In September of this year, I took part in the Plein Air Festival at the Olana Estate in
​Hudson, NY. 
The estate was filled with art instructors holding classes on the lawn, Plein Air painters working on a canvas and visitors from all over who came to wander around the grounds and to enjoy the event.
The Olana Estate offers a variety of trails to hike up onto a hillside in order to view the Hudson River Valley below.  From several vantage points, there are spectacular panoramic views of both the Berkshire Mountains and the Catskill Mountain range, offering a Plein Air painter many options to set up for the day.
​Below are several pictures of works in progress at this year's Olana Plein Air Festival 2022.

The Stile Gallery of Art & Design is now divided into two seasonal shops. 
During the winter months, I travel to a warmer climate, preferably in the southern regions of Florida, where I can continue to paint outdoors.  This means that my summer shop will be closed until I return back north for the spring/summer months of 2022.
If you would like to purchase a painting from my closed shop, please inform me of your purchase.  I will keep you informed as to a later shipping date.  
I hope that you will take a moment to look at my winter shop items.
Thank you!
www.stilegalleryshop.com/store

Please stop by and say hello at the Stile Gallery of Art & Design tent,
Sunday, September 19th for the 5th Annual Skywalk Arts Festival.
https://www.greatnortherncatskills.com/events/skywalk-arts-festival

Before my final weeks along the Florida coast, I decided to try and paint a few acrylic studies on small canvas panels sizes 8" x 8" and 8" x 10".

During a recent trip to the Florida coast, I was able to enjoy daily walks on the beach carrying along with me a sketchbook and paints.  This allowed me to sit in the sand for about a half hour to work on a sketchbook study in watercolor or acrylics. A part of the daily adventure was to look for natural objects such as shells, feathers, dried grass, plants or any sea life that may have washed onto shore for interesting subjects to paint or to photograph.  
Below are two videos on my beach walks and painting sessions demonstrating how an artist must be mindful of the weather while working outdoors, seeking natural objects and other observations along the way.

February has come to a close as March rolls in, with the anticipation that the threat of winter's harshest weather has ended.  It was a lovely site to see just the same, as the tree limbs shimmered under the weight of snow and the evening sky glowed with a soft pastel color by the cold frosty air.
I enjoyed taking short walks on the snow packed sidewalks, taking photographs of the neighborhood gardens buried under a deep blanket of white.  But it is also the best time of year for me to brew a hot cup of tea, pull out the sketchbook and sit down to draw and paint my indoor windowsill plants. This helps to improve my drawing skills before the upcoming springtime when the flowering trees and garden plants come alive with an abundance of subjects to illustrate after the long winter's slumber.  

Last year I was asked to illustrate the Christmas Mushroom for a gift.  In order to create a final piece, I needed to illustrate several potential paintings.
Below demonstrates how I worked on more then one illustration before deciding on the triple mushroom piece in watercolor on Bristol 400.  
Finally, I began to work on a mini acrylic painting which is unfinished.
Happy New Year!!