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 oil paintings. More traditional and direct in their approach, these works provide a vocabulary of natural and atmospheric details which inform the 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.