Plein-air-painter

Violettes Lock

2012-01-12T16:35:00.000-08:00

This is an oil painting I did from one of my earlier watercolors. It is 30"x 36". I haven't posted for awhile because I've been busy with some mural projects that I completed. It is good to get back to landscapes again.

Dawsonville

2011-11-08T18:46:00.000-08:00

This farm is in Dawsonville in Montgomery Co. Md. It was nice day to get back outside and paint again.

rock outcropping

2011-10-16T18:36:00.000-07:00

This outcropping occurs just east of Pennyfield lock on the C&O Canal in Montgomery Co. Md. I've been working on a mural for a client and have not been able to get outdoors as much as I usually would prefer so this excursion was a day happily spent. Soon all the foliage will be gone and it will be back to winter grays and browns.

C&O Canal paintings and surrounding area

2011-09-28T18:04:00.000-07:00

Abandoned building

2011-09-25T18:01:00.000-07:00

This an old abandoned building at the Barnesville MARC rail stop in Barnesville, Md.

Point of Rocks

2011-09-24T18:03:00.000-07:00

Point of Rocks train station. Point of Rocks, Md. This is maybe the most attractive train station in America. I'm glad it was restored.

Swain's lock

2011-09-12T19:40:00.000-07:00

This is a redo of a painting I sold of Swain's lock in Montgomery Co. Md. This one was done as a commission piece. I went back to the exact same location to paint this. The only change was the water in the canal was a little lower.

Barnesville, Md.

2011-09-11T18:05:00.000-07:00

This the intersection of Barnesville Rd. and Beallsville Rd in Montgomery Co. MD. I had to finish this from memory at home after the rain started up.

Brunswick, Md. Train station

2011-09-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

This is Brunswick Md. train station. The building was built in 1907 by the Baltimore & Ohio RR. The Architecture is considered, "Queen Anne style".

Germantown station

2011-09-09T18:54:00.000-07:00

This is Germantown train station in Montgomery County Maryland. The day started out as rainy but switched to sunshine as I painted. I had to stay with the overcast view utilizing what was in my memory to complete the picture.

Black Rock Mill

2011-08-27T17:48:00.000-07:00

This is Black Rock Mill in Montgomery Co. Md. I also painted this view back in March. It's interesting for me to see the difference the seasons make.

Sugarloaf Mt.

2011-08-26T18:37:00.000-07:00

This is the view of Frederick Co. Md. from Sugarloaf Mt. in Montgomery Co. Md.

Riley's lock

2011-08-25T17:04:00.000-07:00

This is Riley's lock in Montgomery Co. Md. on a partially cloudy day. It rained a bit forcing me to sit in my truck some to paint. I haven't had to do that since early spring.

Violettes Lock

2011-08-24T18:25:00.000-07:00

This is Violettes lock on the C&O canal in Montgomery Co., Md. There is enough water in the canal in this area for people to paddle a canoe or kayak.

Dickerson, Md. train station

2011-08-20T17:18:00.000-07:00

This is the Dickerson, Md. train station, built in 1891. I added the figure from my imagination. I also took out all the latest MARC rail renovations to the site so the setting felt more like the early 20th century.

Poolesville Presbyterian Church

2011-08-19T17:53:00.000-07:00

This is Poolesville Presbyterian Church in Poolesville Md. The building was built in 1847.

Monocacy River

2011-08-16T17:19:00.000-07:00

I made this painting of the Monocacy River while sitting under the Monocacy River aqueduct in Frederick Co. Md. The weather was perfect again.

Linden Farm

2011-08-15T17:23:00.000-07:00

I went back to Linden Farm in Montgomery Co. Md. to make this painting. This the third time I've painted there. The weather was nearly perfect today.

Poolesville Md.

2011-08-14T17:06:00.000-07:00

This is a very nice old bank building in Poolesville, Md. I believe the date for it is 1910 (not all that old but still as nice building).

Sugarloaf Mt.

