I was painting at Olana (home of Hudson River School artist Frederic Church) last week on the first day of summer. The weather was perfect and I was with good friends; what could be better?! I’d planned to paint the view from the top by the mansion, but it was closed off due to construction. So, I went to my favorite place overlooking the river, and painted there instead. There were wonderful long shadows on the ground when I started, so I made sure to get them in early, before they disappeared!

Here’s a view of just the painting:

8×16″, oil on linen panel
$450.00 plus $20 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

If you’d like to see it a bit larger, below is an image you can click on for a larger view:

8x12 to 12x24, Available, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location | No Comments »

6×12″, oil on linen panel
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

Painted on location at Olana, home of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church.

8x10 and smaller, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Fall, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Sold, Sunrise/Sunset | No Comments »

24×36″, acrylic on paper mounted to hardboard and varnished (to be framed without glass like an oil painting)
$2,800.00 plus $100 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

At Olana, the estate of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church, there is a western view from a lesser-known path of the Hudson River and the Catskills. It’s the most dramatic vista from the property for me because of the fantastic skyline of the mountains, and the fact that it faces due west at sunset. On this particular visit, I was able to catch the sun rays streaming from the cloud forms as the colors changed. I did a quick painting on location, and captured some photos for additional paintings like this one. Below is an image you can click on for a larger, clearer view of the painting.

Click image below to enlarge:

16x20 and larger, Acrylic paintings, Available, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Greene County, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Sunrise/Sunset, Uncategorized | No Comments »

12×16″, acrylic on Ampersand Gessoboard
Framing available for a small additional fee.

$675.00 plus $25 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

I have a favorite field I like to paint from at Frederic Church’s Olana estate in Hudson NY. Hudson River School artist Church did a lot of sunset paintings from that area of his property. I was walking along the trail past one of his painting spots close to sunset when I caught this opening in the trees, overlooking the Hudson River through the clearing. I started to paint it on location, but couldn’t finish in time before it got dark. I snapped a bunch of photos while painting, and finally had a chance to finish it up today. I definitely want to check out this scene again at other times of day, and in other seasons. They’ve been working a lot on clearing overgrowth to bring some of these views back that have gotten overgrown as the years go by. I’m always excited to see what’s new in the landscape there!

Below is an image you can click on for a larger view of the painting:

8x12 to 12x24, Acrylic paintings, Available, Columbia County, Fall, Greene County, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Sunrise/Sunset, Trees | No Comments »

Email me at JamieWG@aol.com if interested in this painting.

The other day, I varnished ten of my new Hudson River and Hudson Valley paintings. They range from scenes overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades from New York City, to Peach Lake in Brewster, and Burger Hill in Rhinebeck, up to the ledges of Sunset Rock overlooking North South Lake (beloved Hudson River School site), and the Catskill Mountains. Some of these were started on location and finished up in the studio, while others were painted from my photos and other plein air paintings. They represent much of the terrain I’ve traversed over the past six months or so, in search of the best of what the Hudson Valley has to offer my muse.

The varnishing process takes time to set up, so I like to do large batches at a time. Usually that means about 17-20 paintings. Lately I’ve worked on some larger pieces, which has lowered my production in terms of quantity. Working on those big paintings has meant that the little ones tend to hang out in the studio longer, before they get photographed, varnished, and up on my website. As the weeks go by, they get more touchups and adjustments as I see them. I think this has led to an overall increase in quality. As I look at this set of paintings now, I’m really happy with what I’ve achieved in this batch. Here’s a photo that you can click on, and you can then zoom in on specific paintings.

The large, framed painting of the Hudson River and Palisades is already spoken for, and out the door. (I do miss that one already! But there is a smaller version of it available among the others, and I can always do another large one for you on a commission basis.) The smaller works above it are all available and in search of new homes. If you see one that interests you, send me off an email (or comment below), and I’ll get back to you with more information. They will all be posted individually as I adjust the single images. Some of those have already been posted with prices, and are visible by going to my home page and scrolling down.

16x20 and larger, 8x10 and smaller, Acrylic paintings, Available, Bannerman Island, Boats and Ships, Brewster and North Salem, Catskill Mountains, Cold Spring and Garrison, Columbia County, Dutchess County NY, Fall, Farm Scenes, Greene County, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Oil paintings, Palisades, Peach Lake and Brook, Plein Air--painted on location, Shows and News, Sunrise/Sunset, Varnishing Oil and Acrylic Paintings, Westchester | No Comments »

16×12″, drawing media on Rives BFK paper (archival rag paper), custom matted and framed (included in price)

Special Price — matted and framed

$280.00 plus $25 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

This is one of the many stunning, old trees at Olana, home of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church. This tree is right near the site of Church’s old studio. I went on a drawing/painting spree with trees this year, and especially enjoyed working in these warm sepia colors on toned paper.

