Pompeo Fine Art Studio

"Autumnal Farm"

2011-12-01T19:42:00.001-05:00

6" x 8", oil on canvas panel. $125.

October afternoon, full of warm sunshine reflecting off the metal roof of an old barn in the countryside near my home. This is based on a reference photo I took out the window of my car while sitting at a traffic light. I've been wanting to paint this barn scene for years...glad I finally got around to it.

"Valley Forge Cabins"

2011-11-29T17:18:00.001-05:00

6" x 6", oil on masonite. $99.

Two log cabins (replicas) at Valley Forge National Historic Park...not far from where I live. I'm about to do a large 30" x 40" version of this scene for a commission.

"Springtime Abundance"

2011-11-23T11:07:00.001-05:00

6" x 8", oil on canvas panel. $150.

After painting all the Iris leaves, with all the varying angles and color shades, I now have a new respect for Van Gogh! This took way longer than I thought it would but I am happy that I stuck it out. The surface of the painting has a lot of texture...hard to capture in a photo.

"Tied Cobs"

2011-11-21T20:08:00.001-05:00

6" x 8", oil on canvas panel. $150.

Couldn't resist that title! This is based on a reference photo I took at my local farmer's market about a month ago. I abstracted the background and changed the basket, but otherwise it's pretty similar to the photo. I love the way the background color harmonizes with the yellows. So glad I changed that.

"Strouds Nature Preserve"

2011-11-07T20:17:00.003-05:00

6" x 8", oil on canvas panel. $125.

This place is all about hills and trees. I definitely need to come back here and do some plein air painting with my new outdoor portable easel! I meant to get out there within the last week or so to catch the peak of the Fall foliage...maybe this week :-)

"Heaven and Earth"

2011-11-02T11:02:00.000-04:00

6" x 8", oil on board. $125.

My initial attraction to this scene was the cumulus clouds. This little painting was an exercise to practice painting clouds. It's based on some reference photos I took while hiking at Strouds Nature Preserve in West Chester, PA.

"Wind and Water"

2011-10-31T12:49:00.001-04:00

6" x 6", oil on board. $99.

A grassy lake inlet on a breezy afternoon. There was something very zen about this location as I was walking around Marsh Creek Lake that provoked me to take a reference photo. I like the feel of motion on the water surface. I think I might do a large version of it on canvas.

"Good Morning"

2011-10-28T10:24:00.000-04:00

6" x 6", oil on board. SOLD

This little painting is based on a reference photo I took at sunrise in Rehoboth, DE. I like it so much I decided to do a large version of it (36" square) that would fit over a fireplace. This time of day for me is the most magical, especially standing on a deserted beach as the water advances and retreats.

Untitled study

2011-10-27T09:43:00.001-04:00

6" x 8", oil on canvas panel. Small study based on a reference photo I took while hiking at Stroud's Nature Preserve in West Chester, PA. I usually come up with titles fairly quickly but for some reason I'm having difficulty with this one...something about a "spare" perhaps?

"Pumpkin Patch"

2011-10-21T11:21:00.002-04:00

18" x 24", oil. Please contact me for pricing.

October is definitely my favorite month, and pumpkins are one of my favorite fruits. Last weekend I was driving through a stretch of countryside about 20 miles from my house that I have never been to before and drove past this large field of miniature pumpkins. It's located on rt 724 just outside Birdsboro, PA. Luckily I had my camera with me and I pulled off, almost into a ditch, to get a few reference shots. I'm so glad I had that camera! I usually do a small sketch or mini painting to experiment with the design and get familiar with the scene before scaling up to a larger canvas but this time I just grabbed an 18x24 I had laying around and dove right in! This design is based on elements from three different photos.

"The Edge", 30" x 40", oil

2011-10-03T17:23:00.001-04:00

Two years ago my wife and I decided to travel to Sedona, AZ for our annual vacation. It was the first time either of us had been to a desert. Being from the east coast (suburbs of Philadelphia) I was immediately struck by the peacefulness and largeness of everything. I felt like a visitor to another planet. And like any wide-eyed alien I was eager to capture as many images with my digital camera as I could. I must have taken hundreds. Two years later I'm still finding inspiration in those images for new paintings. So, about a month ago I pulled them out again and found this image of the grand canyon that I had overlooked before, but somehow it jumped out at me this time. I painted a small 6"x8" study to get familiar with it and the experience was magical and effortless...like it had been waiting for me to discover it when I was ready to really see it. I was so happy with the study (which btw, I recently sold at the Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show in Philadelphia!) that I couldn't wait to try a larger version. I had an older 30" x 40" painting that I wasn't happy with in storage and decided to sand it down and prime over it. Two weeks later I was looking at the same image you are looking at right now...it was done! I wonder what else is waiting to be found in that database of photos?

"Seaside Rendezvous"

2011-08-29T09:44:00.001-04:00

6" x 6", oil on masonite. SOLD.

Funny how seagulls seem to travel in small gangs. They walk around like they are policing their turf...even strutting. I was taking photos on the beach one morning when one of them (seen here on the right) spotted me and threatened to "bust-up my camera if I didn't move along"...so I moved on.

