Peony Study

It's been quite some time since I've posted on this blog! But I've decided to give "blogger" a whirl again. Much has happened - if you don't follow me on Facebook or on my website, I'll give you the highlights. First is that I just opened my own gallery in Buckingham, PA. It's a great place and the grand opening was a lovely success; great turnout and quite a number of paintings sold. And I'm still teaching and offering some workshops this summer. I had a bit of burnout from getting ready for the show, but it was easily cured by a week to myself to regroup. Now I'm back in the studio. Today I decided to work on a study of a peony - they are in bloom right now and since their glory is short lived, I need to work on them over the next week or so, or wait until next year. They are my all time favourite flower. Title: Peony Study Medium: Oil on Linen Size: 8" x 7" Price: $350 (painting is framed)

This blog is about my work as an artist living on a farm in Bucks County, PA. I'm not a traditional "Bucks County artist", I'm simply an artist who happens to live in Bucks County, a neighboring county to Philadelphia, PA.

This area is rich in cultural heritage and has once been referred to as the "Genius Belt". Both artistic and literary / academic giants have called this county home; Painters such as Edward Redfield, Daniel Garber and George Nakashima are just a couple of the hundreds of (great) artists who have called Bucks County home. Add to that list, Pearl S. Buck, James Michener, Margaret Mead, Oscar Hammerstein, and you begin to get the picture (pun intended) as well as the scope and magnitude of the talent that has lived and worked in this region.

The carriage house and 2 story barn I rent on this farm has a long and creative history. The main house, a beautiful 2 story stone farmhouse, was built in 1850 and this land was originally a dairy farm. The carriage house I live in was originally the caretakers house. The two story barn I use for my teaching studio and private studio was once the calving barn. Needless to say, it has seen some significant aesthetic and climate control improvements since "Bessie" laboured and gave birth to her young in the space.

Several successful, creative people have passed though this place. The prior tenant, artist John Murdoch lived, worked and taught here. Due to his success, he moved on to a larger house and studio space. There have also been interior designers and the musical group "Ween" lived and recorded a lot of their music here. Hey, they've been on Letterman, so there's something good going on here.

So there's the history, now I hope to share with you, through my paintings, the inspirations, challenges, and events of life here.