"Hello Helleborus!"

The middle of winter is not a time when we expect to see bright warm hued flowers here in North Carolina.  There is however one plant variety that rewards the eyes with such beauty this time of year.  The helleborus.  Here's my interpretation rendered in oils using the palette knife.

                                               22 1/8" x25 1/4"
                                               oil on panel

"Beside the Ararat"

One more from my day along the Ararat River this past Fall.  My ever favorite subject of trees painted here in mid-morning light. 

                                                     12" x 16"
                                                     oil on canvas

"The Ararat River in Mt. Airy, NC"

Another walk this past fall was along the Ararat River in a small town about an hour north of here.  In the middle of the river there are these large rock formations that, to me, resemble the backs of whales.  Such a strange, interesting and unexpected geological phenomenon.

                                          24"x18"
                                          oil on canvas panel

"Footbridge at Reynolda"

There are many structures made with river rocks on the Reynolda Estate.  This past fall I walked down to the water's edge and looked back to capture this view of a footbridge.

                                                     18"x24"
                                                     oil on canvas panel

"Down East, North Carolina" (Summer 2018)

Traveling east in North Carolina, the terrain becomes more flat as you get closer to the Atlantic Coast.  Along the highway one can see many farms with various crops.  This painting is of a field of young soy beans.

                                          20" x 16"
                                          oil on canvas panel
                                          SOLD

"Blue Ridge Parkway Sunset"

                                                  16" x 20"
                                                  oil on canvas panel
                                                  SOLD
 

                                                  color painting dusk
                                                  fog descends into valleys
                                                  time for evening rest

"Fall at the Creek"

Here's a painting that I did back in October.  This creek is in Watauga County, NC.  Contrasting the sunlight coming through the trees casting shadows  with the light sparkles on the water was my challenge,

                                                  16" x 20"
                                                  oil on canvas panel
                                                  SOLD

"Zinnia Verdure"

This past summer I grew some green zinnias in my garden.  They were really beautiful with their refreshing cool color in the heat of the season.  Having made several photographs of them, I designed this still life composition and painted something more contemporary than my usual.  Here again, using only the palette knife, I worked on a black under-painting and also used the technique of sgraffito to etch patterns and texture into the wet paint. 

                                                               24" x 48"
                                                               oil on panel
                                                               SOLD

"Glorious Fall" (Hanging Rock State Park, North Carolina)

Hanging Rock State Park is about a 45 minute drive north of my home.  It is a beautiful nature preserve which is full of native trees, plants, and animals.  There's a lovely lake, waterfalls, trails with beautiful views and outcroppings of rocks.  This painting is of the summit.  Another palette knife painting except for the foreground tree limbs.

                                          20" x 16"
                                          oil
                                          SOLD

"Morning Light on Quiet Pond"

Using the palette knife once again, I'm relatively pleased with the results.  Going out early in the mornings, I can catch some great light.

                                                  24" x 30"
                                                  oil on canvas
                                                  SOLD