SCILLA

Scilla or Siberian Squill does actually grow in Siberia.  This tiny but very hardy flower is probably coming up somewhere in your yard if you have some property in the North East.  It not only comes up every year but spreads in mysterious ways all over the place.  I look forward to discovering what new place it will pop up every year.  Last evening I passed a front yard completely covered in blue.  What a treat.

FRIENDS MEETING STABLES IN WINTER

These stables, that have probably been around for 400 years or more, lend their stately presence to Merion.  Read some of the interesting history of the Friends Meeting House and its stables here. I painted another part of these stables last April but could not resist this view because of the lovely long horizontal of unbroken snow on the roof of this simple elegant structure.

UNDER COVER

The delicate branches of our split leaf maple are weighed down by snow (along with everything else, including our spirit).  I hope their brittle branches can make it.

WINTER SUNSET #2

This painting from 1995 caught the sun right as it set at the end of my street.  I painted this on the spot - in a hurry.

Winter Sunset

Every year around Christmas the sun sets at the very bottom of my street.  It is a little past that point by now and I missed the moment this year, but the color is still really good with the very blue snow.

CYCLAMEN AND SNOW

This is a painting I did a while back.  The curtains and table cloth have long ago fallen apart and been thrown away, but it could be today as far as my interests are concerned.  I am in the middle of a painting looking out the same window through red leaves to the snow beyond.  I am endlessly fascinated by the same things it seems.  I have no idea (again) where this painting is.  I may have sold it or it has migrated to one of my children's walls, but if you are interested in purchasing it, I will see if I can find it.  I think it is about 24" x 36".

MORNING AFTER SNOW

I want to talk a bit about process while paintings are drying, as I am experimenting with diferent surfaces at the moment.  More about that in later posts.
Most of the paintings I have posted on this blog have been created in my studio from photographs that I have taken and manipulated in photoshop to add, subtract, change the position of things or alter some colors.
This is an older painting that I created outside.
I spent many years painting outside and found that I could stand to be out in some pretty bad weather for a short period of time.  It was very invigorating and filled me with joy.  I may give it a try again, but the whole process of setting up, dealing with the wind or the sun or simply the quickly changing shadows is really daunting.
I just noticed the Barnes Foundation can be glimpsed behind the trees here.  Little did I know when I painted this how much it would occupy my time and energy in the future.
If you are interested in purchasing this painting, email me and I will try to find it.

IRELAND

This painting was created for the VIRTUAL PAINTOUT.  I spent several pleasant hours cruising the back roads looking for just the right spot to set up my easel.  I could almost smell the grass in this spot in County Claire.

END OF THE SEASON

While finishing up a job for a show in Canada I happened upon this slide of an old painting.  I did this on site in my garden and it looks like an old asparagus plant.  Don't know where the painting is but I wish I did, as I think it captures the end of the season very well.

MERION STATION IN THE RAIN #2

Another stab at painting through the windshield in the rain.  This time it's Merion Train Station and Post Office.  Here is the first version of Merion Station in the Rain, painted last March.

COME ON IN

Old houses have the most welcoming doors, in my opinion.  In this one in Bala Cynwyd you can see the arbor cheerily lit up in the front yard through the window of the storm door.  It may be cold outside but it's warm and cozy in here.

SOLD

BROWN AND KETCHUP

This painting is brought to you by the Ketchup Advisory Council.  Click on the link for a chuckle.


SOLD

RED MAPLES #2

Almost gone today, three days ago these beauties were lighting up my front yard.  "Sic transit gloria mundi" - "Thus passes the glory of the world"
$125.00

MORNING LIGHT

It's getting to be time to enjoy indoor pleasures.  I love to follow the light around my house as it creates compositions all day long.  Here I removed the furniture - not really - just for the painting, because the blue light was a key element.

$125.00

DOWN TO RIO

Early this week I spent time wandering the streets of Rio de Janeiro, courtesy of Google maps, looking for just the right place to paint for the Virtual Paintout.  I finally settled on this combination of bright sunlit colors and indoor revelry on the Rue Marechal Cantauria. And don't miss this choice few moments from FLYING DOWN TO RIO the 1933 film with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in their usual good form.

DOG DIGNITY

A foggy day, the autumn joy at its richest hue and Bay, my shy dog, finally taking his place in the picture as if to say, "This is where I belong".

RAINY NIGHT IN BRYN MAWR

Rain creates a whole new image of life.  Here there are 3 versions of reality.  The usual solid version, the one created by the rain puddles on the street and pavement and the one created by the windshield.  How much of our perception is distorted in just this way as we look at the world through the prism of our prejudices, past experience and just plain ignorance?

SQUIRREL CROSSING

At this time of year I have noticed more squirrels seem to be caught by traffic than usual.  I assume it is because they are in a frenzy to store up for the winter.  I got to wondering while painting how squirrels communicate the danger of crossing the street to their buddies since those who don't make it have little to tell.  This and other questions, about these creatures who manage to share our lives better than most, remain unanswered after a quick look on line.  I did find that some squirrels actually cross with people at a crosswalk and at least one was spotted crossing alone on a crosswalk. Here is an interesting article about squirrel facts if you too are curious about the little guys.  SQUIRRELS THE ANIMAL ANSWER GUIDE And for those who would just like a good laugh there is this on youtube: SQUIRRELS AND CRACKHEADS CROSS THE STREET

SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE

I have been busy traveling in Mexico via google maps the past few days.  This is 20 Principal Street in San Miguel de Allende.  There were lots of interesting spots to paint, but I finally settled on this one because of the lovely time of day and the biker looking at me from Mexico.  It is my latest contribution to the very interesting blog VIRTUAL PAINT OUT.

HEAVENLY BLUE

From Harvest Moon to cool nights the weather is changing everyday.  I think these morning glories are very aptly named.  They are a heavenly shade of blue, but they really don't come into their own until this time of year.
SOLD