divider image

Art Across America: Vermont

Yesterday I painted alongside Chadds Ford painter Billy Basciani in the Berkshire Mountains of southern Vermont. We had taken a wrong turn searching for Green Mountain National Forest, and accidentally stumbled upon the best view we saw all weekend. So it felt like it was meant to be. It was an old farm now inhabited by a kind soul named Sunshine, who welcomed us on her land with open arms. The barn's exterior wall holds a gigantic "LOVE" sign, illuminated at night and treasured by locals.

Feeling inspired after seeing my friend Mike Kimmel's powerful new musical "The Last Goodbye" at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, we each aimed to do something different than usual and break some personal barriers. The weather was ominous but perfect, and just as we finished a big stormfront moved in...

28x22" oil on canvas

Sunflowers...

Deep emotion was poured into this. As I painted to high energy music, I imagined Van Gogh fervently at work as he created his series of sunflower paintings during the summer of 1889. His paintings were intended as decorations for his new "yellow house" in Arles, France, that he was excited to soon share with fellow painter Paul Gauguin. When I paint, I want to create something that I would want to hang in my home. This is my second sunflower still life this summer... I strive to make each one better than the last. 24x32" oil on canvas.

Brandywine Battlefield

Felt inspired to re-visit the Brandywine Battlefield yesterday morning... a scene many well known artists have painted through history. I've painted here every year for the last five, and each looks completely different... 40x30" oil on canvas.

Red Sea Sunset

I was looking to do something different than the verdant landscapes I've been working on recently. This is an image from my imagination, partly based on childhood memories mixed with a contemporary yearning to be at the sea... 32x24" oil on canvas.

Brandywine Bloom

The bright, contrasting colors of the flowers, field and distant blue hills drew me to this landscape along the Brandywine once inhabited by the Lenape Indians.

32x24" oil on canvas.

The Guest House

I grew up on this property so the place has a deeply personal significance for me. I spent a week outside during a major heatwave trying to continually improve this painting. 30x40" oil on canvas.

Summer's Strawberries

I was wanting to get some deep, warm reds into a painting, and what better signifies the season better than strawberries... 20x16" oil on canvas.

The Last Goodbye

My good friend Rick just moved from this forest property where he's lived peacefully for sixty years. I have been painting here since I started painting with Rick five years ago, and this is the last of about 25 paintings I've done here. "The Last Goodbye" is also the title of my friend's new Broadway musical featuring the music of the late Jeff Buckley. These woods are a deeply meaningful sanctuary for us. 30x24" oil on canvas.

Red Daisies

Sunflowers

Bluebonnets

Hydrangea