it!

Artists of Bristol 3rd Annual Open Exhibition

2009-04-16T19:17:00.008-04:00

"Six Mile Run Farm"
11x14 oil on panel

The above painting will be in the Artists of Bristol 3rd Annual Open Exhibition being held at:

Lower Bucks Hospital
501 Bath Road
Bristol, PA 19007
(in the Hospital’s original lobby)

The show lasts only this weekend, Friday April 17 through Sunday April 19. There's a reception on Friday April 17 from 6-9 pm.

This exhibition is jointly sponsored by the Artists of Bristol on the Delaware and Lower Bucks Hospital. While I don't live anywhere near Bristol, they were encouraging artists from outside the area to participate and I was glad to oblige.

This painting was done at Six Mile Run Reservoir and I'm not sure if I should have been under water here. The surrounding land was acquired by the state of NJ in 1970 for a reservoir but those plans were eventually scrapped and it's now a park called Six Mile Run Reservoir - even though there is no reservoir and never will be! Six Mile Run is the name of the creek that runs nearby.

Addendum: My painting was award 3rd Place in the show!

Small Oils at the Philadelphia Sketch Club

2009-04-12T10:06:00.005-04:00

"Montgomery Barn"
8x10 oil on board

This painting was accepted into the 146th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings at the Philadelphia Sketch Club. The show runs April 10 through May 2, 2009 at:

The Philadelphia Sketch Club
235 S. Camac Street
Philadelphia, Pa

Opening reception is Sunday, April 19 from 2 to 4 pm.

Although this is the 146th year of this annual juried show (isn't that amazing?!), it's the first time that I've entered. Needless to say, I'm very happy to have gotten in. I only recently became acquainted with the Sketch Club when I was invited to judge a show at the neighboring Plastic Club.

The Philly Sketch Club was founded in 1860 and is the oldest continuing artists organization in America. Many of America's great artists have been members or teachers at the club including Thomas Eakins, N.C. Wyeth, Edward Redfield, Maxfield Parrish, Daniel Garber, Ranulph Bye and Alexander Calder.

Normal gallery hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1 pm to 5 pm.

Save the date: May

2009-04-09T19:11:00.007-04:00

My next big show is coming up soon at the Artists' Gallery in May. It'll be a 2-person show with Beatrice Bork - a very talented wildlife artist. Between Bea's animal paintings in watercolor and my landscapes in oils, I think it'll be a really good show. Of course I'm a little bit biased, but I really do think so!

Right now I'm busy with all of the little details and odds & ends that go into doing one of these shows. Fortunately, in a 2-person show you have someone to split some of the work with: writing and sending press releases, designing and mailing postcards, selecting which paintings to show, varnishing paintings, ordering frames, framing paintings, telling everyone on the planet about the show... which is exactly what I'm doing right now. I'll post more details in a few weeks, but for now, I just want to let you know that:

The show runs May 8 through May 31 at Artists' Gallery in Lambertville, NJ
Opening Reception is Saturday, May 9 from 6 to 9 pm.

Also, Beatrice has just started a blog of her own, so you may want to keep an eye on that: Beatrice Bork, Artist.