Lake Memphramagog in Northern Vermont holds a fascination for me. I've painted it several times, but this is the first winter scene. If you look closely, you can see footprints on the ice, and a few snowflakes in the air.
George's Lost Dog, 12x16, Oil, 2024.
George Rodriguez painted his famous Blue Dog on this barn in the Finger Lakes, a couple miles from where I grew up. Sadly, the farmer painted over it. I had a photo of the barn and painted it as an homage to the lost blue dog.
Lavender Field, 8x10, Oil, 2024. Gift.
Lavender smells so good! I painted this for one of my sisters for a milestone birthday. The purples and greens were fun to paint as I imagined running my hands through the lavender. I thought it would be interesting to put a little lavender oil on the back of the canvas so you could smell the lavender too.
The Bridge, 10x8, Oil, plein air, 2024.
I've been enjoying painting in plein air with other artists. Along the banks of the Chickahominy River, there are many good spots, including this view of the bridge.
Blue Ridge Spring, 12x16, Oil, 2024.
I drove the length of the Blue Ridge in 2023, and found so many beautiful vistas. Along with the iconic blues, there were many shades of green as well.
Williamsburg Pond, 16x12, Oil, 2024.
Williamsburg has many water features, ponds, lakes, wetlands, and rivers. I always enjoy painting water and reflections. This was in the late spring as all the trees have finished leafing out.
Early Thaw, 12x16, Oil, 2024.
This winter I painted a series of snowy scenes, thinking of the beauty of snow while Virginia remained warm. This is how I remember snow when temperatures begin to rise and the snow cover begins to melt.
Snowy Day, 12x16, Oil, 2024.
In this snow painting, I tried to create the sense of a snowy day, with light snow falling. I used a gently splatter technique for the snow.
Stormy Winter's Day, 10x10, Oil, 2024.
xI liked the dramatic light in this scene of winter. My sister took this photograph near her home in northern Vermont where the winter is long and cold.
Pebbled Beach, 16x12, Oil, 2023.
The shorelines of the Finger Lakes where I grew up were usually pebbles of various sizes. I always loved watching the water lap along the shore. I recently saw some images of the colorful rocks of the Great Lakes shores, so I incorporated the colors. It's now an imaginary beach, and one that I would like to visit.
Greensprings Path, 20x10, Oil, 2023. Sold.
One of my favorite local walks through the forest. I've painted this area many times. This is a quick and loose painting in the summertime.
First Colony Beach, 8x10, Oil, 2023. Sold.
Our neighborhood beach is on the James River, and is a constant source of inspiration. This painting was started in plein air and finished in my studio. I enjoy painting the cypress trees and the reflections.
Cypress Trees, First Colony, 8x10, Oil, 2023.
I started this painting plein air and finished it in my studio. The reflections were tricky on this one as the weather was changing while I was painting.
Remembering Snow, 16x16, Oil, 2023.
We rarely get snow in Tidewater Virginia; in fact, we haven't had any in several years. But when there is snow, it is magical, and creates entrancing light on the creek behind our house. Our neighbor's dock was a nice red accent in this scene.
Blue Mountain Pass, 16x12, Oil, 2023.
Virginia mountains are sometimes an impossible blue. It almost seems unreal, but that's how I remember them. The red-tailed hawk was soaring below us. I like to imagine this kind of joyful freedom.
Lake Memphremagog, 12 x 16, Oil, 2023. Sold.
The southern shore of Lake Memphremagog is in Newport, Vermont. One of the U.S. borders with Canada is about halfway across this 30 mile lake. It's a beautiful lake that traverses two countries, languages, and cultures.
First Colony Sunset, 12 x 16, Oil, 2023. Gift.
I painted this image a second time, a little larger. I really like getting lost in the colors of the sky and the water. It is a beautiful spot.
Evening Dock, 8x10, Oil, 2022. Sold.
This is an evening shot in the outer banks near Duck. It was so peaceful and relaxing to paint.
First Colony Sunset, 8x10, Oil, 2022. Sold.
First Colony's Marina faces west over the James River and has the most glorious sunsets. This is the second time I've painted this sunset. The perspective is a little different, and the colors have also changed as I was imagining the setting sun.
Daybreak, 14 x 18, Oil, 2022. Sold.
This is the third painting I've finished for the Williamsburg Winery show. I loved the primary colors in this sunrise, with the tractor in the distance heading off to inspect the vines
Nocturnal Lake, 20 x 10, Oil, 2022. Gift.
