Mark H Brown - A most serene Gulf Coast Sunset

Here is a new painting for my Florida tour this year.  I just finished it today.  The still waters and glowing light captured my emotions and left me so peaceful and rested.  I think it might be my best landscape to date.  Love, love, love it!  I hope to repost some of these when I scan them in with a better image.

Golden Glow

31 x 48

oil on board

http://www.markhbrownartist.com/

Mark H Brown - New landscape of the Gulf Coast Florida

I've been doing a bunch of still life paintings, but haven't posted them yet.  I hope to soon.  Here is a landscape I just finished.  After a break from landscape painting, I've returned to this genre for my Florida tour coming up soon.  This is a painting of the gulf coast at Naples, on a windy and dramatic evening.  I loved the light! 

Golden Glow

27 x 48

oil on panel

Mark H Brown - Three new glass pieces

Here are the latest pieces in my new series of fruit in glass.  I have really enjoyed the distortions of light and color.  The glass has such energy and movement and the diffuse, neutral background is very peaceful and rested.  I have always loved the aesthetic of the square format, especially with a modern look.  The latest two are framed in a shadowbox style frame which accents the contemporary vibe.

I will be bringing these to Alexandria, VA for a show this weekend if 2 things hold true.  One, there are no flood waters preventing it and second, my wife doesn't go into labor in the next 12 hours!  Hope to see some of you there if you can.  It's on King Street in Old Town Alexandria (booth # 72).

24 x 24

oranges in crystal

oil on gessoboard

24 x 24

apples in crystal

oil on gessoboard



18 x 18

oil on canvas

lemons in compote

mark@markhbrownartist.com

http://www.markhbrownartist.com/

Mark H. Brown - Repeat with Pears

I liked the lemons in glass so much, and it sold, so I thought a pears in glass would be a nice compliment to the series.  I will be bringing this to Mt. Gretna for this weekend's show.  Hope to see you there.  I will be on PA ave. at the top. 

Pears in Glass

12 x 16

oil on board

mark@markhbrownartist.com

http://www.markhbrownartist.com/

Mark H Brown - Peaches in Glass

In keeping with my series, I painted some beautiful peaches in a glass bowl tipped to the side.  I enjoyed the slight green cast of the glass against a somewhat more blue/purple background.  This neutral environment really allows the fruit to sing.  This will be the last for a little while as I now have to frame about 8 pieces, pack my van and head to Mystic, CT this Friday.  After that is Mt. Gretna!  I hope to see some of you there in 2 weeks. 

12 x 16

oil on canvas

peaches in glass

mark@markhbrownartist.com

Mark H Brown - More Lemons in Glass!

After the success of the other lemons in glass painting, I felt compelled to create a square format piece with a few more lemons against the soft gray backdrop.  I feel this has captured the contemporary feel I was after.  Love, love, love the glass.  I never get bored of glass, although I do tire of mentally breaking it apart to paint! 

Lemons in Glass #2

18 x 18

oil on canvas

mark@markhbrownartist.com

Mark H Brown - Lemons

Here is my latest piece from today.  The lemons vibrate against the cool grey background.  The swirl glass pattern created some movement in an otherwise quiet soft piece.  I always enjoy the dimpled texture of the lemons.

Lemons in Glass

12 x 16

oil on canvas

mark@markhbrownartist.com

Mark H Brown - Cherries with Peaches

The cherries were still fresh so I used them with some peaches.  I loved the contrast of the reflective cherries against the dull fuzziness of the peaches, of the polished silver against the diffuse, white atmospheric table.  The stems completed the composition with there subtle movement.  I was pleased with this one day gem. 

peaches with cherries

8 x 10

oil on canvas

Mark H Brown -Cherries Delight

Here is a new piece with cherries in a glass, similiar to one I did last year.  I never get tired of red cherries in glass. 

8 1/2 x 8 1/2

oil on canvas

mark@markhbrownartist.com

3 new landscapes - Mark H Brown

I've been doing some plein air work in the evening, and then doing some studio pieces from those paintings.  Here are three new ones. 

The first, is similar to the last one posted, focusing on the magnificent evening sky.

16 x 24

oil on canvas

The second one is from a hazy sunset, that gave the whole sky a salmon glow.  I love the atmosphere in this one.  I also loosened up and painted this in a much more expressive manner.  I loved it!

The third painting is a pastural scene, same pink sky with the warm glow of the grass fields.  This too was also painted more loose.

mark@markhbrownartist.com

Summer Sunset - Mark H Brown

Here is my newest painting from a sunset this past Monday.  It was a beautiful evening and so I gathered my paints and headed out for some plein air painting.  I even remembered a chair to sit in.  I was able to finish a quick plein air piece for color, tones and feel while shooting some reference photos for the studio piece. 

