Raging Rapids, oil on panel, 16 x 24

This painting was both challenging and exciting create. I really enjoyed the contrast between light and dark tones in the water not to mention painting the rocks and the trees. The challenge was in trying to replicated the intensity of light on the scene which I felt when I saw this area in early autumn last year. Additionally, I wanted the viewer to almost feel the spray of the rushing water over the rocks. It took several weeks to complete and I think the time was worth my effort. In fact, I am finding that the more time I take on each painting, I not only enjoy the process but feel that I am completing paintings which more complete in their overall impact. The key is in balancing the spontaneity of the beginning, the labor of the process and the excitement of heading towards the finish.
www.andreworr.com

artsteph1@aol.com

Peaceful Autumn, oil on canvas 16 x 24

A recently completed painting of the warm autumn days. We have been lucky with beautiful weather for the last several weeks....I am sure however, snow is on the way. This painting is another piece in a more realistic style and I am quite happy with the result.
Peaceful Autumn
oil on panel
16 x 24
available through the Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, VT
www.bryangallery.org

www.andreworr.com

Summer Morning at the Quarry Pond, oil on canvas 20 x 24

Earlier this summer I was asked to have an exhibit of my work at the Slate Valley Museum in Granville, NY. (www.slatevalleymuseum.org) It was an honor to be asked to have a selection of paintings for an event which was scheduled in early October. I began working on several paintings with a strong focus of the area, including some paintings of the old slate quarries which dot the hillsides in this particular region of Vermont. To some these expanses of rocks are just that, piles and piles of rocks and scrap leftover from a time when slate was a very common material in the building industry. I look at these piles of rocks and see interesting colors, light patterns and in the case of this painting, some amazing reflections in the quarry ponds. When I was asked to participate, I had no idea that I would find so much material from which to work. I am always amazed that the best paintings are often found within a few moments from home. The museum sustained some significant damage from hurricane Irene, but they were repaired and ready to go by the opening in October. The opening event held a very celebratory atmosphere and I am very proud to have been a part. Recently, I submitted this painting for the 128th Annual Member's Exhibition at the Salmagundi Club NYC. This painting was awarded the Arthur T. Hill Memorial Award for a landscape by an artist under the age of 45.
www.andreworr.com

Calm Evening, oil on canvas 11 x 14

There is something that seems very fitting when thinking about the beach and summer. While we are in full summer mode in Vermont, and while I love the beauty of the verdant hillsides, I still very much enjoy a summer trip to the ocean. Happy Summer!
Calm Evening
oil on canvas, 11 x 14
sold
www.andreworr.com

A View North, Middletown Springs, VT oil on canvas 16 x 20

Summer is truly upon us here in VT. With this painting I wanted to focus on the beauty of the distant hillside. I wanted to convey a feeling of a warm, New England summer day. With many more days such as these, I'll be ready for winter!
"A View North, Middletown Springs, Vermont"
oil on canvas
16 x 20
www.andreworr.com

Join us for a painting workshop at the Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, VT. August 16-18, 2011. For more information contact Mickey Meyers at the Bryan Memorial Gallery www.bryangallery.org

The Start of Summer

View from Marginal Way, Ogunquit, Maine
oil on canvas 6 x 8

On view now, as part of the show:
Scenes of Summer
Brandt Roberts Galleries
642 N. High Street
Columbus, OH
Opening reception June 4, during gallery hop
www.brandtrobertsgalleries.com



In Fullness of Summer
oil on canvas 24 x 30

This, along with 25 other paintings of mine will be on view through June 30:

Design Domaine Gallery,
67 Mine Brook Rd. (Rt. 202)
Berndardsville, NJ
Opening reception June 3, from 6 until 9 pm.
www.designdominegallery.com

www.andreworr.com

Single Peony, oil on canvas, 8 x 10

While we are still waiting for spring to come its nice to be able to think about what might be ahead in the garden this summer. I spent an afternoon, a very cold and blustery afternoon, working on this simple peony in a glass jar. I really enjoyed the simple and graceful composition with strong lighting. I was so pleased with the result, I arranged a few more in a simple, but larger set up. Maybe I'll get to that this week.
www.andreworr.com
Single Peony
oil on canvas
8 x 10

Adirondack Evening, oil on canvas 16 x 20

Recently, we headed down to visit some friends in Massachusetts, taking in the Spring Bulb Show at Smith College. On rather cool and blustery March day, walking into the greenhouses at Smith, which were filled to overflowing with every spring bulb imaginable, was truly amazing. Once inside, seeing the colors, taking in the scents and the warmth of the atmosphere it did, indeed, serve as a reminder that spring will come, in spite of the snow which is still heavy on the ground. Painting summer scenes also helps to serve as a reminder that the cold days of winter will soon be replaced by the warm days of summer. This recent painting of a river in the foothills of the Adirondacks portrays a quiet summer evening just as the sun is starting to set. Some have called this a painting with a "spiritual feel." I look at it and think soon, I will see the grass in the yard, the flowers in the garden and the warmth of the summer sun. Guess I am ready for spring!