2011-08-17T10:00:00.000-04:00

"Breakfast on the Beach", 12" x 12" x 1.5", oil on "gallery-wrapped" canvas (stapled on back - painted around the sides).

I did a mini version of this before (6"x8"...sold) and like it so much i decided to do a larger version. I was recently asked by a local gallery for some gallery-wrapped pieces (unframed, painted around the sides), so this is the first one I did in that format. I think it turned out great; I'm very happy with it. I usually frame everything for exhibitions but this one really works in the unframed style. It looks contemporary enough to be hung without a frame. I think I'm gonna do a bunch more like this...simple, colorful and contemporary looking. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in this peice or have any suggestions for future themes or commissions! I love feedback.

"Star Wars" themed violin project

2011-08-17T09:47:00.000-04:00

"Battle of Endor" (Moon world of the Ewoks)

"Coruscant" (Imperial home world)

I was invited by a local music school to participate in a charity event to raise money for the student orchestra. About 20 artists were asked to choose a classical song or composer from a list as inspiration for a hand-painted violin. Each violin will be on display around town for a period of time, then auctioned off at the main event in October. The theme I chose was "Star Wars" by John Williams. I had painted these images before for murals so I was excited to see it on the list and to challenge myself to reproduce them on such a unique medium. Of course I had to make some adjustments and edit them to fit the size and shape, but overall they are very similar to the spirit of the originals that I created for the murals and I must say look even better in this format! I'm very happy with the result and very happy that I'm done ;0) The sides of the violin are painted straight black and the tuning pegs are the original wood color that came with it. After a few weeks of curing I will apply a layer of satin varnish to protect it and bring out the colors a bit. All of the paint used on this project is acrylic (water-based).

If you have any questions or comments about this project please feel free to email me...I love to hear feedback!
May the force be with you.

Monterey Coast

2011-05-13T18:40:00.000-04:00

16" x 20", oil on canvas. My wife and I took a trip last September to Monterey, CA. This painting is based on a bunch of reference photos I took on the 17-mile drive around the perimeter of the penninsula. One of my favorite places on the planet! So peaceful and hypnotic.

Bucket of Sunflowers

2011-04-13T08:34:00.002-04:00

11" x 14", oil on canvas. SOLD (but contact me for prints).

Point Lobos Cypress

2011-03-31T11:29:00.001-04:00

11"x14", oil on linen, SOLD (but contact me about prints).

Last September my wife and I took a trip out to Monterey, CA. We rented a spicy red 2010 Mustang convertible and drove down PCH (rt 1) to Big Sur. Just south of the charming former artist-colony of Carmel there is a small state park called Point Lobos. We were directed to check it out by a gallery owner in Carmel. What an amazing place...IMO it blew away anything we saw at Big Sur! This is the second in a series of paintings I'm doing based on my reference photos. Please let me know what you think...I love feedback. ;0)

"Sycamore Sunset"

2011-02-25T10:52:00.003-05:00

18" x 24", oil on canvas. $1,050 USD

I can't believe this day has come and I'm finished with this painting! At least until I spot something that needs adjusting ;0) It's hard to let it go and say "finished" sometimes, and I've been working on this one for over a week, a few hours a day. I think I'm ready to move on to the next thing. Besides, I'm getting tired of snow. Looking forward to Spring!

Out on a Limb

2011-02-16T20:49:00.003-05:00

So, I've been working on this new painting for a week now and I'm at that point where I can't tell if I've gone too far but suspect I might have stepped over that imaginary line a couple of hours ago. It's so hard to tell until you've blown past it to realize you have. I hate that ;0). I wish there was a little art gremlin that could sit on my easel and squirt me with a water-pistol when I've reached that magical and illusive stopping point! The thing is, I chose a hard subject because all of the trees, both foreground and background, are bare. So the question and challenge is to decide how far to go with all the detail of the branches and twigs and blades of grass showing out of the snow? I was really liking my Sycamore tree subject a lot until I started adding smaller branches. At some point it started to become something I didn't expect it to become and wasn't sure if I had ruined the abstract design of it or if i should just keep going. I chose to keep going and now I'm pretty sure it's almost done...just a few minor changes and smudged sections to fix. I decided to walk away for a day or two and start working on my next painting.

If you have any comments or suggestions I'm all ears...and branches ;0)

Study for a new snow scene

2011-01-31T14:22:00.003-05:00

"Snowy Sycamore", 6"x8", SOLD.

This is a small study I just finished for larger painting I'm planning. It's based on a couple of photos I took of a large, twisty Sycamore tree ext to a creek (Pickering Creek, Charlestown, PA). I am interested in the colors that the late afternoon light create on the trees and the shadows on the snow. Snow is one of my favorite textures to re-create with paint.

"China Beach, Point Lobos, CA"

2011-01-25T18:06:00.003-05:00

12"x 16", oil on masonite. SOLD (but contact me for prints).