This drawing is one of a series of three trees, all done in the same sepia tones. The other two will be posted over the next two days. They can be purchased individually, or subtract 20% if you’d like to have all three to hang as a triptych. They are framed with identical ivory mats and gorgeous custom gold frames, and make a beautiful grouping in a classic style.

8x12 to 12x24, Available, Columbia County, Current Special, Drawings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Monochromatic Paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Sketches, Trees, Uncategorized | No Comments »

(You can click the image to see a larger version.)

12×6″, acrylic on board, unframed

$275.00 plus $15 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

Unbelievable as it may seem, this is my fifth artistic rendition of this tree overlooking the Hudson River at Olana. I think after this, I’ll just start to title them by number as a series! Like the others, I painted it on location at Olana, home of Hudson River School artist, Frederic Church.

8x10 and smaller, Acrylic paintings, Available, Columbia County, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Trees | 1 Comment »

6×12″, oil on canvas board
$250.00 plus $15 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

I really love this view from Frederic Church’s Olana estate. It takes me back to the heart of the Hudson River School, overlooking the farms and fields where it first began, and Church’s first home on the property there. I’ve painted the scene in different seasons and formats. This was my first go at 2:1 panoramic proportions. I am liking this ratio for the scene! Here it is in its glory, with the summer greens, lower fields and far-off hillsides. Below is an image you can click on for a larger, clearer view of the scene:

8x10 and smaller, Available, Columbia County, Farm Scenes, House portraits, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location | No Comments »

Please click the image above for a larger view of the painting.

6×12″, oil on canvas board
$250.00 plus $15 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

This oil painting was done on location at the Olana Historic Site, home to Hudson River School painter Frederic Church. The foliage across the pond was bursting with fall color!

8x10 and smaller, Available, Columbia County, Fall, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location | 1 Comment »

6×12, oil on canvas board
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

Painted on location at Olana.

8x10 and smaller, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Fall, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Sold | No Comments »

12×16″, acrylic on canvas panel

$535.00 plus $35 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

This painting is from one of those Hudson River School spots I love to visit at Frederic Church’s Olana homestead, though I never seem to have the time to paint it on location. It’s been in my “To Do” image file for ages. I finally got around to doing it from photos in two sizes — this 12×16″, and also a 5×7″, which you can see at this link.

Below is an image you can click on for a larger, clearer view of the 12×16″ painting:

8x12 to 12x24, Acrylic paintings, Available, Columbia County, Farm Scenes, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Trees | No Comments »

9×12, acrylic on canvas board

SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

This is Hudson River School artist Frederic Church’s original home on his Olana estate. He lived here in “Cosy Cottage” before building the huge mansion atop the hill overlooking the Hudson River. I love this view from the side, with the hill in the distance and farm fields below. I’ve been painting it for a couple of years in different seasons and formats, and checking it out at different times of day to see the lighting variations. I really want to do a very large painting of the scene, so in the meantime, I’m exploring what form that will take! Below is an image you can click on for a larger, clearer view of the painting:

8x12 to 12x24, Acrylic paintings, Columbia County, Farm Scenes, House portraits, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Sold | No Comments »

5×7″, acrylic on board

$135.00 plus $15 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

This is a favorite fall vista from Olana, homestead of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church. Every time I go there, I stroll past this field and overlook to see how the color has changed through the seasons. The fall grasses begged to be painted! I did this small one, and then did a larger version of it (which you can see by clicking here). I recently realized that I’d neglected to photograph and post this smaller one!

8x10 and smaller, Acrylic paintings, Available, Columbia County, Fall, Farm Scenes, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY | No Comments »

6×12″, oil on canvas panel
$275.00 plus $15 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

This is a view from Hudson River School painter Frederic Church’s homestead, Olana. It was painted on location at a spot close to where one of his studios was located on the property. The pond, Hudson River, and Catskill Mountains are all visible in the scene with the drama of the sunset. I never get tired of painting at Olana!

I’ve had a really hard time getting a decent photo of this painting, so I’ll just say that the photo cannot do this one justice! Below is an image that you can click on to get a larger, clearer view of the image, but it still doesn’t look nearly as nice as the actual painting!

8x10 and smaller, Available, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Fall, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Sunrise/Sunset | No Comments »

12×24″, acrylic on Ampersand Gessoboard
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

Following two days of painting for the Olana Plein Air Event, (home of Hudson River School artist Frederic Church), this is the painting I selected to put into the auction that marked the culmination of the event. Actually, I laid out all the paintings I’d done during that period, and my husband chose this one! The painting sold at the auction.

