Lake Ascoti revisited

It would seem that I've found a favorite place to paint outdoors... Harriman State Park is a fountain of nature, full of bountiful lakes, wildlife, and panoramic vistas. I love to go there, put on the headset and let my paintbrush attempt to copy what I see...

After a series of errands in the morning, and with the realization that making it to work would be an exercise in commuting, with little time remaining for actually working, I decided to finish my day at the lake instead of in Midtown NYC traffic. It was a wise decision, I think...
This is also 12" x 24", oil on linen on panel. Painted en plein aire.

A Day at the Lake

Having now abandoned all hope of reviving my old website in the forseeable future, I've now added a few posts that hold my old artwork, and will update here with new stuff as I get it done... like... this one, completed in two and a half sessions at Lake Ascoti, NY.

It's a wonderful spot, part of Harriman State Park. There's free parking, a big lake full of fish to catch - both the large ones for the large folks and the little ones for the little guys to play with... I spent two days with my little girl at the lake, she fishing, me painting... it was idyllic.

On the third day I added a few more darks along the water line, then realized I didn't really want to change the painting that much - it was done. I signed it, and put it on the side for drying. A gentleman approached me, and we talked for a bit about daughters, artistry, and the trials of a father trying to bring his child and her 6' x 6' paintings home from college. He expressed an interest, and then bought the painting still wet from the day's efforts. Thankfully not too wet, as I placed it, ever so carefully, on the supple leather seats in the back of his beautiful, expensive car.

It was a completely unexpected, and thoroughly delightful, way to end a perfect day.

Hopper House "Artists in the Park" 2007

I decided that I liked the idea of participating in this event last year, so I did it again this year... Once again, the weather was less than cooperative. Rain, cold... miserable. The painting showed it, and didn't sell.

Instead, I sold this one... a 12" x 24" Oil on panel completed in one session at Harriman State Park's Lake Ascoti. I'd started this painting looking for a chance to paint very tight realism from life... then reality set in and I saw that there was simply no way to do anything more than a very loose rendition of what was before me...

I was pleased with the outcome, and apparently so were a few others. The bidding took the price up to about double what they'd started out at... a good outcome for all concerned.

Seasonal View

What started out as two separate paintings became one... The references for this come from two different times of the year, Spring and Fall. The difference in the temperature of the light at the different seasons intrigued me, to say the least.

"Seasonal View" is 24" x 24" Oil on Linen on Panel.

11.29.06, Sunrise over the Hudson

In the wintertime, I have an un-obstructed view of the Hudson River from my front door. I also rise before dawn most days, and am rewarded for my earliness with some of the most glorious sunrises a person could wish to see...

This is still unfinished, but, hopefully will come to represent one of those glorious sunrises over the Hudson. It's Oil on linen on Panel, 12" x 24".

Hopper House "Artists in the Park" 2006

The Edward Hopper House is a local hotspot for artists to gather, learn and exhibit. They started a new tradition called "Artists in the Park". Local artists are asked to paint, en plein aire, at local sites, and then donate their paintings to an auction to be held the same day.

The day was miserably cold at first, not at all what you'd like for a mid-May day in New York. It warmed up a bit by the end, but, jackets, gloves and rain gear were definitely called for at first...

This was my first painting for the day... a 12" x 12" Oil on linen on panel. It was fun, and I was left wondering if it would sell...

So, I donated it, and decided to try again...





Here is the result of that effort, a 12" x 24" oil on linen on panel...

In the most amazing turn of events, both paintings sold... for double the initial asking price. I was thrilled...!!