2011-08-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

I drove up Sugarloaf Mountain to find this view of Western Montgomery County, Md. The weather was great (even if I'm still nursing a cold).

finshed

2011-08-09T11:09:00.001-07:00

24" x36" oil painting, titled, Oliver. This is a fantasy landscape (obviously) of which I hope several more are to be done.

closer to completion

2011-08-08T17:15:00.000-07:00

update

2011-08-07T17:49:00.000-07:00

nearing completion

2011-08-06T17:51:00.000-07:00

updated

2011-08-05T18:13:00.000-07:00

2011-08-04T18:27:00.000-07:00

update

2011-08-03T18:15:00.000-07:00

Oliver

2011-08-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

Generally I don't like to post unfinished work but I haven't posted in awhile because this painting is a slow project. 2' x3' oil paint of imaginary content. I decided to name the figure in the painting, hence the title...haha! I definitely paint these in an unorthodox manner. After doing the sketch in prismacolor (it wont smear when oil paint is dragged over it) on the canvas, I sort of color the painting in ala coloring book fashion.

stone bridge

2011-07-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

This watercolor is created from a sketch I made out of my imagination. It bears a resemblance to the old stone bridge at Manassas Battlefield, Va.....a place I use to visit often when I lived near there.

Lock 25

2011-07-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

Lock number 25 on the C&O Canal. The structure at right is a partially restored historic building known as Jarboe's Store. Even in 100 degree heat a shady spot can be found to paint.

Outfall at Swain's lock

2011-07-21T16:05:00.000-07:00

This is the outfall culvert at Swain's lock along the C&O canal. The weather was unbelievably hot today but luckily a slight breeze arrived sufficient for me to paint this picture.

Love is a Battlefield

2011-07-18T17:39:00.000-07:00

Pat Benatar in the video, Love is a Battlefield. I like the interaction between the two dancers.

Sheila E (painting)

2011-07-17T17:20:00.000-07:00

This is the subsequent painting created from the sketch in my previous post. This is Sheila Escovedo. I executed this in acrylic paints. The painting is 2'x 3' making her portrait slightly larger then life size. I wanted the theatrical effect that provides.

Sheila E

2011-07-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

Sheila E from a 1984 youtube video singing, The Glamorous Life.

Potomac River

2011-07-07T16:54:00.000-07:00

This the Potomac River adjacent to Swain's lock on the C&O canal. It was a tad bit warm today for painting (about 95 degrees).

Pat Benatar

2011-07-04T19:19:00.000-07:00

Sketch of Pat Benatar from an old photo of her I brought up on the Internet. "Heart breaker, dream maker, love taker. Don't you mess around with me"

Seneca school

2011-06-29T17:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I drive around and drive around looking for a subject to paint. Often the problem is not finding a convenient place to pull off the road. I don't like to attract attention....this leads me to paint the same subjects....but actually, a subject is never really exhausted. There is a different perspective, or a different season, or time of day. This is Seneca school for the fourth time this year.

Swain's Lock

2011-06-27T16:02:00.000-07:00

This is a great view along the C&O canal when you're riding your bike. Swain's lock house was usually the end of my return trip. Great day for painting outdoors.

Linden farm

2011-06-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

This is Linden farm in Montgomery Co. Md. This is the second time I've painted this subject. The weather was much more pleasant today then the first time I painted here. I really enjoy painting barns.

Copying

2011-06-24T17:55:00.000-07:00

These sketches and the corresponding Vogue magazine photo are intended to be exercises only and not finished artwork. I lay it all out here in terms of success or failure of a likeness but that seems a good thing to me. I find free hand sketching to be very difficult and portraiture its ultimate test. If I had gone to an atelier school perhaps my skills would reflect improvement but I am not disappointed with what I am trying to do here.

Sketches from the National Gallery, Wash. D.C.

2011-06-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

Riley's

2011-06-20T17:54:00.000-07:00

This is Riley's lock house along the C&O canal, in Montgomery County, Md. The foot bridge is atop the old aqueduct bridge that crosses Seneca creek.

St Paul Community Church

2011-06-19T06:44:00.000-07:00

This is St Paul Community Church in Montgomery County Maryland. This area around Sugarland Rd. was founded by former slaves in the late 19th century.

Swains lock bypass flume

2011-06-16T16:19:00.000-07:00

This is the bypass flume to Swains lock, Montgomery Co. Md. This was perfect weather today. The highly oxygenated water is favorable to fish. When I left, a man walked up to this spot and immediately caught a fish on a top water lure.

Potomac River

2011-06-15T17:16:00.000-07:00

The Potomac River at Swains lock, Montgomery Co. Md. A pleasant breeze cam through as I sat and painted this picture. You could not ask for a more perfect day.

Farm

2011-06-14T12:10:00.000-07:00

This is a large prominent farm on Rt. 28 in Frederick Co. Md. The light was in and out all day today. It made things difficult.

Edwards' Ferry

2011-06-11T17:01:00.000-07:00

Edwards' Ferry. Painted for the fourth time this year. I think I like the location because I get away from people here.

