Monsaraz III

Watercolor 12x16” (31x41cm) on W&N paper, CP

I almost never paint the same scene more than once, but this is my third try of this view of Monsaraz, a beautifully preserved medieval village in Portugal. That’s because the other two no longer belong to me, and I want my own version, which I tried to make a little looser. In any case, I always seem to end up with more detail than my good intentions.

Quase nunca pinto a mesma cena mais que uma vez, mas esta é a terceira tentativa desta vista de Monsaraz. Isso é porque os dois trabalhos anteriores já não me pertencem e eu queria a minha própria versão, que procurei fazer um pouco mais solta, com menos detalhes. De qualquer maneira, parece que sempre acabo com mais detalhes do que as minhas boas intenções.

Castelo de Juromenha

Watercolor, 12x16" (31x41cm) W&N paper cp

Portas de Monsaraz - Gates of Monsaraz

Monsaraz, like some other villages in the Alentejo Province of Portugal, is a place apart, a time machine that assaults the senses at every corner. Looking at my photos from a year ago,  I heavily cropped this scene from a wide view of a side street and used it as a reference for the painting.

Watercolor 23x31cm, Winsor & Newton paper, rough

Velho Solar - Old Manor -Oliveira do Conde, Portugal

Watercolor 9x12" (23x31cm), Winsor & Newton paper, rough

Hamptons Mill, Long Island, New York

Being a commission, this involved a little more attention and effort and than a regular off-the-cuff painting. This of course does not guarantee better results but in this case, I am happy with the outcome.

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Old Mill, The Hamptons, New York

Watercolor 9x12” (23x31cm) on W&N paper, rough

The Henry House and Summer Kitchen

The Henry House and Summer Kitchen

John Joseph Henry and his wife Rebecca grew wealthy from their longrifle manufacturing business and they built this house near the Bushkill Creek in Nazareth Pennsylvania in 1832. After being occupied by five generations of the Henry family, it is now an historical site along with the Pennsylvania Longrifle Museum.

Watercolor 9x12” (23x31cm), W&N paper rough

Window View (Beira Alta, Portugal)

Watercolor, 38x56cm, Arches 300lb paper, cp

Newburg Road - Lower Nazareth, PA

Watercolor 23x31cm, W&N paper, rough

The Pine Field

Watercolor 9x12" (23x31cm) on W&N paper, rough

Bogert's Covered Bridge, Allentown Pennsylvania

Watercolor 9x12" (23x31cm) on W&N paper, rough

Train Depot - Raritan, New Jersey

It was in Raritan that I found my first grown-up job back in the 20th century

Watercolor,12x16" (30x40cm)

Casa de Infância - Childhood Home, Portugal

As minhas mais preciosas memórias da infãncia residem nesta velha casa de pedra. Felizmente que tem sido preservada com muito gosto e veneração pela sua história. Nos anos setenta, todos os sábados chegava de Viseu a Beijós no autocarro (a “camioneta”) e subia dois ou três quilómetros a pé até chegar a este lugar e deparar com esta vista que me enchia a alma de alegria pura.

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My most precious childhood memories reside in this old stone house in Portugal. I am thankful that it has been preserved and maintained with good taste and reverence for its history. In the seventies, while I was in high school, every Saturday I would walk a couple of miles through the woods from the bus stop and arrive here to this first glimpse of the house, and every time I would be reminded of the feeling of pure joy.

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Watercolor 15x22” (38x56cm) Arches 300lb paper, rough

Carol's Bait Shop

Near Beltzville Lake, Pennsylvania

Watercolor 8x10", Arches paper, rough

Tondela - Nossa Senhora da Esperança

Watercolor 8x10" (20x25cm), Arches paper, rough

Thunder Bay

Watercolor 25x35cm, Strathmore paper, cp

I don’t use Strathmore paper very often but I when I do, I usually like the slightly different effects I get. I think it acts a little closer to hot-press paper even though it is technically cold-press.

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Eu não uso papel Strathmore muitas vezes, mas quando uso, gosto dos efeitos um pouco diferentes que obtenho. Mesmo sendo de grão fino (cold-press), os efeitos são um pouco mais parecidos com papel liso (hot-press).

Broad-Stroke

Pencil drawing 9x12", on Stonehenge Aqua hotpress paper

I love broad-stroke pencil drawings but I don’t practice often enough. This is done with pencils sharpened to a broad chisel cut. This is the first feeble attempt in years. It only looks easy when I am looking at the masterworks from Ted Kautzky, Ernest Watson, Frank Rines and Carl Purcell. When I look at my own drawings, it looks difficult.

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Eu gosto muito de desenhos a lápis “broad-stroke” ou seja, feitos com a ponta do lápis aguçada em forma de cunha. Mas não tenho praticado muito últimamente. Parece muito fácil quando olho para as obras-primas de Ted Kautzky, Ernest Watson, Frank Rines e Carl Purcell. Mas quando olho para os meus desenhos, parece bem difícil.

Farm House, Pennsylvania

Watercolor 9x12" (23x31cm) on Winsor & Newton paper, rough

Castle of Juromenha

Micron 005 and 01 sepia pens, Crazy Ideas sketchbbok, page 46

Lower Nazareth

Watercolor 23x31cm, Fabriano paper, rough

A scene south of Nazareth Pennsylvania, with Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in the background.

Castle of Noudar, Alentejo Portugal

Watercolor 12x16" (30x40cm), Winsor&Newton paper cp