In September my wife and I took a trip out to Monterey, CA. While we were wandering around Carmel, CA one day we strolled into an art gallery...one of the many great galleries in Carmel (now one of my favorite towns!)...and we saw a painting of this exact view on the wall by a local artist. I asked the gallery curator where this location was and was told Point Lobos, just south of here..."you must check it out!". So the next day we decided to stop at Point lobos on the way down Pacific Coast Highway 1 to Big Sur National Park. That was the best advice we got the whole trip! I have never seen an area so breathtaking that close up before...and I've traveled quite a bit and been high up in the Alps and Rocky Mnts. There were areas that had "Lord of the Rings" qualities to them, especially when the fog rolled in! Anyway, I made my wife hike the entire length of the trail until the very end (several miles actually) when we finally reached the exact location that was in the painting we saw at the gallery. I snapped a a few photos from this point of view and the from them painted this painting, which I just finished today.

Some color advice for re-painting a room in your home...

2011-01-24T07:39:00.002-05:00

“What is the color of happiness?” by John Pompeo

Harness the emotional power of color in your home décor!

Have you ever been to a restaurant or entered a room that you felt really uncomfortable in and you weren’t even sure why? It may have a lot to do with the color scheme. Color affects people emotionally on subconscious levels, and some people are more sensitive to these emotional influences than others. That is why most offices and new construction is painted in “neutral tones”. Most people think that means that the carpet won’t “clash” with the drapes, etc. That is a safe but not very creative way to think about it. Subconsciously, beiges and taupes are emotionally neutral…ie. they don’t have a strong emotional pull in any particular direction and therefore don’t offend anyone. For that same reason they can seem boring in residential décor. Your house is not an office, it is your sanctuary from the world, and is the perfect place to express who you are and how you want a room to “feel” through interior design! One of the most effective ways to do this is through creative use of color. It is one of the most misused and under-utilized elements of design, but can have enormous influence on whether or not a design is successful in communicating the feel and mood that was intended by the designer.

As humans we cannot help but be attracted or repulsed by color. It is sewn into our psyche with the threads of our DNA! It is how early man determined which berries were poisonous or which animals to stay away from. Whether it’s the pinkish blush of a cheek or the orange-glow of the moon, color helps us read and understand our world.

We process color on both an individual level and on a societal level. A color may remind you of something from your childhood or have a very personal meaning to you. Perhaps you have an affinity for the color red and as an adolescent used that color either consciously or unconsciously as a design element in your bedroom. At the same time that color means something to you based on your cultural upbringing and nationality. For example the color red is a strong symbol of luck in Eastern Asian cultures, especially in Chinese culture. As a result it is a major design element in Chinese décor and both interior and exterior architectural design. The same red would be considered too bold to use on every wall of an interior in most western cultures, and is used primarily as an accent color.

You make choices on a daily basis that are influenced by color, from the clothes you wear to the foods you eat to the stores and businesses you patronize. Advertisers and marketers take full advantage of the psychological influence of color on consumers. It is not an accident that McDonald’s restaurants chose the combination of red and yellow. That combination has been shown to stimulate appetite.

If you were trying to describe the color blue to a color-blind person, what adjectives would you use? Lonely? Cold? Pensive? Pure? Marine? Here are some adjectives commonly associated with specific color palettes. It can be very helpful to keep them in mind when choosing paint colors or general color palettes for interior design. These associations are especially useful when decorating a child’s bedroom or playroom as children are more sensitive to color stimulation than adults.

Lavender: imaginative, fantasy color, romantic

Purple: spiritual, passionate, visionary, royal, (assoc. with kings), creative, rare (gems, dyes). While many adults dislike it, it is a good color to use in children’s play areas because it stimulates imagination.

Pink: compassionate (breast cancer ribbons), faithful, feminine, innocent

Magenta (red-purple): inventive, outrageous, imaginative, creative

Indigo (blue-purple): knowledge, powerful, integrity

Light Blue: peaceful, cool, sincere, affectionate, masculine (for babies)

Turquoise: refreshing, cool, imaginative, tranquil

Aqua: motivated, active, dynamic, tropic

Blue: calm, intuitive, intelligent (IBM), trustworthy (ie. uniform, navy), masculine, pensive, cold, pure (Virgin Mary), deep. It suppresses appetite so would not be the best choice for kitchens or dining rooms.

Green: growth, abundance, vitality, life, earthy, natural, cool, relaxing, restful, serene, organic

Brown: stable, reliable (UPS), earthy, common

Orange: happy, successful, courageous, (assoc. with harvest), abundance, cheerful, warm, balance

Gold: illuminating, wise, wealthy, distinguished

Yellow: enthusiastic, playful, optimistic, friendly, welcoming (caution: bright yellows can cause anxiety in infants and young children).

Red: energetic, stimulating, determined, passionate, hot, romantic, bold, lucky (Chinese), (most common color in advertising). It evokes a sense of excitement and can elevate blood pressure and energy levels. It stimulates the appetite and is often used in restaurants and dining room décor.