Thirty wonderful artists were juried into the event. With tough competition, I felt very fortunate indeed to have been selected to participate. Even though I live so close and get to paint at Olana frequently, it’s always a magical experience.

Below is an image of the painting that you can click on for a larger view. It’s hard to show these panorama-format paintings in the space allocated for a blog image!

I set the painting into a gold plein air style frame and it looked completely washed out. So instead, I opted for this dark, coppery-wood frame with gold trim.

I’ll be posting the rest of the Olana paintings I did in the days to come. I have some from a month or two ago to post also, so you can expect a lot of Olana pieces to materialize in these posts as I try to catch up with myself!

8x12 to 12x24, Acrylic paintings, Boats and Ships, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Sold | 2 Comments »

12×16″, oil on linen panel
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

This painting of a colorful sunset over the Hudson River features thick paint laid on with brushes and palette knives. Summer blooms were in abundance, silhouetted against the light. Below is an image you can click on for a larger view of the painting:

8x12 to 12x24, Columbia County, Farm Scenes, Flowers, Gardens and Flowering Trees, Hudson River Paintings, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Sold, Spring, Sunrise/Sunset | No Comments »

5×7″, oil on linen panel
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

This little cottage overlooking the fields at Olana was the home of Hudson River School artist, Frederic Church. He lived here before he built the giant mansion up on top of the hillside. It is surrounded by a different kind of beauty and charm than his castle in the sky overlooking the Hudson River.

This is one of my favorite fall vistas. Winter gives me an opportunity to paint some scenes I wish I’d had time to do out on location, while conditions were still peak. I do hope to get back to this spot for a nice, large plein air piece, but at least I was able to capture from a photo in the meantime! The fall colors come and go so quickly; there’s never time to paint everything I want to then, before the leaves fall and the landscape loses its color.

8x10 and smaller, Columbia County, Fall, Farm Scenes, House portraits, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Sold | No Comments »

2 x 2-1/2? (including frame), acrylic
The frame, easel, gold gift box, and bow are included
(Quarter in the photo is for size reference!)

SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

Sunsets are always special times at Olana, estate of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church. He loved to paint along this ridge below his home, which faces due west across the Hudson River. The Catskill Mountains form the skyline as the sun’s descending rays cascade across the sky and landscape. No two sunsets are alike here!

This is the second of my mini Hudson River School Sunset series, which features locations where the Hudson River School artists painted. Some of these sites are along the Hudson River School Art Trail. Others are sites where Cole, Church, Durand and others painted, but due to difficult access, limited parking, or some other reason, they are not on the Art Trail registry.

These miniatures are perfect gift items. They will arrive in gold gift boxes, already framed in these ornate gold miniature frames as shown. The little black easels are also included, so you can set them right out in a favorite spot. Everybody has a place for a little jewel, or a collection of them! I also do commissions of these miniature pieces, so if you have a favorite scene you’d like to have as a miniature painting, let me know.

Click here to see my other Miniature Paintings and Jamie’s Jewels.

8x10 and smaller, Acrylic paintings, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Greene County, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Miniature Paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Sold, Sunrise/Sunset | 1 Comment »

16×20″, oil on canvas board
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

I like to believe that Frederic Church would have liked this concept of his home, Olana. This is one of those cases when the painting sold before I could get a decent image of it. Nevertheless, I thought it would be worth posting because I really want to do more of these monochrome-color compositions.

I began with a 9×12″ segment taped off for the centerpiece of the painting. I wandered around Olana, capturing scenes around the estate in shades of gray oil paint as they presented themselves. I figured that once I had the monochrome border sections done, I’d know what to paint for the colorful center to tie it all together.

I ended up painting all the black and white sections as Hudson River scenes. It made sense to use the brilliantly colored mansion as the centerpiece of the painting, set into the views of the Hudson River, just as Olana was the centerpiece of Frederic Church’s universe, surrounded by the gorgeous landscape and river vistas.

Here’s an image of it framed:

Below is an image you can click on to get a larger view of just the painting. (Though it’s the same bad cellphone photo!)

This was painted for the Olana Plein Air Event, and sold there.

16x20 and larger, Columbia County, Fall, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Landscape, Monochromatic Paintings, Oil paintings, Plein Air--painted on location, Sold, Trees | No Comments »

7×5″, oil on linen, framed
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

This sweet old tree overlooks the Hudson River at Olana, home of Hudson River School artist Frederic Church. I did two little paintings of this tree on site, in different formats, in order to decide how I’d like to compose a large version.

