30-in-30, JANUARY 2023
A selection of these paintings are part of Art Plus Gallery's February featured exhibit.
If you'd like to purchase or see any firsthand, contact Russ at
slocumadv@gmail.com, 610-796-0418
A selection of these paintings are part of Art Plus Gallery's February featured exhibit.
If you'd like to purchase or see any firsthand, contact Russ at
slocumadv@gmail.com, 610-796-0418
January 29: Wrap up
It’s been a fun and productive month, but I need to bail a little early and move onto some other things. The painting descriptions below have been updated with what has been sold, and some other favorites from the “Up the Creek” tour of Wyomissing Park are part of the February Featured Exhibit at Art Plus Gallery.
January 26: What the Hay?
Working with gouache ahead of an upcoming trip requiring paints more transportable than oils, I figured why not take on a subject similarly unfamiliar: cows. In my limited experience with them, they seem to be into routines, and curious when anything breaks that. Before plein airing at Rodale Farm in Kutztown last summer, I stopped to take some photos, and the bovines won the staring contest. A nod to Dave Barr for the suggestion. 5” x 7”, $150 SOLD
Working with gouache ahead of an upcoming trip requiring paints more transportable than oils, I figured why not take on a subject similarly unfamiliar: cows. In my limited experience with them, they seem to be into routines, and curious when anything breaks that. Before plein airing at Rodale Farm in Kutztown last summer, I stopped to take some photos, and the bovines won the staring contest. A nod to Dave Barr for the suggestion. 5” x 7”, $150 SOLD
January 24: Southern Island Lighthouse
Southern Island marks the entrance to Tenants Harbor, Maine, Sailing out of there a couple years ago, I caught good sunlight on the structures and rocky shoreline, and this is the second painting I’ve done from those photos. (The first is 30 x 30”). The island is owned by Jamie Wyeth, who makes this his primary summer digs. I am told.
Oil, 8 x 8”, $350. In Landing Gallery, Rockland ME
January 23: On the Way Home
This last leg of the “Up the Creek” series leaves the water to swing by the summit. Many of the daily walks with my mutt Buster during his 16 years included a pass by this spot, which offers a fine view from the hill near The Highlands parking lot. Now when I’m in the park for painting or taking photos, I usually do the same. Oil, 8 x 10”, SOLD.
This last leg of the “Up the Creek” series leaves the water to swing by the summit. Many of the daily walks with my mutt Buster during his 16 years included a pass by this spot, which offers a fine view from the hill near The Highlands parking lot. Now when I’m in the park for painting or taking photos, I usually do the same. Oil, 8 x 10”, SOLD.
January 20-22: Confluence
This scene began with the vision of a knife painting to reflect the energy and wildness. But I quickly got into the subtleties of the chop over submerged rocks, the gnarly boulder and brush, and reflections. Two days and 14 hours later, I ended up with the representational take on the bend where languid Lauer’s Run flows into Wyomissing Creek, not far upstream from the Old Mill parking lot. Oil, 9 x 12”, $690. SOLD
This scene began with the vision of a knife painting to reflect the energy and wildness. But I quickly got into the subtleties of the chop over submerged rocks, the gnarly boulder and brush, and reflections. Two days and 14 hours later, I ended up with the representational take on the bend where languid Lauer’s Run flows into Wyomissing Creek, not far upstream from the Old Mill parking lot. Oil, 9 x 12”, $690. SOLD
January 19: Three Paths
Upstream of Ruth’s Bridge in Wyomissing Park is a short path that takes you closer to the creek, and a longer one on the other side of the water. You’ll likely find walkers, runners and cyclists on all of them on sunny Sundays year-round. I used two knives, 8 brushes and 3.5 hrs. to paint this fairly complex scene, working on my speed in hopes of getting into River Townes Plein Air in April and Plein Air West Reading in June. Oil, 9 x 12”, $190.
Upstream of Ruth’s Bridge in Wyomissing Park is a short path that takes you closer to the creek, and a longer one on the other side of the water. You’ll likely find walkers, runners and cyclists on all of them on sunny Sundays year-round. I used two knives, 8 brushes and 3.5 hrs. to paint this fairly complex scene, working on my speed in hopes of getting into River Townes Plein Air in April and Plein Air West Reading in June. Oil, 9 x 12”, $190.
