Early March

Ok... so most of the snow is gone by now. Nevertheless, it is still March and I liked this 6"x8." This was early enough in the morning that the farm and house in the distance were obscured by thick atmosphere and light. As I was looking for a painting subject the overall hazed effect fascinated me. Almost monochromatic yet there were definate warm touches throughout. Although I painted this in upstate New York it reminds me of growing up in the midwest; farms, fields, and lots of flat land. I'll admit, I hope this is the last "snow" painting I do until next December :)

Chad

Snow Patch

I came across this interesting 12"x9" composition at one of my favorite painting spots this morning. The brilliantly lit patches of snow contrasting the cool of the water and face-lit warmth of the earth tones really caught my attention. There aren't many darks to speak of other than a few accents and shadows but alas that's the charm and challenge of a face-lit scene. It was such a wonderful day to be out painting; a warm sun, cool breeze, and the rare visual treat of a landscape in the transition of seasons...what a privilege.


Chad

Evening Thaw

Painted this 6"x12" tonight as the light was fading over quickly thawing snow. I've always enjoyed this format and it's perfect for compositions here in upstate New York. The long rolling hills, open fields and stretching skies beg to be painted in this format. My wife and I drive by this area regularly and we both were taken by the beauty of this evening noticing patterns of the melting snow and rich chromatic mountains in the far distance. With her encouragement I ventured out as evening approached and I'm glad I did. I plan to employ this 6"x12" size on a far more frequent basis... It's perfect for this area :)

Chad

Half Frozen

Half Frozen is the title of this 9"x12" and also how I felt when it was finished. This is one of my favorite painting spots in Old Forge overlooking the Toby Trail. Old Forge is an amazing little town in the Adirondack Mountains. It's about an hour drive for me but worth it. They have a great Art Center there of which I am a member and as much charm as you could ask for.
This particular day was overcast but warming enough to melt some of the ice on the lake... hence the title :) Lots of subtle grays in this one I'm not sure the picture does it justice. I really enjoyed painting this despite the cold. There was a small lock/dam there with overflowing water (sounded like a decent waterfall) right behind me as I painted and the light remained fairly constant. It was a great day to be outside painting!

Chad

Vegas Baby!!!

Erin and I celebrated our first anniversary in Vegas; we had a great time. We love the Cirque De Soleil shows and got to see something most every night. On Wednesday we drove the 3-4 hours to the Grand Canyon. There were amazing sights all along the way and I recognized so many trees, brush, etc. and the general feel of the desert that I've admired in many western painter's work.
I was able to "break in" my new Thumb Box at Eagle Point (see attached pic.) The shuttle driver mentioned that the light and colors change minute to minute. I assumed he was exaggerating but that light and those hues were almost constantly on the move! I left with a little 3"x8" painting of Eagle Point itself. It was a thrill to paint there and I'm happy to report that the Thumb Box did a great job :)
Chad

Winter Light

This 16"x20" was created in the studio from an 8"x10" plein air reference I painted at my father-in-laws ranch. Warm sunlit conditions with a strong cerulean sky created a nice temperature contrast. What especially caught my eye were the warm hues of the evergreens contrasting the dynamic cool cast shadows. The composition was almost "ready-made" as I found it. I've submitted this painting to the Oil Painters of America's 19th Annual National Juried Exhibition. We'll see if they accept it into the show... I sure hope so!

Chad

First Snow

There's been snow on the ground for a bit here in upstate New York; still I wanted to post this 6"x8" study. It captures that transition time from lovely fall to sleepy winter. I know I feel like hibernating at times :) I love the rich warms that come to life in this type of lighting. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Chad