Gnarled Cherry Trees

Spring has arrived in the Mid Atlantic, and flowering trees light up the woodland edges and highways in pastel colors. Here, we see a small grove of old, gnarled cherry trees by a lake. Their trunks and limbs are twisted and scarred from age, but they continue to bloom each year with explosions of pinks and whites. In this fleeting moment, let us enjoy spring!

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Spring on the Shoulder

All over the eastern seaboard, along highway shoulders and medians, spring has arrived. Scattered throughout the old pines and dried brush from last summer, flowering trees appear in pastel colors. While one's eyes should be on the road, it's hard not to sneak a peek at the chaotic whirl of colors living next to the pavement. 

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Old Redbuds New Spring

After a warm and snowless winter, the flowers are all blooming early in Maryland. At the edge of a forest, we can see several old redbuds amid the yellow forsythia blooming to greet a new spring.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17" (SOLD)

Reflecting on Spring

This painting was an interesting challenge since there's technically no sky in it. Instead, we see a grassy riverbank with some trees next to the water, with the sky reflected above. Pink flowers are mirrored in the water, with petals floating by on the slow current as spring passes.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

DC Cherries at Dawn

As the land warms and the days grow longer, the cherry trees begin to flower. A rite of spring in Maryland and DC each year, the cherry blossoms draw crowds to enjoy their stunning colors in defiance of winter. Here, we see the sunrise, back-lighting a trio of old cherry trees somewhere near the waters of Washington DC.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Forsythias and Snowmelt

It has been a long winter this year, with the largest snowstorm happening in late March, after the technical start of spring. Here, at the edge of a field and in the shade of an old row of pine trees, we see the snow still linger in the shadows as blazing yellow forsythia flowers illuminate the cold air.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Light Without Heat

In early February, many ancient northern cultures celebrated holidays marking the middle of winter with spring on the horizon. Examples range from the legends that produced Groundhog Day, to Imbolc, an ancient Gaelic mid-winter festival. A common theme is that of light without heat, for although the days are growing noticeably longer, the air is still cold and snow is often still on the ground. Here, we see that the horizon is pink with dusk even as a local streetlight is already on, marking the slow return of light; and yet, snow covers the ground and the air is frigid. Spring is slowly on its way.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Monumental Forest

In some distant realm, ancient trees stretch skyward on a cool spring day, casting long shadows across a meandering brook. Sunlight glimmers through the leaves and heavy limbs, illuminating the water and petals of small flowering trees and shrubs. Part of my MTG: basic lands series.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17" (SOLD)

Slushy March evening

Spring seemed to come deceptively early this year, but a warm February turned into a cold March full of slush and ice. Here, we look down an empty side street in the evening as light snow falls on warm pavement beneath the glow of old streetlights.

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"

Defiant Spring

Along a muddy forest path, the cherry trees bloom under a cold, cloudy sky. Though winter seems unwilling to give up its grasp, spring flowers bloom in defiance of the gloom.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Thunder in the Mountains

In the Smoky Mountains, a spring storm rolls through on a warm day, bring cool rain and dramatic lightning.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Rolling Spring Clouds

Spring runoff fills a stream in the open plains while clouds roll overhead, casting shadows across the gnarled trees and endless grass.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Crabapple Hike

Along a wandering dirt hiking trail, an old crabapple stands guard, covered in flowers. Amid the green trees and grass, its pink hues shout a reminder that spring will always return, no matter winter's fury.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Jefferson Memorial Cherry Blossoms

This was a bold painting for me, as I don't normally paint buildings or national monuments such as the Jefferson Memorial. Early every spring, the cherry trees around the Memorial and all through DC are covered in pink and white blossoms. It has been a cold start to spring, with snowfall in late March, so the cherry blossoms have been delayed - for now, enjoy an ideal view of them on a sunny day with the crowds nowhere to be seen.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Cherry Tree and Pines

This one continues the spring theme of flowering trees - can you tell I'm sick of winter? Here's an old cherry tree growing near the edge of a scrubby border near two big pine trees. The mix of light and shadow makes the composition in this painting, while the cherry tree holds the viewer's attention. The cherry blossoms are echoed in the distant cherries and the petals on the ground.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"

Cherry Tree on a Windy Day

Well, it is FINALLY spring!

So, I figured I'll paint spring-time scene, and flowering trees are the perfect choice. Here, we see an old cherry tree in flower on a breezy, spring day. You can see the shed petals blowing in the wind and scattered along the ground. In the background on the left are some smaller, young cherry trees. The trees were tricky in this one since I wanted to give the impression that they had almost finished leafing out, which is not easy to do, but I think it turned out pretty well.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17" (framed, SOLD)