Adirondack Evening
oil on canvas
16 x 20
artsteph1@aol.com
www.andreworr.com

Breaking Light After a Morning Storm, oil on canvas, 18 x 24

After what seems to have been a very snowy and cold winter I must admit I am ready for some warmer weather. We have had however, some beautiful winter days. When I look back over photos of paintings I have completed in the last couple of years, I have been amazed at how many views of the Poultney River have been completed. I did a smaller plein air painting of this same spot last summer so this winter it was interesting to do a comparison of the area in a different season. There is something about the tree on the left that seems to balance the trees on the right and the day I was down there the light comimg through the trees seemed to give the affect that I was hoping to achieve. I like to paint winter scenes where the snow hangs heavy on the tress, I like use of back lighting in a painting, I liked the shapes of the trees and as you know, I enjoy painting water. All in all, I would say this was a painting that was great fun to pull together with many of the elements I truly enjoy painting. No matter how much fun I had doing the painting....no matter how much I like winter...I am still ready for the thermometer to reach 32 degrees.

Breaking Light After a Morning Storm
oil on canvas
18 x 24
www.andreworr.com

Frosty Morning Along the Poultney River, oil on canvas, 20 x 24

It has been a very long time since my last post to this blog. For the past several weeks I have been teaching a series of painting workshops in New Zealand; what a truly, lovely part of the world. I so enjoyed my time there and very much enjoyed every moment with the participants of my classes. Home for a few days to get the peas and lettuce planted and off to Michigan to teach another workshop. So this will truly be my last winter posting for a long while! This piece is again of my beloved Poultney River, only a bit further down the river than in some of my usual painting places. It had snowed the night before and the snow was heavy in the trees. The beautiful and soft morning light seemed to cast a pale lavender tone throughout the entire scene and I tried to balance the cool morning, heavy snow and the early morning light in very cool tones of lavenders and blues. I am so eager to get back out into the field and very eager to work on some paintings with the spring greens. The light is lovely this time of year with little to no humidity. Guess before I head out, I better plant a few more rows in the garden. Happy Spring!

Frosty Morning Along the Poultney River
oil on canvas, 20 x 24
for purchase inquiries, please contact me directly
www.andreworr.com
artsteph1@aol.com

Last Snow of the Season, oil on canvas, 12 x 16

Seems as though I have been burning the candle at both ends and maybe even in the middle last couple of weeks. I haven't had a chance to post as often as I would like. At any rate, after what seemed like a winter of very little snow, in this part of the country, we finally had a good storm a few weeks ago. I had an opportunity to get out on a warm sunny day and this piece is the result. It will be my one of my entries into a show co sponsored by the Bennington Center for the Arts, The Bryan Memorial Gallery and the Nature Conservancy. The area where I painted this piece is a lovely spot along the Poultney River, right near the New York border. I have just recently discovered the Nature Conservancy and am amazed by the concept of the preservation of natural habitat for plants, animals and for the enjoyment and respect by all.

Last Snow of the Season
oil on canvas
12 x 16
please contact me directly for purchase details
artsteph1@aol.com
www.andreworr.com

Along a Winter Morning Walk, 16 x 20, oil on canvas

While the rest of the country has seen some record breaking snow falls, in this part of Vermont we have seen relatively little in recent weeks. Finally, a few days ago we had a nice snowfall. I had some time the morning after the big storm and armed with my camera and sketch book, I went out for about an hour or two and took a large amount of photos as well as made several sketches. While I love working outdoors, plein air, I think sometimes an approach of spending time in nature, observing, watching, recording with pencil and paper are equally as important. This painting is the result of some of these direct observations from that day. I had walked down a road towards the Poultney River and when I turned around I saw the beautiful light streaming through the snow laden trees.
For purchase inquires please contact me directly.
Andrew Orr
artsteph1@aol.com
www.andreworr.com

Sunflowers, Apples and Copper, oil on canvas 16 x 20

With the winter winds howling outside, it's nice to be able to think of the warmer days ahead while working in the studio. I think this still life grew out of the thoughts of those days which seem so far away. With this painting, I wanted to convey a sense of warmth and comfort through some very common objects. As with all of my paintings, a sense of strong light direction in combination with lost edges was a focus.
Sunflowers, Apples and Copper
oil on canvas, 16 x 20
please contact me directly for purchase details
artsteph1@aol.com
www.andreworr.com

