Fall on Gregory Creek

Gregory Creek 10
24" x 36", Oil on Canvas
04/2016

Gregory Creek is undercutting the banks in the Lesourdsville area, exposing the layers of glacial till and outwash. Unusual for a creek in Southwest Ohio, the creek flows North out of West Chester and Liberty Townships to enter the Great Miami River at Lesourdsville. This area has been mined for gravel and sand since the settlers came to the Miami valleys in the late 1700's.

Plein Air– First Outing 2016

Spring Grove Underpass 2
12" x 16", Oil on Canvas
04/2016

The first outing with the South West Ohio Plein Air painters for 2016 was to Spring Grove Cemetery. Most of the early flowering plants has already passed with the warm spell we had this year. This view is of the railroad underpass from the inside looking out. Conifers and blooming Redbuds, backlit by the morning sun.

AAPs Still Life

AAPs– Still Life 10
16" x 20", Oil on Canvas
04/2016

Members of the Art Alliance Painters (AAPs) are  all working from the same set up to produce artwork for this coming year's Fall Arts Fair. We will be having our annual show of work in the Snyder House at Cottell Park during the show. In addition to other work we will show, the will be different artists' interpretations of this still life arrangement.

Sketch Group Portrait

CAC– Portrait 4
16" x 12", Oil on Paper
04/2016

Portrait on Arches Oil Paper, a specially formulated substrate to use with oil paints. Let down paints function similar to watercolors or gouache, but the oils will sit on the surface and dry without the binders being drawn into the paper. The more I use this to paint on, the more I like it!

Shadows on the Bar

Gregory Creek 9
12" x 16", Oil on Canvas
03/2016

First time back to Gregory Creek in a long time (01/2012). This is a view of afternoon shadows cast across the ever changing gravel bar. Sand and gravel rutted by the people who visit the favorite fishing hole. Late Fall has turned the sumac to a red blaze on the hill behind the undercut bank. Layers of glacial till stratify the cut, lending texture and color that's reflected in the stream. The pioneering sycamores hold on to their last leaves of the season.

Creekside Giants

Old Sycamore
8" x 6", Oil on Canvas Panel
02/2016

The end of January, Cheryl and I braved the muddy trails of Miami University's Bachelor Preserve in Oxford, Ohio. The trail wends along Four Mile Creek to the east of town and boasts some very old trees. Sycamores of such size that they can only be virgin growth, probably in the two to two hundred and fifty year old range. Near by is the Dewitt Log Home that was completed in 1805, when these trees were already growing along the creek.

A photo for size reference. Cheryl really loves these old trees!

Fall at the Pond

Reserves Park– Next Year's Tales
36" x 24", Oil on Canvas
03/2016

The tall stands of cattails that surround the shore, blocking your view of open water, are casting their seeds to the winds. Puffs of fluff carry on zephyrs, seeking fertile ground to start anew. All is preparing for the icy blasts that will scourer the frozen water's surface and leave only the woody bits to withstand the frigid temperatures.