Collections Review 2018 Part 3: From Reference Photo
January 2, 2019This is part 3 of 3 posts showcasing the 33 artworks that entered collections of friends, family and art-lovers this 2018. These twelve drawings and paintings included here were completed from reference photos, most of which were taken by me. Thanks and onto the Collection Review!
SACRAMENTO VALLEY 8x10” ACRYLIC ON BRISTOL 2017
I loved the expansive landscape of Sacramento Valley as viewed from the window of the San Joaquins train. The descending horizontal layers of clouds, horizon, distant mountains and grass struck me with awe and I aimed to capture just one moment of many in California.
BATSTO ROOTS 7x12” ACRYLIC ON PAPER 2017
The pine barrens in New Jersey is one of my favorite places. I wanted to capture the diamond shaped bark of the pines with horizontal branches and the roots winding around above the sandy path.
SAND CRUMBLING, MONTAUK 36x48 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 2017
I visited Montauk by myself in early Autumn to take pictures for this landscape painting for a friend. The narrow cliffs contrasted with the expansive ocean, and when I visited, the Army Corps of Engineers had just completed a sandbagging the dunes to protect the shoreline. I was struck by the crumbling dunes and fallen sand fencing and aimed to capture the beauty of pale native Montauk sand cascading down the orange imported sand by the Army Corps.
HADDONFIELD BULLDOG 8x8” ACRYLIC ON BRISTOL 2018
When I walk through Haddonfield I see a little cement bulldog in front of a few houses scattered around town. I love the bumpy facial folds and the greenish tinge of time left on the surface from years of outdoor exposure. The tiny sculpture is a relic of past times and families who have lived in this town for generation display it proudly at porches and entryways. This painting shows a noble and stubborn dog with a red sheer bow tied around the neck. The painting is a present to a very special multi-generation Haddonfield woman turning 40!
COOL MONTAUK CLIFF 18x20” ACRYLIC ON BOARD 2016
The shifting edge of the Montauk cliff juts out towards the incoming cool, bright ocean. The moments right before dawn bring warm tones to the beach, but leave soft shadows. Montauk is nicknamed “the end” and I was struck that, at the right position, the land appears to be engulfed by waves. I wanted to represent the shifting of the coastline by blurring the lines of the scene.
OCEAN BEACH SAN FRANCISCO 6x8” ACRYLIC ON CLAYBOARD 2017
Iconic are San Francisco’s cliffs and boulders littering the coast of Ocean Beach. I loved the way the boulders seemed to build up on themselves vertically from the base as the sunset created fluorescent pink skies and lime green earth.
BOMBER 10x10” ACRYLIC ON PAPER 2018
The propellers on the nose of a bomber give the plane momentum to move forward and then fly. In this painting, the propellers of this World War II bomber airplane are cropped out, leaving the painted face baring teeth.
BATSTO PATH 6x6” CHARCOAL AND CONTE ON STRATHMORE 2017
Walking through the Pine Barrens in New Jersey in Spring on an overcast day is reflective, both in mood and on the sandy path.
DURYEAS SUNSET MONTAUK 16x20” ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 2016
The grass and rocks form a detailed base to this autumn moment at dusk in Montauk. The bay reflects the cool light from the sky. I was drawn to the light/dark horizontal pattern set by sky, land, water and land.
AMERICAN FLAG 12 1/4 x 9 1/2” ACRYLIC ON PAPER 2018
An American flag blows against a backdrop of pink clouds and blue sky. The flag pole juts out from the lower left corner at an angle as the sunlit clouds open up above it; America the beautiful.
MONTAUK BAY SUNSET 8x10” ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 2016
This is a sunset across Montauk Bay on a clear, still night. I was interested in creating the sense of looking past the horizon and represented the slight gradations of color above the shadowed land. Bright yellow and light purple take the place of sky and water, both of which are painted on top of deeper hues- a sense of the darkness to come.
YOSEMITE MIST 20x16” ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 2018
The Merced River curves through a line of large evergreen trees in this acrylic painting. The mist from the morning rain partially obstructs the mountains that make Yosemite National Park iconic. I was drawn to the cool tones and subtle shadows cast on the water and sandy bank.