I've spent countless nights gazing at Canandaigua Lake, a Finger Lake in Western New York. This view is from the Western side of the lake looking down at a small marina. Canandaigua Lake is one of the places I find myself returning to over time.
Governor's Bridge, 20 x 10, Oil, 2022. Gift.
The Governor's Bridge is on the path between the Governor's Palace and Matthew Whaley Elementary School. I liked that you could catch glimpses of the creek through the foliage. I experimented with a more impressionistic style in this painting.
Golden Field, 10 x 20, Oil, 2022. Gift.
The Outer Banks in North Carolina has a surprising variety of terrain. I loved the golden fields leading to the sandy beach, and the various tones of green in the distant water.
Cherry Blossoms, 16 x 12, Oil, 2022. Sold (zrs)
This spring, I was taking a walk admiring the cherry blossoms and happened to look up. The blue sky looked beautiful through the blossoms. I painted this quickly. Even the the palette is limited, there is a surprising amount of variation in the colors.
Path to the Sea, 16 x 12, Oil, 2022. Gift.
When we stay in Cape Cod, this is the path that leads to the bay side beach. I liked the way the sun created dapples of light on the dirt road. It reminds me of the expectation of reaching the sunny beach and a relaxing day.
Sonnenberg Gardens, 8 x 10, Oil, 2022.
This is one of my favorite places to visit in the Finger Lakes with its beautiful gardens surrounding an old Victorian estate.
Desert Twilight, 8 x 10, Oil, 2022. Sold.
The desert has such striking colors and shapes that change throughout the day. Twilight was striking and unusual- a fleeting time of day.
Tomorrow Beckons, 16 x 16, Oil, 2022. Sold (ww)
This is a sunset over one of the vineyards at the Williamsburg Winery. The colors were very intense and seemed to vibrate. I used a new mixture of green to try to capture that vibrancy.
On display at the Williamsburg Winery.
Shenandoah, 16 x 12, Oil, 2022. Gift.
Just before setting off in the canoe, the complexity of the scene jumped out at me. I liked the way the water rippled the cloud reflections and the shadows of the canoe and tree stump.
Shallow Water, 8x10, Oil, 2022. Sold.
The Outer Banks has many hidden gems. We hiked around the back of Jockey's Ridge and found some secluded inlets and bays. I liked the way the colors played in the shallow water. Chosen for the Williamsburg Arts Council's 2023 Calendar for the month of June.
Stream, 10x10, Oil, 2022. Gift.
I've always been fascinated by running water. This stream in Maine has beautiful rocks and the golden light was very beautiful on the flat sections. I painted this several times as it was deceptively difficult to render the subtleties and motion of the water.
Overlook, 8 x 10, Oil, 2021. Gift.
We visited our nephew's family in Norway, Maine last summer and took several hikes. This overlook was one of my favorites spots along the way.
Autumn Walk, November, 16x16, Oil, 2021. Sold.
I love fall colors. F The palette is completely different at this time of year, but shades of summer remain in the understory. I like the way the late afternoon light filters through the trees. Chosen for the Williamsburg Arts Council's 2024 calendar.
The River, Oil, 20 x 10, 2020. Gift.
We spent a couple weeks in the summer of 2019 visiting friends and family in Vermont. This river trail in the town of Warren has really beautiful rock formations shaped by water and ice.
Square SW, Oil, 8 x 8, 2020. Gift.
I found an image in an old library book that was was being decommissioned. I remembered the beauty of Monument Valley, so I photoshopped images together to make this interesting perspective of receding colors. It is a small painting for such a large vista.
Arched, Oil, 12 x 16, 2020.
This is a little known trail in Arches where hikers pause to reflect in a small notebook. The rocks were wet and reflected the blues of the sky. I liked the contrast of weathered, shaped rock with silky blue water.
​Barnes’ Water Diptych, Oil, 16x 8, 2020. Sold (em)
I really enjoyed visiting the Barnes Museum in Philadelphia. Even though the collection was very inspiring, the pool of water at the museum’s entrance was just as fascinating.
Forest Walk, Oil, 16 x 8, 2019. Gift.
The end of my regular walk on the Green Springs Trail takes me through a forested section. I love the dappled light and the serenity I find walking here. Forest bathing is good for my well-being.
Utah has so many beautiful landscapes I can imagine spending a lifetime painting the colors and shapes. This desert lies to the East of Zion National Park. I liked the contrast of greens and reds and the footprints left in the desert sands.
Provincetown Dunes, Oil, 18 x 24, 2017.
