Day 22 - The Valley

There are some places that exist in the world that look like a fairy tale... this is surely one of those places.  I don't know what goes on here in this little glade, but I have many images of what life might be like.  One thing I think is... that car I painted yesterday must be parked somewhere behind those trees... :)

The Valley,  oil on panel, 9" x 12"
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Down a country road

Lately I have been fascinated by the landscape.  More accurately, I have been admitting to myself just how much I like looking at our beautiful planet.  There are endless scenes to paint and amazing compositions and color combinations everywhere I look.  I can't drive 1/4 mile without wishing I could take pictures of what I am seeing to review later for future paintings!  Anyway.

This little one is a landscape of some country road near my house.  I liked the abstractness of the composition, the colors and I particularly enjoyed applying the paint as thickly as I did.  Hope you like!

Down a Country Road, 6"x6", oil on panel

Two landscapes

Just over the Hill, oil on panel, 9" x 12"

So happy about the 3000 visitor status.  I know it's not much compared to some, but it is a milestone for me and milestones are important!  

I have been painting landscapes and farm scenery for the past month or so and these two paintings came out of this group.  There is a funny story behind them, actually, which has nothing to do with the paintings themselves.  I like to go on what I call picture walks and picture drives and often my son likes to go along with me.  During these times, I photograph whatever is interesting, hoping for some good reference photos to paint later on.  During this one drive I took in the Oley area, my son was along, enjoying himself, keeping me company. We had been out for over an hour and he really needed to use the bathroom.... Well, we were pretty much no where near a bathroom, so I pulled over to the side of the road (kind of a secluded area) and said this is as good as it gets, do you mind just going here alongside the road?  He was a bit embarrassed, but nature was calling so he tried to be as inconspicuous as possible.  Wouldn't you know, a car came along.  I did the first thing that came to mind and quickly started randomly snapping pictures, trying to draw attention to myself... 'Just taking pictures, nothing to see here!'  Here is the funny thing... the pictures I took, while not really paying attention to the subject, turned out to be some of my favorite of the day! You just never know.  So, maybe I shouldn't have told you that, but there it is.  These landscapes were born of a potty break!  Hope you enjoy!

Brown's Mill Trees, oil on panel, 9" x 12"

3 Silos in Berks county

When I go about 5 miles North East of my home in St. Lawrence, there is just some of the most beautiful, beautiful scenery around...  Open farm land, interesting barns and outbuildings that abstract themselves into the landscape.  This painting came from a picture I took when my family went to Dorney park (of all places...) a few weekends ago.  The silos, the red roofs, yellow whatever kind of plants they are in the foreground.... It all comes together into what I think is an intriguing composition.  I think more farms are in my future.  (Actually, I know more are since there is one on my easel right this moment waiting to be finished!)  As a first attempt at painting a landscape with a semi-complex array of buildings, I am pleased.  Hope you are too!  The painting is oil on panel, which presented a new dilemma.  How to frame...

Consequently, I have also been busy designing a new style of frame for these larger panels.  My original floater frames didn't seem quite right for this type of surface.  So, below is a picture of the painting in the frame I designed.  Let me tell you, framing is an art form in itself and poses its own set of challenges.  I'll have to write a post about this some time!  The frame isn't fancy or anything, but, let me just say this, building it involved a table and a miter saw, a router, four sessions of sanding, staining and a final rub down with finishing wax.  You'd never know just looking at it!!!

3 Silos, 14" x 16", oil on panel