'Vintage' Field Guide Reissued

Reddish Birds, a watercolor illustration from The Easy Bird Guide: Western Region, Globe Pequot, 2006

John and Edith Bull's 1989 field guide to western birds (originally published by Macmillan) has come back to life!

Globe Pequot, under the Falcon Press imprint, has just published The Easy Bird Guides: Eastern & Western Regions. I am the sole illustrator of the Western book. I completed the illustrations back in 1987, just before getting started on the paintings for my own Golden Guide Eastern Birds.

What is unique about the Bull's abridged guides is that the songbirds are arranged on plates by their dominant coloration-- hence this illustration of Reddish Birds. The Easy Bird Guides are best suited for beginner birders, but, to be honest, my Eastern Birds is better.

 

Spring Thaw, Honey Hollow Acquired by Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum

 

Spring Thaw, Honey Hollow, oil on linen, 22"x 30"

Spring Thaw, Honey Hollow on display with "Birds in Art" at the Woodson Museum, September 2005

The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau Wisconsin, best known for its prestigious annual exhibition Birds in Art, has quietly been amassing a world-class collection of art. Recent acquisitions include paintings by Jamie Wyeth and by the American impressionist Frank W. Benson. Well, now you can add me to the list! Last fall, shortly after the opening of the 26th annual Birds in Art, the museum purchased my entry into the show, a new oil painting titled Spring Thaw, Honey Hollow.

Incredibly, 2005 marked 25 years since I first was accepted into Birds in Art. I was just out to college in 1980; I was working as a book store clerk and painting in my spare time on an unheated porch. I have shown at the LYWAM 5 times since then, and hope to be back later this year.

 

 

All this year, Spring Thaw, Honey Hollow has been on tour with other selections from the 2005 show. It still can be seen at the following venues:

 

 

 

 

December 8, 2006- February 18, 2007

Arnot Art Museum

Elmira, New York

(607) 734-3697

www.arnotartmuseum.org

 

 

Last Light, Volmars, oil/linen/board, 12"x16"

Last Light Volmars a Finalist in Landscape Competition

My plein air study, Last Light, Volmars was honored as a finalist in International Artist magazine's Art Prize Challenge #31: Landscapes. The painting was published in the February/March 2006 issue of the magazine, along with other winning paintings from the contest.

 

"New Hudson River School" in Plein Air Magazine

Plein Air* Magazine ran a feature article in their April 2005 issue describing a new school of contemporary Hudson River Valley landscape painters -a group in which I have been included.

Reproduced with the article was my painting East Greenville Barn, along with landscapes by my friends and colleagues Jim Cramer and James Gurney, among others. Author Jennifer King also quoted extensively from an email interview in which I shared my thoughts concerning this idea of our belonging to a 'school' of new Hudson River art.

*Plein Air magazine is now published as Fine Art Connoisseur.

East Greenville Barn, oil/linen, 16"x22"

 

It is not a conscious effort to work together as a group, I wrote, but rather a common interest among many painters in the area in working directly from nature. And, because we are just human beings responding as artists to the same power and beauty of the natural world around us there are inevitably similarities in our current work to paintings done here in the distant past. Much has changed in the Hudson Valley since the time of Cole and Church 150 years ago, but the landscape is timeless.

 

Four painters of the "New" Hudson River School (from left to right): Harry McChesney, Leigh Ann Smith, Jim Cramer, and me, seen at our August 2005 Spencertown Academy show Flowing to the Hudson.

January Hayfields--Rough-legged Hawk

Featured on covers of Bird Watcher's Digest and Birding World (UK), simultaneously!

 

 

Dueling covers! My painting January Hayfields--Rough-legged Hawk was seen on these two magazine covers early last year. Thanks to my friends at Bird Watcher's Digest, this painting is now available as a limited edition print, in a signed and numbered edition of 300.

