"The Promise of Spring" oil on canvas on board, 12 x 16

After a long winter its always a welcome site to see signs of spring. I have been hearing the song of the red-winged black bird in the last couple of days and have even seen a few in our feeder, for me a true sign of spring. How nice to be able to hear the song of one of my favorite birds. It feels as though one can breathe a sigh of relief knowing they have made it through winter. Soon the beauty of summer will be upon us.

This piece shows the grays of winter along side some of the new spring grasses along the river bank. The sun is warm yet the rushing water is incredibly cold. This painting is of one of my favorite trees along the river.

Tomorrow, Monday April 6 at 2:00pm CST, I will be the guest of Kim McCool on her online radio broadcast, “Discover the Heart of Art with Kim McCool.” Kim is an excellent porcelain artist and has recently developed this great program. "Discover the Heart of Art with Kim McCool" is a bi-weekly show where McCool interviews artists of all kinds - from classic art, such as painting and sculpture to writing, music and choreography discuss the heart of their art. This art talk show is unique and informative. McCool and her guest talk about what inspires the art, where the love of the art comes from and how listeners can discover the heart of art.
If people are not able to listen to the live broadcast, they can go to McCool’s website (http://www.kimmccool.com) and either download the podcast for later listening or listen to the replay on their computer. The broadcasts will be archived. Please join us.
"The Promise of Spring"
oil on canvas, 12 x 16
695.00 plus shipping
please contact me directly for purchase details
email: artsteph1@aol.com
blog: www.andreworrstudio.blogspot.com
web: www.andreworr.com

"Summer Pickin" 10 x 8 oil on canvas

As mentioned in a previous post, I am spending some time teaching a painting workshop on the Georgia coast. The nice weather here has inspired me to begin thinking ahead a few months when it will be time to plant the garden at home in Vermont. I painted this piece after clipping a few late season blooms and tossing them in an old "Ball" canning jar belonging to my great-grandmother. I enjoyed painting this piece rather quickly trying to retain a sense of freshness and spontaneity.
"Summer Pickin"
oil on canvas, 10 x 8
sold
artsteph1@aol.com
www.andreworrstudio.blogspot.com
www.andreworr.com

Apples and Copper, oil on board, 18 x 24

I have been teaching some workshops on the coast of Georgia as of late and I realized I hadn't posted anything to my blog in a week or so. I have always liked this piece...rather a joint effort. I borrowed the old copper jug from a friend and the apples came from the tree belonging to a neighbor. It was great fun to pull the piece together and they were quited impressed to know they had played a small part in the set up. Guess its all part of sharing and the creative process.
"Apples and Copper"
oil on board, 18 x 24
available through the South Street Gallery, Hingham, MA
www.southstreetgallery.com
www.andreworrstudio.blogspot.com
www.andreworr.com

View from the Studio"

The miracle of the changing seasons never ceases to amaze me. After passing from verdant summer gently into the brilliant colors of autumn we are now at the beginning of winter in New England. The blanket of snow creates a wonderful atmosphere for the holidays not to mention, much inspiration of material for paintings. This little piece was completed from inside my studio, looking out onto an old horse barn in back of our home. Its is indeed the most wonderful time of the year.
"View from the Studio"
oil on board, 8 x 6
125.00 unframed, plus shipping
sold

"Autumn Reflections" oil on canvas, 16 x 20

I guess after having returned from teaching a workshop I was still pretty excited about painting sunflowers, so I decided to put together another still life this time with a more autumnal theme. The copper pot has become one of my favorite still life objects and I am sure it will appear in more paintings in the coming years. I received word the other evening that my painting, "Road Home" had been accepted into the 125th Annual Member's Exhibition of the Salmagundi Club in New York. In addition,the painting received the Arthur T. Hill Memorial Award for a landscape by an artist under 45 years of age. It was a wonderful surprise and I am still walking a few inches off the ground.
"Autumn Reflections"
oil on canvas, 16 x 20
for purchase inquiry, please contact me directly
artsteph1@aol.com
www.andreworr.com