January 18: Study in Greens
I figured this 30-in-30 would be a good time for a deep dive into greens, which can be a challenge. So I dug through my summer archives in search of the densest green reference photo I could, and found a dandy of Wyomissing Creek near the bridge on Cambridge Avenue, off the trail that goes behind the pool. The only green on my palette was Cobra’s Yellowish Green; the other dozen shades were mixed from Ultramarine, Mars Black, and four yellows. Oil, 9 x 12”, RESERVED
I figured this 30-in-30 would be a good time for a deep dive into greens, which can be a challenge. So I dug through my summer archives in search of the densest green reference photo I could, and found a dandy of Wyomissing Creek near the bridge on Cambridge Avenue, off the trail that goes behind the pool. The only green on my palette was Cobra’s Yellowish Green; the other dozen shades were mixed from Ultramarine, Mars Black, and four yellows. Oil, 9 x 12”, RESERVED
January 17: Rocky Knoll
I took a turn toward more realism going after the strong shadows and textures around this little crag, yet ended up with elements of an abstract nature. It’s on the path that cuts up from Wyomissing Creek toward High Road and the ball field. Oil, 6 x 8”, RESERVED
January 16: Midday Sun
I’ve found this obscure little spot to be picturesque under certain conditions: namely in winter when the midday sun hits the fieldstone buildings and they blend nicely with the blond winter grasses. This is where a path cuts by a private property from Old Mill Road down to Wyomissing Creek. The parallel shadows in the lower left are from the bridge not far downstream from the maintenance barn. Oil, 6 x 8”, RESERVED
I’ve found this obscure little spot to be picturesque under certain conditions: namely in winter when the midday sun hits the fieldstone buildings and they blend nicely with the blond winter grasses. This is where a path cuts by a private property from Old Mill Road down to Wyomissing Creek. The parallel shadows in the lower left are from the bridge not far downstream from the maintenance barn. Oil, 6 x 8”, RESERVED
January 15: Fall from the Pagoda
A brief diversion from the creek today, bouncing up to Mt. Penn for some high drama. Virtually always in shadow, the north side of the Pagoda makes for a striking silhouette at dusk as it overlooks South Reading at dusk, especially when fall colors are popping. Oil, 8 x 10”, $200
January 13-14: View from the Bridge
Together again for the first time: the spring house, creek and Old Mill Road. I’ve painted each many times, but this is the first all three made it to the same panel. Taking two full days to paint, this 9 x 18” oil was a nice change of pace in terms of size and style, though it took me off my posting pace for 30-in-30. RESERVED.
Together again for the first time: the spring house, creek and Old Mill Road. I’ve painted each many times, but this is the first all three made it to the same panel. Taking two full days to paint, this 9 x 18” oil was a nice change of pace in terms of size and style, though it took me off my posting pace for 30-in-30. RESERVED.
January 12: Dawn Redwood Fading
The Dawn Redwood, aka Metasequoia, is a mighty cool tree, and in the middle of the park is a stand of them. Their small, light green needles shade soft green to salmon in the fall, before they drop. They’re a prehistoric deciduous conifer (one of the few in the world), thought to be extinct until the early 20th century when a Smithsonian team found a forest of them in Mongolia. They soon became the rage among America’s parks and museum. Oil, 8 x 10”, $200. SOLD
The Dawn Redwood, aka Metasequoia, is a mighty cool tree, and in the middle of the park is a stand of them. Their small, light green needles shade soft green to salmon in the fall, before they drop. They’re a prehistoric deciduous conifer (one of the few in the world), thought to be extinct until the early 20th century when a Smithsonian team found a forest of them in Mongolia. They soon became the rage among America’s parks and museum. Oil, 8 x 10”, $200. SOLD
January 11: Old Man Echo Has an Ice Day
Other than a fresh generation of teens periodically prying their way under the bars to explore Wyomissing’s storm sewer system around the high school, there’s usually not much new going on at Old Man Echo, as this cavernous drain pipe and cascade are known locally. So when a trickling flow iced up on the stone spillway, I imagine that it was as exciting for the resident spirits as it was for me. 6 x 8” oil, RESERVED.
January 10: The Barn from the Bend
Back on track for my art-themed trek up the proverbial creek. This view is from the bend where Lauer’s Run feeds into Wyomissing Creek, around 200 yards from the parking lot on Cambridge Ave. I’ve painted the barn on Old Mill Rd before, but this is the first I’ve been able to wrangle the water into the composition. Oil, 6 x 8”, RESERVED.
Back on track for my art-themed trek up the proverbial creek. This view is from the bend where Lauer’s Run feeds into Wyomissing Creek, around 200 yards from the parking lot on Cambridge Ave. I’ve painted the barn on Old Mill Rd before, but this is the first I’ve been able to wrangle the water into the composition. Oil, 6 x 8”, RESERVED.
