The Pond at Glen Park

The Pond at Glen Park
Acrylic on paper
8"x10"
Chris Breier © 2017

I enjoy painting outdoors during the summer when the weather allows. On this occasion my brother and I decided to paint at Glen Falls. On previous painting excursions I have painted the waterfall at Glen Falls but this time I decided to focus on area with the ponds. A small strip of the pond is visible in this painting and it continues under the arch of the bridge. My brother and I refer to the park as "Duck Paradise" because that's where they like to congregate, although on this occasson they were hanging out at the other end of the pond so I didn't get a chance to put them in the painting.

It's a serene place to visit and and that's what I aimed to capture with this painting. It's a small oasis in the middle of the bustling village. Many people who work in the area spend their lunch breaks there. As a painter, it's a great location to spend an evening painting outdoors while listening to the sounds of rushing water and quacking ducks.

The majority of this painting was completed outside with a few finishing touches applied back in my studio.

I have also painted part of the gravel path at Glen Park,  Autumn trees at glen Park, a watercolor painting of the waterfall, and another plein aire acrylic painting of Glen Falls.

Autumn Afternoon

Autumn Afternoon
Acrylic on gessobord
8”x10”
Chris Breier © 2017

We're heading into Autumn which is one of my favorite seasons. The saturated colors and the longer shadows make for more dramatic landscapes. I sometimes feel as though the colors in my painting are exaggerated but some of the colors found in nature are even brighter. On occasion I'll be walking through the woods and I'll stumble upon a scene that seems like magic- in this scene it was the saturated yellow greens of grass and the long shadows that stopped me in my tracks.

Nature Walk

Nature Walk
Acrylic on gessobord
8”x10”
Chris Breier © 2017

I've painted this lake many times over the past few years. Anybody who follows my work should know that I get a lot of my inspiration for my paintings from taking walks in nature or near bodies of water. I enjoy the solitude and the seclusion from the stress of modern life. I believe every body should take time away from cell phones, email, social media, and work each day to daydream and think about things.

Before the Falls

Before the Falls
Acrylic on gessobord
8”x10”
Chris Breier © 2017

During the summer I often wake up early to take a walk over to Island Park to visit the library, or buy fresh tomatoes, sweet corn, and blueberries at the farmers market. I enjoy walking early in the morning, especially on a warm and sunny day. The birds are active and shops are beginning to open. The sunlight is at a dramatic angle, and it's warm but not uncomfortably hot. I often bring my camera with me to capture some of these scenes so that I can use them as reference material for paintings.

This vantage point is of Ellicott Creek as seen from the only bridge to the island. The creek flows around the island and then passes underneath Main street before going over Glen Falls.

A House in the Woods

 

A House in the Woods
Acrylic on Gessobord
8”x10”
Chris Breier © 2017

I spotted this view of a white home on the shores of Ellicott Creek and it gave me the impression that it’s a lone house in the wilderness. In reality, it’s part of a suburban neighborhood but working on this painting made me think about what it would be like to live in the woods in the middle of nowhere with a creek in the backyard. I would survive, as long as there was enough room for a painting studio… and a garden.

Ellicott Creek at Dusk

Ellicott Creek at Dusk
Acrylic on Gessobord
8”x10”
Chris Breier © 2017

What attracted me to painting this scene was the surreal mood that the woods can take on right after sunset. I wanted to capture the luminosity of the sky and water so I used acrylics in a transparent manner similar to watercolor. I know from my experience with watercolor that if I overwork the painting it can lose the brilliance that can be achieved with transparent washes, so I focused on the essence of the image and aimed to get the colors and the values correct without making too many corrections. The original painting is available.

Williamsville Train Depot in Winter

Williamsville Train Depot in Winter
Acrylic on Gessobord
5”x7”
Chris Breier © 2017

I like to take walks early in the morning when most people are asleep. It’s a way to get some mild exercise and to think about things. Walking outdoors in the winter can be uncomfortable but it can also be beautiful when it’s sunny. I took the reference photo for this painting when the sun was just about to come up over the trees which gave them a warm glow.

