Fuel Storage, 9 x 12, oil on panel

I just got back from the Plein Air Easton event. It was a pretty big deal with 58 painters from across the United States. Going in I didn't think it would be my "cup of tea". Well to put it mildly it was an amazing event. The caliber of work was extremely high and the artists were all very nice. It is a highly organized event and the folks that run it are determined to make the artists feel special. They did indeed. I won honorable mention for Fuel Storage. http://www.pleinaireaston.com/

The Eastern shore of Maryland is really all about the water. So why did I paint these tanks? I had just finished a painting of a boat when I noticed these tanks. Apparently not all water craft uses wind.

Contrast of City/Country, 6 x 8, oil on panel

I did these both on evenings last week. The top painting is the vista from my studio building's third floor. The bottom is the yard in Loretto. I grew up here and own the house with my twin brother. The contrast between my city studio and country home is great. The journey of 90 miles seems worth it every time.

Seine Reflections, 8 x 10, oil on panel

Last year I finally got to Paris. While there I felt too overwhelmed to paint. I was recently asked to donate a painting to the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and The Alliance Française de Pittsburgh 5th Annual Bastille Day Celebration auction. So it was a good excuse to go through my photos and make this little sketch. And also reflect upon the trip, thus the title.

Porta Potties, 8 x 10, oil on panel

The Three Rivers Arts Festival is a big deal here in Pittsburgh. It is usually a rainy couple of weeks but not this year. Yesterday I gave a workshop to a few artists, one of which needed to be close to the porta potty. I thought, OK why not make that the subject of my demo? It was an excellent example of complementary colors, simple shapes, light and color families. A smart ass passerby told me it was a crappy painting. I have to admit it brought a smile to both of us.

Jona's Garden, 20 x 30, oil on canvas

Occasionally I'm commissioned to paint a backyard. This painting required several trips to Point Breeze to determine the exact timing of the sweet evening light. It is titled Jona's Garden. Notice BB the cat in the shadows to the lower left.

Wires to Heaven, 16 x 20, oil on canvas

There was a time when wires were edited out from my cityscapes. I now include them because they show our time here in a historical context. These wires appear to extend right up to heaven – a direct line. Everything will be wireless soon and I'll miss all the linear clutter.

Garbage Cans, 24 x 30, oil on heavy linen

It is always fun to check out what people put out for trash, especially on bulk pickup day. I've done my share of dumpster diving. This alley is at the end of Smallman Street. I did another painting here in the middle of winter so this warmer version was a nice contrast.