Marsh Vista, Study 1, Ps. 107:8

Pastel, 7.5x10 on Wallis

This painting is a composite of a number of views of the salt marsh near the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.  I have tried to capture the sense of space and calm that this vista inspires drawing my attention to the beauty of God’s creation.

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
Psalm 107:8

I executed this painting with different values of pure primary and secondary colors - very few grays were used.

I took a new photo and updated the image, October 28, 2015.
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Cedars with Color - Revisited

Pastel on sanded Gatorboard - 11x14

This painting was started from beneath the Beach Blvd. bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway.  It was raining, and the colors of the salt marsh were spectacular.  The part of the scene that attracted my attention most was the stark contrast between the dark, gray-green cedars with the marsh grasses and coastal shrubs that the rain had turned to brilliant green and gold.
I originally completed this painting in November 2011.  It received so much attention recently on Facebook that I had to give it another look.  I have retouched parts of it, and brought it out again. 

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Alpine Plantation - Gray and Breezy

Pastel, 12x9, Plein air

The First Coast Pastel Society held their monthly paint-out at the Alpine Groves Park.  This old plantation house has been restored, and the view of the back door and porch intrigued me with the dark oaks behind it and the huge dead tree covered in grape vines in the foreground.  The weather was overcast, cool, and a little breezy - altogether a perfect day for painting.

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Lake Ray, September Colors

Pastel 12x9 - Plein air

When I started this painting in the early morning, the sky was a slate-gray overcast.  As I worked, the clouds broke in patches.  The gray became lighter and the shadows lost their depth and mystery, but the colors remained gray and muted.  A light breeze kept the lake from being smooth making the reflections vibrant and soft.

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Autumn Dunes

Pastel 6x9 on UArt 320

As the summer has ended and the autumn has come to the beach, the sea oats and other grasses adopt the colors of fall.  In an effort to get more vibrant color into this painting, I started with a turquoise undercoat which I have permitted to show through in places.  I was hoping that the brilliance of the underpaint would set the tone and help instruct my color choices for the rest of the painting. I chose a view at low tide with a wide beach and the surf far away.  I deliberately understated the beach and surf in the background and left the sky without clouds order to emphasize the contrast and colors of the late summer grass and bushes on the dunes.

September Wave

Pastel, 6x8 on UArt 320

At the end of summer, the prevailing wind turns to the southwest, and the swells come in from a flat ocean.  They normally break in regular succession on the beach, but every so often a large sell comes in and rolls over the smaller waves that have come before.  I call these "September Waves."

9/22/15 - My wife Patty observed that I needed something to fill the big empty void in the middle of the painting.  After some thought, I agreed and added some sea gulls.  I like the addition.

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Beach Colors 2

Pastel, 8x8 on Wallis

This is an interpretation and expression of the small dunes that edge the beach.  The sea oats stand without formation until the wind comes up and pushes them all in the same direction.

To purchase, contact me.  Painting is in GNG, St. Augustine, FL.