January 9: Crepes Over Easy
I got off the path for a day to finish a painting that I started a couple weeks ago. One of my all-time favorite paintings from my own easel is a wider view of West Reading’s Taste of Crepes that I did en plein air a few years ago. I referenced some photos that I took that day to revisit the scene for this 6” x 8” oil that tightens the focus on the women enjoy easy conversation over their lunch. SOLD
I got off the path for a day to finish a painting that I started a couple weeks ago. One of my all-time favorite paintings from my own easel is a wider view of West Reading’s Taste of Crepes that I did en plein air a few years ago. I referenced some photos that I took that day to revisit the scene for this 6” x 8” oil that tightens the focus on the women enjoy easy conversation over their lunch. SOLD
January 8: Winter at the Stone House
This is the fourth time I’ve painted Wyomissing Park’s Stone House, but the first with winter on the way and most of the leaves down. The historic old stone building is owned by the borough and is the center for various community events. Incidentally, in the 1780s, the Amish Smucker family lived here on their way to finding fame and fortune in their jelly. Oil, 9 x 12”, $390.
SOLD
This is the fourth time I’ve painted Wyomissing Park’s Stone House, but the first with winter on the way and most of the leaves down. The historic old stone building is owned by the borough and is the center for various community events. Incidentally, in the 1780s, the Amish Smucker family lived here on their way to finding fame and fortune in their jelly. Oil, 9 x 12”, $390.
SOLD
January 7: Fall from the Garden
Trudy’s Garden is at the edge of the Reading Museum Park, where the trails continue west into Wyomissing Park. A cacophony of color through the summer, come fall this manicured oasis is still good for a strong shot of autumn hues. 6 x 8” oil, $150. SOLD
January 6 Rocky Stretch
Continuing Up the Creek (that’s tentatively the title for the subset of Wyomissing Park paintings), it’s not long until you hit the first of several nice little stretches of mini-rapids. That’s the planetarium peeking through the trees on the right. “Rocky Stretch” is a 6 x 8” oil, RESERVED.
January 5: Museum Park
Enough sunsets, back to bright days and Berks County. This is hopefully the first of a dozen or so scenes along Wyomissing Creek, starting at Reading Museum and working south. This 7.5 x 14” oil was done mostly with palette knives. $290.
January 4: Sunset on the Adriatic
I caught this sunset off the coast of Croatia in October. Nearly all of the Mediterranean sunsets that week were picturesque, but the combination of soft colors and luminescence made this one my favorite. My reference shots were taken as the cruise ship left Split, an ancient walled city where much of Game of Thrones was filmed. Oil, 16 x 20”, $490.
I caught this sunset off the coast of Croatia in October. Nearly all of the Mediterranean sunsets that week were picturesque, but the combination of soft colors and luminescence made this one my favorite. My reference shots were taken as the cruise ship left Split, an ancient walled city where much of Game of Thrones was filmed. Oil, 16 x 20”, $490.
January 3: Nightfall from Rackliff
With the palette set for night scenes, I went to my photo archives for this sunset near Spruce Head, Maine. The causeway to Rackliff Island offers a fine southwest view across the water. That’s Calf Island offshore, with Wheeler Bay behind it and Clark Point on the horizon. This 8 x 10" oil is $350.
January 2: Night Light
The full moon, cool clouds and golden glow from the street lamps had a nice get-together that I could enjoy from my front yard. This 6 x 8” oil will be going out at $150. SOLD
1/1/23: Chiques Rock
I’m starting the paintathon by fine-tuning another oil of Chiques Rock, which overlooks the Susquehanna River. That's Marietta in the distance. I’ve been stabbing at this 20" x 20" canvas for a couple weeks, working from a smaller plein air study I did on 9/13. I worked from two angles on the promontory from Breezyview Overlook, just north of Columbia on Rt. 441. Its apt name notwithstanding (prepare to hold down your easel), this is one of my favorite places to paint in Lancaster County. $390 framed.
I’m starting the paintathon by fine-tuning another oil of Chiques Rock, which overlooks the Susquehanna River. That's Marietta in the distance. I’ve been stabbing at this 20" x 20" canvas for a couple weeks, working from a smaller plein air study I did on 9/13. I worked from two angles on the promontory from Breezyview Overlook, just north of Columbia on Rt. 441. Its apt name notwithstanding (prepare to hold down your easel), this is one of my favorite places to paint in Lancaster County. $390 framed.
12/30/22: On January 1, 17 members and Friends of Art Plus Gallery will dive into a 30-in-30…each aiming to finish a new painting (or at least continue to work on one) every day up to January 31! The goal isn’t as perplexing as this photo might suggest: I have a few pieces in the works that I’ll finish up, a vault of 50+ local and Maine photos taken since October with this challenge in mind, and hopes of doing several paintings en plein air if it’s cold enough for snow but warm enough that my palette won’t freeze.