Black Rock

2011-06-10T11:53:00.000-07:00

This is Seneca Creek at Black Rock Maryland. It was a pleasant warm day for painting.

Matchbox

2011-06-07T19:14:00.000-07:00

This beat up truck sits on a lot in Boyd's Md. It reminded me of a matchbox toy so I decided to make a painting of it.

Two more

2011-06-06T18:54:00.000-07:00

The first painting is of a pathway adjacent to the C&O Canal (painted last Sunday) and the next is of a stable along Bucklodge Rd. Montgomery Co. Md. (painted today).

Canal at Pennyfield

2011-06-04T18:33:00.000-07:00

Nice to get back outside again.

sketches

2011-04-23T20:44:00.000-07:00

I've been splitting my time between sketching and preparing to move. So, I really haven't undertaken any painting projects for a week. Soon as I'm settled, I'll get back to painting
.

Linden Farm

2011-04-17T18:14:00.000-07:00

This is Linden farm in Dickerson Md. The farm is a historical site and part of the agricultural preservation of Montgomery Co. Md. The dairy barn is a real eye catcher when you come upon it.

sketches from the National

2011-04-16T21:01:00.000-07:00

A couple of sketches from the National Gallery sculptures. I love these marble people, they never move.

Dawsonville Mennonite Church

2011-04-15T17:37:00.000-07:00

This is Dawsonville Mennonite Church in Montgomery Co., Md. The weather today was brisk but warm.

Spring

2011-04-14T18:42:00.000-07:00

This is some very low water in the C&O canal near where Muddy Branch passes under it at Pennyfield lock, Maryland. It was a nice comfortable day today with early spring leaves just beginning to show on the trees.

Seneca Stone Mill

2011-04-11T19:04:00.000-07:00

I went back to Seneca Stone Mill to do this painting. What a nice warm day.

Point of Rocks, Maryland

2011-04-10T16:50:00.000-07:00

This is Point of Rocks, Md. train station. It is a classic example of Victorian architecture.

Rain on the Potomac River

2011-04-08T18:08:00.000-07:00

Rain on the Potomac River at Noland's Ferry, Maryland. You don't see a lot of paintings of rainfall so I decided to add the effects of weather to my picture since it was raining all day long.

Forest Grove Church

2011-04-07T18:01:00.000-07:00

This Forest Grove United Methodist Church in Tuscarora, Maryland. it is a beautiful example of 19th century rural American churches. I wish I had backed up some on this view. The background is a wide expanse of open fields with a mountain range at the most distant.

Dawsonville

2011-04-06T17:23:00.000-07:00

Good day for painting even if I did freeze to death. The sun stuck around long enough to allow me to catch the shadows I was hoping to capture. It clouded up after awhile but would reappear sufficient to complete the painting

Boyds

2011-04-05T17:13:00.000-07:00

This was a difficult painting for me due to the sun moving in and out all day. I felt I had to change with the light as I progressed. That's not a simple task in watercolor as far as I'm concerned. The painting took about three hours (which is the norm for me). The location is Barnesville Rd. at Boyds Md.

Beallsville, Md.

2011-04-04T17:39:00.000-07:00

This farm is along Rt. 28 near Beallsville, Md. It was a warm day today but very windy.

Stone house

2011-04-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

This stone house sits at the intersection of White'sFerry Rd. and Rte. 28 in Montgomery Co. Md. This was another cold chilling day to paint outdoors. Once again my only recourse was to sit in my truck and paint.

Some new sketches

2011-04-01T18:10:00.000-07:00

West Old Baltimore Rd.

2011-03-29T17:56:00.000-07:00

A nice farm setting along West Old Baltimore Rd. in Boyds Maryland. traffic on the two lane road was deafening but the view was nice and the sun warmed things up enough to sit out side.

Boyds Maryland

2011-03-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

Boyds Maryland MARC rail parking lot looking towards the back of some industrial buildings. A freight train rolls through here about every twenty minutes. Sometimes two at a time in opposite directions. It was cold again and I painted in my truck after making my sketch outside.

White's Ferry

2011-03-24T17:53:00.000-07:00

This is White's Ferry, Montgomery Co. Md. It was a cold damp day today for painting. Talk about gray!!! Everything was gray. This is the only still operating ferry across the Potomac River.

Edward's Ferry

2011-03-22T17:05:00.000-07:00

This was a challenging back lite subject. If the C&O canal had water in it at this location then this is how a fish might see the world. I am at the bottom of the canal, looking up. What a nice warm day today was.