Black: sophisticated, elegant, modern, luxurious, formal (tuxedo or black dress)

White: pure, sterile, cool, modern, clean, angelic or heavenly

Nationality / Ethnic / Regional associations to color:

Red: Chinese, Oriental, Indian, Russian

Yellow/Gold: Egyptian, Roman

Orange/browns: Moroccan, Spanish, Mediterranean

Purple: Indian, Moroccan, Persian

Green + orange: Irish, Scottish, Italian

Blue + white: Greek, Jewish

Pastels: Caribbean, Miami, Bermuda

"Cary's Lighthouse"

2011-01-17T23:00:00.003-05:00

16" x 20", oil on masonite. This is one of the rare images that I don't own the copyright to...it belongs to a good friend of mine, Cary Moore. He's a professional photographer and this painting is based a photograph he took of a lighthouse in Maine. He gave me an enlarged print as a gift and in exchange I told him I would do an oil painting of it for him. So, this is the painting as it sits, just finished, on my easel. I found the sky to be the most challenging part!

"Cary's Barn"

2011-01-12T10:11:00.003-05:00

9"x12", oil on board, (make me an offer!)

My friend Cary Moore is an excellent and talented photographer. He recently loaned me a B+W print of an old farm that he photographed near Pottstown, PA so that I could use it as inspiration for a painting. I chose colors from my imagination. It was a nice little exercise!

Away in a Manger

2010-12-08T13:08:00.003-05:00

6" x 8", oil on canvas panel. $125 USD. I think this one needs a better title ;-) Based on a photo reference I took during the summer at a small goat farm near my house. I'm pretty sure this was a mother and "kid".

Harbour Seal

2010-12-02T11:44:00.003-05:00

6" x 8", oil on canvas panel. This little guy was posing for photos in Monterey Bay during my trip out there in September. There are harbour seals all over the place in that area. This particular one was hanging out on an old bouy as our boat was on it's way out to the open water to look for whales. Great trip!

woodland stream

2010-11-30T20:37:00.004-05:00

22" x 28", oil on canvas. $1,500 USD. Unframed.

This just off the easel. It is based on a reference photo I took while hiking in the woods in Chester County, PA. I find moving and falling water very challenging. In fact this one took a lot longer than I thought it would.

Arizona Canyon

2010-05-10T13:18:00.002-04:00

8" x 10", oil on board. $180 USD

Based on a photo reference I took in Arizona during my trip to Sedona. I think this was a canyon about 10 miles outside Sedona where my wife and I took a hot air balloon ride. What an amazing experience!

Morning Glow

2010-04-14T19:17:00.002-04:00

6" x 6", oil on canvas $85

3 Gulls

2010-04-12T14:05:00.002-04:00

6" x 8", oil on board. $125 USD

This painting is based on a reference photo taken last September at Cape Henlopen, DE.

"Colors of Spring"

2010-04-06T17:31:00.002-04:00

5" x 5", oil on board $100

This is based on a photo I took at an arboretum. The butterfly was just sitting there with his wings open for several minutes as if it was waiting for me to get the shot :)

Temple of Poseidon

2010-03-30T16:54:00.003-04:00

36" x 48", Acrylic on canvas $1,500

This is the fourth painting I've created in two weeks for a new Greek restaurant that is opening soon (mid-April) in my area..."Freskada Mediterranean Kusina", Exton, PA. This painting is also for sale...so if you are interested in purchasing it or a smaller print of it please contact me.

Church Road

2010-03-27T19:21:00.004-04:00

12" x 24", oil on canvas

This sleepy Autumn morning scene is inspired by a photo I took from my car while driving near my house (on Church Road, Charlestown PA). There was something about the way the sun was lighting up the tree tops that caught my attention and made me pull over.

Greek Steps - final version

2010-02-24T19:17:00.002-05:00

6' x 6' mural on canvas

Greek Steps

2010-02-05T09:52:00.003-05:00

6" x 6" oil on masonite, NFS

This is a mini study i did yesterday morning in preparation for a large painting I'm planning on doing for a Greek restaurant. The finished painting will be 6' x 6' ! It will be a major focal point upon entering the restaurant and also an advrtisement for my future commissions (I will be able to hang a prominent plaque under the painting displaying my contact info). I'll post the finished painting when I'm done.

my latest pet portrait...

2010-01-28T11:14:00.003-05:00

This pet portrait was just completed for a client. It measures 30" square and is based on several reference photos that were melded into one scene. The lighter colored dog is a yellow lab and the reddish colored one is a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Sadly, neither are with us anymore...thus the desire for the portrait. I hope I did them justice and am happy to contribute to honoring their memory...I'm convinced dogs are God's gift to us to remind us that we are loved unconditionally ;)

Valley Forge locals

2010-01-21T09:33:00.002-05:00

8"x10", oil on canvas panel; $195 USD

Snapped a photo last winter in Valley Forge park after an 8" snowfall. The deer are extremely tame and used to people so you can get quite close before they start slowly moving away.

wave study

2010-01-12T12:24:00.001-05:00

6"x8" oil on canvas panel. $125 USD

Violet Light

2010-01-06T22:49:00.003-05:00

6"x8", oil on canvaspanel; $125 USD

Inspired by a photo I took just before sunrise at Cape Henlopen, Delaware.

public pool

2009-12-24T11:04:00.005-05:00

11"x14" oil on canvas. $350 USD

Another image based on a reference photo from my weekend in Rehoboth, DE. It's minutes after the sun started to rise out of the misty horizon. An orangy pink light baths the beach and all its feathered custodians.

