A view from our window. There is a tranquility when your world rests under a thick blanket of snow. Things get simple. And when viewed from the warmth of home, all the more enjoyable.
History on Academy Street, 12x16" Oil
I live in a small Mayberry-esque town in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Many homes, including ours, were built in the early 1800's, predating the Civil War. There's a lot of history here. I often wonder, as I'm painting, the conversations the old trees heard within the walls of these old homes. I can imagine children playing in the sun, running through the grass just as today.
Josephine Cemetary, 11x14"
This little cemetery lies at the end of Josephine Street in what used to be called Josephine City, a community established in the 1870's by African Americans. The cemetery is the final resting place of soldiers of the Civil War and the Spanish-American War, a spy for Union General Sheridan, as well as many who died enslaved.
Passing Through, 20x24" Oil
The Red Fox is a common sight here in Virginia. Every now and then you'll see one run across the snow. This one caught my attention- and I apparently caught his. His colors and his beautiful bushy tail are striking against the snow.
Morning Sunfall, 11x14 Oil
Morning in our small town of Berryville, Virginia is a wonderful time to walk and enjoy the town. I especially love how the sunlight spills gently across the trees and chimneys and rooftops as it arouses the town from its slumber.
Fire On Green, 12x12" Oil
I stepped out of my home one evening at dusk and saw a display of color that stopped me in my tracks. I rushed to gather my easel, paints, and canvas to capture the sublime yet magnificent juxtaposition of the bright sky sliding behind the shadows of the evening. Life’s glory and quietude at once.
Paris Peace, 11x14" Oil
This cattle farm in Paris, Virginia sits just south of the Ashby Inn. I love the peaceful flow of the rolling pastures, with the Gap Run creek running through it. Cows, sheep and even an ostrich eavesdrop, and I met many passers-by who stopped to chat while enjoying a stroll in the country.
Ventura Serene, 16x12" Oil
Visiting with good friends in Ventura, California always gives me ample time to paint, and with no end to inspirational subject matter to paint. I have spent many hours along the coast in Ventura. Here I am inches from the shoreline, feeling the spray of the sea crashing against the breakers. The power and the serenity- all at once.
Wendy's Paris, 18x24" Oil
This was a commissioned piece for a writer who truly enjoys art. I was taken by the peace evoked by this rural scene in Paris, Virginia. The rolling hills of the Blue Ridge piedmont region is one of the most beautiful places in America.
Norfolk & Western at Berryville, VA, 11x14"
Trains toot their horns as they pass through our town on this old railroad since the mid-1800's. You can hear the sound of the trains rumbling over the tracks, their horn blaring, throughout the town. At first it was loud, but the sound quickly becomes almost reassuring, a reminder of places been and places to go. I painted this on a bright warm morning, and of course had to hold on to my easel as the trains blew past.
Avon Peace, 11x14" Oil
Arising early to catch the sunrise over the OBX in Avon, North Carolina, but the clouds wouldn't have it this morning. Instead there was a calm that played out. The waves were restless this morning as the clouds retained their position above, the colors in the distance hinting the sun's eventual arrival.