The last painting I completed was the one below, titled Summertime Gardening in the City. It was inspired by a walk I took last summer when I was gathering photo references for my current collection in progress.

Summertime Gardening In The City

8 x 10, Fluid Acrylics on Paper, 2025

This scene was found in the Fitler’s Square area of Philly, close by Rittenhouse Square. I was attracted to the brick facade of the house (like I usually am), as well as the blue accents and arched doors and windows. The collection of plants on the doorstep completed the tableau for me, and I knew it would be a great setting for a painting.

Some of the things I like most about painting brickwork is the vibrant color and the way the color of the bricks often contrast nicely with the rest of landscape, creating a nice balance of colors, and often allowing intriguing and eye appealing shadows across them as well.

Although this series doesn’t feature architecture in each piece I wanted to include some pieces that combined nature elements with the more structured lines of the buildings that accompany the plants and nature I was also inspired by. The Philadelphia area has a great variety of architecture as well as natural sights to visit and enjoy, and I’m looking forward to continuing to explore them in this series.