The Red Shirt

This painting has attracted a good deal of attention here at the annual Summer Art Exhibit. It is a fairly large pastel at 30 x 20 inch image size. People respond to the sky and the space and it was great fun hearing people's responses and ideas of a story to go with the painting. I'd love to hear yours.

BTW, this week we've had a few sketchers in the garden, but threats of rain (and actual 3 hour downpours) have kept some plein air painters away. The studio/gallery near Montrose, PA will be open 10 to 6 every day through July 5. Drop in. Bring your easel, if you wish.

30 Years of Open Studios

Friday night my Annual Summer Art Exhibit opens here in Montrose, PA with a reception for the artists: Zoë Poster - small clay work, Michael Poster & Melissa Whalen Haertsch - book art...and my recent paintings, of course. It continues every day from 10-6 through July 5th. Directions can be found here.

In celebration of thirty years of home-grown local art there will be many deals; 30% off all framed prints on the wall, including the two new ones; Fig Street Garden and From the Bridge. When certain designated paintings are sold, I will donate 30% of the selling price to one of 5 local charities - Humane Society, Red Cross, Food Bank, Hospital or Library building funds.

Wait, there are more reasons to come... look at some of the paintings from The 50 State Painting Project, set up your easel or sketching chair in the garden any day June 29 through July 5. Bring your friends and family to look at some art or make some art of your own.

Thank you for making 30 years of art a reason to celebrate.

Gibbs Garden Center

Last Saturday I spent the day in LeRaysville, PA as the guest painter at Gibbs Garden Center. This 16 x 20 was an ambitious size for such a complex scene and it took me about 4 hours, by which time the light had completely changed. This explains the often small size canvas & boards that are preferred by many plein air painters. I prefer to work large...and I should have simplified accordingly...but I like it. The gardens are not in full bloom yet, so I'll be going back. It was a fun day...everone at Gibbs is friendly & nice and Grovedale Winery was hosting a wine-tasting while I was painting and the merriment crept into my painting I think. I brought home a couple of nice whites and three plants and a painting! My (artistic license) clothesline adds a nostalgic touch. It really is a very professional garden center that can answer your questions and help plan your gardens and solve horticultural problems.

FOCUS

Last Friday Night FOCUS opened at the Butternut Gallery in Montrose, PA. It is a juried exhibit of local art "exploring our regional sense of place". Included were artworks in clay, paint, photography & various sculpture media. I think it is an exciting exhibit because it explores the breadth of vision in the area of primarily NE PA and southern tier New York state. Artists tend to send their best work when there is a chance of winning cash prizes. I know the three jurors worked hard to select the work and choose the awards. Members of business & community provided the awards.

My pastel painting "For the Birds" won an award. Many of you will recognize it as my daughter's Fig Street Garden in southside Scranton. It is 30 x 20 inch image size - framed to 39 x 29 - and priced to sell at $1600. I also have two other paintings in this exhibit: Snowy Woods & Wyalusing Creek.

Please stop in at the Butternut Gallery & Second Story Books at 42 Church Street- Thursday-Saturdays 11-5, Sundays 12-4 through May 31) to see it and all the other interesting art works. All the art is for sale (excepting those all ready purchased this past weekend, but still onview). Proceeds will benefit Susquehanna County Library and Endless Mountains Health Care building funds.

FOCUS was held to coincide with the now famous Chocolate & Wine Festival held on May 16th in downtown Montrose.

Shady Grotto

Shady Grotto is a recent 18 x 24 pastel painting. The inspiration came from Chanticleer...a public pleasure garden in Wayne, PA. I've been visiting since they opened in 1993. It has inspired me in my gardening as well as my paintings.

This painting will be shown at Marquis Art Gallery in Scranton during May, opening April 24. Please come visit.

Fall Brook March

Friday I got out for a lovely spring day of painting at Salt Springs State Park. This is done from one of my favorite spots; the bridge on Buckley Road. The color palette was surprisingly similar to many of my Arizona paintings done in March of 2007...more water, though. I used an orange-toned sheet of Wallis paper mounted on board and very soft pastels...mostly Unisons. It was a challenging composition, but I think it is complete.

Love to have your comments on Fall Brook March 12 x 12 plein air pastel.

Ides of March Moon

An early morning sighting from my bedroom window was an auspicious beginning to a fine spring day. I rushed into the studio to capture the feeling of the waning moon and reddening maple buds across the field. I used a minimal number of soft pastel colors (just counted...15!) on Art Spectrum Colourfix paper rose-grey...a small number of colors, but many layers.

March Moon 10 x 10 framed in rustic gold wood frame, off-white matting - $400.