January Hayfields--Rough-legged Hawk, oil/linen, 18 1/4"x 29"

 

 

Feature Article in Wildlife Art, May-June 2003

“James Coe: Changing Focus,” written by contributing writer Joan Brown, examined the evolution of my bird paintings from precise field guide illustrations towards a more painterly, impressionistic style.

Back issues are available from the publisher: www.wildlifeartmag.com 

EXHIBITS   

CURRENTLY ON VIEW:

BIRDS IN ART

September 9 - November 12, 2006

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin

For more information about the Woodson Museum, visit their website at www.lywam.org.

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
700 North Twelfth Street 
Wausau, Wisconsin    54403
(715) 845-7010

Mill Pond Geese, accepted into this year's Birds in Art exhibition at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, and touring the country during 2007 with selections from the exhibit.

 

SMALL WORKS - June 10 - December 17, 2006

IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ENGLAND

September 15 - December 17, 2006

Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, Vermont

 

For more information about the Bennington Center for the Arts, and for an online preview of current exhibits, visit their website at www.benningtoncenterforthearts.org.

Bennington Center for the Arts

West Road at Gypsy Lane Bennington, Vermont 05201

(802) 447-0564

 

October Haze, East Durham, on display until the end of the year with other "Small Works" at the Bennington Center for the Arts

The Society of Animal Artists 46th Annual

ART AND THE ANIMAL

September 15-November 30, 2006

Opening this year at the Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, Vermont.

For more information about the Bennington Center for the Arts, and for an online preview of current exhibits, visit their website at www.benningtoncenterforthearts.org.

For additional information about the Society of Animal Artists, and a listing of venues which will host this exhibition during its 2007 nationwide tour, visit www.societyofanimalartists.com.

Bennington Center for the Arts
West Road at Gypsy Lane 
Bennington, Vermont    05201 
(802) 447-0564   

Oil Painters of America: EASTERN REGIONAL

Brazier Fine Art Gallery, Richmond, Virginia

September 15-October 13, 2006

Storm Over Hass Hill, one of two "miniature" oil paintings accepted into this year's OPA Eastern Regional

This year's Eastern Regional Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils will feature "Miniatures" -- defined as paintings smaller than 11"x14". I will be represented by to small plein air landscapes. For additional information contact the gallery, or visit the OPA website: www.oilpaintersofamerica.com.

Brazier Fine Art Gallery
3401 West Cary Street
Richmond, Virginia 23221
804-359-2787

OPENING SOON:

SMALL TREASURES AND MORE

Gregory James Gallery, Kent and New Milford, Connecticut

November 18 - December 30, 2006

ALL PAINTINGS GREAT AND SMALL

The Cooley Gallery, Old Lyme, Connecticut

November 16, 2006 - January 6, 2007

WINTER SALON SHOW

Mark Gruber Gallery, New Paltz, New York

December 2, 2006 - January , 2007

A SEASON OF SNOW

Windham Fine Arts, Windham, New York

December 9, 2006 - January 1, 2007

Opening reception: December 9, 5:00 - 7:00 pm

This year's holiday exhibition at the Windham Fine Arts gallery will feature regional landscapes blanketed with snow. Showing along with me will be three other superb landscape painters: Eric Tobin, Malcomb DuBois, and Tom Key.

For additional information visit www.windhamfinearts.com

Fresh Snow, Grapeville Creek, oil/linen, 14"x22"

On display at Windham Fine Arts in December 2006.

ONGOING:

Windham Fine Arts, Windham, NY

The Windham Fine Arts gallery, located in the quaint Catskill Mountain ski town of Windham, is the best place to see my artwork at any time of the year. Gallery director Victoria Alten always maintains a selection of landscapes, and she is most likely to have samples of my newest work.

5380 Main Street

Windham, NY 12496

(518) 734-6850

email: info@windhamfinearts.com

Cape May Bird Observatory Art Gallery, Cape May, NJ

An ongoing display upstairs at the New Jersey Audubon's Center for Research and Education features some of America's premier bird artists.

I am currently showing an illustration plate from the Eastern Birds field guide, as well as a selection of my limited edition prints. I regularly submit additional work which is shown in temporary theme exhibits at the CMBO.