The dunes near Provincetown are pristine and ever changing. I liked the late afternoon light shining through the tops of the grasses and the patterns made by the sand. This painting is based on an old image I found in a library book that was being discarded.
Foggy College Creek, 8x10, Watercolor & Acrylic, 2024. Gift.
This is a reworking of an oil painting I did a couple of years ago. I was trying to see if I could render the feeling in watercolors. I added a little acrylic to emphasize the fog and the clouds. I think I prefer this one.
The Yellow Dock, v1 & v2, 8x10, Oil, 2024. (v2 sold) Two views of the yellow dock and Chickahominy Bridge. The first is plein air, the second a rendering in the studio. I like the freshness of the plein air version, but the precision of the studio version.
North Carolina River, 8x10, Oil, 2024.
North Carolina has many beautiful places to hike. The last time there, we hiked many river and waterfall trails. This is a quick, alla prima painting. I was originally going to keep painting, but I really liked the loose gestures.
The Yellow Tree, 16x12, Oil, 2024.
I visiting my sister in Ohio last fall and we visited the Fort Ancient Ruins. The paths were surrounded by brilliant foliage. I especially liked this huge yellow tree.
Crystalline Trees, 12x12, Oil & Mica Flake, 2024.
When the sun comes out after a deep freeze, the trees start to glitter. The blues are a combination of cerulean and Prussian, with a bit of cobalt in the foreground. I sprinkled a bit of mica dust in the treetops while the paint was still wet. It catches the light in a surprising way with twinkles that disappear as soon as you notice them, much like sunlight on icy branches.
The Red House, 10x10, Oil, 2024.
Part of the snow series. I tried to create a sense of the cold, frosty outdoors, and the idea of a warm fire, cozy fire inside the red house.
Black Rock Mountain, 12x16, Oil, 2023. Gift.
My son and I hiked in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains last summer. This was one of my favorite hikes. There were piles of silver and grey rocks strewn about the mountain tops--apparently this was the former sea bed.
Vermont Waterfall, 10x10, Oil, 2023.
Vermont is one of my favorite places to relax and explore. This waterfall was along a creek near Warren. I liked the rushing water and the cool greens of the rocks.
Passing Moments, 16x16, Oil, 2023. Sold.
I saw this cairn in the middle of a gentle stream while hiking in central Vermont. It made me think about the passing of time and those who have departed.
After the Rain, 16x12, Oil, 2023.
The light on the vineyards was striking after the heavy rain. All of the colors were saturated. I liked the red barrels in the foreground.
After the Storm, 16 x 16, Oil, 2023. Sold.
The light was fleeting and intense after a refreshing winter rain at the First Colony Marina. There were unusual clouds with sun rays trying to peek through. Chosen for the back cover of the Williamsburg Arts Council's 2024 calendar.
Marshlands, 10 x 20, Oil, 2023. Sold.
There are many marshlands in Tidewater Virginia. They change throughout the seasons. This is late spring/early summer with green grasses starting to yellow. The sunlight illuminates them. I liked the low perspective of this image.
Pink Sunset, First Colony, 10 x 12, Oil, 2023. Gift.
Another sunset at the First Colony Marina, this one with a higher tide with pinks and oranges.
Oxford Morning, 16 x 12, Oil, 2022. Gift.
This painting is based on a photo my son took while participating as a journalism teacher in the NYTimes/Putney summer trips for high school students. I really liked the idea of the worlds both inside and outside of the window. I'm not sure I'm finished with this painting yet--I may make the curtains a little lighter.
Sunday Afternoon, 16 x 16, Oil, 2022. Sold.
The bright orange roofs and blue buildings appealed to me in this landscape at the Williamsburg Winery. It was fun to paint the complementary colors balanced by the horizontal vineyards in the foreground.
Dune, 16 x 16, Oil, 2022.
This dune at the Outer Banks looks simple, yet it was complicated to paint. with subtle color changes and varying textures. I don't think I accomplished what I wanted, and may revisit dunes later.
Jockey's Ridge, 12 x 16, Oil, 2022. Gift.
Jockey's Ridge is a protected series of dunes in the Outer Banks. It is fun to hike through the dunes where you can see thousands of footprints marking the paths of others.
Arizona Morning Moon, 11 x 14, Oil, 2022. Sold (bp).
The moon was still visible during the morning walk in the Arizona desert. I loved the way it hung in the sky and created an otherworldly ambiance.
SouthWest Vista, 8 x 8, Oil, 2022. Gift.
This is the second time I've painted this SouthWest vista, I like letting my mind travel through the clear skies to the distant purple hills. This kind of view is only possible if you climb to a very tall summit. I plan to visit the SW soon. Hopefully the fires will have subsided, and the sky will be as clear as it is in this painting.