St.Mark's Methodist church

2011-03-21T17:38:00.000-07:00

This is St. Mark's Methodist church in Boyds Maryland. It was a nice day to paint today and my location was a good one.

pen sketches

2011-03-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

Did these three sketches today: the bar I frequent, view from the Capitol and also a view of Pennsylvania Ave. I did them with felt tip pens for a change from so many watercolors.

Thickets

2011-03-19T17:34:00.000-07:00

This is a bit more expressionistic then some of the other work done lately. I wandered into the thickets and woods to do this painting. In a couple of weeks it will be impenetrable.

Seneca Stone Mill

2011-03-18T19:06:00.000-07:00

. This is a view of Seneca Stone Mill ruins in Montgomery Co., Md. from inside the structure. Today was very warm and this painting took me a long time to complete. Plein-air painting can be very much like meditation when you sit motionless for so long. The concentration is intense most of the time...at least..for me it is. This old building is very large and fascinating. It was built in the early 1800's. A tree fell nearby while I was painting. Glad it wasn't on top of me.

Swain's lock

2011-03-17T20:12:00.000-07:00

I made this sketch of Swain's lock Montgomery Co. Md. after a long bike ride. the canal has been pretty much emptied to prevent damage from the floods of last week. That drain pipe seldom sees the light of day.

Pennyfield lock house

2011-03-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

This is Pennyfield lock house. The sun was playing hiding and seek all day. I finished this painting with cloud cover overhead.

Ruins

2011-03-15T17:50:00.000-07:00

These are some of the many ruins that dot Montgomery County, Maryland throughout its agricultural areas. This particular location is Edwards Ferry. It was very cold doing this painting down by the Potomac river. Where I am sitting was under water a few days ago.

Riley's Lock

2011-03-14T17:57:00.000-07:00

This is the parking lot view of Riley's lock on the C&O canal. It was another hide and seek day for the sun, plus it got downright cold when it clouded over.

Truss bridge

2011-03-11T16:12:00.000-08:00

This is an old through truss bridge over the Monocacy River in Frederick Co., Md. The river was flooding when I painted this today. You can see the red water just below the span. The current was very swift and deep.

Beallsville

2011-03-10T17:03:00.000-08:00

This is Beallsville, Montgomery Co. Md. the Bealls, for whom this town is named, once owned the land where the White House stands. Gray day subjects can be fun because the light stays put the entire time I paint. Again, I was in my truck while painting, turning the wipers on and off in order to see my subject....haha!!! People get so suspicious when a stranger parks in a lot and sits in the passenger seat, like I've been doing lately. I sure hope it warms up soon so I can be seen outside painting and ease the suspicion.

McKeee-Beshers

2011-03-09T17:07:00.000-08:00

This is the parking area to McKee-Beshers wildlife management area in Montgomery Co. Md. The day was a bone chilling, cold, damp day. Not sure how I feel about this painting except I do think it caputres how dismal and cold the weather was.

Tow path

2011-03-08T18:10:00.000-08:00

I sat along the C&O Canal tow path to do this painting. My day was brisk and cool but not without incident; the fox hunting crowd passed through here galloping down the tow path, once again, thirty minutes behind the fox. I think that time interval is a default when pursuing a fox. The fox is a cagey animal to say the least.

Red Stable

2011-03-07T17:32:00.000-08:00

I don't know who owns this barn/stable. It faces Sugarland Rd., Montgomery Co. Md. I had a convenient place to pull off the road and do this painting today. The weather was very cold so I sat in my truck to paint. There were two large white horses that galloped and played in the corralled area beside the stable.

Seneca school

2011-03-05T19:57:00.000-08:00

This is the second time I've painted Seneca School. The old school house sits along River Rd. in Montgomery Co. Md. The county is like ancient Greece, stone ruins lie everywhere in the woods, usually going unseen. This particular building is a well preserved historical site.

Point of Rocks, Maryland

2011-03-04T16:48:00.000-08:00

This is Point of Rocks Maryland. The small town boasts one of the most beautiful train stations in America but the light was not good for the station and the parking lot was full of commuter parking, so I painted the town instead. It was another cold day but I painted outside anyway.

Abandoned house

2011-03-03T16:54:00.000-08:00

Here is an abandoned house with plenty of potential to be haunted. It sits on Rt 28 in Dickerson, Md. I parked in the driveway to make this painting since no one was living there and parts of it were falling down anyway. There was a very fascinating large stone ruins in the nearby woods but that will be for another day.