Sunflowers and Hydrangeas, oil on canvas 20 x 24

There is something I find magical about a combination of blues and yellows. I never get tired of seeing this color combination nor do I get tired of working in these colors. In this setting I enjoyed adding in the elements of the white hydrangeas as well as the blue and white porcelain pieces. I think the brass added a nice touch and the variation of the reflective surface added some interest to the overall composition.
Sunflowers and Hydrangeas
oil on canvas
20 x 24
please contact me directly for purchase details
artsteph1@aol.com
www.andreworr.com

Coffee Time, oil on canvas, 20 x 24

The last few weeks I have been working on several still life paintings. This piece was a lot of fun to work on; I enjoyed working with the glass in shadow and trying to push the white daisies into the background. I always tend to enjoy working with sunflowers and wild asters, a familiar combination of flowers from my growing up in New Mexico.
Coffee Time
oil on canvas
20x24
please contact me directly for purchase inquires
artsteph1@aol.com
www.andreworr.com

"Bits from the Kitchen" oil on canvas, 16 x 20

I thought I would give it one more go with the onions and the garlic, so this most recent still life is the result. I am pretty happy with the ending and the onions and garlic went nicely into the mashed potatoes for this evening's supper.
Please contact me directly for purchase details.
Bits from the Kitchen
oil on canvas, 16 x 20
www.andreworr.com
artsteph1@aol.com

"Autumn Still Life" oil on canvas 12 x 16

During the hectic holiday season it was hard to grab a few moments to complete any larger work. I decided to work on a group of smaller still life paintings with similar objects only trying to come up with variations in composition. I enjoy painting copper and enjoyed adding in some dried corn as well as onions and garlic for textural variety. We finally have some snow so hopefully this week I will be able to head out and work a bit outside. Happy New Year.

Autumn Still Life
oil on canvas on board
12 x 16
please contact me directly for purchase inquiry

www.andreworr.com
artsteph1@aol.com

Chrysanthemums and Copper, oil on canvas, 12 x 16

I have been taking some time off as of late from teaching so its enabled me to work on a few more studio still life set ups. As with a previous post I am enjoying working with different lighting affects in a more controlled atmosphere. Returning to a favorite theme of copper and blue and white porcelain, I added in some chrysanthemums for additional color and texture. I thought the addition of some of the complementary blues gave a little zip to a predominately analogous painting. Even though the painting is in rather warm tones, which tend to be thought of as energetic and exciting, for some reason, I think this is a more restful painting. At any rate, it was a lot of fun to play around with. Enjoy.
Chrysanthemums and Copper
oil on canvas, 12 x 16
700.00 framed
Please contact me directly for purchase inquiries
artsteph1@aol.com
www.andreworr.com

Still Waters, oil on canvas 16 x 20

This painting completed entirely on location earlier this fall was a true joy to paint. This is an area swimming hole on the Poultney River and the rock formations are truly amazing. I loved the early afternoon light in this area and hope sometime next year to paint in the same area only in a different season. I should think a fall setting of this same scene would be beautiful. I was pleased to find out that my painting, "Peonies and Hydrangeas" has won the Helen DeCozen Memorial Award for a Floral from the 81st Grand National Exhibition of the American Artists Professional League. The show will be at the Salmagundi Club, in New York until November 13th.
Still Waters
Oil on canvas, 16 x 20
artsteph1@aol.com
www.andreworr.com

Andrew Orr-Recent Paintings

November 6 through December 3, 2009
South Street Gallery
149 South Street
Hingham, MA 02043

Opening reception November 6 from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m.
Painting demonstration, November 7 from 1:00 until 3:00pm

For more information please see our advertisement in the November issue of American Art Collector magazine or visit us on the web at www.southstreetgallery.com.

Smiling Faces, oil on canvas 16 x 20

I always enjoy working with still life subjects. At the end of the season, these pansies were still looking up at me with bright happy faces so I thought it would be great to put them in a painting. The blue and white porcelain items were pieces I found in an antique shop while traveling in Australia a couple of years ago. I hope the painting makes you smile as well. This piece is one which was included in the November issue of American Art Collector magazine.

Smiling Faces
oil on canvas, 16 x 20

Andrew Orr-Recent Paintings

November 6 through December 3, 2009
South Street Gallery
149 South Street
Hingham, MA 02043

Opening reception November 6 from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m.
Painting demonstration, November 7 from 1:00 until 3:00pm

For more information please see our advertisement in the November issue of American Art Collector magazine or visit us on the web at www.southstreetgallery.com