Wicomico Huntsman oil 6 x 11 SOLD

This the first in a series of Eastern shore hunt scenes.

Skipjack 5 x 7 oil SOLD

Here's a mini skipjack.

The view from my porch. 7 x 5 oil

I seem to be doing a ton of minis at the moment. This was the view one morning a couple of weeks ago. Cold but beautiful.

"Flowers In The Rain" (Finished painting)

I am always asked to show a painting from start to finish. Usually this jinxes the painting. This is a bit of a departure for me. Kind of Abstract realism, If that doesn't sound too pretentious!.
Anyway I began with an oil sketch in my sketch book. Then It's straight to work on the board.I used a cool stain ( a do it yourself paynes grey) I don't draw except with a brush and watered down(with gamsol) oil. At this stage I build up a rough tonal painting. I work across the whole painting getting the feel of the flowers and dark -light areas. begin to play around with the rivulets of water on the glass.
These snaps were taken over three sessions. Hopefully you can see the development as I gradually start defining the shapes and adding details.... More to follow as the painting progresses

"Swan" oil 24 x 18

. Lousy title.... I must come up with a better one. Anyway I have just finished this painting. I loved the steely light on the water... really fun to paint. The swan was a bugger because It was mostly in shadow and It was a challenge finding colours that worked. I hope I got there in the end.

" Horses on the Beach" series7 x 5 oil ( and race horses on the Gallops)

This is another in my "Horses on the beach series. I just love painting horses on the beach.

"Pilot Cutter" oil 5 x 7

This is a Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter.

Beachcomber 7 x 5 oil

"Beachcomber is actually my favorite model, Patrick my son.

Here's another this mini is called "Little Girl Feeding the Gulls oil 7 x 5

Morning on the Miles SOLD

I thought it was about time I put up some new paintings. This is called "Morning on The Miles"(skipjack) 18 x 24 oil

Sanderlings 24 x 36 oil

This is the Ocean at Assateague on the Eastern shore, with Sanderlings

"Crescent moon over the Miles" oil 8 1/2 x 14 1/2'' SOLD

. I couldn't resist this lovely moon and all the lights in the harbour entrance.

Morwenna 18 x 24 oil

"Morwenna" is a Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter. I first saw this boat in the Solent UK. I was crossing to the Isle of Wight. The background fort is Hurst Castle which was built by Henry V111. The Lighthouse is Hurst Lighthouse. I loved the shaft of sunlight on the water lighting up the sails.

Snowy egret oil 24 x 18

This post is for Clive.It shows my painting "Snowy egret" in the ghastly early stage. I took a couple of attempts to place the egret and then blobbed in the waves.I love drawing with a paintbrush. I wanted to get the feel and movement of the waves.Crude, but effective.I also want to do a tonal build up. I feel more comfortable if have my tonal values sorted before I start building up the paint. I like to cover the board in the beginning and develop the painting as a whole. I hate it when a part of the painting gets left behind. I know artists who are happy to begin in one corner and finish it before moving to another section.... Whatever works I suppose, but It would drive me crazy. I like to use the same colours throughout the painting. All the light and colour in the bird are in the wave and sand. The bird is a reflective surface, and It's fun to paint the lovely golds and lilacs in the plumage.

snowy egret 24 x 18 oil SOLD

Here's the finished painting.

Show Off!!! "Beach Stroll" Snowy Egret

I hate to be a show off, but this Sunday,Julia and I both won generous cash awards at "The Best of the Chesapeake" annual show at the Mcbride Gallery in Annapolis.Maryland. I won "Best In Show" and ''Peoples Choice " for my painting "Beach Stroll" and an award for "storm on the Bay" and Julia won an award for her lovely Egret painting"Chasing the shoal" We are just thrilled !!

Frosty morning ( Great blue heron) 18 x 24 oil SOLD

This is the first in my "Four Seasons" series. A year on Leeds creek.(The creek we live on) This is opposite our house last winter.I love the way herons fluff themselves out in cold weather. They also have a uncanny ability to look miserable. Next up ... Bald Eagle in Fall Light.

This is a close up of the fly... It can easily be removed!!

Storm on the Bay 30 x 30 oil

This painting is a little different. I painted the storm as seen through the window. Kind of "Abstract realism" (If that doesn't sound too pretentious) I have a series of 4 similar paintings planned. The next being leaves under the Ice. Well I had better see what the reaction is to this piece first!
I added a house fly, but I'm not sure whether it adds to the painting or shows my lack of courage.

"looking for Arrow heads" oil 7 x 5''

This is how I spend hours on the beach, with my head down searching for elusive Arrow heads. This chap found 2 the week before. The stone arrow heads date back to 40,000 years ago. I have yet to find one but I have a large collection of stones that should have been "Arrow heads" !!

