Click on any of the images below to see more pictures in each category.
I do a lot of plein air (outdoor) painting. It's a challenge: the wind, the sun, the bugs, the heat, the cold, the changing light. But I like getting outside, I enjoy having onlookers, I like being able to walk around my subject, and I especially like learning about it from passersby.
if you're interested in chatting about any of these paintings, or if you're interested in purchasing one, you can find my email address and a contact form in the Contact menu.
Oil on linen panel, 12” x 16.”
I painted this plein air, but don’t worry, I maintained social distancing, as this is a gate by my home. I spent four afternoons working on it. I was interested in the light slanting across the gate and the foliage.
Oil on canvas panel, 16" x 20." Available.
I debated whether to include the many tourists and cars that were driving by me as I painted these cherry trees. Ultimately I decided upon a more serene scene.
Oil on linen panel, 12” x 16.” Available.
With the coronavirus scare upon us, I painted my neighbor’s house from my driveway. My neighbors are wonderful people, but the house itself seems to be hiding behind the foliage — a sort of architectural social distancing.
Oil on panel, 11” x 14.” Available.
I painted the Memorial on location on a beautiful spring day. A lot of people stopped by my easel to chat. The only downside was that the nearest restroom was in the Memorial itself, which was a good 15 minute walk. Still, it gave me a chance to read the inscriptions and tour the place again. It was a great day of plein air painting.
Oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2017. Private collection.
Oil on panel, 11” x 14,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 9” x 12,” 2019. This was my 19th daily painting in May, 2019. I painted it alongside my daughter, who painted the same scene but more zoomed-in. Her painting can be found in my blog.
This painting is still available.
Oil on panel, 6" x 6", 2017. Private collection.
Oil on panel, 16” x 20,” 2018. Private collection.
Oil on panel, 9” x 12,” 2018. Private collection.
Oil on panel, 8" x 10", 2017. Available.
My Facebook friends tell me there's a nude beach near this spot, which is in Cape Henlopen State Park, just north of Rehoboth Beach. I was so caught up in painting that I didn't notice!
This is the path that runs parallel to the C&O canal in Maryland. Mules used to walk on the path to tow boats along the canal; hence the term "towpath." Alas, on this hot day, the canal was almost dry.
Oil on panel, 8” x 10,”, 2017. Private collection.
Oil on panel, 5" x 7", 2017. Private collection.
I learned a lot about this gas station while I was painting it on a sunny afternoon in May, 2017. One passerby told me that it is scheduled to be demolished, along with much of the other businesses along Westbard Avenue in Bethesda, as part of the controversial Westbard Renovation Project. Another person told me that the original owner of the Citgo was a colorful guy who ran a popular poker game.
Oil on panel, 6" x 6", 2017. Private collection.
Oil on panel, 9” x 12,” 2018. Available.
I did this painting at Plein Air Easton in 2021, standing near my new friend Melanie, who did a nice painting here too. I loved the competition but had a challenging week, thanks to a fall that injured my knee.
May daily painting #10. Oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2019. Available.
Oil on linen, 8” x 10,” 2019. Available.
May daily painting #9. Oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 16” x 20.” Available.
Oil on panel, 6" x 9", 2017. Private collection.
Oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2017. Available.
Oil on canvas panel, 8" x 10," 2018. Private collection.
Oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 8” x 10.” Private collection.
Oil on panel, 5" x 7", 2017. Available.
Oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2017. Available.
Oil on panel, 8" x 10," 2017. Private collection.
Oil on panel, 11” x 14,” 2019. Available.
Oil on linen panel, 11” x 14,” 2020. Available.
I did this quick study from life in about 90 minutes, all in one go.
Oil on linen panel, 11” x 14.” Available.
The “model” was a plaster cast. Oil on panel, 6” x 6,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 11” x 14,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 11” x 14,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 11” x 14,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 11” x 14,” 2019.
Self-portrait. Oil on panel, 12” x 16,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 6” x 6,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 11" x 14," 2018. Available.
Charcoal on paper, 8" x 11", 2016.
Oil on panel, 11” x 14,” 2019. Available.
Isn't the phrase "still life" a contradiction in terms, like "jumbo shrimp"? Anyway, I spend most of my time painting things that move, so it's always a pleasure to work on a subject that stays still.
Oil on panel, 6” x 6,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 5” x 7,” 2019. Available.
I did this tiny little painting in my garden, in about 45 minutes. Sometimes I paint better when I paint fast.
Oil on panel, 6” x 6,” 2019.
Oil on linen panel, 5” x 7,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2019. Available.
I think this old copper vessel is a pitcher for pouring or making olive oil. But I’m not sure. If anyone knows, please feel free to tell me!
Oil on panel, 5” x 7,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 6” x 6,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 6” x 6,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 6” x 6,” 2019. Available.
Oil on panel, 8" x 10", 2016. Private collection.
I use this little painting as the background for my business cards. It’s my unofficial logo!
Oil on panel, 6" x 6", 2017.
This little study was inspired by a video demo by Larry Seiler, who painted a tube of paint while counting his brushstrokes. His aim is to convey the subject as efficiently as possible. I took at least twice as many strokes as Larry, and my result isn't as good as his, but it was a fun exercise -- sort of like painting golf, in which the lowest score wins.
Update: I had thought this painting was lost, but I found it! Rejoice!
This is the one area of my website that isn't primarily "art from life." I do like to copy great paintings by well-known artists; it's a great way to learn.
This is a copy of a detail of Sargent's full-length portrait of Lady Nancy Astor, the first female member of the House of Commons. She tangled politically with Churchill, once saying that if she were his wife, she'd put poison in his coffee. Churchill supposedly replied: "Nancy, if I were your husband, I'd drink it."
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Copy of Monet, "The Bridge at Argenteuil" (1874). Oil on panel, 12" x 16".
This painting hangs in the National Gallery of Art here in Washington. After I had spent a few days copying it from an image on the internet, and then I went down to the National Gallery to see the painting in person. To my dismay, my reference photo had chopped off the leftmost inch of the painting! By then it was too late to fix it, so I just declared victory and moved on. I probably should return to the picture to finish detailing the boat and to improve the drawing of the bridge.
I’m still working on this one. It’s so hard to replicate the subtlety of Vermeer’s brushwork, but it’s a great learning experience to try.
Copy of Raphael's drawing of Michelangelo's "David" (ca. 1507-08). Graphite on paper, about 12" x 16", 2016. Yes, I gave him too much hair.