8x10 and smaller, Columbia County, Fall, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Shows and News, Sold, Trees | No Comments »

7×5″, oil on board

$135.00 plus $15 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

Bash Bish Falls is one of those spots that’s been on my Must See list for several years. Nestled just over the state border in Massachusetts, the waterfall is in a park that straddles the state line. My husband and I went hiking there, entering from the New York side, and hiking up along the cascading stream, with its gorgeous green pools. When we arrived at the main attraction here, I found a perfect rock to sit on and do an oil sketch of the scene, while my husband tested his photography skills with different angles of the falls. It’s a great waterfall to visit, and the pool at the base is a beautiful teal color that shows in the painting, but refused to present itself in the photo of the painting! It’s a challenging scene to paint because the waterfall is only visible at the very bottom of this high, steep hillside. You can show some of the mountaintop and sky for depth, but that makes the waterfall appear tiny! Or you can paint just the visible part of the waterfall, which makes the scene lack depth. I tried to compromise by intentionally shrinking the height of the mountain in order to show a bit of the sky on top!

8x10 and smaller, Available, Columbia County, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Oil paintings, Plein Air--painted on location, Sketches, Waterfalls | No Comments »

Ridge Road Vista
5×7″, oil on linen panel, unframed
$150.00 plus $12 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

This is a spot at the Olana estate of Frederic Church, Hudson River School painter. I’ve painted from this location many times, at all times of day and evening, and it never ceases to thrill me. I think Frederic Church felt that way about it too, and did many paintings from this hillside above the Hudson. This little 5×7″ oil painting takes in the expanse of the Catskill Mountains overlooking the Hudson River, and some of the old houses and barns down along the near shoreline. There were a few sailboats off in the distance that I popped into the painting too!

Below is an image you can click on for a larger view of the painting:

8x10 and smaller, Available, Boats and Ships, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Fall, Farm Scenes, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location | No Comments »

4×2″, oil on canvas board, display easel included
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

I haven’t done many miniatures for awhile, and I find I’m really missing them! They are wonderful gift items, and make a beautiful display set on their miniature easels on a side table or desk. This is a painting I did on location at Hudson River School artist Frederic Church’s estate, Olana. This tree overlooks the Hudson River along one of the carriage roads. I’ve done a few paintings of this tree and just can’t seem to get enough of it! A lovely wooden display easel is included with the painting. No framing needed!

8x10 and smaller, Columbia County, Fall, Gallery, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Miniature Paintings, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Sold, Trees | No Comments »

Click image to enlarge.
6×8″, oil on board
$170.00 plus $12 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

On the day we planned to go to Frederic Church’s Olana estate, it rained all morning. Honestly, I was so tired by that point that I was grateful for a morning to sleep in a bit later and tend to some things around the house, like laundry! I headed to Olana when the rain stopped and painted until a couple of hours before sunset. This was my second painting of the day, done from my favorite area of the 250 acre property. It affords the best Catskill skyline on the site, as well as direct western views to take full advantage of late day backlighting and sunsets. The evaporating moisture from the earlier rainfall created a mist in the valley of the mountains, softening edges and throwing light in between the slopes and hills. The strong western sun illuminated the edges of the foliage as it streamed across the river. It was a stunning scene, and I wish I’d painted it larger! Since I’d done a 12×16 earlier in the afternoon, I was happy to give my broken foot a rest and paint this one from my comfy chair in a smaller size.

8x10 and smaller, Available, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location | 1 Comment »

12×24″, oils on Ampersand Gessoboard
$750.00 plus $30 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

After the three day Olana event, we had to select one painting to turn in for the jury and the auction. I was undecided about whether to submit this one or the other. My husband liked this one better, but I decided to turn in the other. Usually I paint the big overview scene with the Catskill Mountains showing on the right side, but this time I decided to shift the scene the other way, so that I could include Frederic Church’s pond, with the river out in the distance. This was a nice change from the way I usually paint this view, and one that I think I will revisit from time to time!

For some reason, the orange in the sky is showing stronger in the photos than in the painting itself, so take that into consideration when viewing the images. Here is one you can click on for a larger view:

16x20 and larger, Available, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Fall, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location | No Comments »

12×16″, oil on linen panel
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

On Saturday, October 5, I had the great honor of receiving the Second Place award at the Olana Plein Air event. Entry into the event was highly competitive and they only took 25 of us to begin with, so I was especially grateful to receive the award among such an accomplished group of artists. Olana is the homestead of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church. His 250 acre property and Moorish style mansion are a painter’s haven at any time of year, but especially in fall.