The Williamsville train depot was built in 1896 and it was recently restored by the The Western New York Railway Historical Society. The depot is open to the public and it’s used for special events such as car shows, hayrides, and small concerts.

The original painting is available.

Through the Trees

Through the Trees
Acrylic on gessobord
8"x10"
Chris Breier © 2017

I was walking around Island Park at dusk and I looked up and I noticed I could see the steeple from Saints Paul & Peter Church on Main street. Normally it's not visible when the leaves are on the trees but this was in fall. I never thought to paint the church from this vantage point. I quickly framed the steeple between the two center branches of the tree. I later used the photo references to complete the painting in my studio. This painting is available.

Early Morning At Island Park

Early Morning At Island Park
Acrylic on Raymar canvas panel
8" x 10"
Chris Breier © 2017

On this particular morning, I decided to take a walk at Island Park. The sun was up and it was the beginning of a hot summer day. There are a number of areas of the park that would make a good painting but what attracted me to this spot was how the sun changed the appearance of the water. The area in direct sun reveals the muddy color of the water and the shadow areas reflect the blue-green color of the trees in the background.

I also enjoyed painting the tree, I used a little bit of impasto on the tree trunk (impasto is when the paint is applied in a thick manner to create texture). I used daubs of various shades of green to paint the foliage.

The original painting is for sale through email $160 plus $10 shipping.

Island Park Entrance

Island Park Entrance
Ink and watercolor on paper
5" x 7"
Chris Breier © 2016

The original painting is for sale. I didn't have much time to complete this sketch of Island Park. The sun was setting and the scene would change dramatically as soon as the sun sets below the trees. My brother and I were on our way to pick up dinner and it was getting late. I walked around the park looking for subject matter to paint and I settled on this location where the path curves off into the distance. I started with the quick pencil sketch to make sure the proportions and the placement of the shapes was correct. When I was satisfied with the drawing I inked it with a micron pen and immediately put in some washes of color in the sky.

As you can see from the winter coat and the glove on my left hand, this painting was from April of this year. The cold weather didn't stop the mosquitoes from buzzing around my head. The good thing about the cold weather is the extra clothing provides a lot of extra pockets to stuff art supplies into!

Tree Study

Tree Study
Ink, pencil, and watercolor on paper
5" x 7"

The original painting is for sale. I worked on this study of a tree while I was having the brakes repaired on my car. I don't like sitting around in the waiting room mindlessly watching television, so whenever I have my car worked on I bring my watercolor supplies with me. I handed my keys to the mechanic and immediately bolted out the door to look for something to make a painting from.

This tree was on a walking path not too far from the shop. I began sketching it with a micron pen, and once I was happy with the drawing I used a brush pen to thicken up up some of the lines. When I added the water to the drawing the ink began to run a little bit but I think that made it look more interesting. I started with the color of the sky and when that was dry I added the color of the branches.

A few runners and walkers passed by me while I was working on this painting. They probably thought I was nuts, most people don't encounter artists drawing outside. I once had someone ask me if I was taking a survey. I think it's because I'm holding a board and it looks like I'm writing things down. This happened at Canandaigua Lake and I jokingly said "Yes, I'm counting how many boats are out on the lake today!"

Sunlit Church

Sunlight Church
Watercolor on paper
8" x 10"
Chris Breier © 2016 

The original painting is for sale. My brother and I took a walk around Williamsville and it quickly turned into a photo expedition. It was windy and colder than normal for June, which was kind of annoying. It felt like winter because the wind was making my ears and face burn, by the end of the walk I couldn't wait to get back inside.

At first I didn't get too many good photos, but I was glad I persisted because this scene was a watercolor painting waiting to happen. What caught my attention was the dappled sunlight and the orange wooden doors of the church.

If you're interested in seeing how this was painted, please watch the YouTube demo below.