The Weather is Beautiful...

...so I haven't been updating my web site lately because I've been out working in the field. And when I haven't been doing that, then I'm busy preparing for my next art show, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, which is coming up in less than two weeks.

Working in Reeds Gap State Park. I like to set up my easel in the river (thank goodness for Gore Tex boots) because it affords a "down the stream" vantage point that is similar to the "down the street" views that I favor in my cityscapes.

This past week was especially fun because several of my friends from the Maryland Pastel Society came to visit and I toured them to some of my favorite locations for painting in the field. Even though they've returned home, I'm planning to continue working in the field over the coming weeks and months. I simply love working outside at this time of year. During the hottest portions of the day I am in my studio working on some small format cityscapes. I'm also in the midst of a couple of commissions, so there's plenty to keep me out of trouble.

So far, our summer has been very temperate. The lack of blazing hot temperatures has kept the atmosphere remarkably clear, which leads to striking blues in the sky and water. This is my studio mascot, Annie, emerging from the bog in Black Moshannon State Park.

I have to travel to Cleveland this week for an appointment, but shortly thereafter you'll see some new works on my web site. Check back at the end of this coming week (Around the 4th of July) for a preview of the new landscapes and cityscapes that I'll exhibit at this year's show in State College, Pennsylvania. Until then, here are a couple of images from recent painting excursions to central Pennsylvania's gorgeous state parks.

June Update

A Postcard from the Easel showing a new plein air landscape, Lyric, in progress. This was just east of State College, Pennsylvania during a recent June evening.

I can't seem to get a handle on the pace of life this year. I exhibited in my first outdoor show of the season a couple of weeks ago in downtown Philadelphia. Since that art show I've been up to New York, back to Philadelphia, and now I'm on my way out of town to Illinois for a family event. Meanwhile, I am sorry to say that one of my galleries is closing as a casualty of this rough economy, so I'll be back down to the Philadelphia area within the next week to pick up my artwork. Crazy!

In between all of this tumult, I am painting. In fact, being able to retreat into my studio or out into the field to work is a soothing balm for me. The above Postcard from the Easel shows a new panoramic landscape, Lyric, in progress. Disclaimer: The cloud formation changed from the time that I blocked in this piece to when I took this photograph.

You will see this piece and some new plein air works, including a couple of new pieces from my favorite location of Black Moshannon State Park at the upcoming Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts next month. In the meantime, let's keep our fingers crossed for sunnier and drier weather here in the northeast. It's a murky grey day here, so I'm off to do some bookkeeping.