We had two and a half days to paint. I was feeling stressed by time factors because I had my dogs at home and knew I would not be able to spend as much as I’d like on location. I had a petsitter walk them at noon, but that still didn’t give me until sunset, and of course sunset is The time to paint at Olana!

This is a view off Ridge Road at Olana, and it’s one of my special favorite spots. It features Kaaterskill Clove in the distance, which was one of the areas painted by many of the Hudson River School painters. Knowing I was pressed for time, I set my easel out at the site at 7:45am on the first day, and then went to the 8am breakfast orientation/registration meeting. When the meeting broke, I was all set to paint. As I was nearing the end of the painting, this fabulous barge and tugboat went by! Sometimes they appear at the wrong time in the painting process, but I pretty much had that area completed and was able to pop them in as they passed.

I did five paintings during the two and a half days, and in the end, was torn between two of them in deciding what to submit for the juror and auction. Each artist had to select just one painting. Everybody’s paintings were beautiful!

Many thanks to the Olana and Columbia County Council for the Arts staffs for their hard work before, after, and during the event, and to all the art lovers who came to the auction and bid on paintings. I’d also like to thank my fellow painters for making it such an enjoyable event and being so supportive of one another.

Here is an image you can click on for a larger view:

8x12 to 12x24, Boats and Ships, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Fall, Farm Scenes, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Palenville and Catskill, Plein Air--painted on location, Shows and News, Sold | 3 Comments »

6×8″, acrylic on archival, sealed artboard (frame without glass like an oil painting)
$150.00 plus $15 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

I spent a few days teaching a workshop at Olana in the area of the Wagon Wheel Education Center. This elderly, elegant tree looked down at me from its hillside perch all week. When the class ended, the first thing I did was pull up a chair into the shade and paint its majestic form. I love doing tree portraits, and I’d like to do this one again in a larger format, when I have more time.

8x10 and smaller, Acrylic paintings, Available, Columbia County, Golden OPEN Acrylic Paintings, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location | No Comments »

8×10″, acrylic on archival artboard
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

There is so much to paint at Olana, and yet I never get tired of painting the big vista. Every sunset is different. This one was dramatic! I was there with my friend Patti. We were initially painting from another spot, but were afraid we’d have trouble getting back down the trail in the dark. So we stopped there well before sunset, and went on to this spot, where we remained until the sun fell below the horizon.

Here is an image you can click on for a larger, clearer view:

8x10 and smaller, Acrylic paintings, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Golden OPEN Acrylic Paintings, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Sold, Sunrise/Sunset, Uncategorized | No Comments »

8×10″, varnished acrylic on sealed, archival artboard (frame without glass like an oil painting)
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

This is a painting I did as a plein air demo during the three day workshop I taught at Olana a couple of weeks ago. I did it to show participants some indirect painting techniques. The path was actually paved, but I wanted to turn it into an inviting path through the trees that was more welcoming for a lazy afternoon walk than a drive along a paved road. The scene was overwhelmingly green, which is another reason why I wanted to have a warm-colored path.

We were using a three color palette of slow-drying Golden OPEN Acrylics, so I mixed the basic color for the path from the three primaries, then used OPEN Gloss medium to create a glaze. I laid down a thick layer of the orangy glaze over the whole panel, and sketched in my composition by drawing in the glaze with the wooden handle tip of a brush. I then pulled out lights and added darks, subtracting and adding paint until I was done.

Below is an image that you can click on for a larger, clearer view:

We’re into Labor Day weekend, so I’ll resume posting on Tuesday. Best wishes for a wonderful weekend to you all!

8x10 and smaller, Acrylic paintings, Columbia County, Demos/Work in Progress, Farm Scenes, Golden OPEN Acrylic Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Sold, Uncategorized | No Comments »

8×10″, acrylic on sealed Arches hot press board
$260.00 plus $15 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

Whenever I haven’t been to Olana for awhile, I have to do at least a couple of paintings from the top overlooking the Hudson River. This one was done in the late afternoon, just as the warmer color started moving into the atmosphere. Every day tells a different story here at the top of the hill. The clouds are always moving, and the landscape changes with the time of day and the seasons. The spot always has a freshness to it, even if I’ve painted it a hundred times.

If you’d like to see a larger view of the painting, you can click on the image below:

8x10 and smaller, Acrylic paintings, Available, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Golden OPEN Acrylic Paintings, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Sunrise/Sunset | No Comments »

8×10″, acrylic on Arches board
$200.00 plus $15 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

I have big news! Jurors have gone through the artist applicants for the three day Olana Paintout and Art Auction on October 3-5. They have selected twenty-six artists for the event, and I am one of them! So I’ve been spending some time strolling the grounds there and doing lots of small plein air pieces at different times of day, to help familiarize me with vistas both old and new on the 250 acre estate.