Zion Rocks, 16 x 12, Oil 2022.
Hiking in Zion is challenging and fun, with amazing rock formations and colors. I was fascinated by the pinks, purples, and oranges in this scene.
Greensprings Swamp Trees, 16 x 8, Oil, 2022. Sold (jk)
I've repainted this canvas several times trying to get the effect of the reflections in the swamp on a sunny winter day. I ended up using thick paint on the trees. This is a simple image that is complicated to paint.
Spring Reflections, 12 x 12, Oil, 2022. Gift.
This is the pond at the Williamsburg Winery in the late spring. The winery has many beautiful places on its extensive property. A group of artists were asked to paint images of the grounds for display in the tasting rooms.
Shellbank Creek, 8 x 10, Oil, 2022. Gift.
My house backs up to Shellbank Creek, which makes for a peaceful scene throughout the year. As a tidal creek it changes all the time and hosts a multitude of wildlife: herons, eagles, and river otters to name a few.
Greensprings Path, 10x8, Oil, 2022. Sold.
The Greensprings path is my favorite local forest walk. This is the third time I've painted a similar scene. I would like to capture the light and colors from every season. I liked the blues and browns of the dappled light and shadows.
Autumn Walk, 16x16, Oil, 2022. Sold.
This is the second time I've painted this scene. There is something that draws me into it. It could be that I just enjoy walking through forests, and this is an idealized autumn path.
Blue Skies, 18x14, Oil, 2022. Sold (pl)
This is an image of a bright and sunny fall day in the Outer Banks. I was mesmerized by the sky's reflection in the water. It seems to play with reality and perception.
Misty Forest, 16x16, Oil, 2021. Sold.
I liked the soft blue light angling through the fall forest. It has a very gentle feeling and gives me a sense of peace.
Sonnenberg Pond, 8x10, Oil, 2021. Gift.
Sonnenberg Gardens is a park in Canandaigua, New York, where I used to live. It features a mansion from the Victorian era and its grounds. My family loves to visit when we are back in the Finger Lakes.
Forest Walk 2, Oil, 20 x 10, 2020, Gift.
The Greensprings Trail is my favorite walk. It is always shady and cool, with subtle color changes throughout the year. This is where I forest bathe and regroup.
Crim Dell Squared, Oil, 12 x 12, 2020. Sold.
This painting has eluded me for a couple of years. I love the circular bridge on the campus of William & Mary, but I had a hard time trying to articulate what I saw in my mind’s eye. I started at least three times. Finally, I returned to an earlier version and used a flat brush to square the image. Not what I had envisioned, but I like it.
Blue Square Sky, Oil, 16 x 16, 2019.
There were so many vistas while driving along a highway near Zion National Park in Utah. I often snap photos from the car window while we travel. This is one of those—the blue square of sky was striking.
Desert Crossroads, Oil, 16 x 20, 2020. Gift
I revisited this image in Snow Canyon, Utah once again. I like the textures and colors, but I just can't seem to paint the feeling and effect I'm looking for.
College Creek, 12x24, Oil, 2017/2022. Sold.
College Creek is one of the many creeks near historic Jamestown. The tides create an ever changing vista of water, land, and light. I started this in 2017, and retouched it again in 2022, improving the light and tones.
Arizona Moonrise, Oil, 11 x 14, 2015
I love traveling through the Southwest and was thrilled to see this image of the moon rising. The colors and shapes of the land were abstract and compelling like so much of that area. I painted over this image in 2022. It became Arizona Morning Moon.
Shellbank Creek with Ice, Oil, 12 x 12, 2014. Sold.
January 2014 was an extremely cold and snowy month for Virginia. The tidal creek in back of my house froze several times. I painted this when the sun came out after several days of icy weather. The incoming tide and the brilliant sun created a striking image of colors and reflections.
West Virginia Morning, Oil, 9 x 12, 2013. Sold.
This was originally a watercolor titled Wild and Free. I painted over it with oil, muting the colors, creating more of an impressionistic vision. I also made the horse less prevalent—just a suggestion of a running horse.
Last Light, Oil, 24 x 16, 2017. Gift.
I painted over the original watercolor version of Last Light using oils. I am much happier with the result—the last light of the day really shines as the trees recede into darkness.
Green Springs Blue, Oil, 16 x 8, 2019. Gift.
I enjoy walking on the Green Spring trail. Here is a view of wetlands with white trees disappearing into the blue water. I liked the linear quality of this image.
