Rt 22 April Snow, 9 x 12, oil on panel

Last weekend we got about 7 inches of snow in Cambria County. That's pretty freakish for late April. On my way back to Pittsburgh I couldn't resist stopping to enjoy the subtle beauty of the lightly tinted landscape.

On another note, I'll be given a one-day workshop in Johnstown tomorrow at ARTWORKS, 814-535-2020

And this August 10 - 12 I'll be offering a 3-day workshop in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
http://redbarnarts.wordpress.com/home/workshops/

Fisk, 30 x 40, oil on linen

This one was a struggle to enlarge from a 9x12. I wanted to get the feeling of warm light at the last moments of the day. This location is just around the corner from my studio. The building that is barely visible at the back is the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Lawrenceville branch. It was one of his 2,811 free libraries, built in 1898.

Fisk, 9 x 12, oil on panel

This little study is now being made into a 30 x 40. I'll post the completed larger piece later this week. My drawing group, which has been meeting for 26 years every other Monday night, gave meet a critique of this one. They mostly liked it. A few thought the sky could be a tad lighter.

Shearing Time, 16 x 20, oil on panel

A couple weeks ago I watched sheep being sheared. It is really wild. Something like a wrestling match with an animal. But the whole thing is done rather quickly. These pretty gals were in line for the spring trim. The light coming in from a nearby window was illuminating them in a soft  glow. And here comes the art lesson: when cool, blue light is the source the shadows are warm. In other words, the shadow areas are yellowish. Why? Well that is the next lesson. Just take my word for it and enjoy the sheep. Count them carefully and you will feel drowsy.

Last Days of Steel, 50 x 68, oil on linen

This is the last painting I'm doing for the Johnstown exhibition. I titled it, Last Days of Steel because it was painted from rare film footage shot in the mill before it closed. It was a complete happenstance that I met Greg from The Magic Lantern. His small multimedia company is located about 200 feet from my studio. It was there I sat down with an editor and selected the frames that would be my source. The original painting is 4 x 6 feet, oil on linen. I'm having limited edition prints made for the Johnstown exhibition. Also due to increasing pressure I set up a business page on Facebook. Check it out if you are interested.

Staple Bend Tunnel, 9 x 12, oil on panel

Over the last 15 months I've done about 60 small plein air paintings of Johnstown. Most were done while standing next to my truck. This one required a bit more effort. It was a 2-mile walk from the parking area, which meant carrying my supplies 4 miles to do this. This tunnel, just 4 miles east of Johnstown, was the first railroad tunnel built in the United States. It was constructed between 1831-34 and is 900 feet long.
The exhibition, Scenes of Johnstown and Cambria County opens April 14.

Champagne Lane, 30 x 40, oil on canvas

I'm having an exhibition in Johnstown, April 14. It will feature about 65 paintings from the last 15 months. I think of it as a portrait of the rust belt city. The above painting is Luzerne Street, actually in Westmont. It is the last cathedral-arched boulevard left in the United States. There are 195 elms, the longest continuous stand of American Elms in the country, planted along the street. I call it Champagne Lane because, not only is a lovely street, an elm tree has a champagne glass shape to it.