This view of the Hudson River and Catskills is not one I’ve painted before. The Hudson River appears as a streak in the foreground amidst farmland and low hills, before arriving at the dramatic skyline of the Eastern Escarpment of the Catskills. It’s quite different from the south-facing view we’re all accustomed to seeing from the front of the mansion. I’d like to revisit this spot a few times.

Below is an image you can click on to get a larger, clearer view of the painting:

This painting was done with Golden Open Acrylics. They were such a pleasure to work with, staying juicy and blendable all through the painting process. I used them on an Arches hot press board that I sealed with two coats of Fluid Matte Medium. The painting can then be varnished and framed like an oil painting. I love this surface for acrylics! It’s one of my current favorites, and the varnished paintings look absolutely stunning.

8x10 and smaller, Acrylic paintings, Available, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Golden OPEN Acrylic Paintings, Greene County, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Shows and News, Sunrise/Sunset | 1 Comment »

11×15″, Acrylic on watercolor paper (140# Fabriano cold press)
$295.00 plus $15 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

Sunsets at Frederic Church’s Olana estate are always dramatic. Although the Hudson River overlook does not face due west from the top of the hill by the mansion, there is always wonderful color in the sky and spectacular views of the Catskill Mountains. Like Boscobel, it’s one of those Hudson Vistas that one never grows tired of! (I suppose Frederic Church didn’t tire of it either!)

Below is an image that you can click on for a larger, clearer view:

8x12 to 12x24, Acrylic paintings, Available, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location | No Comments »

5×7″, acrylic on archival rag board
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

This was painted 99% on location at Olana, the estate of Hudson River School artist Frederic Church. Often after plein air painting, I get the painting home, and when I see it with indoor lighting, there is something that needs adjusting. Initially, the yellows in this painting were too cool compared to what the painting and scene looked like on location. It needed a glaze of warmer color. The image below is what it looked like when I brought it home. It looks a little anemic, don’t you think?

Glazes are quick to do, but can be tricky. Because acrylics dry so fast and cannot be removed when dry, laying on too much color while working transparently can suck all the light out of a painting. To be certain that I laid down the right color in the proportions I needed, I first covered the painting with clear plastic food wrap, and set it on the easel. With a mixture of Acrylic Glazing Liquid and transparent color, I tested the glaze color and result on top of the plastic-covered painting. If I wasn’t happy, I wiped it off and tried a different proportion or mix, until I got it looking the way I wanted while it was covered in the plastic wrap (click to enlarge):

Then I removed the plastic wrap from the painting, and set it against a white surface. This gave me a guideline of color and proportion of paint to glazing liquid, in order to achieve my desired result. It always surprises me how little color is needed when I see the glaze I used against a white surface! This is all that was needed to glaze this particular painting, so you can see how easy it would be to mix in way too much color (click to enlarge):

I then mixed the color and glazing liquid on a white paper palette to match the color on the plastic wrap, and painted it over the surface of the actual painting. It’s a pretty foolproof way to get exactly what you want! All that was left to do was to sign my name. Testing the glaze layer this way does take a few extra minutes, but it is well worth it in the end. It enables me to test many different options before making a commitment.

Acrylics have some truly wonderful properties, and definite advantages over oil paints. If I want to glaze an oil painting, I have to wait until the paint is quite dry. That’s a long time compared with the nearly instant glazing capability of acrylics. Plus, each additional layer of oil glaze is problematic. Oil painting mediums can darken, yellow and crack over time. The more oil and resin enter the paint film, the worse it is for the painting. One only needs to stroll through a museum to see first-hand how true that is. Restoration is expensive, and most private buyers don’t have a huge art conservation budget!

Acrylics, on the other hand, can be glazed forever with no compromise to the paint film. The acrylic medium is flexible and archival, and will not yellow, darken, nor crack over time. That means that if I decide to darken or intensify a glaze, I can always add another layer.

Here is an image of the finished painting that you can click on for a slightly larger, clearer view:

8x10 and smaller, Acrylic paintings, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Demos/Work in Progress, Golden OPEN Acrylic Paintings, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Sold, Sunrise/Sunset | No Comments »

5×7″, acrylics on rag board, custom framed in a gold plein air style wooden frame

SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

This field leading up to Frederic Church’s Olana estate is a constantly-changing palette of colors and patterns. In late spring/early summer, the purple flowers vanish from the landscape and are replaced by weaving carpets of yellow and gold leading up to the mansion. Whether looking down at the Hudson River from the top, or up at the residence of one of the greatest Hudson River school painters, there is no shortage of subject matter here for a landscape artist. I’ve painted this scene a number of times, but I have to say, I am especially happy with this particular rendition!

