Susquehanna Valley: Luminist Studies
Created en plein air, from memory and from photographic reference, these studies examine the Susquehanna River Valley, its flora and fauna, geologic features, weather patterns and cloud formations in all times of day and seasons. Utilizing a broad spectrum of media these works range from painterly studies and tiny miniatures to larger fully realized pastel drawings and paintings. More traditional and direct in their approach, these works provide a vocabulary of natural and atmospheric details which inform and are often later incorporated into more complex narrative works in the studio. Although often utilizing 19th century Hudson River School type techniques and devices to portray and document the sublime beauty of the Susquehanna River Valley, these works also incorporate the 21st century mark of human habitation and activity, including ever-present jet trails in the sky, plumes of steam and smoke from riverside factories and power plants, as well as the bridges, highways, towns and dots of light on the horizon at dusk, all reminders of the continual expansion of civilization which remains a constant threat to the river valley's fragile ecosystem.
Winter Gulls on the Susquehanna, oil on museum board, 2009, 8.75 x 15.75 inches
private collection
George Sorrels painting the Susquehanna, oil on museum board, 2009, 12.5 x 11 inches
private collection
Cloud Study, Long Level, oil on museum board, 2005, 11 x 15 inches
private collection
Equinox, pastel on museum board, 2017, 6 x 5 inches
private collection
Opening, pastel on museum board, 2021, 11 x 13 inches
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Black Dog, pastel on museum board, 2021, 11 x 13 inches
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Winter Clouds, Night, pastel on museum board, 2012, 6 x 8 inches
private collection
Highpoint, oil on museum board, 2009, 21 x 30.75 inches
collection of York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA
Susquehanna Valley, Dusk, mixed media on museum board, 2009, 5.25 x 6.5 inches
private collection
Otter Creek, oil on panel, 2003, 15 x 24 inches
private collection
High Water, oil on museum board, 2004, 11.75 x 13.75 inches
private collection
Lemon Tree Farm, pastel on museum board, 2012, 36.25 x 22.25 inches
private collection
Cloud Study III, oil on museum board, 2015, 5 x 7 inches
private collection
Riverside, pastel on museum board, 2020, 4.75 x 6.25 inches
private collection
Receding Storm, Chickies, oil on museum board, 2015, 3 x 5 inches
private collection
Distant Storm, pastel on museum board, 2018, 4 x 4 inches
private collection
Morning Snow, pastel on museum board, 2013, 5.25 x 6.75 inches
private collection
River Fire, pastel on museum board, 2018, 3.5 x 3.5 inches
private collection
