Hommage to Ryder

"Hommage to Ryder", Pastel on Paper, 5 x 7

I am sure I've mentioned that Chauncey Ryder is one of my favorite dead artists.  He was born in Danbury CT in 1868.  He painted all over New England but he mostly known for Connecticut landscapes.  His paintings really feel like a November afternoon!  This is available is currently hanging at Sorelle Gallery as part of their Holiday Miniature Show.

Rainy Afternoon Saratoga

"Rainy Afternoon Saratoga", Pastel on Paper, 6 x 6

On with the rain . . . This little study of downtown Saratoga was painted from a sketch that I did in the car a couple of months ago.  I like the texture of the street in this study.  Pastel is particularly good at depicting rough and/or wet textures.   I'll be posting more of these over the next few days.

Rainscapes

"Study for Rainy Afternoon NYC", 5 x 7, oil on panel

Rain has been a motif that I constantly revisit.  I love rainy cityscapes.   There are so many surface variations on a rainy day:  wet concrete, reflections from cars and buildings, misty atmosphere, the list goes on.  The key challenge in creating a rainy day scene is to get the values correct which are usually compressed on the lower end of the value scale.   I have spent quite a few hours in the rain sketching wet streets!  I am currently working on the 18 x 24 version of this painting.  I will post more rainscapes as they appear.

Cape Cod Pastel

Cape Cod Fog, Pastel on Paper, 11 x 14

This piece has been accepted into the 23rd International Pastel Society's online show.  It can be viewed in December at the IAPS website in December.  Tonight is the opening for the miniature show at Sorelle Gallery in Albany.  Stop by if you are in the area!

Tiny Painting Season

Cape Cod Mist I and II, Pastel on Paper, 5 x 7

It's that time of year again!  The galleries want lots of teeny tiny paintings to sell for the holidays.  It is a trend that has really taken off over the past few years and now every gallery has a Holiday Miniature Show!  These two pastels are from my family vacation to Cape Cod this past summer.  I love the atmosphere on the Cape.  There are misty marshy views everywhere you turn.  Both pieces will be available at Sorelle Gallery for the holidays.

November Haiku

"November Haiku", Pastel on Sanded Paper, 5 x 7

This pastel was done from a pencil sketch along a rural road in Saratoga Springs NY.  The landscape is dotted with these little red buds everywhere.  The composition reminds me a bit of the japanese prints that the early American Impressionists loved so much.  I don't know how well this graphic design would stand up to a larger format but I may give it a try.  This piece will be available at the holiday miniature sale starting at Sorelle Gallery in Albany starting next Friday, November 15th.