Speaking of Olana, I have some big news! I’ll be teaching a three day workshop there for teens in August. The dates are August 13, 14 and 15, from 9:30-12:30. We’ll be painting the Hudson River School landscape with Golden OPEN Acrylics — the perfect medium for those hot summer days. There is also a great air conditioned studio space if the temps get brutal or we have a rainy day. This is the perfect introduction to painting for teenagers with some time on their hands during the summer, and Olana will provide the paints, brushes, and painting panels. Please pass the word along if you know anybody who might be interested.

8x10 and smaller, Acrylic paintings, Columbia County, Flowers, Gardens and Flowering Trees, Golden OPEN Acrylic Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Sold, Spring, Workshops | No Comments »

6×8″, oils on archival board
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

This was painted before sunset at the Hudson River School “Olana” site, former home of painter Frederic Church. The long shadows, high contrast, and captivating color of the light were what drew me to this scene looking north above the Hudson. Below is an image that you can click on to get a slightly larger view:

8x10 and smaller, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Fall, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Sold, Sunrise/Sunset | No Comments »

SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

This sheet contains three small acrylic paintingsj on a 9×12 sheet of multi-media paper. They are views from Olana, which is the estate of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church. Below is an image that you can click on for a larger, clearer view:

These were painted with a split primary palette of Golden Fluid Acrylics:
Hansa Yellow Opaque
Diarylide Yellow
Pyrrole Red
Quinacridone Crimson
Cerulean Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Titanium White
For the bottom painting, I also used Nickel Azo Yellow, Quinacridone Burnt Orange, and Golden Acrylic Glazing Liquid to get a nice transparent glaze on the paper, then I worked into that glaze with the rest of the paints.

8x10 and smaller, 8x12 to 12x24, Acrylic paintings, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Sold, Sunrise/Sunset | No Comments »

2×4″, oils on canvas panel. Price includes a mini easel.
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

I have such a wonderful time painting these little miniatures! This one was painted on location at Olana, former home of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church. It was another beautiful day overlooking the mighty Hudson, which has inspired artists for generations. It was painted in a completely different way than the oil sketch from the same location, which I posted yesterday. There is no one “right way” to do things when it comes to painting!

8x10 and smaller, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Miniature Paintings, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Sold, Sunrise/Sunset | No Comments »

16×20″ custom framed with an archival ivory mat and classic gold frame (included in price). Oils on sealed rag paper. Painting image size is 1/4 sheet (11×15″) in a 16×20 mat. It looks especially elegant with the mat and frame!

$675.00 plus $40 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

This painting was done on location overlooking Hudson River School artist Frederic Church’s estate, Olana. It is the famous Hudson River classic view from the property. This started out as a monochromatic oil sketch on location, but as the it progressed, I was unable to avoid the temptation to start putting in color!

Below is an image you can click on for a slightly larger view of the painting:

16x20 and larger, Available, Columbia County, Farm Scenes, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Sketches | No Comments »

(You can click the image above for a larger view.)

This painting was done on location last week at Hudson River School Painter Frederic Church’s estate, Olana, in Hudson NY. The field glows in the morning light with oranges, greens and purples as fall approaches. This is one of my favorite spots to paint at Olana. I was able to spend a few days there last week and enjoyed every second!

Click image for a larger, clearer view
12×16″, Oils on linen panel
$525.00 plus $20 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

Last year, I did a series of small watercolor sketches from the same location, which are also still available for $100-$175 each depending on size (or make me an offer for the set of four). They are already archivally matted and with backing boards to pop into standard frames.
Mount Merino from Olana No. 1
Mount Merino from Olana No. 2
Mount Merino from Olana No. 3
Mount Merino from Olana No. 4

8x12 to 12x24, Available, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Farm Scenes, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Oil paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location | No Comments »

Acrylic on Arches CP 140#
Painting sent in archival mat and backing board in polybag, all ready to go into any standard 16×20″ frame. Painting alone is about 11×15″. (Painting can be sent mounted to board and varnished at no extra charge, to be framed without mat and glass, if you prefer.)
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.
I love the variety of painting with all types of media on a large selection of supports. But there’s nothing like the glow of transparent pigments on white paper! This painting really captures the shimmering golden fields at Frederic Church’s Olana estate. I went there in the morning and the purple flowers I’d seen just a week or two before were completely gone, replaced by bright yellow flowers blooming profusely. I took a bunch of photos before it started to rain, then headed back to the studio, where I painted this from one of the photos.