The CMBO Gallery is open daily 9:00 to 4:30.

Cape May Bird Observatory

600 Route 47 North, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210

Flycatchers II , from Eastern Birds; currently on display at the CMBO Art Gallery

 

---

PAINT OUTS

So, you ask, "What is a paint out?"

Well, it's a new kind of art show: performance art, auction, and exhibition all combined into one frenzied day!

Here is how it works: the artists assemble first thing in the morning, prepared to spend the day painting out 'en plein air.' They all head out to their locations, and paint furiously. By late afternoon, some speed demons will have produced at least one--maybe even two--paintings! The new work is brought back to the gallery, slapped (wet) into waiting frames, and hung on the walls. Typically, an evening reception follows, with an auction of the fresh work, or just an opening to launch a month-long gallery exhibition and sale of the paintings (as they dry).

Across the country, paint outs are becoming increasingly popular every year. I know of half a dozen paint outs scheduled for this season in the Hudson Valley region alone. They are great fun. For the artists, there is nothing like a 4:00pm deadline to get the adrenaline flowing! For our audience, the day offers an opportunity to get outside and watch us at work, and a chance to purchase fresh, inspired paintings that are, on occasion, truly gems

 

Jim painting Changing Light, Black Dome (oil/linen, 16"x27") at last year's Paint the Mountaintop plein air event, sponsored by Windham Fine Arts

 

I will be participating in the following 2006 paint outs. Be sure to put them on your calendar!

PAINT THE MOMENT

Objects and Images, Bronxville, NY: APRIL 29, 2006

The painting from this event will remain on display in the Gallery through May.

For additional information, contact the Dean Lombardo at (914) 779-7979, or by email.

 

PAINT THE MOUNTAINTOP

Windham Fine Arts, Windham, NY: JULY 1, 2006

Barbecue reception and sale in the Gallery 5-7 pm; the paintings will be shown for about 1 month.

For additional information, contact the Gallery at (518) 734-6850, or by email.

 

PAINTERS ON LOCATION

Rye Art Center, Rye, NY: SEPTEMBER 16, 2006

Reception and auction in the Art Center at 6:00pm; viewing of new work is from 5-6 pm that night, a show of landscapes by the paint out artists will be on view for the week prior to the paint out date.

For additional information, contact the Rye Art Center at (914) 967-0700.

OPEN STUDIO

Because of my inclusion in the December 2006 exhibition of snowscapes at the nearby Windham Fine Arts Gallery, I will not be holding an open studio this holiday season. Do check back here to see when I will next open my studio to guests - probably in the fall of 2007 - or contact me to set up a private studio visit.

Starting in December 2001, I opened my home and studio to the public for a weekend Open Studio tour. I have tried to participate in this holiday event annually, but have missed the past two years due to scheduling conflicts. I hope to renew the tradition later this year.

Our past open studios here have been fun for everyone. The first year we had a full house the during the entire time we were open, and met many new friends and neighbors from the community. Other years have brought guests from as far away as New York City, as well as numerous return visitors from the neighborhood.

Hosting an open studio allows me to showcase my newest work, and it provides you with an opportunity to see what I am doing. It is also a chance to have your field guides signed, or to get new copies of Eastern Birds. Some years, I also can offer paintings or limited edition prints at special discouted prices.

Many small landscapes on display at my first Open Studio

Please plan on stopping by this year. Come see my studio and share some baked treats and hot cider with us. I hope to see you here!

If you would like to receive a post card invitation to my next Open Studio, make sure to add your name and address to my mailing list.

New Baltimore Hamlet & Hills Open Studio Tour

As in past years, I have coordinated my open studio weekend with other nearby artisans to create a circut of local studios open to the public—all within a 20 minute drive from here. On display in the other studios will be paintings, pottery, ceramics, carved wood, and other decorative items. I will have maps available to guide you through the tour.

 

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LAST UPDATED OCTOBER 2, 2006