Morning Light

Friday, February 8, 2013

Tappan, New York

"Awakenings"    oil 


This painting was inspired while I was scouting for locations of the Hudson River School paintings. I spent the day dragging my youngest daughter up Tallman Mountain, around Piermont, and into Sneden's Landing in hopes of establishing a site that corresponded to an Albert Bierstadt painting. It had started snowing heavily so we retreated to the car. As I returned home to Tappan, seeing her charming face in my rear view window I decided she needed a reward of some sort for all her patience. Of course hot chocolate seemed the best idea in my book, so I turned around in the DeWint House (one of the oldest surviving structures in Rockland County)  to head to the local Starbucks...a sweet caramel hot chocolate seemed what I needed as well. As we drove down the lane we were surrounded by trees dusted in pink snow signaling the end of the day. At that moment she announced the trees look like cocoa.....!!! Guess we were thinking the same thing!!!

I thought to post this painting as yet another snow storm 
is blowing our way today!
It is on exhibit at The Outside In  
at 249 Ferdon Avenue in Piermont New York.  
Please call 845 398 0706 for pricing and details.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Rockland Renaissance: Piermont Haze

Piermont's Haze  12" x 18"  oil

      I spend alot of mornings in Piermont. There are so many spots to take in the view. I like to visit in the morning when the fog has rolled in and all is still quiet. This particular morning, I stood staring trying to figure out the color. The tree had spectacular yellow leaves but veiled with the fog, it took awhile to figure out the hue. It was also a challenge to avoid contrast and keep all the colors the same value.  I did many versions of this scene but think this one worked out best.

 I had just been reading on Jasper Francis Cropsey and remembered his "Hazy Afternoon." I was not able to pinpoint the exact location but did find out he painted in Piermont, so I took artistic license to match "Piermont's Haze" with "Hazy Afternoon."
 "Hazy Afternoon"   by  Jasper Francis Cropsey    1873