18″ x 24″
Pastel on pumiced canvas board

This scene is of a vehicle path behind the dunes in the Fire Island National Seashore.  Fire Island is a natural barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great South Bay on the south shore of Long Island, NY.  Since no cars are allowed on Fire Island except for maintenance and park ranger vehicles, these tracks in the sand are the only trace left by humans – the rest is natural coastal scrub and pure glistening sand.  Very peaceful.

The painting “Tranquility on the Burma Road” is also a scene behind the dunes, done at the different time of day and year.

9″ x 12″
Pastel on pumiced board

A few weeks ago a few painter friends and I were able to visit another painter down in Vero Beach, FL.  This painting was done onsite in the late afternoon on a dock overlooking the Indian River.  I am working on a larger version, but like the energy this study has.

11″ x 14″
Pastel on pumiced Gatorboard

This painting will be going into a show to be held in May at the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, NY.  The theme of the show is “Connecticut Pastel Society Paints New York” and it’ll feature all scenes of New York State.  Swamp River is in Dutchess County, and although the show will be held in spring I couldn’t resist this fall scene.  “Fall Reflections III” (below) is a different take on the same scene.

18″ x 24″
Pastel on pumiced canvas board

Well, I finally got around to finishing the 18″ x 24″ version of ‘Vermont Granite Bed’ (see paintings below) and I ended up doing it in pastel after all – I sealed the charcoal underpainting on the canvas board, then gave the whole thing a coat of pumice ground mixed with gel medium, then was ready to paint.  The whole effect is kinda dramatic.  I framed it in a simple gold frame, gave it a name, and am quite happy with the result.  Comments welcome-

12″ x 12″
Pastel on pumiced board

I had some problems with the sanded surface with this painting, but finally got it to ‘behave.’

“Vermont Granite Bed”
11″ x 14″
Pastel on Wallis paper

This is a pastel painting of a scene from last June’s trip to Putney, VT to study with Albert Handell and Anita Louise West for a week.  I have also started a larger oil version of the same scene – see the underpainting below – so we’ll see how that one goes as well.

“Vermont Geraniums”
16″ x 20″
Pastel on sanded paper

I started this painting last July, and for some reason it took me ages to finish it.  I’d started this painting on-site outside (en plein aire), and then had to finish it from photos in the studio which is maybe why it took me so long.  However, I’m pleased with the result!

“Tranquility on the Burma Road”

11″ x 14″
Pastel on sanded board

(SOLD)

I have been busy with family matters for most of the past month or so, but do have some nice art-related news to report: My pastel landscape “Tranquility on the Burma Road” was selected as a Second Mini50 winner in the National Parks Service’s 2008 ‘Paint The Parks’ competition! The top 100 large paintings and the First Mini50 paintings will tour the nation over the next few years as a traveling exhibition. My painting features a scene of the Fire Island National Seashore. To view all the winners in this year’s competition, go to: www.paintamerica.org/painttheparks.html-

“Birches”

8 1/4″ x 8 1/2″
Pastel on Wallis paper

I had first painted these birches viewed from the ground up in late 2007, but finally got around to putting the finishing touches on the painting today! Kinda weird to be painting fall foliage in the spring, but that’s the way it goes.

I consider this more of a still life painting of birches than a landscape scene.