Italian Harbor commission

2009-12-18T13:38:00.002-05:00

Just finished this very large (4' x 6') oil painting for a client. It is a photo-realistic copy of a photo they took while on vacation in Italy. It took me over a month to complete! I'm glad it's done and can't wait to see it hanging in their dining room. This was definitely one of the more challenging commissions I've ever taken on. It taught me a lot about water refections, as well as the virtue of having patience!

Italian Harbor

2009-11-13T16:29:00.003-05:00

14"x20", oil on board

This is a small version of a very large commission piece I'm working on. The final version will be 4' tall and 6' wide! It is being created for a formal dining room and is based on a photo that my client took while on vacation in Italy. For more information on commissions please feel free to contact me via email (or check out my website: www.AMuralForAllSeasons.com )

Early Bird

2009-10-26T22:44:00.004-04:00

6"x8", oil on canvas panel. $125 USD

I love the colors in the light reflecting off the water at the first light of the morning...lots of yellows and purples.

Breakfast on the Beach

2009-10-23T15:32:00.004-04:00

6"x8", oil on canvas panel. $125 USD

Morning Rhythm

2009-10-22T15:49:00.005-04:00

6"x8", oil on canvas panel. $125 USD

This is part of a series I'm doing based on photos I took while on vacation at the Delaware shore in September. I've always found the ocean to be a spiritual place and it seems to have a calming effect on me even while I'm painting it!

Delaware Daybreak

2009-10-21T19:53:00.004-04:00

6"x8", oil on canvas panel. $95 USD.

Painted from a photo of the first sunrise I've seen in many years! Makes me wish I lived at the beach so I can make it a ritual ;)

Chianti Road

2009-10-20T20:48:00.004-04:00

24"x48", oil on canvas, Private Collection (NFS)

This fantasy view of a vineyard-filled valley is a combination of Italy and California. I just finished, after almost a week of working on it for a few hours each day. It's gonna be a surprise gift for my parents...shhhhh. They remodeled their kitchen with a Tuscan feel. My father loves wine and always wanted to travel to Italy. I've never been to Italy but I've been to Napa Valley in California, so I created this view from my experience, plus a little imagination. If you enlarge this image you can see little houses on the distant hillsides. Those houses, as well as the estate house, are all Italian style houses with terra-cota roofs.

"You Talkin' To Me?"

2009-09-22T22:49:00.004-04:00

6"x8"; oil on canvas panel; $125 USD

This is the first of a new series I'm starting based on photos I took from a recent weekend at the Delaware shore. There were so many different types and sizes of seagulls and they were so used to people you could practically walk right up to them and they would just pose for you! So I ended up with a lot of seagull photos...hence the new series ;)

Lotus

2009-09-09T18:48:00.004-04:00

11" x 14" oil on canvas. $295 USD

Cathedral Rock

2009-09-08T16:40:00.003-04:00

16"x20" oil on canvas; $650 USD

Hopping from rock to rock I made my way out to the center of the creek to capture this scene with my camera while on vacation last year in Sedona, AZ. This is Cathedral Rock...supposedly one of several "vortex" areas around Sedona. I have to admit the atmosphere is so peaceful here, although I didn't personally feel any tingling type of energy which many people claim to experience around this site. What a perfect place to hike and commune with nature!

July + August . . .

2009-09-02T09:28:00.006-04:00

Wow, it's been two months since my last post! In that time my whole kitchen was torn out and remodeled. It's fantastic to have all new everything...it's like living in a new house. I'm just finishing up painting the entire downstairs (~ 800 sq ft) plus the ceiling.

Besides that I've been the featured artist for the month of August at a local framing gallery (see photos below)...

I also was working on restoring an old chair for a "CHAIR-ity" auction coming up in October...

Not Yet

2009-06-17T10:18:00.007-04:00

16"x20", oil on canvas; $595 USD

I live in an area of increasing suburban sprawl, 20 miles outside of Philadelphia. The county I live in is about half developed and half open space, but it feels like the open space is losing the battle faster and faster each year. I was taking a drive one day on a country road in an under-developed area not too far from my house when I spotted this scene. I pulled over and snapped a quick reference photo that inspired this painting. I call this "Not Yet" because it has not yet been developed, but this is an example of a typical rural landscape in my area that seemingly overnight becomes transformed into a development of townhouses, retirement facilities or "McMansions". I'm actually grateful for this housing bubble burst because it has slowed the sprawl to a large degreee, at least for the time being. I just hope builders will use this oppotrunity to rethink the impact they have on the environment and realize that there is only a finite amount of stress that it can handle...impact on animals, ecosystems, water usage, cars on roads not built to handle the volume of drivers they now experience, air and noise pollution, and the impact on schools and teachers having to teach ever larger classrooms. I don't have the answer to suburban sprawl but I think we all need to slow down and talk about what we can all do to address it, now before it gets any further out of control.

