Spirits of the Forest

Widlund Gallery, Tannery Pond Community Center, 228 Main St. North Creek, NY

This collection of abstract and wildlife paintings was on display at the Widlund Gallery, Tannery Pond Community Center in North Creek, NY from March 30th to April 24th, 2019. The paintings and drawings are now available for sale in the store. Click on each image for more details.

In Summer 2018, I had the opportunity to spend two months in the Adirondacks, on a small lake called Arbutus Lake. Arbutus Lake was home to a pair of loons, an otter family, a common merganser and her dozen chicks, an elusive mink, three feisty red squirrels, a white-tailed doe and her twins, a very large snapping turtle, a great blue heron, dozens of toads, Brook trout, a turkey family, and a chipmunk who had no fear when it came to raisins - along with dozens of song birds, woodpeckers and the occasional bald eagle and broad-wing hawk. During the mornings we would listen to the chirping sounds of chickadees and nuthatches, and in the afternoon hike around near by lakes that were home to chubby beavers and more otter families. Or we would climb into old growth forests, and kayak across lakes and ponds following the loons. At night, we fell asleep listening to the loon calls, thunder, and scurrying mice. For two months, the spirits of the forest - the creatures, the weather, and the colors ignited my curiosity, imagination and inspired this collection of work.

Most of the following drawings and paintings were inspired by creatures I met in the Adirondacks. The only pieces that are not based on an Adirondack experience are two abstract ink pieces, the bears, the great horned owl and the coyote - these are past pieces I thought I'd include because these creatures are also found in the Adirondacks. Though, I did hear a Great horned owl, and see a coyote. But I never saw a black bear, nor did I see a moose. Some reasons to go back.

If you are interested in purchasing a piece, please email me for more information.