Brushes with the Landscape

Pencil Sketch - Elmer Ham 4" x 6" This is one of a number of small en plien air sketches that Elmer L Ham in preparation for larger more finished works.  I find even his small sketches to be very powerful and to my eye, rapidly executed.  If you take a close look at the shading in the trees and the overall pencil strokes, they are long and decisive.   There is an economy of pencil strokes - defining both form and value.  Also the line framing the drawing is not even - which indicates a more rapid process to me.  This sketch would serve as the basis for a work in any medium having a strong sense of perspective as well as arranged patterns of lights and darks.  Other pencil sketches exist that are more complete and finished works in their own right - but I would hang this on my wall too! Elmer was also known to work on subjects a number of times.  In a series almost.  When I was younger and newer at painting that never appealed to me.  Monet's haystacks, ca

Elmer L Ham - Pastel Floral Here is another fragment of a floral study by Elmer L Ham.  I've really enjoyed working through these fragments and experimenting with different compositions.   I've never really tried collage before but I think I will in the future.  I'm now keeping scraps and bits that I used to throw away for further consideration down the road.   Sometimes preliminary pieces are so much more freeing to work on - that happy accidents can occur.   While working on some of these fragments its been very interesting to see the different perspectives approaching abstraction.  The above fragment is a Pastel.   Below is a watercolor fragment. I'll include more floral still lives in other posts.  This subject matter definitely reflects Ham's training with Laura Coombs Hills.

Looking forward to a day of Plein Air Painting to kick off the summer and help support a local gallery! Barn Party Fundraiser Harlow Gallery Pictured: Top Row Left to Right   Judith Schuppien, Lisa Kyle, Robert Kahler,  Pictured Bottom Row Left to Right  Ed Buonvecchio, Jeanne Ouelette, Nathan Allard SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 4-7PM During the day, 15 artists will be making artwork on location in response to the numerous beautiful, historic barns of Old Village Road in East Winthrop. (see below for full listing of artists.) The artwork produced from the day will then be up for bids during a silent auction fundraiser to benefit programming at the Harlow, a membership based 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to connecting and celebrating art, artists and community in downtown historic Hallowell since 1963. From 4-7pm, all are invited to congregate at the host barn (location will be disclosed to ticket holders) for an after party and silent auction fundraiser to benefit the Harl

Cape Cod - Dunes and Pine Charcoal on Paper Cape Cod - Dunes and Pine in Process This subject was from our trip to Cape Cod last summer (2018).  The sun was very low so that the near dune was completely in shadow, only the top of the pine was illuminated as well as the far dune.  This is another example for me of the benefits of painting on location.  This was an effect on a brilliant sunny day that lasted for probably 10-15 minutes.  I would not have imagined this scene with the back dune illuminated - but there it was.  It was such a striking contrast. On the right are half a sheet of small sketches done on location at the Cape.   I then did the large colored pencil sketch the top.  I don't work with colored pencil often, but decided to shake things up a bit and do some experimenting. The small pen and ink sketch was a composition sketch resulting from a feeling from the other sketches and wondering if the background dunes closed the picture in too mu