Cathedral Rock - study

2009-06-02T23:24:00.003-04:00

6"x8", oil on canvas panel. Study for larger version. $85 USD

This is a small study that I painted in preperation of a larger work. I used a refeence photo that i took last September while on vacation in Sedona, AZ. The peak in the background is called Cathedral Rock and is a quite magical place...in fact many consider this to be a "vortex energy" location. While I didn't exactly feel tangible energy i did feel a sense of peace and connection to the Earth which in itself is magical. I highly recommend a visit.

Arboretum

2009-05-21T14:40:00.004-04:00

12"x16", oil on canvasboard. SOLD.
This painting is inspired by a photo I took at a local arboretum (Jenkin's Arboretum in Devon, PA) last summer. This was a little challenging because there is so much green I had to try to make subtle differences in temperature and value to add some variety to it.

Backlit

2009-05-12T14:55:00.003-04:00

6"x8", oil on canvas panel. $125 USD

A Watchful Eye

2009-05-07T13:01:00.005-04:00

24" x 30", oil on canvas. $1,150 USD.

After a snow storm, I took a drive to Valley Forge National Park (near my house) and saw these deer. They are so used to people that they let you get pretty close...though the doe was keeping a watchful eye while her fawn was eating.

Zen Garden

2009-04-30T11:39:00.001-04:00

6" x 8", oil on canvas panel. $125 USD.

Oak Creek Afternoon

2009-04-28T12:49:00.004-04:00

8"x10", oil on canvas board. $200 USD

This is from a photo I took in Oak Creek Canyon, AZ (near Sedona) while on vacation last Fall. I was attracted to the way the trees were backlit against the cool shaded canyon wall in the background.

San Francisco Peaks, AZ

2009-04-26T13:13:00.006-04:00

30"x40", oil on canvas. $1,900 USD.

This painting was produced in a few days primiarily using a palette knife. It is based on photos I took while traveling through Arizona on vacation last year. This mountain range lies near Flagstaff, AZ and the view is from the highway traveling north from Sedona to the Grand Canyon. What a beautiful ride! Below are details of the painting so you can better see the knife technique...

Say Goodbye To Winter

2009-04-23T13:46:00.003-04:00

6"x8", oil on canvasboard.

SOLD

Winter at Valley Forge

2009-04-08T13:19:00.003-04:00

11"x14", oil on canvas. $350 USD

New Show in Bryn Mawr

2009-04-02T13:47:00.007-04:00

I'm currently showing over 30 paintings in Bryn Mawr, PA. They are hung in a great space in a kitchen store/showroom/cooking school called Viking Culinary Arts (Ste 100, One Town Place).
Show will remain on display/sale for the entire month of April. Check it out!

Jail Break

2009-04-02T13:44:00.003-04:00

11"x14", oil on canvas. SOLD.

two paintings on wood cross-cuts

2009-03-22T16:54:00.004-04:00

10" x 14", acrylic on cut wood. $85 USD

8"x12", acrylic on cut wood. $85 USD

Park Angel

2009-03-12T21:34:00.005-04:00

24" x 24", acrylic on board, Framed. $275 USD.

My wife and I spent a weekend in NYC a couple of years ago and I snapped a photo of the famous angel fountain in Central Park (I'm sure there is a better name for it but I don't know what it is). It sits at the bottom of a grand stone staircase that leads to a pond. It is a great meeting place and is filled with humanity and quite a few ducks. I've been to a lot of large cities in both Europe and this country and seen a lot of city parks but I will always hold a special place in my heart for Central Park...it is by far the most amazing public space that this country has to offer. It is truely a jewel.

Family Portrait

2009-03-04T20:27:00.002-05:00

6"x8", oil on canvasboard.SOLD

Duck Pond

2009-03-02T16:08:00.002-05:00

8"x10", oil on canvasboard. $125 USD

This is a pond near my house that is always filled with ducks and geese. I painted this using a combination of brush and palette knife in a thick style.

Fresh Snow on the Battlefield

2009-02-22T16:45:00.004-05:00

6"x8", oil on canvasboard. $125 USD

This is based on a photo I took last week when we got about 8 inches of snow. It was taken at Valley Forge National Historic Park, which is not far from my house. I plan on doing a few more paintings of this snowfall in Valley Forge as part of a series I'm working on for an upcoming show in August...I'm hoping snow will sell in the summer :)

new pet portraits...

2009-02-22T16:35:00.002-05:00

These were all done for the same client (as a Valentine's gift). They are all done in acrylic on 10" square canvases.

Prairie Dog

2009-02-16T21:17:00.004-05:00

6" x 8", oil on canvasboard. $125 USD
Say it with me now....."awwwww"

Wild Island Cat

2009-01-20T17:03:00.007-05:00

8" x 10", oil on canvasboard. $180 USD. Detail below:

I took a photo of this little guy in Nassau, Bahamas. There seemed to be a lot of wild cats on the island and this kitten was very vocal...not sure if he was guarding his territory or if he was just trying to get some food. I like the way he was somewhat camoflaged by all the palm shadows.

