Autumn's last shadows

The end of autumn is a sad time of the year, at least for me. The days continue to dwindle until the sun is rarely seen, cool breezes turn to bitter chill, and the trees are stripped bare and lifeless. This weekend brought the inevitable change and the annual sense of loss; almost two full days of strong winds tore away the last of the fall leaves, ending their beauty, and brought in winter's first frigid breath. This painting reminds us of happier times only a few weeks ago, where the low sun still illuminated the beautiful foliage and it was warm enough outside to enjoy a good hike in the woods.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Flooded Fall Stream

It's been a rough year for flooding on the East Coast of the US; A few weeks ago, hurricane Matthew spread torrential rain through the southeast coastal regions, while here in central Maryland, flash flooding in the summer severely damaged most of the historic region of Ellicott City. Here, we see the fall colors begin to spread through the woods, as flood toppled trees are illuminated against the low sun.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17" (SOLD)

Autumn touches Skyline Drive

At the end of August, I went on a business trip to Charlottesville, Virginia to teach an engineering class. On the way back, I stopped off at Skyline Caverns and Skyline Drive. It was beautiful sight, looking out across the rolling mountains and valleys; I hadn't been there in over a decade, so it was well worth the trip. Here, we see Skyline Drive as the first brush of autumn passes over it, turning the vines, shrubs, and trees red, orange, and gold.

Acrylic painting; 14" x 17"

Ocean Storm Sunrise

A rainy thunderstorm moves off over the ocean, tossing up waves, as the sun rises on an empty beach. Later, vacationers will be here, but for now, enjoy the solitude.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Antietam peaceful field

Two weeks ago, I finally visited Antietam National Battlefield, out in the mountains and rolling fields of western Maryland. It was a great trip, and the park is peaceful and beautiful with nice hiking trails and great views of the nearby mountains. Fortunately, it was a relatively cool day since there's not a lot of shade there - bring a hat and sunscreen. This view is from a point just a bit south of the main road in from Boonsboro, looking east towards the mountains. When you see the battlefield now, it is hard to believe that such carnage took place in such a tranquil place.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Eclipsing Storm

A late spring thunderstorm rolls over the trees and meadows, eclipsing the sun behind dark clouds as it passes by.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Cliffside Lightning

Low angled light cuts across the mountain peaks as dark clouds gather in the distance. Lightning flashes, thunder rolls, and in the wavering breeze, we can feel the first storm of spring.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Misty Mountain Cherries

Spring is here, bringing with it new life and a mix of colors both subtle and bold. Warm, wet weather rolls through the mountains, as leaves appear and the cherry trees burst into bloom.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Death Valley Wildflowers

A recent news article I read about the wildflowers of Death Valley inspired this painting. When the springs rains come, as they have recently, the desert erupts in clouds of gold and purple wildflowers. This year has been a particularly good year thanks to relatively ample rainfall, and it is a welcome change from winter.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Blizzard sunrise

The largest snowstorm in recorded history blew through the Mid-Atlantic region this past weekend, leaving about 30" of snow in Baltimore and even more in certain rural suburbs. Here, we see the sunrise a few days later, after the roads have been mostly cleared, but the frigid snow is still piled up in the woods and along the curbs.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"