Rock outcrop

2011-03-02T18:21:00.000-08:00

Rock outcropping along Seneca Creek at Black Rock Rd. Montgomery Co. Md.

Edward's Ferry

2011-03-01T05:05:00.000-08:00

Edwards Ferry on the Potomac River, Montgomery Co., Md. Finished this one at home, the threat of severe thunderstorms and a tornado made me realize being near low lying streams and the river unwise. As it turned out the threatening forecast never materialized. It was raining while I painted so once again I was forced to sit in my truck to paint.

Constitution Ave.

2011-02-27T17:04:00.000-08:00

This is Constitution Ave., Washington D.C. looking west. It was another difficult painting to create due to the sun going behind a cloud after I had started. The weather was great today; upper 60's!!! I pity those people who are still experiencing the 20's for daytime highs...gads!!! I could never live in a place so cold. The National Gallery of Art is on the left with all its unusual angles to it's structure.

Pony truss bridge

2011-02-26T16:53:00.000-08:00

This a pony truss bridge across Seneca Creek, Md at Montevideo Rd. It was built in 1901 (I believe). You seldom see these types of bridges any longer. While I was painting, a fox hunt played out in front of me across the creek. First the fox showed up running his tail off and disappearing in the woods then 25 hunters on horseback arrived a half hour later. They were decked out in red or black jackets and the typical fox hunting garments, plus a pack of hounds with them. I told them they had been out foxed, that the fox was here a half hour ago and was on the run.

Boyds Maryland

2011-02-24T19:57:00.000-08:00

This was a cold damp gray day for painting. I felt my subject matter, rusted buildings and car, fit the mood well. The location is a small hamlet known as Boyds, Maryland.

Beall's Garage

2011-02-23T19:20:00.000-08:00

Beall's Garage, Beallsville, Md. Finally!!!, enough sunshine to allow me to sit outside my truck and paint. Beallsville is nothing more then a stop light and some stores and houses. It is an intriguing place with friendly people. I really enjoyed making this painting.

Poole's Store

2011-02-22T19:11:00.000-08:00

Poole's Store, Montgomery Co., Md. Interesting place, Poole's Store; it was built in 1901 to replace a general store that once stood about a mile south of here along the banks of the Chesapeake & Ohio canal. The former store this building replaced was subject to much flooding from the Potomac River. Even Poole's store stood half submerged when hurricane Agnes blew through in 1972. The store has finally closed as of Dec. 31, 2010. Too bad, I'm a newbie to Maryland and never got to go inside.

Black Rock Mill

2011-02-22T05:47:00.000-08:00

This is Black Rock Mill, Montgomery Co. Md. It is a partially restored building that originally was built in 1815. I sat in my truck painting it since the temperature outside was entirely too cold to sit motionless for 3.5 hours painting. This park and the surrounding area served as the location and inspiration for the film, Blair Witch Project. I would concur with the film creator's feeling of creepiness associated with such places.

Falling down house

2011-02-20T05:10:00.000-08:00

I have a fascination with old buildings. I often imagine the stories they could tell. This house sits along a dirt road leading to Pennyfield lock on the C&O Canal in Maryland. My understanding is it is scheduled to be knocked down sometime in the near future. I know nothing about its history except that a similar structure nearby that served as a hotel was torn down a couple of years ago. People would refer to that hotel as being haunted. Yesterday, when I painted this house a large black vulture sat perched on the second story window sill watching me paint.

Seneca Stone Mill

2011-02-19T05:25:00.000-08:00

This was a difficult painting to do because the sun played hide and seek during the day. That old mill was where sandstone was cut to build many of the C&O Canal locks and the Smithsonian Castle building in Washington D.C. It started operations in 1830 and stayed active until 1900. When the trees are bare is about the only time you can really see this building.

Seneca Creek at Black Rock

2011-02-17T17:49:00.000-08:00

This is my first plein-air painting in two years. The day was very nice, indeed.

Two Falls

2011-02-14T09:57:00.000-08:00

Now how'd that little guy and the deer get on that spit of ground between the waterfalls?....haha. I've been wondering that one ever since I made the painting.

Anyway, this is my latest. These are fun subjects.

Batteau in the rapids

2011-01-26T20:37:00.000-08:00

C&O Lock House #6 (with a little imagination)

2011-01-19T15:48:00.000-08:00

Colonial Batteaux

2011-01-16T17:45:00.000-08:00