Stony Brook May 5, 2025

Today’s painting depicts a wilderness spring stream in Jamaica, Vermont. I started it on location during a little painting adventure to that area last week. It was already late in the day when I found this sweet spot on West Jamaica Road. I only had a couple of hours to work, but that sense of urgency definitely helped me stick to essentials. In painting, it’s good practice to find pros in the cons. 

A friend and collector (Thank you, T.M.) recently asked me a good question. “What do you call your style… Abstract Realism? Realistic Abstraction?” It’s a question I’ve been asked before, and it prompted me to review the topic. At this stage of my life and career, everything is new again. What I haven’t forgotten is always open to reconsideration.  About 15 years ago I wrote a rather lengthy answer as follows;

“In my view style is simply an authentic voice. Like distinctive singing, handwriting, personality, and fingerprints, we are all different. Thank goodness for that! Style is an ever evolving synthesis of influence, experience, interest, and genetic disposition. Something unique and personal emerges from the long earnest hours of doing. Hopper said “If I could say it with words there would be no reason to paint.” That makes sense to me. Forced to provide a formal, verbal, academic categorization of my approach I might answer with the appropriately meaningless mouthful: I’m a hopelessly romantic contemporary impressionistic exhibitionist of idealist realistic and symbolic semi-abstract representation, honestly manifested as a sincere expressionism of gratitude.”

Here is an on-line definitions for Abstract Realism I just found: “Abstract Realism is an art form that blends techniques of both realism and abstraction to create works that are both recognizable and conceptually challenging. It aims to capture the essence of a subject while also incorporating abstract elements like shapes, colors, and textures to evoke a deeper emotional or conceptual message.”

I like it. The next time someone asks what style I work in, I’ll know!

Original Sold. Next Day in Vermont post Monday, May 19.