The evening did not disappoint, as the large cloud mass hid the brightness of the sky while being accented with a golden glow on the underneath ridges of the clouds.  This was highlighted with the radiate glow of the sun just peering out from the bottom of the clouds.  It was a tricky balance of chroma to accomplish the glow of the sun, yet have the surrounding light not be to bright, nor muddy.  I enjoyed the play of cool gray/blue against the warm yellow light.  The purple mountain was a further compliment to the suns yellow hue and the green trees helped complete the balanced color scheme. 

 Here is the study done on site, in addition to the larger studio piece. 

Summer Sunset

18 x 36

oil on canvas

mark@markhbrownartist.com

Mark H Brown - New Landscapes

Here are two new landscapes inspired from the almost summer season.  The first one is a view in Loudoun County VA, where I grew up.  I was driving home from Reston VA after a show and shot the landscape.  I had a sunset from here in PA and put that as the sky for the VA rolling hills.  I'm very pleased with this piece. 

Loudoun County Sunset

15 x 34

oil on canvas

The second painting is of a creek scene down in Newville.  We went down there Monday to go fishing and I liked the early light and bend in the creek.

Big Springs Road

12 x 25

Oil on Canvas

mark@markhbrownartist.com

Mark H Brown - New landscape finished!

This landscape is a studio piece from a local scene down the road.  I love this time of evening with the orange of the sky against the blue and green.  The field is the typical wild grass fields with a small stream running in the foreground (actually a stone road, but I thought water looked better).  The sunset portion was from a trip coming back through winchester va.  The two worked well together.  It is the last larger landscape for awhile as I'm going back to more middle sizes next. 

evening sky

30 x 48

markhbrownaritist.com

Latest landscape - Mark H Brown

Here is my latest landscape just completed this morning.  It is of a morning scene with all the haze, fog and atmospheric light that so captivated me when I saw it.  I love the layers as the tree masses move closer to the foreground.  Water is always a joy to paint and I thought this turned out very well. 

Morning Light

30 x 45

oil on canvas

mark@markhbrownartist.com



Winter Landscape - Mark H Brown

I had begun this piece before I left for Florida.  It was a beautiful winter sky morning, with the rays of light coming down over the entire valley.  I made up the snow and mountains to complement the sky, adding I think to the cool feeling of the painting.  It might be out of place with all the spring flowers coming up now, but I enjoyed the challenge of capturing the strong glow of light against the very neutral surrounding cloud mass.  I'm really enjoying these landscapes.  Thank you all for all your comments over the last year.  I appreciate your input and encouragement.  Happy painting!

18 x 27

Oil on Canvas

mark@markhbrownartist.com

New landscape - Mark H Brown

Here is a new landscape.  It was a true battle in creating it,  from despair to pushing through and finally to success.  I love it!  I thank God for the ability to paint, because sometimes I'm reminded more acutely, just how dependent I am on His mercy and grace to be able to paint anything successful.  I love this time of evening.

Original Oil on canvas

16 x 27

mark@markhbrownartist.com

Oranges in Compote - Mark H Brown

Here is another piece in a series of still life landscape.  I forgot to post this last month after I finished it.  I plucked the greens off of an orange tree in Fl, next to where I park my trailer in between shows.  I went home and used the FL greens with my California navels : )  I have really enjoyed painting the clouds instead of a solid wall color.  I'm excited to see the leaves are starting to come in here in PA.  This year I'm GOING to return to landscape, in addition to still life! 

Oranges in Compote

16 x 16

oil on canvas

http://www.brownfineartstudio.com/

Pears with landscape - Mark H Brown

Here is another piece in the new series with a landscape background.  This time it is more obviously a landscape, rather than a secondary accent used in conjuction with the still life part of the painting.

Autumn Pears

12 x 12

oil on board

http://www.markhbrownartist.com/

Roses at Sunset - Mark H Brown

I finally have been able to get back to painting!  After a 2 month run of shows in FL, getting back and unpacking and those always delightful end of year taxes, I was able to create two new paintings.  Here is the most recent one.  I'm working on a new series blending still life with landscape.  It is proving more challenging, more enjoyable and creatively inspiring.  Now I hope the public likes them too!

I love the mix of sun light coming through leaves and petals, in contrast to the ambient cool light on the shadow side.  These back lit roses were a challenge to paint with enough light to be visible, yet subdued against the sunset glow.  I loved the warm yellows in the center of the white roses, in opposition to the cool blues in the petals and table. 

Roses at Sunset

24 x 20

oil on canvas

mark@markhbrownartist.com

"Bananas" accepted into 2011 National OPA - Mark H Brown

I received notice Friday that my painting "Bananas" was accepted into the 2011 National Oil Painters of America competition.  They only accepted 160 paintings out of a couple thousand entrees.  That was exciting!  Here is the painting again, from late last year.