Chesapeake Bay - Cruise Sunset

Earlier this month, I went on a week-long cruise around the Chesapeake Bay to see various historical sites, such as Jamestown, Williamsburg, the Harriet Tubman Museum, and small villages like Saint Michaels. The trip was a lot of fun and I had a great time! This painting was inspired by a photo taken from the restaurant at the stern of the ship one day as the sun was setting. You can see the rough water left by the ship's wake to the right under a blazing sky full of clouds. 

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Bay Breeze in Fall

On the last warm day of fall, we watch a cold wind blow the drying leaves from old trees by the Chesapeake Bay. The ground is already covered in crisp leaves as the low sun casts long shadows. Soon, the winter cold will set in, but that won't spoil this peaceful afternoon.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Rocky Bay Sunrise

Sunrise shines through parting clouds on the Chesapeake Bay, illuminating its peaceful waters. Waves no larger than ripples lap at the old rocks of a forgotten, submerged jetty at high tide on this beautiful morning.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17" (framed)

Chesapeake Cove Sunset

Many of my paintings from recent years have been of the mountainous American west, the Appalachian range, or even fanciful places; here, I decided to return to a local site of interest - the Chesapeake Bay. Waterways are beautiful in their own right, though often less "egalitarian" - anyone can enjoy a mountain from many miles away, but a body of water is usually limited only to those on its banks who can see it. That said, a sunset or sunrise over the water is truly beautiful.

 Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Sweetgums by the Bay

In Down's Memorial Park, old sweetgum trees turn shades of orange and crimson by the edge of the Chesapeake Bay. The autumn breeze scatters leaves in the low sunlight.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Storm on the Chesapeake Bay

This one was inspired by the storms that sweep over the land in late spring and early summer. Here, we see a cloud-tossed sky late in the afternoon on a sunny, warm day down by the Chesapeake Bay. The landscape was based upon Down's Memorial Park; the two small pillars in the water are navigation beacons, which are quite common sights on the Chesapeake Bay.

Acrylic Painting: 14" x 17"

Downs Memorial Park by the Bay

One of my favorite local parks to visit is Downs Memorial Park, which lies on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. This park has over 200 acres of forests and trails, as well as a large shore along the Bay with grassy areas and benches available so one can spend an afternoon looking out across the Bay, watching ships pass by in the distance.

Autumn is one of the best times to visit this park since it is full of trees that change interesting colors: chestnut oaks turn bronze, sweetgums change from orange to wine or rust red, and hickories turn golden hues. A good number of trees grow right down by the water on small raised embankments. From these areas, one can stand in the shade and look out across the water, as seen in this painting looking southward from the water's edge under a group of trees. In the distance, you can make out the far shore of the Bay across the waters.

"Downs Park in Fall by the Bay"

Acrylic painting, 14" x 17"