"Study in Complementary Colors" oil on canvas, 8 x 7

As mentioned in a previous post, I have been in Iowa teaching a series of paintings workshops. This is another example of one of the exercises we completed before working with the larger class project. We had been working in black and white with a small still life, with a focus on matching values of objects with tones of pigment. The next step in this process was to use two complementary colors, in this case yellow and violet, to create a small study. In addition to pure color we mixed semi neutral tones and some lighter and darker values with the addition of white and black. It was amazing to see the variation of colors that could be mixed. The concept of this exercise was to try to gain an understanding that value and the combination of values help to create form. In addition, I wanted to help the students experiment with the concept that color in its pure form has a value (light and dark.) They quickly realized that maintaining good contrast was the key to making a successful study using two colors. I encouraged the students to note that the semi neutral mixes had a warm and a cool side which when placed in the painting helped to establish a feeling of depth as the warmer tones advanced in the painting and cooler tones helped areas to recede in the piece. The process was a challenge but it helped to reinforce the idea that color can be anything as long as its reasonable and that a painting can be successful and interesting using a very limited palette.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.
artsteph1@aol.com
www.andreworr.com

"Sunflower Study" oil on canvas, 10 x 8

I have just finished a painting workshop in Iowa and I thought I might share some of our class projects. We spent two days working on smaller studies and excercizes before tackling our larger still life set up. In one of our studies we worked up a small painting using only black and white. It was a great opportunity to study values and and how the combination of values help to create form; it is also a great chance to spend some time focusing on contrast. On another study we worked up a still life set up using only two complimentary colors, semi neutral mixes, black and white. The painting included in this post was simply a warm-up exercise to demonstrate how I would approach a floral subject. I was pretty happy with the end result especially since the study was completed in 15 minutes. My next few postings will include some of the other studies from this class.
artsteph1@aol.com

"Empire Apple At Rest," 5 x 7, oil on canvas on board

I went apple picking a couple of weeks ago; the day could not have been better. It was a beautiful fall day with a light crisp breeze and bright sunshine. I have thoroughly enjoyed painting several apple studies this fall this one included. I am not sure why I am so drawn to this subject; they are always a challenge to paint...who knows, maybe that is the draw. I always tell my students that painting fruit is like painting a portrait. Each piece of fruit has slight variations which are unique, they have a character and a life all their own. I always try to have a few leaves in my apple studies as well;they have a character and sense of humor in the way they twist and curl. It may sound strange, but I don't want to paint just a piece of fruit, I want to paint the bright clear day, the crisp air, the fun of picking apples with a loved one. This is a lofty goal in a piece of canvas 5 x 7 inches.
"Empire Apple at Rest"
oil on canvas on board, 5 x 7
100.00 unframed, plus shipping
please contact me directly for payment details
artsteph1@aol.com
www.andreworr.com

"The Old Pond on Lewis Road" oil on board, 8 x 10

Last week, while out "leaf peeping" with another artist friend, we came upon this old pond on a road outside the village where I live. Painting outside is something I do enjoy but found that being with other artists makes the experience that much more fun. Its great to be able to share ideas, talk about art or even bounce ideas off of one another while working on the same subject; no two people will ever see the same scene in the same way. Now the leaves have almost completely fallen and this area will be soon cloaked in Winter's blanket of snow.
"The Old Pond on Lewis Road"
oil on board, 8 x 10
300.00 unframed, plus shipping
please contact me directly for payment details
www.andreworr.com
artsteph1@aol.com

"Dazzling Fall Colors," oil on board, 8 x 10

It seems to most folks, around this part of Vermont, this year's fall color extravaganza has been one of the best in many years. I would agree. The color is always amazing this time of year, but it seems this year, more so than others. While I paint almost every day, I am not a huge fan of outdoor painting. I try to balance my studio work though with some plein air work as well as photographing and sketching the scenes and places which inspire me. I think the individual has to decide which is the best working method for them and then follow that path with diligence. This painting however, was painted on location, almost in its entirety. The past few days have been exceedingly bright and warm so it made for some wonderful working time outside. Over the next couple posts, I will share some of my outdoor attempts. As with all of my outdoor work, I think these small paintings/sketches will, along with my photos and pencil sketches, become useful aids in larger more involved paintings. I like though, the freshness of these smaller paintings, not to mention the feelings and the memories I have of working on these pieces on one of the most beautiful of fall days.
"Dazzling Fall Colors
oil on board, 8 x 10
300.00 unframed, plus shipping
please contact me directly for payment details

