River View/Yosemite

Since we've had one snow storm after another, I've decided to paint a series of Yosemite pastels.  I'm painting from photos I took a couple of years ago when we decided to take our grandson over a four day weekend.  We've traveled across this country and back many times, but the majesty of Yosemite National Park was beyond words.  This pastel was done on Mi-Tiente Touch paper and is 16x20.

16x20 - $475.00

Terry's Peonies

 12x16 pastel (unavailable)



It seems as if winter is never going away this year.  It has snowed for the past two days with an accumulation of 14 inches.  I went through some photos I took this past summer and found one of my neighbor's peonies, pink, full and beautiful!  Gave me a thrill to ward off the cold and snow and paint them as the snow fell and the wind blew the trees outside.  I labored over the petals on these peonies, not wanting to get too perfect in my execution, wanting a loose rendition.  I don't often get there, and I might alter the stems a bit, but right now, with five feet of snow outside, those peonies are looking pretty good to me......

Glistening Water

 9x12 pastel  $125.00

I'm eager to paint outdoors, but we still have so much snow, so I'm going back to photos I've taken on hikes this year.  We hiked up a mountain in North Creek in early Fall, following this creek until we come upon a reservour high on the mountain.  I remember how the water trickled down the rocks all along the route.  It was another amazing day with the Adirondack Mountain Club.   I wanted to show how slick those rocks seemed and the light as it changed on the water.    Painting from photos is the best I can do right now, but as soon as this snow is gone,  you'll see me along the paths and roads with my easel!

Tex-Mex Night

 12x18 pastel - $375.00

This has been a very busy month.  We had lots of snow and I've been working at Gore Mountain.  A weekend job ended up being a four day a week job.  I took it so I could ski for free, but now that I'm working four days a week, who has the time?  Anyway, I haven't had much time to paint, although this week I was home with a wicked cold and I got to work on this one.  I've been interested in doing some still life.  I had set this up in California, with a piece of my Mexican pottery, shot some photos and decided to try it.  I enjoyed capturing that Chulula hot sauce bottle, but had a difficult time with the onion!  How's that for crazy?  I will probably be working on that onion for awhile, but decided to post it anyway.

Hudson River Respite

 8x12 pastel - $140.00

Last fall we stopped at the Hudson River, where is weaves along Route 28 before North Creek.  There are rest stops along the river, where people can picnic and walk down to the river.  At one of the stops, I found a small tributary off the main part of the river.  Since I had my camera, I took many shots of this lovely little spot.  The sun was shining on the water and rocks, the colors of the leaves, bushes and water was incredibly vibrant.  A true respite from the swift flow of the Hudson and the cars driving by.

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.

Morning Glow

 16x20 - pastel (sold)

I put this painting on my facebook page but never included it in my blog.  I'm starting to get interested in painting Adirondack inspired still life. I have another on my easel right now, but haven't finished it.    I loved this pewter pitcher sitting near a window, filled with light, at Washington's Headquarters in Morristown, NJ.  I went to my high school reunion last year and visited some nostalgic tourist spots.  Washington's Headquarters was one of my favorite places to visit. It's just as I remembered it.  It reminded me of the Adirondacks - light-filled, historic and beautiful.

I'm not a painter who gets too inspired by detail, I'm too impatient to spend lots of time painting things to look exactly as a photograph.  Why bother?  This pastel is as close as I can get to detail!