8x12 to 12x24, Acrylic paintings, Columbia County, Farm Scenes, Flowers, Gardens and Flowering Trees, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Sold, Spring | No Comments »

(Sorry about the slight glare on the lower left; that’s not on the painting, but just a reflection of the rebounding room lighting here on the wet paint.)
8×10″
Oils on archival linen panel
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

I’ve used this color combination in acrylics and watercolor, but I think this is my first go at it in oils. It’s interesting how the mood of the painting is affected by the bright crimson underpainting. Even though almost all of that color is covered over by other paint colors, the air still breathes the warmth of the strong pinky-violet undertones.

Hudson River School artist Frederic Church’s Olana estate remains one of my favorite vistas along the river. I never get tired of painting from there. It seems that when I do tire of a certain view there, a dozen more magical scenes from the property seem to appear!

A number of viewers have written to me recently, commenting on the fact that I haven’t posted any paintings for awhile, and wondering if I fell off the face of the earth! Actually, I’ve been painting up a storm. Winter brings changes with it, and I do lots of experiments with assorted media, commissioned paintings, and charge through countless pages in my sketchbook, using ink and watercolors, visiting places like the Bronx Zoo, Maritime Aquarium, pet stores, Adams Fairacre Farms in Wappingers — any warm indoor location that will have me, with something interesting to draw or paint! I post new work almost daily to my Hudson Valley Sketches site (click here) this time of year. Please do check it out and say hi over there!

If you’d like to see a slightly larger version of the painting, you can click the image below:

8x10 and smaller, Catskill Mountains, Columbia County, Greene County, Hudson River Paintings, Hudson River School, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Sold, Sunrise/Sunset | No Comments »

5×7″, Watercolor on 140# Arches Rough
$100.00 plus $10 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

Dramatic skies ruled the day! This lovely pond lies across from the red barns at Olana and has beautiful views from all around.

8x10 and smaller, Available, Columbia County, Farm Scenes, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Watercolor | No Comments »

1.75×4″, watercolor on Arches Rough 140lb. paper, mounted on 5×7″ archival matboard to pop into a standard frame
$100.00 plus $10 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

This is a miniature watercolor of the scene I posted yesterday. Everybody has room for one of these little gems. They look charming either framed and hung, or displayed on tabletop easels. This was also painted on location at Frederic Church’s Olana estate, a home of the Hudson River School movement.

8x10 and smaller, Available, Columbia County, Fall, Farm Scenes, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Miniature Paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Watercolor | No Comments »

This painting is already matted to 12×16″, with an archival custom ivory mat and backing board in an archival polybag. It will fit any standard 12×16″ frame. The painting is watercolor, done on 1/8 sheet (7.5×11.25″) on Arches Rough paper.

$290.00 plus $20 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

After doing the three miniatures shown over the past few days, I did a larger version, borrowing from what I liked in the others, as well as responding to changing lighting at the scene. I really wanted to convey the glistening hillside in the afternoon sunlight.

Here’s an image you can click on for a larger, clearer view:

8x10 and smaller, 8x12 to 12x24, Available, Columbia County, Fall, Farm Scenes, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Watercolor | No Comments »

About 3.5×5?, watercolor on Arches paper, double matted to 5×7? to fit in any standard 5×7? frame.
$100.00 plus free shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

This is the third in a series of four small watercolor paintings of Mount Merino, painted on location at Olana (home of Hudson River School artist Frederic Church). It is double matted to pop right into a standard 5×7? frame.

8x10 and smaller, Available, Columbia County, Fall, Farm Scenes, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Watercolor | No Comments »

About 3.5×5?, watercolor on Arches paper, double matted to 5×7? to fit in any standard 5×7? frame.
$100.00 plus free shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

This is the second in a series of four small watercolor paintings of Mount Merino, painted on location at Olana (home of Hudson River School artist Frederic Church). It is double matted to pop right into a standard 5×7″ frame.

8x10 and smaller, Available, Columbia County, Fall, Farm Scenes, Hudson River School, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Miniature Paintings, Olana and Hudson NY, Plein Air--painted on location, Watercolor | 1 Comment »

5×7″, Oils on archival linen panel

$135.00 plus $15 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

This is such a magnificent waterfall and a beautiful place to paint. Lots of folks come to swim and take in the dramatic falls on hot days. It involves a bit of a trek through overgrown brush, a steep slope, and a train track crossing, but is well worth the effort!

8x10 and smaller, Available, Columbia County, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Plein Air--painted on location, Waterfalls | No Comments »