"Hidden Pond on Bull Frog Hollow Road, Wells, VT" oil on canvas, 12 x 16

After returning from a teaching trip to Phoenix, Arizona I was greeted in Vermont by some of the early fall colors. I was out one day earlier this week and came upon this scene and knew immediately that this could make a great painting. The late afternoon light was filtering through some of the tall pines casting shadows on the pond allowing strong lights to hit some of the distant brilliant yellow-orange trees. The water was perfectly still on this crisp, early autumn day. As with many of these smaller studies, I think this setting will find its way into a larger painting in the not so distant future. Incidentally, this painting will be part of the "Fresh Paint" Auction sponsored by the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester, VT. Over thirty newly painted pieces will be offered by auction as part of a fund raising event for the center on October 10, 2008. For more information please contact me directly or contact the SVAC at www.svac.org.
"Hidden Pond on Bull Frog Hollow Road, Wells, VT"
oil on canvas
12 x 16

"Copper and Gourds" oil on canvas, 9 x 12

After a ten day teaching trip to Phoenix, Arizona, it was nice to return to the early fall season of Vermont. The leaves are turning and autumn is putting on her cloak of brilliant colors. These gourds and mums were casually spread on a table and placed in a favorite copper cup and the pictured still life is the result. This piece will be part of the Fall Auction Exhibition at the Salmagundi Club, NY. For more information, please contact me directly.
"Copper and Gourds"
oil on canvas, 9 x 12

"Majestic Maple" oil on canvas, 12 x 16

This time of year in New England is always bittersweet. The beautiful greens of summer have faded, the garden has finished producing wonderful fruits and vegetables and soon the cold temps of Winter will be here. This painting is of a late summer maple tree not far from my home. It is huge and has an interesting trunk structure. It has stood for years through the changing seasons, quite majestically, I might add. Thus the name, "Majestic Maple."
"Majestic Maple"
oil on canvas, unframed
12 x 16
695.00, plus shipping.
Please contact me directly for payment options

"Apples and Copper" oil on canvas, 18 x 24

Another exploration of wild apples and copper! I am not sure why I am so drawn to this subject, but I never become tired of working with various textures, reflective surfaces and natural objects. Ultimately, I think my love of this subject is due in part to my enthusiasm for the fall season ahead. We are coming into a magical time in New England with the beauty of the foliage, cool days and bright blue skies. No fall day would be complete without a trip to the local apple orchard for an afternoon of picking. What better way to end the day than painting a few apples along with treasured objects. Enjoy!
"Apples and Copper"
oil on canvas, 18 x 24
please contact me directly for payment details

"Old Barns, Poultney, VT" oil on canvas, 9 x 12

Living in rural Vermont has provided me with a wealth of information and material for my paintings. While I tend to work with still life and landscape subjects, working with architectural elements is somewhat new to me. I have thoroughly enjoyed painting covered bridges, barns and old houses and am looking forward to a lifetime of painting and enjoyment of such subjects. This barn and other outbuildings are located near my home. The barn faces west and has had years of exposure to the sun and elements. The paint or stain is almost completely worn giving a great weathered feeling to the building. The sides however, mostly in shadow, retain their typical barn red. I painted this scene using fall colors, but I am sure I will return to this area as I can visualize the setting in all seasons and weather conditions.
“Old Barns, Poultney, VT”
9 x 12, oil on canvas
595.00 unframed, plus shipping

"Summer Apples" oil on canvas, 5 x 7

"Summer Apples" oil on canvas 5 x 7
100.00, unframed, plus shipping
As mentioned in another post, I have been surprised this summer at the abundance of wild apple trees scattered throughout the hills and meadows in the area of Vermont where I live. The beautiful fruit sparkles in the early autumnal sun, attracting birds and dear for a feast of these summer gifts. I love the colors of the apples and in this setting I particularly liked the combination of the colors of the apples with the porcelain cup.

Summer Apples
7" x 5" (17.8cm x 12.7cm)
Oil on canvas on Panel
$100, unframed plus shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.??

"Summer Sunshine" oil on canvas, 11 x 14

"Summer Sunshine" 11 x 14, oil on canvas on board
575.00 unframed, plus shipping
As this blog progresses, one of my goals is to present paintings from time to time that are a stretch for me; a piece whereby artistically, possibly in color, brushwork, concept, anything that might be a bit out of the norm for me, I pushed a bit. This piece happens to be the case. It was a demonstration at a recent art festival and when I got it home, I liked elements but I was struck by an over abundance of "green." I let the piece dry up a bit and scumbled color over the piece not really trying to get a representative color, but rather cool color in the shadows, warms in the lights. Blue might not have been in the scene, but when I wanted to emphasize "shadow" I pushed the blue and so forth. I wanted to make this as impressionistic as I could muster. Who knows, maybe I will go down this road more often... the journey was pure fun.