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    All images are Copyright Protected and the property of Jamie Williams Grossman. Paintings and photos displayed on this site may not be reprinted, copied, downloaded, displayed elsewhere, or used for any reason without her written permission.

    ------------------------------------- CUSTOMER REVIEWS

    "OMGGGGG, Jamie!!!! It's absolutely amazinggggggg!!!!!! I loveeeeee it!!!!!! This is sooo much more than I could have imagined!!! Thank you!!!!"

    "It's spectacular, Jamie!!! How talented you are! We absolutely love it! And you are right-the frame is just perfect for it! "

    "Happy" with it is an understatement! My sister's husband said, "Wow, it's beautiful!" That's a lot of emotion coming from him! haha. And my adult daughter said, "OMG MOM, ITS GORGEOUS!". You have added to your fan club!

    "Jamie, your painting arrived in perfect condition! And, as I expected, it looks even better ‘in person’ than on the computer screen. Thank you so much for your careful packing and wonderful painting."

    "...Today I finally surprised [my wife] with the actual painting! It is her birthday! And I just wanted to let you know the we both absolutely love it!! She was so so surprised, and just speechless.... Thank you again for being so flexible and good to work with! It was such a joy preparing for today and I appreciated your professionalism throughout the process!"

    "I love the new painting! It's actually a little more golden and fluid than it looks in the pic and I love the movement; everything in my house is a little on the warm and yellow and gold side so it could hang pretty much anywhere. It's going to the framer shortly and I look forward to having it up :-)"

    "Jamie, it's lovely!!! Thank you so much for all the time and love you've put into it! You have no idea how much joy your work is bringing to me. I'm very grateful!"

    "I just wanted to share that my father-in-law absolutely LOVES your painting. He loves the frame and said that he's never owned a real oil painting. ???? But most importantly, he loves the subject matter and he and my husband spent a lot of time reminiscing this morning about hikes they took there years ago. This part of the Hudson is, by far, their favorite! Thank you SO much for making this Christmas gift PERFECT."

    "Your paintings of my beloved Hudson Valley are stunning! I've always loved Hudson River paintings, and can't believe that I've found someone who is following in the great tradition of Cropsey and company! "

    "We received your painting yesterday and it's really very beautiful. Thank you again very much."

    "Your beautiful "Autumn at Rockwood" arrived in perfect condition two days ago. It is even more lovely in person than I ever could have imagined. Thank you so much for your artistry and your many kindnesses to me..... I will treasure both of my paintings very much ..."

    "I'm more than happy, I'm thrilled!"

    "I just wanted to let you know that I received [the painting] today! It is beautiful, thank you so much:)"

    "Your [miniature] Caillebotte arrived today. Wow, it's WAY better seeing it in person than viewing an image/photo of it. Spectacular..... Thank you so much!!"

    "It's beautiful. Thank you so much!"

    "Oh, Jamie! It is fabulous!!!!!!! I love it!"

    "Hi Jamie, I received painting yesterday. It's really beautiful! Thank you for sending so quickly. I'm sure it will give my friend hope and strengthen as she faces this battle with Parkinson's. Thank you!"

    "Jamie, My painting arrived Thursday and I love it. I will definitely order from you again."

    "[They] love the painting. They were so surprised. They really appreciate it and the thought and artistry behind it. They received many [wedding] gifts, and said this was one of their two favorites."

    "[My husband] loved loved loved the painting! It is hanging on the wall in my great room. It's just beautiful!"

    "Hi Jamie! The beautiful paintings arrived safe and sound this afternoon. I love them! (Boy you don't mess around with packing them ;) Thank you."

    "Hi Jamie –I thought you’d enjoy seeing “The Red Barge” framed. Until I give it to my husband on his birthday, I have it hanging in my office. I LOVE looking at it all day!"

    "I received the painting this morning. It is SO FANTASTIC!!!!!! I wish I would have had it done larger. Thank you! thank you!"

    "The East from Hunter Mountain painting arrived the other day. It made it through the snow and looks great. Thanks for everything."

    "Jamie, my wife and I love it. Thank you and great work. It was difficult trying to figure out a special gift for them......I'm very happy that I reached out to you. I know they will love the painting and the special touch you did with the card! "

    "Wow, it looks AMAZING! They are going to love it. I love the name too. Perfect. ... Thanks again!"

    "Your lovely painting of a sweet bird, framed beautifully, arrived last week.... I just adore it!!... I see it and injoy its beauty every day! Thank you so much!"

    "The painting is beautiful! I love it! "

    "Just a quick note to let you know your [miniature] Monet arrived in perfect condition. It looks fabulous!!! Thank you again so much."




    ------------------------------------------ If you haven't seen the two-DVD set, "The Impressionists", you don't know what you're missing!

    the-impressionists.jpg


    I rented it from Netflix and absolutely loved it. It is an enactment of the lives of Monet, Renoir, Manet, Cezanne, Degas, and other Impressionist painters living at that time around Paris. Fascinating and eye-opening!





Archive for the 'Columbia County' Category

First Day of Summer at Olana

Posted by Jamie on June 26th, 2018

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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:
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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:
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Olana Overview

Posted by Jamie on June 24th, 2018

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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.

