Twilight

My reference photo for this pastel was taken one evening on our way home from Lake Placid, New York.  We were crossing Tupper Lake and I stopped to take many photos.  The sunset was magnificent, going from pink, violet, red to yellow.  In painting this landscape, I scumbled the pastel all over, then dripped alcohol down it, deciding to leave the drips on the surface as I put the final pastel on the paper.  It was not a totally planned painting, I just went where the drips went and had fun.  I enjoyed the long format - 10x20.

10x20

Golden Afternoon

A couple of years ago, we were bored and decided to driving to Lake Placid, from Indian Lake.  If anyone knows the area, it's a good one and a half hour drive along lakes, wilderness, and small towns.  We drove past Tupper Lake and this scene.  How could I not take lots of photos, with the intention of painting it?  Well, two years later, and in anticipation of giving a pastel workshop next week, I finally took the time and effort to paint it.  I did a basic value study, laid in the color, did a mineral spirit wash, and then the final pastel details.  I intend to use this method next week in my demo for the workshop.  Hopefully, it'll be fun for the students to try this method. 

9x12 -  $175.00

Afternoon on the Moose River Plains

I'd like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year.  I hope it will turn out to be a happy and productive one for each and every one of you.   I'm hoping to spend more time painting this year, after a very busy Christmas season working part time at the ski slopes.  I'm also preparing for a solo pastel exhibit at the Widlund Gallery in North Creek, NY from January 26 to February 24.  I'll have approximately 40 paintings on display and will have a reception on February 16th.

 11x14 pastel - $150.00

I painted this a few days ago, from a photo I took late August from my kyack.  I've talked a lot about the Moose River Plains and the Cedar River Flow, of which this is the main body of water.  It's a wonderful place to canoe, picnic or camp.  The area is very large and very wild and, although it's a 20 mile drive to get there, once out in a canoe, you feel as if you are alone with nature.