Trot lining for crabs 5 x 7 oil

At this time of year Leeds Creek is full of people trying to catch crabs. My painting shows a couple of guys "trot lining". They bait long lines with chicken pieces and run the lines along the creek. The crabs grab hold of the bait and as the line is pulled up, the crabs are netted. This can be a very affective method for catching crabs.

Snowy egret 30 x 30 oil

Just finished this new Egret painting. I haven't thought of a title yet.

"A Fair Wind" (Skipjack) 36 x 24" oil

So often you see Skipjacks chugging around with tourists on a windless river. I love it when there is enough wind for them to be properly under sail. He was really moving!

"Gotta beat Blewbird" 18 x 24 oil on canvas

I love the Wednesday night races. All the Spinnakers looked gorgeous against the evening light on the Miles river.

Moonlight sail oil 18 x24 SOLD

There are times when the river looks so beautiful.

Downrigging on the Chester river 24 x 18 oil

This is the Kymer Nyckel, Deleware's State tall ship. I saw this at the annual "Downrigging Festival in Chestertown MD.

Banner Auction painting(Schooner)oil on canvas

Here's My painting for the front of this year's Banner for the "Easton Annual Banner Auction" They hang the Banners throughout the town of Easton for the summer and Fall then they are auctioned off in December. I still have the to paint another for the back of the Banner.

Schooner Demo oil 18 x 24 oil on canvas

It's been ages since I posted anything. I have been busy with family visits and teaching workshops. Here is my finished demo from my weekend course "Boats, Birds and the Bay" Everyone wanted to know the secrets of painting "Sparkles".
What I need is a few days in the Studio painting!

Raymond James Financial

I have just got back from the Wildlife Western show at Raymond James Financial in St Petersburg FL. Every year we have an artist's tour of the collection, They select one of our paintings from the collection for each artist to talk about. Here I am giving a talk on my painting"Cresting the Wave". I look rather hungover!

Tiger Study 8 x 16 oil

A Quick Tiger study.

Beach party 24 x 48'' oil ( White Ibises) SOLD

These guys turned up several times during a recent visit to Bonita Springs Beach. They were not at all concerned about the waves breaking over them.I spent hours running up and down the beach following them as they waded around in the surf..
I have just heard that this painting has been accepted for the "Birds In Art" Exhibition. I am thrilled!

October evening oil 18 x 24

My favorite beach. The light was lovely.
The distant headland is actually one of a series of granite Islands transported over to England from Norway. They were brought in enormous barges and unloaded at high tide. At low tide diggers would pick up the rocks and move them slowly into place. they created these long Islands about 100 yards long and 30ft high. The whole process took years. As you can Imagine, the Islands, (about 8 I think) changed the coastal landscape. instead of shifting shingle and terrible erosion, we now have a permanent grassy, shingle beach which has become a haven for wildlife and plants. There are large rock pools around the base of the Islands. and shallow sheltered bays between the Islands. The birdlife is Incredible. A large population of Turnstones, oystercatchers, plovers, lots of smaller waders, and of course, my favourite, the recent addition to our birdscape.... Little Egrets. You could almost forgive the awful smell of the rotting seaweed that also piles up after storms.

Feeding The ducks oil 7 x 5

This is an "Alice Inspired" painting. We spend a lot of time on Walt and Alice's boat during the summer. Our favourite thing to do is to toodle into st Michaels harbour and see what's going on . We usually end up feeding the ducks.(I have an 8 year old who loves it). Alice is always saying "Oh you should paint that". She's got me to paint weddings on the water , dogs on boats,my son making sandcastles , and many more subjects that would never occur to me to paint. This is the "Crab Claw" restaurant in St Michaels. So thank you Alice for another great Idea!!

Great egret 36 x 24 oil

. I felt a larger painting was long overdue. Ripples are so bloody hard to paint, but Egrets are always fun!!

palm tree oil 15 x 5

I love painting palm trees. I saw this one at Bonita Springs.

Night Sail, 7 x 5 oil SOLD

Spending the night on the water gives you a totally different experience to the normal afternoon sail. I loved the ghostly apparition of a passing sailboat gliding silently across the Bay in the twilight.

Casing The Joint oil 5 x 12''

This painting shows opportunistic gulls waiting to check out left belongings on the beach. I just loved painting this picture..

Girraffe at Dusk oil 24 x 12

Here's another demo for my students. I finished it in the studio. I'm afraid It's a terrible photo.

"Cat Boat with Sparkles" oil 9 x 12

I painted this as a demo for my students.

Second thoughts 7 x 5 oil

Patrick really wanted to go "Boogie Boarding" however the weather was foul, , the water choppy and cold(after all this was England in August). As soon as he dipped his toes he changed his mind. However it made a fun painting.

Evening sky , Yellowstone 5 x 7 oil

Horse minis.... oil 5 x 7 and 7 x 5

I keep going back to horses on the beach in England. they are fun to do, and popular!

Egret Preening oil 7 x 5

Here's one for "The Night Of Artists"