Streaming Light at Sunset

Posted by Jamie on July 25th, 2017

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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:
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Hudson River Twilight

Posted by Jamie on March 28th, 2017

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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:
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Art to Go from the Hudson River Valley

Posted by Jamie on February 1st, 2017

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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.

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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.

Weathered Maple with mat and custom frame

Posted by Jamie on November 9th, 2016

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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.

Cedar Overlooking the Hudson

Posted by Jamie on November 1st, 2016

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(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.

Across the Fields from Cosy Cottage

Posted by Jamie on February 3rd, 2016

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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:

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Olana Pond in Autumn

Posted by Jamie on January 9th, 2016

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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!

Autumn Above the Hudson

Posted by Jamie on January 4th, 2016

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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.

Overlooking the Fields

Posted by Jamie on November 12th, 2015

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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:
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Summer at the Old Homestead

Posted by Jamie on September 23rd, 2015

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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:

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Overlooking the Fields 5×7

Posted by Jamie on September 2nd, 2015

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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!

Church’s Sunset

Posted by Jamie on September 1st, 2015

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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!

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Summer Afternoon at Olana

Posted by Jamie on July 13th, 2015

150711 Olana on a Summer Afternoon 435

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!
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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.
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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!

Blazing Sunset Over the Hudson

Posted by Jamie on May 12th, 2015

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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:

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Autumn at the Old Homestead

Posted by Jamie on April 7th, 2015

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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.

Hudson River School Sunset 2 — Jamie’s Jewels

Posted by Jamie on December 16th, 2014

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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.

The Many Faces of Olana

Posted by Jamie on November 18th, 2014

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.

Frederic Church’s Tree

Posted by Jamie on September 24th, 2014

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.

Bash Bish Falls

Posted by Jamie on September 16th, 2014

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!

Olana Vista

Posted by Jamie on September 15th, 2014

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:

Frederic Church’s Tree in Miniature

Posted by Jamie on September 11th, 2014

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!

Mist in the Mountains

Posted by Jamie on June 9th, 2014

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.

Soft Morning Glow Over the Hudson

Posted by Jamie on October 19th, 2013

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:

Second Place Award at Olana Plein Air event!

Posted by Jamie on October 7th, 2013


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:

Frederic Church’s Tree

Posted by Jamie on September 9th, 2013

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.

Pink and Purple Sunset from Olana

Posted by Jamie on September 3rd, 2013


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:

Path to the Cozy Cottage

Posted by Jamie on August 29th, 2013


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!

Nearing Sunset at Olana 2

Posted by Jamie on August 22nd, 2013

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:

Catskill Drama from Olana

Posted by Jamie on August 21st, 2013


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.

Peach Sunset on the Hudson

Posted by Jamie on June 24th, 2013

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:

Firey Sunset Over the Hudson and some glazing tips

Posted by Jamie on June 20th, 2013


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:

Golden Flowers at Olana

Posted by Jamie on May 19th, 2013


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.

Nearing Sunset at Olana

Posted by Jamie on November 5th, 2012

121026-Nearing-Sunset-at-Olana-6x8-450

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:

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Three Paintings from Olana

Posted by Jamie on October 25th, 2012

121023-Three-Olana-Design-Studies-11_13-gf-450adj

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:

121023-Three-Olana-Design-Studies-11_13-gf-720adj

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.

Hudson River Sunset in Miniature

Posted by Jamie on September 13th, 2012

120907-Hudson-River-Sunset-Miniature-2x4-450

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!

Hudson River from Above — an oil sketch from Olana

Posted by Jamie on September 12th, 2012

120907-Hudson-River-From-Above-oil-sketch-11x15-450

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:

120907-Hudson-River-From-Above-oil-sketch-11x15-600

photo-40

(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!

120907-Hillside-Colors-12x16-Madj

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

Golden Fields at Olana

Posted by Jamie on June 12th, 2012

120603-Fields-of-Gold-at-Olana-GF-11x15-fs

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.

Olana in Crimson

Posted by Jamie on February 6th, 2012

120206-Olana-in-Crimson-8x10-450ls

(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:

120206-Olana-in-Crimson-8x10-600ls

By the Pond at Olana

Posted by Jamie on September 30th, 2011

110917-By-the-Pond-at-Olana-5x7-wc-450

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.

Miniature Painting of View Near the Olana Barns

Posted by Jamie on September 29th, 2011

110917-View-Near-the-Olana-Barns-mini-wc-450

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.

Mount Merino from Olana No. 4

Posted by Jamie on September 26th, 2011

110919-Mount-Merino-from-Olana-4-7x11-wc-450

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:

110919-Mount-Merino-from-Olana-4-7x11-wc-720

Mount Merino from Olana No. 3

Posted by Jamie on September 25th, 2011

110919-Mount-Merino-from-Olana-3-wc-450

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.

Mount Merino from Olana No. 2

Posted by Jamie on September 24th, 2011

110919-Mount-Merino-from-Olana-2-wc-450

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.

Late Afternoon at Chatham Falls

Posted by Jamie on July 30th, 2011

110730-Late-Afternoon-at-Chatham-Falls-5x7-450

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!