Single Mother / Two Kids

2009-01-05T12:03:00.007-05:00

I just finished this today. I've only been able to work on it in bits and peices since Christmas due to the holiday runaround and the commissions I needed to finish for clients. I'm so glad it's done! It's inspired by a reference photo I took a couple of years ago at a petting zoo. It's the first of a series of animal paintings I'm working on for a solo show in June to be held at a local pet boutique..."Wag Your Tail", West Chester, PA.

16" x 20", oil on canvas, $750 USD

XMAS vacation...pt3

2009-01-05T11:10:00.006-05:00

Here are two more pet portraits:

"Ty", acrylic on canvasboard, 8"x10"

"Jake", acrylic on canvas, 11"x14"

XMAS vacation...pt 2

2009-01-05T10:59:00.006-05:00

Here is one of the pet portrait commissions (+ reference photo):
Reference photo:

"Samson", acrylic on canvas, 11"x14"

How I spent my XMAS vacation...pt 1

2009-01-05T10:47:00.005-05:00

It's been quite a while since I posted...I've been busy working on commissioned portraits for Christmas. I couldn't figure out how to get all the photos together in a manageable way in one post so I broke this up into 3 pts. Enjoy ;)

"Hula", oil on canvas, 16"x20"

2008-11-28T17:09:00.002-05:00

I just met a really talented animation artist at Thanksgiving dinner last night. Here's a link to her website: http://www.SarahDraws.com

Check out some of her numerous blogs and other sites as well...my favorite is a blog dedicated to the pursuit of the perfect candy... http://www.TheCandyEnthusiast.com

Stepping Stones

2008-11-12T14:03:00.005-05:00

16" x 20", oil on canvas board ; $650 USD

This is a tranquil spot at the end of a creek bed full of boulders and small waterfalls in Chester County, PA called Saint Peter's Village. I've done several paintings based on photos taken while hiking around this area. It's one of my favorite places because of the peaceful energy there.

Still Standing

2008-11-01T15:41:00.006-04:00

18" x 24", oil on canvas. Finished studio painting. $850 USD

6"x8" study, based on reference photo. I included the study to demonstrate the process that goes into a studio piece. I usually start by taking reference photos and making small studies from them to get a feel for the composition. It also helps me to get more familiar with the elements and details of the design. Sometimes there are things that get edited out or moved around to make for a more pleasing composition or to simplify the overall design. It's like practicing a piece of music before you play it for others.

Star Wars mural

2008-10-16T19:54:00.003-04:00

"Battle of Endor",3' x 5' acrylic mural on canvas

Detail from the mural. This is actually the third Star Wars-themed mural I've done in the last year! I have to admit I was never a huge fan but all this research has sparked my interest (a little bit).

This mural was done in my studio on a sheet of canvas that will be installed on a bedroom wall in a client's home. It goes up just like wallpaper, using heavy-duty wallpaper paste (clay-based); and as long as the wall has been properly primed the mural can be removed in the future without damaging the wall or the mural. In this way it can be re-used and taken with someone if they move. It can even be re-sold on EBAY! I do most of my mural commissions this way...it allows me to work much faster and ship the finished mural to anywhere in the world (so I don't have to limit my client base to my home area). You can see more murals on my website: http://www.AMuralForAllSeasons.com

Just got back from Sedona...

2008-10-09T17:53:00.003-04:00

What a spiritually renewing place! This was our first time to AZ (and to a desert for that matter) and we loved it. We hiked every day for a week, took a hot air balloon ride, explored the canyon in a 4x4 jeep, and took a day trip to the Grand Canyon. Yesterday it was over 90 degrees in Phoenix as we were leaving and we returned to a rainy, 50 degree Philadelphia airport! But it's always good to come home...now I can get working on a whole new series of paintings ;)

Garden Path

2008-09-26T19:05:00.005-04:00

6" x 6" (15.3cm x 15.3cm), oil on canvas ; SOLD

Springhouse at Valley Forge

2008-09-23T11:04:00.004-04:00

18" x 24", oil on canvas ; $700 USD

This painting is based on a photo I took of an old springhouse in Valley Forge National Park, which is not far from where I live. I'm thinking of doing a small series of Valley Forge scenes. There are lots of deer and cabins, but mainly I'm attracted to the vast fields of grass on the rolling hills. They change colors with the seasons and now that Autumn is here I should probably get myself back out there with my camera!

Angus

2008-09-20T11:15:00.002-04:00

Just finished this 8" x 10" pet portrait for a client and thought I'd post it. It was done in pencil on high-quality drawing paper. These are always enjoyable to do because I love animals and it's challenging to capture the emotion on their face, especially in their eyes, which is much different than the emotional response from me that I'm trying to capture in a landscape. Pets have their own emotions and that couples with your emotional response to their expression and body language. The best pet portraits should simply make you go "awwwww" when they work well. I'm also adding it to the pet portrait gallery on my mural website, where you can see more more pet and house portraits, as well as murals and decorative painting commissions:
http://www.AMuralForAllSeasons.com

Bridge To Nowhere

2008-09-18T14:15:00.006-04:00

11" x 14", oil on canvas board ; SOLD

I couldn't resist that title! I just finished this today... based on a photo I took while hiking in a gorge near Ithaca, NY last summer.

