My World

Bear Run is the stream of my youth  and the stream that flows through the fields, pastures, woodlands and  meadows that taught me far more about wildlife than I ever imagined  possible. Winter Pool is the signature pool of this sweet flowing little  stream. To the right the sharply rising bank is known as "The Cliff"  and was, and still is, an overlook destination anytime I am "Back in the  Woods" as we called our woodland forays.

In  this painting I was initially attracted to the arc of the sugar maple  arching out and over this quite pool. To the right at the water's edge,  the concave bank nicely leads the eye into the intricate strength of the  maple's root structure. Unfortunately not strong enough though, as the  maple, along with it's immediate uphill neighbor, have long since slid  into the pool to be swept away by floodwaters.

My  good friend Carl Samson has the mate to this painting. We painted here  in February and March of 1992. Ever the adventurer, Carl painted  literally in the stream, balanced precariously on a small slab of  limestone. I, on the other hand, opted for the higher ground. I seem to  recall a foot bath or two on Carl's behalf.

And this is Carl's version. Never ceases to amaze me the different styles and approach that every artist has. You can view more of Carl's work on his website at  carlsamson.com and I think you will enjoy this talented painter's abilities. copywrite carl samson

~ From a Private Collection ~

11" x 14" oil on linen

 One clear, crisp, October morning many years ago while on a woodland hike with a sibling, we came upon this open field. The hillside ablaze with Autumn I announced that one day I would come back to this very spot and paint this spectacular scene. Quite a statement for a mere 9 year old showing, at least to that point, no artistic abilities.

 Years passed by and, as a wildlife and landscape artist, December 1992 found me standing in that very spot, awestruck by the scene before me. Dashing home I soon returned with easel and paints and went to work. Setting my brushes aside after several hours of intense painting, I had captured the scene just as you see it now. I sat down in the tall, amber grasses to rest a bit when the forgotten memory of that youthful statement came flooding back. Unbelievably there I was having just painted where I had once stated I would, some 26 years earlier! But the story doesn’t quite end there.

 From my earliest youth wildlife has been my entire life. I live it and breathe it. I always have and I expect I always will. I seem to have a special connection with foxes, both red and grey. I have some rather fascinating stories to share but for now
 I’ll start with this one which picks up with the above story.

 On the spot I named the painting “Grey Fox Country” for several reasons. All of the colors in this painting are the very colors within the coat of a grey fox.The golden rust of the grasses perfectly mirrors the underside colors of the fox. The grays of the woods are that of the fox’s general coat color and the darks of the tree trunks, that of the fox’s legs, muzzle, and the leading edge of it’s tail. But there’s another reason. Grey foxes love just this type of an environment: fallow fields with brushy edges, backed by mature stands of hardwoods. I hadn’t seen any sign of grey foxes in this area for a number of years but the cover looked so good, so grey fox-ish that the title was perfect for the painting.
 

 A few weeks later a freshly fallen snow found me walking these same fields and woodlands. As I approached this field I came
upon a fresh grey fox track. And then upon another. As I entered the field I found it literally crisscrossed with grey fox tracks!

 They had been absolutely everywhere within that field, exploring every nook and cranny.

 Over the years, of the many fox tracks I have followed, of the many fox tracks I have happened upon I have never encountered, before or since, such an inundation of fox tracks as I did in that field on that day ------ Grey Fox Country.

• "The Lewis Farm" 12"x16" oil on panel 

~ From a Private Collection ~
Just down the road from me are the remnants of a vibrant working farm that has been caught up in the thirst for more land to develop. As of yet though they haven't gotten to the house, barn & out buildings of this iconic bit of Americana. But they will. That's why I find myself painting on location there on a frequent basis. I want to capture it before it's gone. This is one of the farms of my youth where I spent so much time exploring, and maybe exploring a little too thorough for as a teenager I spent many a blazing hot summer days bailing hay for the owners that farmed the land. But it was good work and I have fond memories of it's rewards.