Little Hunting Creek, oil on linen 6x8

This was done along the creek behind my neighborhood. I had gone there to work a second day on a larger canvas. When that project continued to be frustrating and threatened to send me home defeated, I pullout a small panel and turned about 90 degrees to paint another scene. I was glad I stayed.

The Other Shore O/C 9x12

Sometimes morning paintings require a shift in thinking. I went to be planning to get up in the morning and meet the sun. Instead, I found fog and a lot of grey. I decided to set up and wait for something to happen. Finally I gave up and decided to do a study of the emerging image of the Maryland side of the river. Just as I was finishing up, the sun appeared as a bright circle in the fog and then disappeared. It was something like this.

In the Woods O/C 6x8

Of course I can't spend all my time driving around the state. Some days I can make it to some local trail where I spend an hour or so painting before going in to work. This particular morning I was headed out the marsh trail toward the river when the slanting morning splashed this bright streak across the greenery. I never got to the river that morning.

Jewell Overlook O/C 6x8

In the continuing search for inspiration, I spent a Friday recently driving away from the city toward the mountains. I passed several exits that I will explore at some future date, exits leading out into farm country where I think my heart is drawing me. I have really enjoyed Marc Hanson's paintings of the countryside which remind me of the landscape of my youth. I resisted the urge to explore those turns, hoping to reach the National Park and Skyline Drive in time to do some painting. The day was cool and clear, I drove along that great ridge with the windows down and stopped at every overlook. I wandered down side trails, ate a little lunch and had resigned myself to the idea that this would be a scouting trip and probably not involve any painting when I happened upon Jewell Overlook. This little painting brought me great joy and the hour and a half I spent in this spot ended up capping a perfect day.