Belvidere Castle, Central Park, NYC

2008-09-06T19:55:00.006-04:00

6" x 8" (15.3cm x 20.3cm), oil on canvas board ; $95 USD

This was painted from a reference photo I took in Central Park looking across the lake from Belvidere Castle. At this size the castle can only be suggested. However, I plan on doing a larger version of this composition which would have more detail. This study captures the feel quite nicely though. I find Central Park to be a magical place, mainly because of the way it was designed.

Breaking the Silence

2008-08-30T16:44:00.004-04:00

36" x 48", oil on canvas ; $1,800 USD

This is one I've been chipping away at for a few weeks. I finally finished it and think I'll stick to smaller canvases for a while ;) I used a photo reference that I took a couple of winters ago on a bridge not far my home (SE Pennsylvania).

Butterfly

2008-08-15T08:32:00.004-04:00

18" x 24", mixed (acrylic + oil) on board ; $650 USD

Cascade

2008-08-11T15:01:00.003-04:00

12" x 24", oil on canvas, framed ; $450 USD

Buttermilk Falls

2008-08-02T22:53:00.005-04:00

30" x 40", Oil on canvas ; $1,500 USD

This painting is a larger version of a 6" x 8" study I posted earlier ("Ithaca Falls"). It was inspired by a trip to Ithaca, NY that my wife and I took last summer. It is an amazing place and I highly recommend seeing it for yourself. It's one of the most magical locations I've ever hiked.

Hazy, Hot and Humid

2008-07-25T22:38:00.005-04:00

6" x 8" (15.3cm x 20.3cm), oil on canvas board ; $125 USD

This painting is a roadside scene near my house. It has been very hot and humid lately and I hoped to capture that feeling in this country landscape.

NOLA Balcony

2008-07-17T09:09:00.003-04:00

6" x 8" (15.3cm x 20.3cm), oil on board ; $125 USD

This painting is based on a photo I snapped in New Orleans a couple of years ago. I was intrigued by how charming a deteriorating facade could look!

King Henry's Swans

2008-07-11T15:25:00.003-04:00

8" x 10" (20.3cm x 25.5cm), oil on canvas board
$200 USD

This painting was inspired by a trip to England that my wife and took a few years ago. I recently found this photo that I took while touring Leed's Castle, once a summer residence of King Henry VIII. This castle is located in the English countryside south of London and the estate is soooo quiet and peaceful, with a large hedge maze and sugar mill that highlight the premises. If you ever go to London I recommend a day trip to Leeds Castle.

Lights of Chicago

2008-07-04T15:28:00.003-04:00

14" x 18", oil on canvas board ; $450 USD

Woodland Path

2008-06-28T23:44:00.003-04:00

6" x 8" (15.3cm x 20.3cm), oil on canvas board
$125 USD

Ithaca Falls

2008-06-22T22:36:00.004-04:00

6" x 8" (15.3cm x 20.3cm), oil on canvas board ; SOLD

This is a study I did for a larger painting (coming soon) of the falls in Ithaca, NY. There are several gorges in the area, carved into the mountainside by the retreating ice of a glacier after the last ice age. They are the most beautiful and peaceful places I've ever experienced! Each gorge has what seems like hundreds of waterfalls, some very small and some very high. The magical thing about them is that as you walk up the man-made trails along each gorge you are constantly rewarded around each new turn with a series of falls more breath-taking than the ones before. If you're looking for an amazing place to hike this is it!

Untouched

2008-06-16T15:21:00.003-04:00

6" x 8" (15.3cm x 20.3 cm), oil on canvas board
$125 USD

Rooster

2008-06-10T15:20:00.005-04:00

6" x 8" (15.3cm x 20.3cm), oil on canvas board
$125 USD

Roost: - n. A perch on which birds sleep or rest; - v. To rest or sleep on.

St Peter's Rocks

2008-06-05T00:45:00.003-04:00

11" x 14", oil on canvas; $350 USD

There is a beautiful area not far from where I live called St. Peter's Village. It's basically a tiny artist colony nestled in the woods next to a creek. The unique and amazing thing about this area is that there is an enormous concentration of large boulders, both in the hills above the creek and in the creek itself. There is a long stretch of the creek where the water is cascaded through the rocks forming countless tiny waterfalls and tight passages. This is a scene I captured with my camera one afternoon while hiking. I'm planning on doing a series of paintings inspired by this area.

Chinatown

2008-05-31T10:26:00.004-04:00

6" x 8" (15.3cm x 20.3cm), acrylic on canvas board, framed
$75 USD

I saw this scene one morning while on vacation in San Francisco. The markets in Chinatown are so alive with colors, shapes, people, exotic foods and exotic smells!

Spring Morning

2008-05-26T14:38:00.003-04:00

6" x 8" (15.3cm x 20.3cm), oil on canvas board
SOLD