Green Springs Swamp, Oil 16 x 12, 2017. Sold.
Green Springs trail in Williamsburg, Virginia passes through woodlands and wetlands. This is a snapshot of a swamp with summer light creating linear reflections.
After the Rain, Oil, 12 x 9, 2012, Gift.
My sister-in-law currently lives in France and sent a number of photos of her new home. I loved the way everyone was walking toward the light, with muted reflections on the cobblestones.
Winter Reflections, Oil, 12 x 24, 2015. Gift.
Shellbank creek in winter often looks like an abstract collage of reflections. This painting is based on a photo I saw on facebook, while looking at the colors of our winter creek.
The Path, Oil & Paper, 12 x 9,
2013. Gift.
This is a wild garden in Point Lobos, just south of Carmel. My friend Rachel and I climbed the old rugged steps that led to the pine and Eucalyptus trees at the cliff top, all hallowed by coastal fog. The smells were enticing—salt air, Eucalyptus, and anise. I thought about the metaphor of climbing a path into the unknown while I was painting.
Lake Willoughby, Oil & Paper, 18 x 18,
2013. Gift.
My sister Janice lives in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. We’ve taken several walks along the shores of Lake Willoughby—a very deep and changeable lake. I originally painted figures on this scene, but felt they were distracting, and removed them. I then added Japanese paper to the oil painting and am happy with its textural quality. I like thinking of the people that have walked these shores—they are literally ghosted within the image.
Woodville, Oil, 12 x 12, 2013. Gift
Woodville is at the southern end of Canandaigua Lake, one of the Finger Lakes in western New York. I spent my childhood in this region. I have fond memories of the small cottages that line the lake shores.
College Creek, Oil, 16 x 12, 2012, NFS
Many Williamsburg residents visit College Creek on the James River via the Colonial Parkway. This is a beautiful undeveloped area, and gives you a sense of the land as it was when the settlers arrived 400 years ago. Zach enjoyed playing dragging a stick along the sand among the cypress knees and driftwood.
Ox Man, Oil, 11 x 14, 2012. Sold.
Visiting Colonial Williamsburg is like taking a step back in time to a simpler life. One of my favorite characters is the Ox Man. It was at the end of a hot summer day, and both the oxen and the man were walking slowly and purposefully back to the stables. I liked the long blue shadows and the warm color of the oxen with their swishing tails.
Shellbank in Winter, Watercolor, 11 x 14, 2011, Gift
We live on a tidal creek near Jamestown in Southeast Virginia. It changes every hour of every day. One crisp and sunny winter day the water and sky were an incredible blue, and suddenly large snowflakes began to fall. It was a magical moment.
Canyon Walk -Anza Borega, Oil, 6 x 12, 2011, NFS
Richard and I took a long hike through the Anza Borrego desert as we drove west from Maryland to California. This was my very first experiment with oil paints. I added a lot of oil—treating it like water color. I left it sketchy and rough—and moved on to other experiments.
Highlands Dusk, Watercolor, 6 x 16, 2011. Gift.
When we lived in California we often drove from San Francisco to Monterey, stopping at our favorite spots along the way. One time we drove along the small inland roads and happened upon this spot just as the sun was beginning to set into the ocean. I remember the intense golden colors of sunlight, and the cool blue tones of the shaded side.
Desert Monuments, Watercolor, 9 x 10.5, 2010
This is one of the first water color paintings I did when I resumed creating painting. I find the Southwest incredibly inspiring with its big skies, towering rock formations, and earth tones.
Evening Star, Oil, 8 x 16, 2012. NFS.
I used multiple glazes to create this image of a sunset in Arizona. The photo cannot portray how the colors blend into one another creating a prismatic effect. As you look at this painting, you’ll gradually notice stars ---just like they begin to appear in the sky at night.
Salt Pond, Watercolor, 14 x 11, 2011, Gift
I took a number of photographs while kayaking on Salt Pond on Cape Cod. I loved this image of the Coast Guard light house in the distance. I was experimenting with visual perspective and reflections in this watercolor. I think I could render it more effectively in oil.
Bologna, Oil, 12 x 9, 2010. Gift
Richard traveled to Bologna, Italy, and brought me a number of photos. I painted this image as a study of perspective. I especially liked the colorful old stone walls, and deep shadows of the portico.
The Red Barn, Watercolor, 10 x 8, 2010
I liked the reflection of this red barn in the still waters of Crystal Lake in northeast Vermont. I would like to revisit this image and try rendering it in oil—perhaps just the abstract reflection.